Shopify vs iPage: Comprehensive comparison guide for 2024

Final verdict

Shopify and iPage cater to different segments of the website builder market, with Shopify focusing on comprehensive ecommerce solutions and iPage on user-friendly web hosting and site building for small businesses and personal projects.

• 
  Shopify (Overall Grade: 8.1/10)
  
  excels as an ecommerce platform, offering a wide range of features tailored for online stores, including advanced inventory management, a variety of payment gateways, and robust marketing tools. Its design functionalities, customer support, and security measures are particularly strong, making it the ideal choice for businesses looking to scale their online presence.
• 
  iPage (Overall Grade: 6.1/10)
  
  , while not as feature-rich as Shopify, provides a cost-effective and straightforward solution for users seeking to create simple websites or embark on small-scale ecommerce ventures. It offers a range of templates, basic ecommerce tools, and a user-friendly interface, making it suitable for beginners and those with limited technical expertise.

	Overall grade: 8.1	Overall grade: 6.1
Design Functionalities & Templates	8.2	7.0
Ease of use	7.5	7.6
Ecommerce	9.2	5.7
Website Editors	7.9	6.8
Product Testing Options	8.1	2.5
Price	8.2	7.3
Hosting Quality	9.0	7.7
Website Speed Optimization	7.8	7.4
Plugins and Integrations	8.7	6.3
Marketing Features	8.8	7.2
Customer Support	8.6	6.9
Security	9.0	7.5
AI Capabilities	7.9	3.0
User Management	6.5	3.2
Overall	8.1	6.1

Best for ecommerce

9.2

5.7

Verdict

: Shopify significantly outperforms iPage in ecommerce capabilities, making it the preferred choice for businesses looking to scale and diversify.

• 
  Shopify
  
  : With a robust score of 9.2, Shopify is a powerhouse for ecommerce, offering an extensive suite of features designed for online store management and growth. Its platform is particularly suited for businesses seeking comprehensive ecommerce tools and scalability.
• 
  iPage
  
  : Scoring 5.7, iPage caters to the ecommerce needs of smaller businesses or those just starting out. While it provides essential tools for online selling, it lacks the depth and breadth of features found in Shopify, making it less ideal for larger or more complex ecommerce operations.

Best for informational & business websites

6.8

7.2

• 
  Shopify
  
  : While primarily an ecommerce platform, Shopify can be utilized for informational websites, especially when ecommerce functionality is a future consideration. Its complexity and range of features may be overkill for purely informational sites but provide a solid foundation for a multifaceted approach.
• 
  iPage
  
  : iPage, with its focus on simplicity and providing a straightforward user experience, is more suitable for users seeking efficient and direct tools for building informational websites. Its partnership with other platforms for enhanced hosting capabilities also makes it a strong contender for users prioritizing both ease of use and reliability.

Both platforms come with different strengths and a solid foundation for building informational websites. The choice between them should be based on the specific needs of the user, including ease of use, reliability, and the potential for ecommerce functionality.

Detailed comparison

8.2

7.0

Winner: Shopify.

If you’re looking for a platform that offers more professional and ecommerce-focused design functionalities and templates, Shopify is the preferred choice.

Shopify’s templates are sleek and professional, ideal for ecommerce sites. They offer a sophisticated look with a focus on online stores. While the free template selection is not large, Shopify’s premium theme store provides a variety of industry-specific options, offering advanced features for a strong brand presence.

Shopify Themes

Compared to Shopify, iPage offers a wide variety of templates and designs, catering to users with diverse needs and preferences. With hundreds of options available, users can easily find a template that suits their specific project or business requirements. These templates are also customizable, allowing for a high degree of personalization in terms of layout, color schemes, and functionality.

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7.5

7.6

🏆 Winner: iPage

. Scoring a close 7.6, iPage edges out Shopify (7.5) in terms of ease of use. iPage’s platform is designed with simplicity in mind, making it highly accessible for users with no prior web development experience. Shopify, while user-friendly, has a slightly steeper learning curve, especially for those new to ecommerce.

Learning Resources

🏆 Winner: Shopify

. Both platforms offer solid learning resources, but Shopify goes a step further with its extensive library of articles, tutorials, webinars, and video courses. iPage offers a variety of learning resources, but the availability of direct, personalized support might vary, which can affect the learning experience for more complex issues.

9.2

5.7

Shopify, with a score of 9.2, is a leading ecommerce platform that provides a comprehensive set of features for online businesses. It offers tools for creating and customizing online stores, managing products, processing payments, and handling order fulfillment. On the other hand, iPage, scoring 5.7, offers a range of ecommerce features suitable for small to medium-sized businesses looking to establish an online store. However, iPage’s ecommerce capabilities might not scale well for very large enterprises or those with highly complex ecommerce needs.

