Shopify vs Cococart: Key Differences for E-commerce Entrepreneurs

I looked at two ecommerce platforms: Shopify and Cococart.

Shopify is a major player, supporting millions of stores globally and offering features suitable for businesses of any size.

Cococart, though newer, is quickly becoming popular for its user-friendly design and low pricing, making it a great choice for small businesses.

Here’s how these platforms compare, so you can decide which one suits your online store best.

Shopify vs Cococart: Quick Verdict, Pros and Cons

I’ve found Shopify to be the more complete ecommerce solution. It’s more flexible, has more features and is better for growing businesses. The app marketplace and customizable themes allow for a true custom store setup.

Cococart is more limited but good for small local businesses or just starting out. It’s easier to use and cheaper but lacks the advanced tools and integrations that Shopify has.

For serious ecommerce businesses I’d recommend Shopify even with the higher cost. The extra features and scalability is a better long term investment.

Cococart might be enough for simpler needs but will become limited as your business grows.

Shopify Pros and Cons

Pros 👍

• Inventory and order management
• Customizable themes
• App marketplace
• POS system
• AI and marketing tools
• Beginner friendly

Cons 👎

• Higher fees on some plans
• Extra fees for 3rd party payment gateways

Cococart Pros and Cons

Pros 👍

• Easy to use
• More affordable
• POS app
• Products and bookings
• Basic email marketing

Cons 👎

• Limited customization
• Basic backend tools
• Fewer app integrations

Shopify and Cococart: Key Features

Website Design

Shopify has a huge range of customizable themes so I can create a true custom store. I can edit CSS and JavaScript for precise changes. The store editor is easy to use.

Cococart has a quick setup with a custom domain. It’s easy to use but design options are limited. I can upload custom images and change colors but all stores have a basic theme.

Higher plans have some custom theme options but still limited compared to Shopify.

Online Sales and Commerce Tools

Both have the basic ecommerce features I need. They have built in payment processing and point of sale apps for in person transactions. I can create discount codes on either platform.

Shopify is better for omnichannel selling, connects to marketplaces like Amazon and social media. Inventory and order management tools are more advanced.

Cococart lets me sell products, services or both without extra apps. Transaction fees start at 3.4% + $0.30 higher than Shopify Payments.

Both have multiple fulfillment options and I can set date specific availability and order limits.

Marketing and Growth Tools

Both have SEO friendly designs so my store loads fast on all devices. Both have email marketing but I might prefer specialized tools like MailChimp for complex campaigns.

Shopify has more marketing integrations including social media connections. It has a blog feature which boosts my SEO.

Cococart has a loyalty program on their top plan but I can add similar functionality to any Shopify plan with integrations.

Abandoned cart recovery is available on higher plans for both.

Shopify’s AI tools like Shopify Magic sets it apart. I can use these to generate SEO content, edit product images and design email campaigns. Cococart doesn’t have AI capabilities.

Business and 3rd Party Integrations

Both have order management, automation and inventory tracking. Shopify’s tools are more detailed with custom reports.

I can create team member accounts on Shopify, Cococart limits user accounts per plan.

Shopify has a huge app marketplace where I can connect my store to thousands of apps for accounting, marketing and more.

Cococart has fewer integrations mainly for fulfillment tools and their own apps like the QR Menu ordering app.

Shopify and Cococart Pricing

Cococart has a more affordable entry point for smaller businesses. Their Personal plan starts at $11/month and I can sell products or bookings.

This plan has bulk discounts and custom domain but I need to buy the domain separately.

For more features Cococart’s Growth plan is $36/month. It has basic POS, customer management and abandoned cart recovery. Pro plan is $99/month and I can sell products and bookings, full POS and marketing tools.

Shopify’s pricing starts higher but has more features. Basic plan is $39/month with 10 inventory locations and global selling.

The Shopify plan is $105/month, Advanced plan is $399/month. For big businesses Shopify Plus starts at $2,300/month.

MORE: Shopify Plus Website Examples

I’ve created a comparison table to illustrate the pricing differences:

Both have payment processing fees. Shopify’s fees decreases as you upgrade the plan, Cococart has the same fee structure across all plans.

When comparing same tier, Shopify’s Basic plan is only $3 more than Cococart’s Growth plan but has more features. So Shopify might be a better value for businesses that’s ready to scale.

Shopify vs Cococart: Which one wins?

Cococart is great for small local businesses that needs a simple solution for online and in-person sales. It’s user friendly and reliable but lacks the scalability of bigger platforms.

Shopify is pricier and might be more complex but has more potential for brand building and expansion. It has more sales channels and integrations so it’s perfect for businesses that wants to grow big.

I think Shopify is the better choice for businesses with big growth plans. The features and customization options outweigh the slightly higher cost and learning curve.

For businesses that wants to have strong online presence and explore multiple sales channels, Shopify is the clear winner in this comparison.

MORE: Shopify vs BigCommerce