For fast-growing ecommerce manufacturers, the platform you select isn’t only a technical choice — it’s a progress technique. And whereas SaaS platforms provide comfort early on, many retailers finally uncover the hidden trade-offs: restricted flexibility, exorbitant charges, and an incapacity to scale on their very own phrases.
That’s why extra formidable manufacturers are shifting to open-source ecommerce: software program that provides you full possession, management, and the liberty to construct precisely what your small business wants because it grows.
Open supply isn’t another, it’s the platform alternative for manufacturers that need to take company over their future.
SaaS ecommerce instruments shine in the beginning: fast setup, low carry, streamlined onboarding. However as your small business scales, these early conveniences can shortly develop into constraints. Finally:
1. You hit customization ceilings
As your product choices evolve, your operations mature, or your model differentiates itself, SaaS platforms make it troublesome — or costly — to increase past predefined templates and workflows.
2. Prices climb as you scale
Larger-tier plans, add-on charges, transaction prices, and have paywalls compound as you develop. What begins as a set of predictable prices shortly turns into restrictive and costly.
3. Your online business roadmap is restricted by another person’s software program roadmap
Characteristic requests, platform adjustments, and system updates are managed by the SaaS supplier, not by you. Your progress strikes on the velocity their product evolves.
4. Knowledge and expertise possession are restricted
Your buyer expertise is just as versatile because the platform permits. You don’t have full entry to your underlying code, stack, or structure — which makes innovating tougher.
Rising manufacturers begin to really feel it: You’re shifting sooner than your platform helps you to.
Open-source software program makes its supply code publicly accessible to learn, modify, and work on. In distinction, proprietary or closed supply software program locks the code down, solely permitting the unique builders to legally edit it and make adjustments.
Open-source licenses
How do open supply licenses work? They differ dramatically from their closed supply counterparts. Usually, they permit individuals to make use of the software program in any method they see match. WordPress, for instance, falls below the Basic Public License, which outlines 4 freedoms:
- The liberty to run this system for any objective.
- The liberty to review how this system works and alter it to make it do what you want.
- The liberty to redistribute.
- The liberty to distribute copies of your modified variations to others.
However the thought of open supply goes past simply licenses and code availability. There’s a normal perspective of group and collaboration that usually comes with such a software program. As a result of the code is offered for anybody to edit, net builders can contribute to the mission as an entire and enhance it in quite a lot of methods.
Open supply within the ecommerce house
Open-source ecommerce software program, after all, is a set of instruments that observe these ideas, with options particularly for on-line shops. WooCommerce is one instance of an open-source ecommerce platform, providing all the things retailers have to run a web based retailer.
Now that we’ve established the concept behind open supply, let’s see the way it differs from closed supply (or “proprietary”) alternate options.
|
Open supply |
Closed supply |
|
|
Supply code availability |
Out there to most people |
Not out there to the general public |
|
Capacity to switch code |
Anybody can modify the supply code and contribute to the software program |
All modifications are made by the software program builders themselves |
|
Assist |
Typically supplied by the group of customers |
Usually supplied by the software program’s workforce members |
|
Value |
Typically free or out there at a a lot decrease value |
Usually solely out there at at a premium worth |
|
Transparency |
Full transparency, for the reason that code is seen to all |
Restricted transparency, for the reason that common person can’t view the supply code |
|
Innovation |
Limitless, since so many builders are contributing |
Restricted primarily based on the software program’s workforce measurement, finances, and so forth. |
As you’ll be able to think about, these variations can actually impression the expertise for the shop proprietor and their viewers.
As manufacturers develop, their wants shift — and never each platform can sustain. That’s why high-growth companies are more and more turning towards open-source ecommerce. Let’s discover what’s driving this shift and why it issues.
Management and possession
Whenever you run a web based retailer, you need to have full management over all the things from the design of your ecommerce web site to the content material you publish. That is the place open supply shines.
Account shutdowns
When you use a proprietary ecommerce platform, like Shopify or Wix, you’re beholden to the phrases of their licenses, that are far more stringent than with open supply. When you by accident break any of their phrases of service, they’ll take down your store with no discover.
Shopify has suspended shops promoting CBD merchandise, dietary supplements, and even classic gadgets that triggered fraud filters — generally with little warning and restricted enchantment choices. These retailers usually lose entry to years of buyer information and order historical past whereas disputing the choice.
Which means you would abruptly lose the entire laborious work you’ve put into your on-line retailer, endure a broken popularity, and miss out on gross sales whilst you attempt to get again up and working.
