Shopify vs Volusion Platform Comparison

Overview

The keyword “shopify vs volusion” sums up a common choice for merchants deciding where to build or migrate an online store. This comparison covers product positioning, core ecommerce features, costs, integration ecosystems, and the tradeoffs entrepreneurs face when scaling digital sales.

What you’re comparing: Shopify is a widely used SaaS ecommerce platform with a large app ecosystem and multi-channel selling tools. Volusion is a smaller, longstanding ecommerce platform aimed at simpler store setups with built-in analytics and specialized plan limits. Key decision criteria: total cost of ownership (monthly fees, apps, card fees), scale and product catalog needs, design and customization flexibility, multi-channel and POS capabilities, and developer/agency support for growth.

Quick summary: Shopify is best for merchants who want a scalable platform with extensive third-party integrations, multi-channel sales, and strong developer support - from small direct-to-consumer brands to high-volume enterprises (via Shopify Plus). Volusion is best for small-to-midsize sellers who want a simpler setup with predictable hosting and analytics, especially when product catalog size fits Volusion plan limits and minimal third-party apps are needed.

Shopify

Overview and Positioning

Shopify is a leader in hosted ecommerce, known for ease of use, an extensive app marketplace, and strong multi-channel selling (web, mobile, social, marketplaces, and POS). It targets a wide spectrum - from single-product solopreneurs using Shop Pay and buy buttons to enterprise merchants using Shopify Plus. The platform emphasizes fast store setup, performance, and an ecosystem of partners and apps.

Key Features and Strengths

• Large app store with thousands of apps covering subscriptions, B2B, ERP integrations, advanced shipping, and marketing automation.
• Native sales channels: built-in integrations for Facebook/Instagram, Google, Amazon, TikTok, and marketplaces.
• Robust POS (point-of-sale) hardware and software for omnichannel retail.
• Themes: dozens of free themes and many premium themes with mobile-first, conversion-focused designs.
• Scalability and uptime: used by high-volume brands and managed hosting optimized for ecommerce.
• Developer APIs for custom apps and headless commerce setups; Shopify Plus offers checkout extensibility and advanced APIs.
• Payment processing via Shopify Payments with competitive card rates and simplified reconciliation.

Limitations and Tradeoffs

• App-dependent functionality: many advanced features require paid apps, which increases monthly cost.
• Transaction fees if using third-party payment gateways (unless using Shopify Payments).
• Theme editing and some advanced customizations require knowledge of Shopify’s Liquid templating and developer resources for complex changes.
• Pricing can escalate as your business grows into higher plans or adds many paid apps.

Pricing and Value

Prices cited are approximate and reflect common Shopify pricing tiers as of June 2024:

• Shopify Starter: $5/month (buy buttons and social selling; limited storefront features).
• Basic Shopify: $39/month - core online store, unlimited products, online sales channels.
• Shopify: $105/month - additional features like professional reports and lower card rates.
• Advanced Shopify: $399/month - advanced reporting and lower card processing fees.
• Shopify Plus: custom pricing, typically $2,000+/month for enterprise needs.

Card processing via Shopify Payments (US example, as of mid-2024): Basic 2.9% + 30¢, Shopify 2.6% + 30¢, Advanced 2.4% + 30¢. If you use an external gateway, platform transaction fees typically are 0.5% to 2.0% depending on plan.

Value note: Shopify’s rich ecosystem and reliability often justify higher software and app costs for merchants who need integrations, multi-channel growth, and performance.

Best For

• Direct-to-consumer brands needing multi-channel selling and marketing integrations.
• Stores planning to scale quickly or requiring enterprise features (Shopify Plus).
• Merchants who prefer a large marketplace of apps and partner agencies for custom development.
• Brick-and-mortar retailers seeking an integrated POS.

Volusion

Overview and Positioning

Volusion is a hosted ecommerce platform that has been around since the late 1990s. It positions itself as a practical, all-in-one storefront solution emphasizing built-in analytics, a simpler admin, and hosted security. Volusion tends to appeal to merchants who want a straightforward store without heavy reliance on third-party apps.

Key Features and Strengths

• Simple product and order management with a focus on built-in reporting and analytics.
• Drag-and-drop store builder and theme customization aimed at non-developers.
• Included hosting, SSL, and PCI compliance with plans that bundle core features.
• Native product filtering, couponing, and basic SEO controls out of the box.
• No platform transaction fees added by Volusion (payment processing fees depend on the chosen gateway).

