Shopify and WordPress are both internet giants and are often pitted against each other for their e-commerce capabilities. But when integrated, they complement the strengths of each platform.
With Shopify and WordPress working together, you can improve your online business and how it operates. Integrating the two might seem complicated, but don’t worry. It doesn’t have to be.
Today, we’ll cover how to integrate Shopify and WordPress, as well as the benefits of doing so. We’ll also answer some frequently asked questions about integrating these two platforms.
Does Shopify work with WordPress?
Yes, Shopify works with WordPress and they work well together. WordPress is a content management system that can host many types of websites, including online stores. Shopify, on the other hand, is purely an e-commerce platform.
When you combine the two, you can use a Shopify plugin with your WordPress site. But why would this be a good idea?
WordPress is the most popular website builder in the world. It has more customization options available with both amazing free and paid themes. You can choose a theme you like and customize it, within the bounds of the theme, with plugins.
Shopify is very easy to use and was built to be the perfect e-commerce platform. The multinational e-commerce platform hosts more than a million stores from over 175 countries. With apps and Shopify themes, you can create a store that is tailored to your unique needs.
Combining Shopify and WordPress allows users to utilize the flexibility and power of WordPress and the easy, commerce-focused features of Shopify. Shopify knows this too and published their WordPress plugin in 2016 to allow users to use them in tandem.
If you are using a different platform, Shopify can also integrate with Squarespaceand Drupal. Whatever you use, there is no denying the benefits of using WordPress and Shopify for your store.
The benefits of Shopify WordPress integration
Easy-to-use plugin
Shopify has removed most of the barriers people experience when first trying to start their businesses online. It has simplified the e-commerce process by removing the technical aspect and instead offered users an easy way to set up a store with Shopify themes and apps.
The same applies to the Shopify plugin. All you need is a Shopify and WordPress account to get started integrating the two platforms.
Shopify store security
Many open-source e-commerce platforms don’t offer the best security. Shopify provides a Level 1 PCI security standard for all its users. This means there is no need to worry about making your site secure because it already is.
All Shopify stores are also included with an SSL certificate. This helps ensure the security and safety of your data and customer information. Having an SSL certificate also help with search engine rankings, especially on Google, because it makes your store indexable.
Shopify offers a built-in payment system that supports all major cards like Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express. Shopify also has over 70 other payment gateways like PayPal and Bitcoin.
With the Shopify WordPress plugin, shipping rates and tax rates are immediately calculated, no matter where they are in the world. Shoppers, no matter where they are or what payment gateways they use, will be able to purchase from your store without hassle.
How to integrate Shopify with WordPress
Now that we have covered the benefits of using Shopify, let’s get right into the tutorial on how to integrate Shopify with WordPress.
Step 1: Create a WordPress website
If you don’t have a WordPress account already, now is the time to get one. You will need one to start an online shop with the Shopify plugin.
This requires you to first choose a domain name for your website. A domain is a URL that is your website’s address on the internet.
You will also need a website hosting service. A website hosting service stores your site data and is the space that your website occupies on the internet.
There are many packages that offer web hosting and a domain together for a monthly fee, including WordPress. If WordPress hosting is beyond your budgeting capabilities or you want to use a different hosting service, you can buy it and still use WordPress with your domain and hosting.
Many web hosting services are also upgradeable, which means you can start on a smaller, cheaper hosting plan and upgrade to a bigger one when you need more space.
Step 2: Create a Shopify account
- Before we can integrate Shopify with WordPress, you will first need to create a Shopify account.
- After you have created an account, move on to the Create your store button and follow the prompts.
- Shopify will ask some questions in an effort to understand you and your store’s needs better. After you have filled in the information, click Next.
- In the next section, add your address and name for payments.
- At the bottom of the page will be an Enter my store button. Click on this button when you have finished adding your information.
- You will be redirected to your Shopify Merchant Dashboard. This dashboard is where your store information and settings will be.
Step 3: Set up payment gateways
To accept payment from customers for products, you will first need to set up payment gateways.
- In your Shopify Merchant dashboard, at the bottom left corner will be the Settings option. Click on the button.
- The right of your dashboard will display different categories but the one we want to find now is the Payments category. Once you have found it, click on the Payments category.
- Shopify will automatically enable PayPal payments with PayPal Express Payments. If you already have a PayPal account, setup will be automatic with your email.
- If not, you first need to register a PayPal account. Don’t stress if it seems a little confusing. Shopify will send an email with a compressive guide on how to open a PayPal account.
- There will be a multitude of options available, with new ones being added regularly. Choose the payment options you would like for your store and move on to the next step.
Step 4: Set up shipping options
- Next, we will set up shipping for your Shopify store. To do so, head back to your Shopify Merchant dashboard and click on the Settings option as we did in step 3.
- The right side of your dashboard will have a category labeled Shipping and delivery. Click on Shipping and delivery.
- The default shipping address will be the address you entered when you opened the store. The address that you entered in step 2. If you are shipping from your home, the shipping origin can stay as is.
