Shopify: a hosted platform with a monthly subscription
With Shopify, you rent your shop. You pay a monthly subscription, and Shopify takes care of servers, security and updates. With ready-made design templates, you can set up a shop quickly, and the Shopify App Store has apps for many extra features.
The price of this convenience is less control. You work within the platform's limits, and many apps charge their own monthly fee, which adds up over time. Depending on the payment provider, there may be extra transaction fees. So calculate the total cost including apps, not just the subscription.
WooCommerce: flexible, but it needs maintenance
WooCommerce is a free extension for WordPress. You run the shop on your own server and can choose a provider with a data centre in Switzerland. The code, data and design stay with you, and you can add almost any feature through the many extensions available.
In return, you are responsible for running it. WordPress, WooCommerce and all extensions need regular updates, and outdated extensions are a common way in for attackers. You either handle this maintenance yourself or outsource it to a service provider.
Swiss specifics: CHF, VAT and payment methods
Both systems can sell in Swiss francs and handle several VAT rates. Since 1 January 2024, the standard rate has been 8.1%, and the reduced rate of 2.6% applies to certain goods such as food or books. You need to set the correct rate for each product, and prices for consumers are shown including VAT.
TWINT is a widely used payment method in Switzerland, and both systems integrate it through payment providers. Whether it is available, and at what fees, depends on the provider and the extension. Check this before you decide, along with card payments and paying by invoice. If you issue invoices yourself, you need a solution that generates QR-bills, for example an extension or a link to your accounting software.
Shipping, languages and data protection
To ship with Swiss Post, you set up shipping methods and rates in the shop. Both systems have extensions for creating shipping labels. Check which one suits your shipping volume and your processes.
If you sell throughout Switzerland, you often need German, French and Italian. Shopify supports multiple languages, and apps are often added for the translation. With WooCommerce, multilingual support comes from extensions. Either way, plan the translation of your product text as a separate task.
For data protection under the revised Federal Act on Data Protection (revFADP), you need a privacy policy that names your payment, shipping and analytics services. With Shopify, the data is stored on the provider's infrastructure. With WooCommerce, you choose the server location yourself.
A third option: a custom shop
Some requirements do not fit well into either system: products with many variants and configurators, individual prices for each business customer, orders that need approval from the purchasing department, or a close link to inventory, orders and invoices in your own ERP.
A custom-built shop maps these processes directly, without detours through lots of extensions. It takes more work at the start, but you have full control over features, data and server location.
How to decide
Choose Shopify if you want to launch quickly, do not want to deal with the technology and sell a manageable range of products. Choose WooCommerce if control, a server location in Switzerland and flexibility matter to you, and maintenance is taken care of. Consider a custom shop if your processes differ greatly from the standard.
Before you decide, answer three questions: which payment methods do your customers expect? Which systems does the shop need to connect to? Who will look after updates three years from now? Glavento discusses these points with you in a call and then prepares a written quote.
Frequently asked questions
Can I offer TWINT with Shopify and WooCommerce?
In principle, yes: both systems support it through payment providers. Whether TWINT is available, and on what terms, depends on the provider and extension you choose. Check this before you choose a platform.
Which VAT rates apply to online shops in Switzerland?
Since 1 January 2024, the standard rate has been 8.1% and the reduced rate for certain goods such as food or books 2.6%. As a rule, you become liable for VAT from an annual turnover of CHF 100,000. It is best to check with your accountant which rates apply to your products.
Is WooCommerce really free?
The extension itself is free. You pay for the server, domain, design, paid extensions and, above all, ongoing maintenance. Over several years, the difference compared with a subscription model is therefore often smaller than it first appears.