In distinction, whenever you select an open supply ecommerce device like WooCommerce, you need to use it for something you’d like. You put in the software program on the internet hosting supplier or server of your selecting, and you’ve got full management over it. The software program builders can’t take down your retailer for any motive.
Full exports and backups
With open supply, you even have extra management over backups and migrations. You may again up each your web site content material and the software program itself utilizing the strategy you favor — manually, host-provided, or with a plugin. Retailer them within the cloud or by yourself gadget. And in case you ever need to change to a brand new internet hosting supplier, use them to maneuver wherever you’d like.
This isn’t the case with closed-source ecommerce platforms. Whereas some do provide backup instruments, they usually simply save your content material relatively than the software program, leaving you with incomplete copies of your web site.
Migrating to a different platform is troublesome at greatest. Because the proprietary device owns the software program and code, you’ll be able to’t merely transfer it elsewhere. So whilst you can migrate a few of your content material — although that may be troublesome in lots of instances, too — you’ll be able to’t transfer your complete on-line retailer.
Value
Pricing is usually an enormous consideration for rising manufacturers. Many proprietary platforms cost month-to-month or yearly charges, and a few even take a share of every sale that you just make. These prices can enhance as you develop, earn extra gross sales, and want extra performance.
Meaning much less cash in your checking account as you scale your small business.
However most open-source ecommerce instruments, like WooCommerce, are free to put in. Those who aren’t are usually out there at a a lot cheaper price than proprietary choices. With WooCommerce you get complete transparency and full management over your prices, with no hidden charges or penalties. You may even get a customized value estimate upfront primarily based in your retailer’s wants with our free calculator.
Open supply additionally affords far more value flexibility. When Shopify raised transaction charges and altered their pricing tiers in 2022, retailers had two selections: pay extra or go away.
WooCommerce retailers can change between a whole bunch of suppliers (together with internet hosting, funds, transport, analytics, and extra) competing for his or her enterprise, usually negotiating higher charges as they develop.
Speedy innovation
There are always numerous net builders engaged on, modifying, and bettering the code of open supply ecommerce software program. They’ve quite a lot of backgrounds and expertise ranges.
And, as a substitute of working for the proprietary firm, they’re usually striving to raised the software program or create a particular answer for themselves or their purchasers.
Which means there’s numerous ingenuity, numerous innovation, and numerous ardour put into the continued growth of open supply instruments.
This merely isn’t the identical as the event workforce engaged on proprietary software program. Because of the nature of closed-source instruments, they’re restricted primarily based on workforce measurement and expertise, finances, and different comparable constraints.
And since there are such a lot of individuals engaged on open supply software program, they’re prone to discover bugs and safety vulnerabilities sooner. This can assist make the software program safer and related.
Scalability
With fewer limitations, open-source ecommerce platforms permit for a lot better scalability and may readily help something from a small startup to an enterprise enterprise. As your retailer grows, you gained’t have to fret about hidden charges or prices primarily based on the variety of guests, clients, merchandise, or variations you may have.
A WooCommerce retailer working a viral promotion can spin up additional server capability in minutes by their internet hosting supplier. SaaS retailers throughout the identical situation are caught hoping their shared infrastructure can deal with it.
As you make extra gross sales and provide extra merchandise, you’ll seemingly want extra performance as nicely. With open-source ecommerce platforms, there are usually many extra extensions and add-ons to select from. And in case you can’t discover something to fulfill your small business wants, the editable supply code makes it attainable for an online developer to create an answer only for you.
Lastly, particularly within the case of WooCommerce, you may have the liberty to maneuver to any internet hosting supplier that you just’d like. This lets you improve server software program and assets primarily based in your visitors and performance necessities, which isn’t the case with proprietary choices.
In case your host has repeated issues, you’ll be able to migrate your WooCommerce retailer to a greater supplier over a weekend. SaaS retailers experiencing platform points haven’t any different however to attend. General, you may have the chance to create a extra scalable on-line retailer.
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Flexibility, customization, and integrations
We’ve touched on this a bit all through among the different advantages listed. Nevertheless, that is an space wherein open supply actually shines. The power to edit and modify supply code for any objective opens up a wealth of prospects. You may create just about something you’d like. Or, after all, you would rent an knowledgeable to take action in your behalf and even for a number of shops which will want a shared answer.