Ecommerce themes and templates	8.2	5.5
Product page customization	8.5	5.0
Payment processing and commissions	8.8	6.0
POS capabilities	8.1	3.0
Payment gateways	9.5	6.5
Product numbers	9.0	4.0
Additional ecommerce features	9.1	5.5

Shopify ecommerce features:

• Comprehensive store builder
• Shopify Payments and other gateways
• Advanced inventory management
• Multi-channel selling
• Abandoned cart recovery
• Detailed analytics and reporting

iPage ecommerce features:

• Inventory Management and Tracking
• Coupon Codes and Promotions
• SEO Tools
• PayPal Integration

Ecommerce themes & templates

Shopify offers about 150 modern responsive themes for creating a virtual storefront, ensuring a good look on both desktop and mobile devices. While some themes are free, others cost between $170 to $380. iPage offers a variety of ecommerce-specific templates designed to cater to online stores and businesses. However, users might find some limitations in terms of customization and advanced ecommerce functionalities compared to Shopify.

Product page customization

Shopify has a limit of three options per product, totaling 100 unique variations. This limit may not pose a significant constraint, and it is suggested that for products with numerous options, creating separate listings on Shopify can be a more manageable approach. While Shopify offers titles, descriptions, and image galleries with zoom effects, customization options like adding ribbons, size charts, and wishlists are not as straightforward. However, Shopify distinguishes itself with additional features through its extensive library of extra apps, offering functionalities like reviews, Facebook stores, eBay item importers, and a unique Augmented Reality feature for an enhanced customer experience.

iPage’s website builder offers a range of ecommerce product page customization options, allowing users to design their storefronts with various templates, adjust layouts, and incorporate multimedia elements like images and videos to showcase products. Users can also edit product descriptions, manage inventory, and set up different payment options. However, limitations may include less flexibility in advanced customization or coding for those who require unique, highly tailored functionalities beyond the provided templates and settings.

Payment processing

When it comes to payment processing, Shopify offers payments with typical charges of 2.9% + 30¢ per online transaction on basic plans, and lower fees for higher-tier plans. However, it adds extra fees for using other payment gateways. Shopify Payments is Shopify’s own payment processing gateway. It allows merchants to accept credit card payments directly on their store without having to integrate third-party payment providers. This simplifies the payment process, reduces transaction fees, and streamlines the handling of finances.

iPage supports several payment options for eCommerce, including major gateways like PayPal, Stripe, and others, catering to a wide range of currencies and countries. iPage does not charge commissions for transactions, commissions are charged by the gateways themselves. While iPage offers flexibility in online payment processing, it does not explicitly mention integrated POS capabilities for in-person transactions. For billing and subscription payments, iPage accepts credit cards, PayPal, and check or money order, offering diverse payment methods for its users.

7.9

6.8

🏆

Winner: Shopify

. Shopify, with a score of 7.9, excels in providing a streamlined, ecommerce-focused editing experience. It’s particularly beneficial for users who prioritize efficient management of online stores. The editor is straightforward, making it easy to add products, manage inventory, and set up payment methods. Shopify’s editor is optimized for sales and business growth, with built-in tools specifically designed for ecommerce businesses.

iPage’s editor, scoring 6.8, is designed for ease of use, catering to both beginners and those with some web design experience. It offers a drag-and-drop interface, allowing users to easily add, remove, and customize elements on their web pages without needing to code. However, compared to Shopify, iPage might offer fewer features and less refined design capabilities, potentially impacting users aiming for highly unique or complex website functionalities.

Mobile editor/app

8.0

5.0

🏆

Winner: Shopify

. Both Shopify and iPage offer mobile editing capabilities, but they cater to different needs and skill levels. Shopify has a dedicated mobile app that allows users to manage their online store from their mobile device. This feature enables the addition, removal, editing, and rearrangement of content on the store’s website, offering convenient on-the-go adjustments to the store’s appearance and layout.

iPage, on the other hand, does not have a dedicated mobile app. However, users can edit their website on a mobile browser, albeit with some limitations. This might be a disadvantage for users who prefer to manage their website on the go.

In summary, Shopify receives a higher rating due to its dedicated mobile app and the convenience it offers for managing an online store, while iPage’s mobile editing capabilities are limited to browser-based editing.

8.1

2.5

Overall Result

:

Shopify Wins

. Shopify scores 8.1 in product testing options, significantly higher than iPage’s 2.5. Shopify offers a 14-day free trial with access to all features, while iPage does not have a free trial but allows all features to be tested during a 30-day refundable period.