- If you are shipping from somewhere else or running your business from a different place, you can change the shipping origin to reflect this. Just click on Change shipping origin and change the address.
In this section, there will also be the option to change shipping rates and define the zone your store will ship to. If you are unsure about what to charge for shipping, visit a local post office for advice on shipping rates.
Step 5: Choose your Shopify pricing plan
Now you need to choose a Shopify plan to get your store running and visible to customers. Shopify offers different pricing plans, depending on your specific needs. For stores starting out, the basic plan will be fine.
For stores with big inventories and many shoppers, an advanced Shopify option will be better.
Luckily, one of the great things about using Shopify with WordPress is the Lite plan, which is quite a bit cheaper. This still gives you access to all of Shopify’s powerful features – Sell on Facebook, Shopify’s app store, and 24/7 support from Shopify.
Just find the plan you want and click Choose this plan. Whichever plan it is, don’t worry about having to stick to one plan forever. There is always the option to upgrade your Shopify plan at a later stage.
Step 6: Add products to your Shopify store
A store isn’t a store without products. In this step, we’ll show how to add products to your Shopify store.
- On your Shopify Merchant dashboard, on the multi-level menu to the left, will be the Products tab. Click on the Products tab and from the new menu, click on Add product.
- On the left of the dashboard will be a product form. Fill in all the information pertaining to the product – product name, product description, price, etc. Upload a high-quality product image. The product can also be added to a product collection, to make it easier to find in your store.
- When you have finished adding the product information, click on the Save button. The product will now be part of your store catalog.
- Repeat this step with all the products you want to add to your store.
Step 7: Customize the Shopify Buy Button
Now, we’ll integrate Shopify with your WordPress site by adding Buy Buttons. The Buy Button lets you embed your Shopify store products across multiple platforms, including WordPress.
Shopify lets you generate a product code that can be embedded in other websites or blog posts. You can embed one product or entire product collections with this code, all by yourself.
- On your Merchant Dashboard, click on the Settings button again. Then find and click on Sales channels on your dashboard.
- Next, click on the Add sales channel. This will bring up a popup list. Scroll down this list until the Buy Botton option is available. Press on the “+” to install it.
- Navigate and find the product you want to create a Buy Button for. Click on Select product when you have found the product. You will now be able to customize the look of your Buy Button. Choose a template, change the color and font, and the action the Buy Button will perform.
- When you have changed it to your liking, click on Next. This will bring up the code for the Buy Button.
Step 8: Add Shopify Buy Button to WordPress
Let’s add your store’s products to WordPress so they can be sold.
- For the Shopify-generated product code, click on the Copy code button. As the name suggests, this will copy the code that was generated exactly as it appears on the window.
- Paste the code anywhere on your website – pages, posts, sidebars, etc. When a visitor views your website, the Buy Button will be available wherever you placed the code. You can create a whole page dedicated to this Buy Button and add product information after the code.
Shopify and WordPress integration (FAQs)
What is the difference between Shopify and WordPress?
Shopify is a dedicated e-commerce platform. With an account, users can build a fully functioning, secure online store. It is very easy to use and can grow infinitely.
WordPress is not a dedicated e-commerce platform. It is an open-source, content management system that can be built into whatever the user wants. But if you want to sell products from your WordPress site, you’d have to download e-commerce plugins like Ecwid, BigCommerce, or Shopify.
If you are with a platform like Ecwid and would like to move over to Shopify for a more dedicated e-commerce experience, whether on WordPress or just Shopify, it is possible to migrate from Ecwid to Shopify.
Which is cheaper, Shopify or WordPress?
It depends on the setup you want. If you are okay with the limitations of free themes and plugins, WordPress can work out inexpensively.
If you want a setup that is a bit more advanced for a dedicated store experience like Shopify, WordPress can work out more expensive because of the cost of premium themes, hosting, and plugins.
Shopify is an e-commerce platform and offers tons of merchant features that make it great for shoppers and sellers alike.
Shopify also works perfectly with free or paid themes. Depending on your needs, you can also submit a task with us to hire a developer for specific features or theme tweaks instead of committing to a complete store rebuild.
Is WordPress harder to use than Shopify?
WordPress is incredibly versatile with a vast plugin store that makes it endlessly customizable. But this versatility is also WordPress’s downfall when it comes to beginners. It doesn’t require any coding knowledge but it can be overwhelming for those who have never dealt with any type of website builder.
Especially when compared to Shopify, which is very beginner-friendly. Shopify’s setup is fast and easy as we saw in the steps above, and maintenance is also minimal. Shopify is easier to use and has the plus of being built with e-commerce specifically in mind.
Conclusion
And there you have it! You have successfully integrated Shopify with WordPress.
While Shopify is a brilliant e-commerce platform, it was built specifically for e-commerce. WordPress offers more flexible building options but lacks the finesse that Shopify has when selling products.
Using them together is a great way to utilize the best of both platforms. And while many other open-source e-commerce platforms can make migration feel impossible, the Shopify plugin has simplified the process drastically.
If you are interested in improving the performance of your store, even more, submit a task with us for specific Shopify theme tweaks and customizations.
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