This additionally allows you to create customized integrations with any device that you just use. In lots of instances, ecommerce shops have to sync with different gross sales channels, social media platforms, website positioning instruments, stock administration programs, specialty fee gateways, e-mail advertising instruments, and extra.
Once more, there are sometimes many extra add-ons and third celebration integrations out there with open supply software program because of the variety of builders contributing. And if there isn’t one thing that meets your wants, merely create your personal answer or work with somebody who can.
The group behind open-source software program, particularly the WordPress content material administration system and WooCommerce, is like no different. There’s an unbelievable sense of camaraderie and giving again to the mission as an entire. It’s in regards to the collective expertise, pushed by creativeness and innovation.
Because the WordPress.org web site states, “Supporting the concept of democratizing publishing and the freedoms that include open supply, is a big group of individuals collaborating on and contributing to this mission.”
In 2022, 988 individuals contributed to WordPress core growth alone. And these contributions got here from nations everywhere in the world, together with the USA, France, Bangladesh, India, and Italy.
And at every annual WordCamp U.S., there’s a Contributor Day, the place members of the group can provide again to WordPress core growth. Actions vary from fixing bugs and testing software program to writing code and documentation — but it surely’s all designed to raised the open supply content material administration system (CMS) for all customers.
Assist for open-source software program is usually shared with the group. For instance, WooCommerce and WordPress have free help boards that permit anybody to contribute with useful steerage and recommendation. This opens the door to distinctive, artistic options from individuals who have skilled comparable issues on their very own retailer.
No vendor lock-in
Whenever you’re utilizing a closed supply ecommerce device, it may be fairly troublesome to go away. To start out, it’s possible you’ll be locked into an settlement for a sure period of time. Or maybe you even paid for a yr or extra prematurely.
Then, there’s the truth that the software program is proprietary. That implies that not solely will it not work on one other platform, you merely gained’t have the ability to entry it and transfer it elsewhere. You additionally usually don’t have entry to full ecommerce web site backups or, in case you do, they’ll solely work on that particular platform.
How does this present itself for ecommerce retailer house owners? When you ever outgrow the platform you’re utilizing or just need to transfer for every other motive, you’ll lose numerous your laborious work.
When you can often migrate info like product and buyer information and gross sales historical past, you’ll be able to’t transfer the precise design of your web site. The migration course of may also be tough, particularly with out a third-party device or net developer at your aspect.
Check out how migrations work for Shopify and Wix.
Ease of use
Proprietary software program is usually marketed as simple to make use of, but it surely’s essential to know that this may also be true for open-source software program.
For instance, WooCommerce customers can reap the benefits of the highly effective built-in block editor. Design pages, checkout experiences, weblog posts, headers, footers, and extra by dragging and dropping components — like photographs, movies, columns, paragraphs, and headings — into place.
This permits completely anybody, no matter their growth or design expertise, to construct a lovely, purposeful ecommerce retailer.
Open-source software program additionally usually has intensive documentation out there, together with an enormous quantity of group help. All of this mixed with the flexibleness of open supply makes for a sturdy retailer constructing expertise.
Open-source ecommerce isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer. Whereas it affords unmatched management and suppleness, your small business is greatest fitted to open-source ecommerce in case you can handle a number of key duties:
You may handle core duties in-house
With open-source software program, routine upkeep and choices are within the fingers of the shop proprietor. This consists of issues like updates, upkeep, backups, and ecommerce safety practices.
This, after all, is a trade-off for extra management. You may deal with these duties nevertheless you see match and make sure that they’re being finished to the best high quality. However some might favor to be utterly fingers off, as you’ll be able to with proprietary software program.
With WordPress, nevertheless, you’ll be able to automate many of those duties. Activate auto-updates, arrange real-time backups, and add a safety plugin — it’s the very best of each worlds.
You may work with much less hands-on help
To your core software program, WordPress and WooCommerce have a mixed workforce of over 200 help engineers distributed all over the world — which means somebody is all the time out there to assist. For prime-volume companies, we additionally provide devoted help and may make referrals to licensed WooCommerce businesses primarily based in your particular necessities.
Some plugins and extensions are maintained by third-party builders who might have small help groups. However, there’s a wealth of documentation out there, together with tutorial movies, meetups, Fb teams, and extra.
You might also obtain extra devoted help from particular hosts and software program suppliers you’ve bought providers from, although these could be restricted to the precise options they supply.
You can also make key choices in your retailer setup
Proprietary programs usually embody ecommerce performance alongside internet hosting, devoted help, backup instruments, safety practices, and extra. It’s all packaged collectively.