Free Plan	No (14-day free trial)	No
Trial Duration	14 days	No free trial
Testing Premium Features	All features during free trial	All features during 30-day refund period

8.2

7.3

Shopify offers more refined features for ecommerce operations, but iPage offers a wider range of plans suitable for different needs, including simple websites, multiple sites with storage, online selling with eCommerce tools, and high traffic sites.

	Offerings	Offerings
$10-$20	No offering at this amount.	Basic ($15.99/month): Simple website or blog, 1 website, 10 GB SSD, free domain, managed WordPress, free SSL for 1st year. Value for price: 6.5
$20-$30	Shopify Basic ($29/month): Unlimited products, 2.9% + 30¢ card fee with Shopify payments, Extra 2% gateway fee without Shopify Payments, Abandoned cart recovery, Automated sales tax, Digital products, POS Integration, 2 staff accounts. Value for price: 8.0	Choice Plus ($27.99/month): Multiple sites with storage, security, backups, 3 websites, 40 GB SSD, daily backups, domain privacy, malware scanning. Value for price: 7.5
$30-$34	No offering at this amount.	Online Store ($32.99/month): Online selling with eCommerce tools, 3 websites, 40 GB SSD, store features like unlimited products and secure payments. Value for price: 8.0
$34-$40	No offering at this amount.	Pro ($34.99/month): High traffic sites, advanced storage, 5 websites, 100 GB SSD, optimized for high traffic, enhanced security and backups. Value for price: 9.0
$70-$80	Shopify Standard ($79/month): Lower card fees (2.6% + 30¢), Gift cards, Professional reports, 5 staff accounts. Value for price: 8.5	No offering at this amount.
$200+	Advanced Shopify ($299/month): Lowest card fees (2.49% + 30¢), Advanced report builder, Real-time carrier shipping, Up to 15 staff accounts Value for price: 8.8	No offering at this amount.

9.0

7.7

Winner: Shopify

. Shopify’s proprietary cloud-based hosting, with a 99.99% uptime guarantee and 5 global data centers, is designed for high-traffic online stores. iPage, on the other hand, offers managed WordPress hosting with a 99.9% uptime and 2 data centers, making it a suitable choice for small businesses and personal projects. However, Shopify’s superior reliability and performance earn it a higher rating in this category.

Do they offer hosting?	Yes, included in all paid plans	Yes, included in all paid plans
Data Centers:	5 globally: USA (Ashburn, Virginia; Santa Clara, California), Canada (Toronto, Ontario), Ireland (Dublin), and Singapore	2 data centers: US, Europe
Type of hosting:	Proprietary cloud-based hosting	Managed WordPress Hosting
Uptime:	99.99%	99.9%
Uptime Guarantee:	Yes, 99.99%	No

7.8

7.4

🏆 Winner: Shopify

Both Shopify and iPage place a high priority on website performance and page speed, with Shopify focusing on app and theme optimization and iPage focusing on web server optimizations, caching, CDN, database optimization, and SEO optimization. However, Shopify gets a slight edge when it comes to website speed optimization.

Focus	App optimization, Theme optimization	Web Server optimizations, Caching, CDN, Database optimization, SEO optimization
Performance Tools	Google Lighthouse, PageSpeed Insights	Google PageSpeed Insights Integration
Key Strategies	App efficiency, Theme optimization	Web Server optimizations, Caching, CDN, Database optimization, SEO optimization
Load Times	Varies widely, dependent on optimization	2.6s average
Page Speed Scores Range	Scores vary; influenced by apps, images	72/100 average
Core Web Vitals Improvement	Emphasis on LCP, FID, CLS improvements	LCP, FID, CLS improvements

Shopify’s approach to enhancing site speed includes app optimization by removing unneeded app code, conditionally loading apps, avoiding immediate pop-up displays, and incorporating app functionality directly into themes. This approach leverages Shopify’s fast servers and CDN network to boost load speed. Shopify also suggests utilizing Google AMP for faster mobile page loads, although with some design compromises. Analysis of three Shopify sites showed a range of Shopify speed scores from 14 to 75, Google PSI scores from 8 to 80, and load times varying from 10.6 seconds to 2.3 seconds. Continuous maintenance and optimization are essential for keeping Shopify stores fast.

iPage, on the other hand, focuses on web server optimizations, caching, CDN, database optimization, and SEO optimization to improve website speed. It has an average load time of 2.6 seconds and an average PageSpeed score of 72/100. iPage also emphasizes improvements in Core Web Vitals, specifically LCP, FID, and CLS. Despite its comprehensive approach to speed optimization, iPage falls slightly behind Shopify in terms of overall website speed optimization score.

