Shopify vs SmugMug: guide for 2024

Final verdict

Shopify and SmugMug cater to different needs, making them suitable for distinct user bases.

Shopify (Overall Grade: 8.1/10)

is a comprehensive ecommerce platform ideal for businesses looking to scale their online stores. It offers robust ecommerce features, advanced marketing tools, and strong security measures. Shopify’s extensive range of integrations and plugins, along with its superior hosting quality and AI capabilities, make it a powerful choice for serious online retailers. When comparing Shopify vs SmugMug, Shopify stands out for its ecommerce prowess and scalability.
SmugMug (Overall Grade: 6.3/10)

is tailored for photographers and creatives who want to showcase and sell their work online. It provides customizable templates optimized for high-quality images, robust photo protection features, and basic ecommerce capabilities. SmugMug excels in ease of use and user management, making it a great choice for visual artists. In the Shopify vs SmugMug comparison, SmugMug is the preferred option for those focused on photography and visual content.

	Overall grade: 8.1	Overall grade: 6.3
Design functionalities & templates	8.2	7.1
Ease of use	7.5	7.8
Ecommerce	9.2	7.3
Website Editors	7.9	7.3
Product testing options	8.1	7.4
Price	8.2	7.8
Hosting quality	9.0	5.0
Website speed optimization	7.8	5.5
Plugins and integrations	8.7	6.2
Marketing features	8.8	3.8
Customer support	8.6	7.9
Security	9.0	6.0
AI capabilities	7.9	0
User Management	6.5	7.2

Best for ecommerce

9.2

7.3

Verdict

: Shopify is the superior choice for comprehensive ecommerce needs, while SmugMug is tailored for photographers and creatives looking to sell their work online.

Shopify

: Shopify excels in providing a robust and scalable ecommerce platform. It offers a wide range of tools for product listing, payments, and order fulfillment, making it ideal for businesses aiming for growth. With features like advanced inventory management, multi-channel selling, and detailed analytics, Shopify stands out in the ecommerce sector. Its extensive library of apps further enhances its functionality, offering unique features like Augmented Reality for an enhanced customer experience. Shopify’s ecommerce score: 9.2.
SmugMug

: SmugMug is designed specifically for photographers and creatives who want to showcase and sell their work online. It offers customizable templates optimized for high-quality images and robust photo protection features. While it includes ecommerce capabilities like digital downloads, product pricing, and tax handling, it lacks the depth and scalability of Shopify’s offerings. SmugMug’s ecommerce score: 7.3.

Best for informational & business websites

6.8

7.5

Verdict

: SmugMug is better suited for informational business websites, especially for photographers and creatives, while Shopify, though capable, is more tailored for ecommerce.

Shopify

: Shopify, primarily an ecommerce platform, can be used for informational sites but may feel overly complex for such purposes. Its robust tools are designed for online stores, making it less ideal for simple informational needs. Shopify scores 6.8 in this category.
SmugMug

: SmugMug excels in creating visually appealing, professional-grade photography websites. Its user-friendly interface and customizable templates make it a strong choice for photographers and creatives. SmugMug scores 7.5, making it a better option for informational business websites compared to Shopify.

Detailed comparison

8.2

7.1

Winner: Shopify.

If you’re looking for a platform that offers more templates and design options, 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, SmugMug offers a variety of templates and designs catering to the diverse needs of photographers and visual artists. Users can choose from an extensive collection of customizable templates, ensuring their website or portfolio reflects their unique style and brand. The platform continuously updates its design offerings, incorporating the latest trends and user feedback, to provide a rich selection of modern, sleek, and professional layouts.

SmugMug Themes

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7.5

7.8

🏆 Winner: SmugMug

. Scoring a close 7.8, SmugMug edges out Shopify’s 7.5 in terms of ease of use. SmugMug’s user-friendly interface caters to both beginners and professionals, making it easy to create and customize photo galleries. However, it’s worth noting that SmugMug’s focus on photography and visual content means it may not be as versatile for other types of websites.

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, making it easier for users to learn and adapt.

Learn Shopify

Learn SmugMug

9.2

7.3

Shopify and SmugMug cater to different ecommerce needs. Shopify is a comprehensive ecommerce platform, offering a range of tools for product listing, payments, and order fulfillment. It’s ideal for businesses that need a robust and scalable online store. On the other hand, SmugMug is designed for photographers and creatives who want to sell their work online. It offers a range of customizable, easy-to-use templates optimized for displaying high-quality images and provides robust photo protection features.


Ecommerce themes and templates	8.2	8.0
Product page customization	8.5	6.5
Payment processing and commissions	8.8	6.0
POS capabilities	8.1	0.0
Payment gateways	9.5	5.0
Product numbers	9.0	9.0
Additional ecommerce features	9.1	6.5

Shopify ecommerce features:

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

SmugMug ecommerce features:

Digital Downloads
Product Pricing
Tax handling
Discounts and Coupons
Multiple Currencies support

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. In contrast, SmugMug’s templates are designed with ecommerce in mind, providing built-in shopping cart functionality.

Product page customization

Shopify allows for three options per product, totaling 100 unique variations. 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.

SmugMug, on the other hand, prioritizes photography, offering a platform tailored for photographers to showcase and sell their work. It provides enough functionality to detail digital and printed photography products effectively, enabling users to sell online with ease.

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.

SmugMug has a unique approach to payment processing. Payment processing for your sales is managed through your account settings, where you must complete a Tax & Payment form to set up your payment preferences. Your earnings are calculated as 85% of the markup on print prices or download sales, with SmugMug retaining 15% to cover various costs. Payments are made via ACH direct deposit for U.S. users or PayPal for international users, processed on the first business day after the 7th of each month for profits accumulated through the end of the previous month.