With self-hosted open-source ecommerce software program (e.g. not utilizing WordPress.com or Pressable), you’re accountable for selecting these “extras.” You may choose your personal cloud internet hosting or customary internet hosting supplier, set up a backup plugin or manually take your personal, select your personal stock management programs, work with a number of fee gateways, arrange safety instruments nevertheless you see match, and so forth. It’s all in your fingers.
Once more, this provides you final management to decide on the correct answer in your particular scenario, however won’t be proper for each single enterprise.
You may vet plugin high quality requirements
One of many advantages of open supply is the big range of add-ons and plugins that builders have created utilizing the supply code. Many of those can be found at no cost.
Nevertheless, they arrive from quite a lot of sources and builders, not all of which have been examined for compatibility with the latest WooCommerce updates. There are even nulled variations of premium plugins and themes that may introduce safety vulnerabilities into your web site.
The easy answer to that is to vet your sources. For instance, all the things within the WordPress.org theme and plugin repository has been verified for safety, together with the entire extensions within the WooCommerce Market.
With open supply, the choices are limitless. You should utilize WooCommerce as a B2B ecommerce platform, a B2C on-line retailer, and even create your personal customized ecommerce options (or rent a developer to take action). Listed below are a number of varieties of shops you’ll be able to construct with the very best open-source ecommerce platforms:
- Conventional ecommerce shops
- B2B companies
- Service-based firms
- Multi vendor marketplaces
- Restaurant ordering programs
- Shops with regulated or restricted gadgets (like CBD or medical tools)
- On-line bookings and reservation programs
- Subscription-based websites
- Membership portals
- Wholesale shops
- On-line course web sites
- Digital obtain hubs
- Software program licensing companies
- Nonprofits
There are thousands and thousands of retailers utilizing WooCommerce, and you may learn a few of their success tales right here. However let’s take a more in-depth take a look at a number of:
Northwest Eye Design
Northwest Eye Design is an ocularist workplace that makes a speciality of high-quality, customized ocular prosthetics. Additionally they promote equipment on their web site, comparable to eye patches and cleansing merchandise.
They use WooCommerce to promote not simply one-time gadgets, but in addition provide subscriptions for merchandise that clients have to order steadily.
MegaFit Meals
MegaFit Meals sells ready meals for individuals engaged on attaining particular vitamin targets. With open supply ecommerce platform, WooCommerce, they provide signature meals that listing macros and vitamin details at a look.
Additionally they have a customized meal part of their on-line enterprise. Consumers can select their proteins, carbohydrates, and greens to create a field of customized meals for his or her particular wants.
DVO Suspension
DVO Suspension sells specialty mountain bike suspension components. Their retailer options filters that assist consumers slim right down to the precise product they want. Additionally they have a product finder device and even a customized shock suspension possibility.
Open supply is the last word gateway to freedom and suppleness for on-line shops. With out the restrictions and limitations posed by proprietary platforms and licenses, you’ll be able to really create something possible.
And relating to free ecommerce platforms which might be open supply, WooCommerce really stands out. It was created in order that anybody can promote on-line, no matter technical experience. Plus, it affords highly effective performance and is backed by a developer group captivated with open-source ecommerce.
Do you continue to have questions on open supply ecommerce? Let’s reply a number of frequent ones.
Why is open supply essential?
Open supply software program is extremely essential within the tech house. Initially, supply code that’s out there for all to switch creates an incredible atmosphere for innovation and creativity. You usually find yourself with among the most revolutionary concepts below these circumstances.
Permitting anybody to look at and work on the code additionally means nice transparency and safety. The extra individuals engaged on it, the better the possibility of catching bugs and figuring out points.
Lastly, open-source software program permits for equality and alternative for all. Because of the nature of open supply, anybody can use it, no matter their financial standing or every other issue.
Is WooCommerce open supply?
Sure, WooCommerce is an open supply ecommerce platform, together with WordPress, the CMS it was constructed upon. In reality, this has been an integral side of WordPress since its founding. It goes past simply software program growth and has really became an unbelievable, modern group designed to make web site creation accessible to all.
Who can contribute to open supply software program?
Everybody can contribute to open supply software program! As a result of the code is offered for anybody to view and modify as they see match, anybody can contribute their concepts, abilities, expertise, and expertise.