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8.7

6.3

🏆 Winner: Shopify.

With a score of 8.7, Shopify outperforms iPage, which scores 6.3. Shopify offers over 8,000 apps in its App Store, covering a wide range of functionalities. These apps come with various pricing options, including free, paid, freemium, and one-time payment models. On the other hand, iPage offers a variety of plugins and extensions, with options ranging from SEO tools to security enhancements. The pricing for these plugins and extensions varies widely, with some available for free, while others require a one-time purchase or a recurring subscription fee. This allows users to customize their websites according to their needs and budget. However, the sheer number of options and the ecommerce-focused functionalities offered by Shopify give it the edge in this comparison.

Shopify Applications

8.8

7.2

🏆

Overall Winner: Shopify

. Shopify stands out for its more advanced ecommerce-focused marketing tools, especially in analytics and ad campaign management. iPage offers a good range of marketing features, but they are not as comprehensive as Shopify’s.

SEO Tools
Email Marketing
Blogging
Social Media Integration	Advanced integration for selling directly on social platforms	Integrated social media buttons and features
Analytics and Reporting	Detailed analytics for in-depth insights	Option to integrate Google Analytics for comprehensive analytics
Ads and Promotions	Google Ads integration; sophisticated ad campaign management	Offers SEO, social media integration, email marketing, and promotional discounts

8.6

6.9

🏆 Winner: Shopify

. Shopify outperforms iPage in this category with a customer support score of 8.6 compared to iPage’s 6.9. Shopify provides 24/7 support through chat, email, and phone, and offers a dedicated program and additional resources for enterprise-level businesses.

iPage also provides 24/7 customer support through phone, email, and live chat, ensuring that customers can receive help whenever they need it. However, iPage does not offer enterprise support, which makes Shopify a more suitable choice for enterprise-level businesses.

9.0

7.5

🏆

Winner: Shopify

. Shopify’s security measures are comprehensive, including secure infrastructure, encryption, two-factor authentication, regular audits, and a dedicated incident response team. These measures ensure the safety of user data and the overall security of the platform, earning Shopify a high security score of 9.0.

Although it may not offer the same level of specialized ecommerce security features as Shopify, iPage also takes security seriously, offering Domain Privacy Protection, SiteLock, and SSL certificates to protect user data and websites. However, with a security score of 7.5, it falls short of Shopify’s robust security measures. Despite this, iPage’s security features are still commendable and provide a secure environment for users to build and host their websites.

7.9

3.0

Personalized Design	Shopify AI Builder offers personalized design suggestions	iPage’s AI assists in efficient website setup
SEO Optimization	AI-driven recommendations for better search engine visibility
Customer Behavior Analysis	Advanced analytics to understand customer preferences
Sales Predictions	AI-powered sales forecasting tools
Inventory Management	AI tools to assist in efficient inventory handling
Content Generation	AI-assisted content generation

🏆 Winner: Shopify

. Shopify, with a score of 7.9, utilizes AI mainly to enhance the ecommerce experience. Its AI features focus on customer behavior analysis, personalized shopping experiences, inventory management, and sales predictions. Shopify’s AI also assists in content generation, making it a comprehensive tool for online store management.

iPage, scoring 3.0, has limited AI capabilities. Its AI features are more about assisting users in setting up their websites efficiently rather than offering advanced AI content generation or sophisticated AI-driven design tools.

6.5

3.2

🏆 Winner: Shopify

. Shopify’s user management system is more robust compared to iPage’s very limited multi-user functionality and access levels.

• Shopify enforces staff account limits based on plans, ranging from 2 to 15, with Shopify Plus offering unlimited
  accounts. Collaborators with limited access are also an option.
• iPage’s website builder offers very limited multi-user functionality and access levels compared to more sophisticated website builder platforms.

Shopify User Roles and Access Levels:

Additional Features

SSL Certificate
Custom Domain
Free Custom Domain Included
International Domains
Mobile Responsive
Page Speed
Website Builder Mobile App
Convert a Website To An App
Website Analytics
Multilingual Sites
Multiple Users

User Feedback

Shopify

4482 reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars

iPage

0 reviews

0 out of 5 stars

Shopify’s high rating on G2 Crowd can be largely attributed to its specialization in ecommerce. Its comprehensive features, ease of use, and robust customer support cater specifically to online businesses, leading to high user satisfaction among those seeking a dedicated ecommerce solution.

Unfortunately, there is no available user feedback or G2 rating for iPage to provide a comparison at this time.

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