If you’re in the market for a personal website or eCommerce store, you’ve probably come across popular options like Squarespace, Wix, Shopify, and WordPress. I recently found myself in this position and narrowed my choices down to two: WordPress (an old favorite) and Shopify. Here’s a breakdown of my experience and why I ultimately chose WordPress.

Why I Initially Chose Shopify

I started with Shopify, drawn by its ease of use, seamless setup, and robust set of built-in features. It’s a fantastic choice for anyone looking to sell online without getting tangled in technical setup. However, a few drawbacks became apparent over time:

• High Costs – After my 3-month trial ended, the $53/month subscription felt steep, especially since my primary goal was to build a personal brand through blogging, not just selling.
• Transaction and Plugin Fees – If you plan to sell, the transaction fees and additional costs for plugins can add up quickly, making it less ideal for smaller businesses.
• Limited Code Control – Unlike WordPress, you have less freedom to customize the underlying code, which can be restrictive for those who want full creative control.

Why I Switched to WordPress

When my Shopify trial expired, I revisited WordPress, and it’s been a game-changer. Here’s why I made the switch:

• Cost-Effective – WordPress is significantly cheaper, with many free plugins and themes that offer robust functionality without a hefty price tag.
• Flexibility and Control – You have complete control over your site’s design and functionality, including the ability to fully customize code if needed.
• User-Friendly with Gutenberg – The Gutenberg block editor has made building pages much easier than it used to be, making it a strong contender even for non-coders.
• Powerful eCommerce with WooCommerce – Adding a store is as simple as installing a plugin, and WooCommerce integrates seamlessly with WordPress for a fully customizable eCommerce experience.

Recommended Plugins for WordPress Users

If you’re considering WordPress, here are some essential plugins I recommend:

• WooCommerce – The gold standard for adding eCommerce functionality. It’s widely supported and has a vast ecosystem of extensions.
• WP Mail SMTP – If your hosting provider has email deliverability issues, this plugin helps ensure your emails reach their intended recipients by properly configuring SMTP settings.
• Omnisend – A powerful, cost-effective alternative to Mailchimp or Klaviyo for email and SMS marketing, with seamless WooCommerce integration.
• create block theme – Great if you want a blank canvas for building highly customizable themes with the Gutenberg editor.
• ChatGPT for Custom Plugins – I’ve used ChatGPT to generate custom plugins, which allows me to add personalized functionality without needing to hard-code everything. Just be careful with this approach – sometimes it’s better to prompt it to create a plugin that adds new custom inputs rather than directly modifying blocks.

Final Thoughts

For me, the choice was clear. WordPress offers the flexibility, control, and cost-efficiency I needed for my brand-building journey. I’ll share more about the custom plugins and workarounds I’ve developed in future posts, so stay tuned.