Contributors don’t want net growth experience, both. For WordPress Contributor Day, for instance, there are a number of areas that volunteers can work on, together with:
- Core code
- Design
- Translations
- Accessibility
- Neighborhood
- Documentation
- Advertising and marketing
- Testing
- Pictures
If there’s one thing you need to contribute, yow will discover a method to take action.
Is open-source software program safe?
Open-source ecommerce software program could be very safe. As a result of there are such a lot of individuals contributing to the supply code, it’s simpler and sooner to search out vulnerabilities and clear up any potential safety issues.
That being stated, any and all software program could be hacked, whether or not it’s proprietary or open supply. And, within the case of open supply, extra safety duties can fall into the fingers of the person web site proprietor. That’s why it’s essential to observe primary safety steps to guard your content material and information.
Do open-source ecommerce instruments require extra technical data?
This, after all, can fluctuate dramatically primarily based on the precise device that you just’re utilizing. With open-source ecommerce platforms, extra energy is put within the fingers of customers. Whereas this enables for final freedom and suppleness, and comes with a wealth of extra advantages, it could possibly additionally imply a better studying curve.
Nevertheless, instruments like WooCommerce and WordPress are designed for anybody to make use of, no matter their stage of technical experience. With intensive documentation, an unlimited, world group, and highly effective instruments like the block editor, even the latest person can create a lovely, profitable on-line enterprise.
What’s a SaaS ecommerce platform?
SaaS stands for software program as a service, and is a technique of delivering applications to finish customers on-line. Slightly than buying and putting in the software program, customers log in on a appropriate gadget to make use of the instruments. Additionally they subscribe to the software program, making this mannequin like renting an residence, with open supply software program just like proudly owning a home.
SaaS ecommerce platforms should not open supply. They usually embody on-line retailer performance, alongside internet hosting and tech help multi function. Nevertheless, the software program is hosted on their very own proprietary platform and the supply code is usually not out there to switch. In lots of instances, the phrases “software program as a service”, “proprietary”, and “closed supply” are used interchangeably.
Examples of SaaS platform options embody Shopify and Wix.
What are some examples of open-source ecommerce platforms?
WooCommerce is the hottest and greatest open-source ecommerce platform due to its unbelievable group, limitless flexibility, and highly effective performance. It’s a very free platform that’s constructed upon the muse of WordPress, which can be open supply.
Different open-source ecommerce platforms embody Adobe Commerce (previously Magento Open Supply / Magento Neighborhood Version), Drupal Commerce, and Joomla.
What are some examples of different open supply software program?
The impression of open supply software program goes past ecommerce, with examples like:
- WordPress: The most well-liked content material administration system (CMS)
- Mozilla Firefox: A free net browser
- PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor, a coding language
- MYSQL: A well-liked kind of database that powers purposes like WordPress, Netflix, and Fb
- Linux: An working system corresponding to Home windows and iOS
- FileZilla: A file switch protocol (FTP) device
- Audacity: An audio editor and recorder
- Android: A cellular working system
How can I contribute to WordPress and WooCommerce?
There are many methods you can contribute to WordPress and WooCommerce!
Listed below are just some:
As you’ll be able to see, there are a number of how to contribute, irrespective of your ability set or expertise stage with WordPress and WooCommerce. An added bonus? You’ll get to fulfill some unbelievable people who find themselves captivated with creating an open net.
Can I migrate from a proprietary ecommerce device to an open-source one?
Sure, you’ll be able to definitely migrate from a proprietary ecommerce device to an open-source platform. Nevertheless, because of the nature of closed supply instruments, you gained’t have the ability to transfer all elements of your present web site.
For instance, you’ll be able to usually transfer information and knowledge like web page content material, order historical past, and product info. Nevertheless, you often can’t transfer the precise design and format of your web site.
Prepared to make use of WooCommerce as a Shopify, Wix, Magento, or BigCommerce different? Listed below are some guides to migrating to WooCommerce from proprietary platforms:
These will stroll you thru all of the migration concerns and supply a number of strategies primarily based in your expertise stage.
Need assistance constructing, migrating, or sustaining your small business? Let’s chat! WooCommerce is prepared that will help you scale.
Mahrie leads built-in advertising at Woo, the place she bridges progress, product, partnerships, and demand gen to drive platform progress throughout retailers, builders, businesses, and tech companions. She’s spent her profession throughout SaaS, ecommerce, internet hosting, and open supply. Outdoors of Woo, you may discover her biking, mountaineering, or liking… numerous dishes from eating places round Toronto.
