Showit vs. Shopify: What Every Creative Business Owner Should Know

Last Updated: February 19, 2021

Choosing a website platform can seem like such an overwhelming decision. There’s so many options out there, and it can be hard to tell the difference between them without actually signing up for a membership. I’m about to save you lots of money, time, and headaches by helping you choose which is best for you. I have used numerous website builders, and in my opinion, Showit and Shopify are two of the best platforms out there for small business owners.

What is Showit?

Showit is a website platform that was created with photographers in mind. It has evolved to be the website platform of choice for other creative professionals – coaches, designers, bloggers, etc. – as well.

What makes Showit unique is that it combines a drag + drop editor with the blogging power of WordPress. Literally everything is customizable, no coding required.

What is Shopify?

Shopify is one of the popular e-commerce platforms out there. Shopify is my preferred platform for creating an online shop because it has all the features that you need to get started off on the right foot. And, if you start with a Shopify theme, learning to customize it isn’t too complicated.

Now, let’s really break down what makes Showit and Shopify the best platforms out there in terms of price, quality, customization, and convenience.

Price

I know that price is usually a big concern when it comes to website design. However, I don’t want you to think of your website as “just another expense.” Your website is an investment that will become an asset to your business. It’s your business’ “online home” and you want it to serve your audience well. With that being said, I do think it’s possible to have a quality website within a reasonable budget. 

Here’s a quick look at the pricing for Showit and Shopify:

• Showit’s Basic Plan is $24/mo. However, if you want to have a blog on your site (which I recommend) the Showit + Basic Blog plan is $29/mo. There are higher-priced plans available, but for most businesses I suggest starting with the Showit + Basic Blog. 
• The Basic Shopify plan is $29/mo. Shopify also has higher-priced plans available, but for most of the small businesses I’ve worked with, the basic plan has suited their needs just fine.

Some of the website platforms that I’ve used in the past that are cheaper than Showit and Shopify weren’t worth it to me because they were missing key features (more on that in the bit).

On the other hand, some of the much more expensive sites I have used were too difficult to edit and had a steep learning curve. 

Quality

The quality of your website matters. Research says that when a person is browsing on the internet and clicks on your site, they will make the decision to stay or leave in a matter of seconds. You want to make a good first impression!

What affects a site’s quality? A combination of structure, intentional design, and well-written copy (the text on your site) determines a site’s quality. You want a website that is:

• Easy to use on desktop and mobile
• SEO-optimized so that you can get found on Google
• Isn’t just pretty, but converts browsers into fans and eventually, paying customers or clients 
• Reflects your brand well

Showit and Shopify both have features that allow all of the items on the list above to be accomplished. Which brings us to the topic of customization. 

Customization

Customization capabilities are really what will allow a site to shine and reflect a brand well. Whether you are starting with a template or a blank slate, the customization options that a platform offers can make a huge difference.

Like I mentioned earlier, Showit has the most customization that I’ve ever experienced in a website platform that doesn’t require code.

Let’s take a look at some of the customization that Showit allows:

• Complete freedom over how the desktop and mobile versions of your site are laid out. 
  • (I’ve used other platforms that don’t allow you to edit your mobile site, and this can cause a lot of design headaches)
• Since everything is customizable, the only limitation to page layouts is imagination!
  • Even your blog pages can be custom designed
• SEO-optimization for every page and blog post
• Ability to choose from Google fonts, or upload your own fonts
• Custom color palette
• Ability to create multiple navigation menus

There’s so much more that I could say about Showit, but those are just the highlights. 

Real-life example: I designed this website for Therapy Unlimited using Showit. Every detail is intentional, and there is no other website quite like it!

Now, let’s take a look at the customization options Shopify offers:

I’ll be honest, Shopify is more restrictive than Showit when it comes to customization, if you’re starting with a template. Here’s some of the customization options that Shopify allows: 

• Choose your shop’s template as a starting point
• Custom color palette
• Choose from lots of Google fonts
• Choose from multiple section layouts how they are ordered on a page
• Add your own product photos and product information

Aside from customization, some examples of other features to look at in an e-commerce shop platform are: 

• Transaction fees
• How sales tax is calculated 
• Options for customizing shipping options
• The ability to create product collections

There are apps that allow you to further customize your Shopify template. With a little ingenuity, you can do a lot with a Shopify template!

Real-life example: I created my e-commerce shop for Sage & Maya using the Shopify theme Narrative. If you compare my site to the theme demo, you will see how much I was able to customize it!

Convenience

As a small business owner, you should be able to add new products or blog posts, update photos, or add new information without wanting to cry.

I included convenience as a key consideration because you don’t want editing your site to feel like an impossible task. For my custom brand + web design clients I completely design the site for them, then train them on how to edit and update the site moving forward.

As a small business owner, you should be able to add new products or blog posts, update photos, or add new information without wanting to cry.

Showit and Shopify are both convenient because once you understand how the editors work, you can go in and make changes to your site in minutes. Also, they both have extensive support available if you get stuck. Showit’s support team is full of real people who are so kind and helpful. They also have an extensive library of help articles. Shopify also has very thorough tutorials/articles on their site. 

Both Showit and Shopify are online-based platforms, so as long as you have internet access, you can edit your site. 

While every business is unique, I do believe that Showit and Shopify are the best options out there for most small businesses. What’s the difference between the two? We’ll get into that next. 

So if you are thinking that both of these platforms sound great, but aren’t sure which to use, this next bit of advice is for you. 

Showit vs. Shopify

I recommend Showit to creative professionals in need of a custom site and blog. Typically, these small business owners provide services. If you want to add a few products to your site without have a full-fledged shop, solutions like Shopify Lite or ThriveCart can be integrated into your Showit site.

Real-life example: This site I designed for Angela Monica was created on Showit, but integrates with Shopify Lite for her shop pages.

Shopify is best for businesses who mainly sell products and need an e-commerce shop where visitors can browse and make purchases online. 

So, if you’re a product-based business that sells items like candles, t-shirts, art, or makeup – go with Shopify.

But if you’re a service-provider like a coach, photographer, blogger, or designer – Showit is probably the platform for you. 

And, if you’re a blogger and podcaster who needs a website, but would also like to have a small shop with a few t-shirts and mugs, try using Showit and adding on something like Shopify Lite. 

Final Thoughts

While Showit and Shopify are my preferred website platforms, of course the final decision of what is best for your business if up to you. If nothing else, I hope that this blog post has given you insight on what to look for (and what you don’t want!) in a website. 

If you have any questions about choosing a website platform for your business, feel free to contact me. 

And, if you are looking for a designer to create your custom Showit site, take a look at my brand + web design services. I would love to help you create a website that helps you show up confidently & serve well!