Limitations and Tradeoffs

• Smaller app marketplace and fewer third-party integrations compared with Shopify; custom integrations may require development work.
• Historically, Volusion has limited product counts and staff accounts per plan; this makes very large catalogs constrained or more expensive.
• Fewer themes and design options; advanced front-end customization may be more limited than Shopify.
• Less mature multi-channel selling infrastructure (fewer out-of-the-box integrations for marketplaces and social commerce compared to Shopify).
• Limited built-in subscription or advanced B2B features without third-party integrations.

Pricing and Value

Typical Volusion pricing tiers (approximate, as of June 2024):

• Personal: $29/month - up to 100 products (basic features).
• Professional: $79/month - up to 5,000 products and priority support.
• Business: $299/month - up to 15,000 products and advanced features.
• Prime / Custom: custom pricing for high-volume merchants.

Payment processing: Volusion does not add platform transaction fees; merchants choose Stripe, PayPal, or another gateway and pay those gateway rates (e.g., Stripe rates around 2.9% + 30¢). Plans historically cap product counts and sometimes annual revenue, so review limits carefully.

Value note: For businesses whose product counts and features fit within Volusion plan limits, the platform can be cost-effective and simpler to maintain without a heavy app spend.

Best For

• Small businesses and hobby sellers with modest product catalogs that want predictable monthly billing.
• Merchants who prioritize built-in analytics and a straightforward admin over a large ecosystem of apps.
• Stores that do not require deep marketplace integrations or extensive custom development.

Shopify vs Volusion

This section highlights the most important practical differences between Shopify and Volusion for merchants comparing the two platforms.

• Ecosystem and extensibility: Shopify’s app store and developer network is far larger. Volusion has fewer third-party apps and integrations, which can limit adding features without custom development.
• Scalability and product limits: Shopify generally allows unlimited products on all standard plans; Volusion enforces product limits tied to plans. High-volume or rapidly expanding catalogs may fit Shopify better.
• Multi-channel selling: Shopify provides more native channels (social, marketplaces, POS) and easier setup for ads and conversions. Volusion requires more manual integrations for similar multi-channel reach.
• Pricing predictability: Volusion’s plans can look cheaper for small catalogs when fewer apps are needed, but product limits may force upgrades. Shopify’s base plans include unlimited products but often require paid apps and transaction costs.
• Checkout flexibility: Shopify Plus offers advanced checkout customization and better APIs for complex flows; Volusion lacks equivalent enterprise-grade checkout extensibility.

Side-by-side summary table:

Feature | Shopify | Volusion — | —: | —: Pricing (entry) | $5 to $39+/mo (Starter/Basic) | $29/mo (Personal) Pricing (mid) | $105/mo (Shopify) | $79/mo (Professional) Product limits | Unlimited (standard plans) | Tiered caps (e.g., 100 / 5,000 / 15,000) App ecosystem | Thousands of apps | Small marketplace, fewer integrations Multi-channel selling | Built-in channels + POS + Shopify Markets | Limited native channels; integrations needed Transaction fees | 2.9%+30¢ with Shopify Payments (varies); external gateway fees apply | No platform transaction fees; gateway fees apply Best for | Scalable, multi-channel brands | Small catalogs, simpler stores

How to Choose

Decision checklist (4-5 points):

1. Catalog size and growth plans: If you need unlimited products and expect rapid SKU growth, favor Shopify. If your product count fits comfortably within Volusion plan caps and you prefer predictable pricing, Volusion may suffice.

2. Integration needs and apps: List the third-party services you must integrate (ERP, subscription, loyalty, marketplaces). If critical items exist only as Shopify apps or require extensive integration, Shopify wins.

3. Budget for apps and payment processing: Calculate not just monthly platform fees but typical app subscriptions and card processing costs. Shopify can require more app spend; Volusion may appear cheaper but can force plan upgrades.

4. Channel strategy and physical retail: If you need native POS, multi-channel marketplace or social selling, Shopify’s ecosystem is stronger. For online-only stores with basic needs, Volusion can be simpler.

5. Customization and developer resources: If you have access to developers and need custom checkout or API-driven experiences, Shopify Plus is designed for this. For minimal customization, Volusion’s drag-and-drop may be adequate.

