Shopify is better suited for businesses seeking a comprehensive, customizable e-commerce platform with extensive features and scalability, while Walmart Marketplace is a good option for businesses looking for a cost-effective way to reach a large customer base without monthly fees, but with less control over the customer experience and higher transaction fees.
| Attribute | Shopify | Walmart Marketplace |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly subscription cost | Basic plan starts at $39/month, Shopify plan at $105/month, Advanced plan at $399/month, Starter plan for $5/month | Walmart Marketplace does not charge monthly subscription fees. |
| Transaction fees | If you use Shopify Payments, the transaction fees are included in the payment processing fees. If you don't use Shopify Payments, transaction fees range from 0.5% to 2%. For example, if you are on the Basic Shopify plan, you will be charged 2.9% + 30 per transaction. | Walmart charges referral fees, a percentage of the sale price, that range from 6% to 15% depending on the product category. |
| App store availability and variety | Shopify has a large app store with over 8,000 apps and integrations that offer tools for marketing, SEO, inventory management, and analytics. | The Walmart Seller App is available by invitation only. |
| Built-in marketing tools | Shopify offers integrated marketing tools such as Shopify Email, Shopify Forms, and marketing automation. These tools help with SEO, email marketing, social media promotions, and content marketing. | Walmart offers promotional tools and an analytics dashboard. |
| SEO capabilities | Shopify has built-in SEO features like auto-generated canonical tags, customizable title tags, meta descriptions, and URLs. It also automatically generates sitemap.xml and robots.txt files. | Walmart SEO involves optimizing product listings to improve their ranking in Walmart's search results. This includes keyword research, optimizing titles and descriptions, using high-quality images, and selecting the correct product categories. |
| Customer support quality and response time | Studies show that 12% of consumers view a lack of response speed as a significant cause of customer service frustration. To provide great customer service, offer multiple communication touchpoints so shoppers have flexibility and convenience. Modern e-commerce customers expect fast customer service. Providing prompt and helpful responses across all touchpoints is essential. | Walmart requires sellers to respond to customer inquiries within 48 hours. For Better Business Bureau or Attorney General complaints, a response is required within 1 hour. Live chat support is also available. |
| Ease of use for beginners | Shopify is considered excellent for beginners due to its user-friendly interface, comprehensive support resources, and drag-and-drop builder. Shopify simplifies setting up and managing an online store with its user-friendly interface. The platform provides a step-by-step guide, allowing you to have a basic store running in a matter of hours. | Walmart is considered cost-effective for starting to sell online. |
| Payment gateway options | Shopify supports multiple payment gateways, including Shopify Payments, PayPal, and Apple Pay. Using Shopify Payments can help you avoid additional transaction fees. | Walmart pays sellers bi-weekly via Hyperwallet or Payoneer, typically 14 days after the order ships. New sellers may experience payment delays. |
| Shipping options and integrations | Shopify integrates with various shipping carriers and offers features for international shipping, such as multi-currency and multi-language support. | Walmart offers Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS), where Walmart handles storage, packing, and shipping. |
| Inventory management features | Shopify includes essential e-commerce features like inventory management. You can also automate inventory management with tools that integrate with Shopify to synchronize inventory across channels, generate purchase orders, and manage returns. | Walmart provides inventory management tools within Seller Center, including reports and analytics. Key components include stock availability, accurate listings, timely fulfillment, and performance metrics. |
| Scalability for large businesses | Shopify is a scalable platform suitable for businesses of all sizes. Its infrastructure can handle increased traffic and sales, and it offers features for large enterprises. Shopify offers scalability to handle increased traffic and sales. Its robust infrastructure supports businesses of all sizes, allowing you to add features and products without worrying about performance issues. | Walmart Marketplace is suitable for brands and growing retailers. |
| Reporting and analytics dashboards | Shopify Analytics provides a comprehensive dashboard with reports on sales, customer behavior, marketing effectiveness, and more. You can track key metrics, understand customer behavior, and analyze sales and finances. Shopify Analytics provides detailed insights into your store's performance, offering reports and dashboards that cover metrics like sales, customer behavior, and marketing effectiveness. | Walmart provides reports and metrics to track sales, customer behavior, and product performance. |