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Aheadworks Commerce Cloud vs Shopify: which is better for you?

Aheadworks Commerce Cloud vs Shopify: which is better for you?

Categorized as : Ecommerce

Selecting the most suitable ecommerce platform is of critical importance for all merchants for creating, managing and maintaining an online store. When looking for a new eCommerce platform, you can pay attention to many aspects. Let’s discuss the main ones on the example of two powerful eCommerce platforms, Aheadworks Commerce Cloud and Shopify.

But first, let’s see a short description of each.

Brief Introduction

Aheadworks Commerce Cloud

Aheadworks Commerce Cloud

Aheadworks Commerce Cloud was released in 2021. It’s an enterprise-level eCommerce solution for those who need a fully-managed and, at the same time, flexible platform, giving you freedom of customization and multiple in-built features to run business with minimum effort and maximum efficiency.

Shopify

Shopify logo

Shopify is a SaaS eCommerce platform that was founded in 2004.

Since then, the Shopify team made their eCommerce platform available to the public and has seen substantial growth.

Feature comparison

Aheadworks Commerce Cloud
Shopify
Themes & templates
11 free store themes: 2 Magento themes and 9 Argento themes
10 free themes and 70 premium themes, which cost between $140 and $180 each, all are partially customizable
Shipping methods
Flexible shipping methods & auto calculated fees
Flexible shipping methods & auto calculated fees
Sales tools
Customer Segmentation management, Reporting management, Automatic Related Products, Quote management, Multiple payment options, etc.
Abandoned cart recovery, Multi-channel selling as built-in features, Sell digital & physical products, Convenient shipping methods
B2B
Company Management, Payment Net 30 terms, Payment and Shipping Restrictions, Credit Limit, Cart to Quote, Sales Representatives, Quick Order, Requisition Lists, Easy Reorder, Private Catalogs
Lack Quick ordering & Quote system

Both platforms are great solutions for running an eCommerce business. But they have their own advantages and disadvantages. Below you can find some more objects for comparing the main features of these two platforms:

B2B Features

The Aheadworks Commerce Cloud includes a number of strong points, such as Company Management, Credit Limit, Cart to Quote, Sales Representatives, Quick Order, Easy Reorder, etc. Using B2B features are crucial for enterprises to sharpen their businesses. 

In terms of features, Shopify is still more geared toward B2C, but developers are working to close the gap.

Coupon Code Generation

Aheadworks Cloud allows merchants to generate as many codes as needed by default. Shopify also offers this feature, but it is not included in the Basic plan.

Transaction fees

Shopify charges transaction fees, which start from 2.4% on credit card payment for Shopify Lite plan to 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction for all online purchases on the Shopify Basic. Aheadworks Commerce Cloud doesn’t charge transaction fees.

Additional functionalities

Shopify heavily relies on paid apps which are designed to improve the platform. However, sometimes it feels like you don’t make a click without charging. Thus, an upsell and cross-sell plugin can cost you about $19.99 a month, while simple social login functionality can cost you $9 per month.

Aheadworks Commerce Cloud, as mentioned above, has a wide range of in-built functionalities such as Private Catalogs, Negotiation Automation, a convenient Order Management System, detailed Reporting, etc. But if you want some additional extensions, you can add them right from Magento Marketplace. The number of modules to add is limited and depends on your plan.

Content Management

Shopify is optimized for selling products and not for managing content. Those who want to add a lot of rich content should try Aheadworks Commerce Cloud, which offers not only blog management, but also a customizable FAQ system, product downloads management, design tools, etc.

Support

Aheadworks Commerce Cloud

Aheadworks Commerce Cloud also has a good Help Center with clear sections and detailed tutorials. You can also submit a ticket to receive the necessary assistance. Plus Plan users and higher can contact the support Team via Webcon.

Shopify

Shopify does offer 24/7 support by phone, e-mail, or live chat, but only at the merchant level. The support merchants receive covers general platform-related inquiries, simple bug-related technical issues, and marketing guidance. In order to implement complex changes, you need to pay Shopify to cover the development costs.

Pricing

These platforms are built to help businesses grow, and their pricing plans vary based on the size of the business.

Aheadworks Commerce Cloud

Here we can be more confident in our figures, as the platform is hosted and fully managed. So CPU optimization, memory optimization, and storage optimization are included in the subscription fee with no extra charge. The pricing starts from $499 / month and includes 5 plans to choose one, depending on the business size and needs.

Shopify

Shopify offers several packages – Basic Shopify, Shopify, Advanced Shopify and Shopify Plus to suit start-ups, new businesses and large B2C brands. The most popular Shopify plan, excluding additional charges for apps and transaction fees, will cost you $290 / year.

Conclusion

This article will clear up any doubts and confusion you may have about Shopify vs. Aheadworks Commerce Cloud. Consider the pros and cons, and build your brand on the best platform.

Want to try Aheadworks Commerce Cloud but still hesitate? Start a 14-day free trial! No credit card is required.

Tagged as B2B B2C

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