Use-case examples:

• A DTC apparel brand planning to sell on Instagram, Amazon, and in wholesale channels: Shopify.
• A small maker selling 50 SKUs on a single site with limited budget: Volusion or Shopify Starter depending on features needed.
• A fast-growing brand expecting 10x SKU expansion in 12 months: Shopify (scalability and apps).

Quick Comparison

Feature | Shopify | Volusion — | —: | —: Pricing (example tiers) | Starter $5; Basic $39; Shopify $105; Advanced $399 | Personal $29; Professional $79; Business $299 Product catalog | Unlimited on standard plans | Plan-based caps (e.g., 100 / 5,000 / 15,000) Apps and integrations | Very large app marketplace | Small marketplace, fewer apps Checkout extensibility | High (Plus for advanced) | Limited Multi-channel & POS | Strong, built-in | Limited, requires integrations Platform transaction fees | Yes if not using Shopify Payments (0.5%–2%) | No platform fee; gateway fees apply

Pricing Breakdowns and Total Cost Considerations

When comparing total cost of ownership, include these categories:

• Monthly platform fees: Shopify ($39–$399) vs Volusion ($29–$299) - note Shopify offers Starter at $5 and enterprise at custom pricing.
• Payment processing: Shopify Payments rates (example US) 2.9% + 30¢ (Basic) down to 2.4% + 30¢ (Advanced). External gateways incur platform transaction fees on Shopify. Volusion does not add platform transaction fees; gateway rates (Stripe/PayPal) typically 2.9% + 30¢.
• App subscriptions and extensions: Shopify merchants commonly spend $20–$200+/month on apps for subscriptions, customer accounts, marketing, and shipping. Volusion merchants may spend less on apps but might need developer work to build missing features.
• Theme and design: Shopify premium themes commonly range $150–$350; many free professional themes exist. Volusion themes are fewer; premium themes typically cost $50–$200, but customization may require agency time.
• Development and maintenance: Custom integrations, headless setups, or heavy theme work will increase costs on either platform. Shopify’s large partner network can simplify sourcing agencies.
• Migration and growth costs: Moving platforms later is costly; factor long-term roadmap when choosing.

Practical pricing example (small store scenario):

• Shopify Basic: $39/mo + Shopify Payments (2.9% + 30¢) + 2 paid apps ($20/mo each) = $79/mo base; add marketing ad spend and potential theme costs.
• Volusion Professional: $79/mo + Stripe (2.9% + 30¢) + minimal apps = $79/mo base; check product limits to ensure fit.

FAQ

Is Shopify or Volusion Better for SEO?

Shopify has robust SEO capabilities (clean URLs, editable meta tags, sitemap, and apps for advanced tasks) and widespread documentation. Volusion provides basic SEO controls but fewer apps and blog features; for complex SEO strategies, Shopify typically offers more tools and integrations.

Do Either Platforms Charge Transaction Fees?

Shopify charges platform transaction fees if you use a third-party payment gateway (fee depends on plan); using Shopify Payments eliminates the fee. Volusion does not add platform transaction fees; merchants pay the standard processing fees set by their chosen payment gateway.

Can I Migrate My Store From Volusion to Shopify?

Yes - migrating is possible and commonly done. Expect to export products, customers, orders, and content and use migration apps or services for mapping data. Migration costs vary depending on catalog size and customizations.

Which Platform is Better for Multi-Channel Selling?

Shopify is stronger for multi-channel selling with native integrations for social commerce, marketplaces, POS, and marketing channels. Volusion supports selling online but typically requires additional integrations or custom work to match Shopify’s multi-channel reach.

Is Volusion Still Supported and Updated?

Volusion continues to operate and provide support for merchants, but it has a smaller development roadmap and ecosystem compared to Shopify. Review the platform’s current feature announcements and support SLAs when deciding.

What About Enterprise Needs and Wholesale/B2B Features?

For enterprise and complex B2B needs (custom pricing, bulk ordering, dedicated checkout flows), Shopify Plus is tailored to these requirements with APIs and customizations. Volusion is less focused on enterprise and may need custom development or third-party integrations to match advanced B2B capabilities.

Further Reading

• Shopify vs Clickfunnels Ecommerce Comparison
• Shopify vs Amazon Fba Ecommerce Comparison
• Shopify vs Squarespace vs Wix Ecommerce Comparison
• Launch Shopify Store Guide for Entrepreneurs