7.9

7.3

🏆

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.

Shopify Editor

SmugMug’s editor, scoring 7.3, offers a user-friendly interface that allows for the creation of visually appealing, professional-grade photography websites without the need for coding knowledge. Users can customize their site by choosing from a variety of templates, adjusting layouts, and incorporating their own branding elements like logos and colors. The editor also supports easy uploading, organizing, and showcasing of high-quality images, with robust privacy and security settings to protect content. Additionally, SmugMug provides tools for selling prints and digital downloads directly from the website, making it a comprehensive platform for photographers looking to display and monetize their work online.

Smugmug website editor

Mobile editor/app

8.0

7.5

🏆

Winner: Shopify

. Both Shopify and SmugMug offer mobile apps for managing your website, but they cater to different needs and skill levels. Shopify’s mobile app includes a user-friendly mobile theme editor that allows users to customize their online store website directly 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.

On the other hand, SmugMug’s mobile app is more limited in its capabilities. It allows users to add new photos and edit descriptions, but it does not support layout changes on the website. This makes Shopify’s mobile app more versatile and user-friendly, earning it a higher score in this category.

In summary, Shopify receives a higher rating due to its versatile and user-friendly mobile app, while SmugMug’s app is more limited in its capabilities.

8.1

7.4

Overall Result

:

Shopify Wins

. Shopify scores 8.1, offering a 14-day free trial with access to all features, including premium ones. SmugMug, scoring 7.4, also provides a 14-day free trial with access to premium features, but does not offer a money-back guarantee.


Free Plan	No	No
Trial Duration	14 days	14 days
Testing Premium Features	All features during free trial	During the free trial
Money Back Guarantee	Yes	No

8.2

7.8

Shopify and SmugMug have different pricing structures, reflecting their different focuses. Shopify is more expensive but offers a comprehensive ecommerce solution, while SmugMug is more affordable and tailored for photographers and creatives.

	Offerings	Offerings
$10-$20	No offering at this amount.	Power ($15.00/month): Best for the photographer who wants their entire photo catalog safe and shareable on their own terms. Unlimited storage, Seamless Lightroom integration. Value for price: 6.5
$20-$40	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	Portfolio ($31.00/month): Best for the photographer who wants to start selling photos and keep their archive organized perfectly. All Power plan’s features, plus 21 premade templates, prints and digital downloads sales, Custom Watermarks, Payment integration for credit cards and PayPal, Integrated cart and checkout experience, Sales statistics. Value for price: 8.0
$40-$80	Shopify Standard ($79/month): Lower card fees (2.6% + 30¢), Gift cards, Professional reports, 5 staff accounts. Value for price: 8.5	Pro ($45.00/month): Adds to Portfolio with custom price lists and coupons, Platform access for assistant or second shooter, Full control over client downloads, Branded packaging and thank you notes for print sales, coupon creator. Value for price: 8.5
$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	Venture (Starts with $500/month): All Pro features, plus dedicated support contacts and account representative for all Smugmug needs, Design, workflow, and organization consultation and support.

In some cases companies have different prices based on various components like a
location. As a result in rare cases the prices displayed here can differ from the ones you see on their
websites.

9.0

5.0

🏆

Winner: Shopify

Shopify’s proprietary cloud-based hosting, 99.99% uptime guarantee, and 5 global data centers make it a reliable choice for hosting. SmugMug, while offering hosting, does not provide detailed information about their hosting features, uptime, or data centers, making it difficult to compare. Shopify’s transparency and robust hosting features earn it a higher rating.


Do they offer hosting?	Yes, included in all paid plans	Yes, but no detailed information on their hosting features
Data Centers:	5 globally: USA (Ashburn, Virginia; Santa Clara, California), Canada (Toronto, Ontario), Ireland (Dublin), and Singapore	SmugMug does not provide any information about their data centers
Type of hosting:	Proprietary cloud-based hosting	SmugMug does not provide any information about their hosting types
Uptime:	99.99%	SmugMug does not provide any information on their uptime statistics
Uptime Guarantee:	Yes, 99.99%	Yes, 99.9%

7.8

5.5

🏆 Winner: Shopify

Both Shopify and SmugMug prioritize website performance and page speed, but Shopify’s more detailed strategies and higher score give it the edge in this comparison.


Focus	App optimization, Google AMP	Mobile Responsive design
Performance Tools	Google Lighthouse, PageSpeed Insights	Not specified
Key Strategies	App efficiency, Theme optimization	Mobile Responsive design
Load Times	Varies widely, dependent on optimization	Varies widely, depending on optimization
Page Speed Scores Range	Scores vary; influenced by apps, images	Varies widely, depending on website complexity
Core Web Vitals Improvement	Emphasis on LCP, FID, CLS improvements	Not specified

Shopify places a strong emphasis on website performance and page speed. Its 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.

SmugMug, on the other hand, focuses on mobile responsive design for speed optimization. However, it does not provide specific information on performance tools or Core Web Vital improvements. The load times and page speed scores for SmugMug websites vary widely, depending on the level of optimization and the complexity of the website.

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8.7

6.2

🏆 Winner: Shopify.

Shopify, with a score of 8.7, offers a wide range of ecommerce-focused plugins and integrations, making it a powerhouse for adding functionalities that scale with your business. On the other hand, SmugMug, scoring 6.2, provides integrations with several photo-hosting services, enhancing its functionality for photographers. However, Shopify’s breadth and depth, especially for online stores, give it the upper hand.

Shopify Applications

Shopify apps

8.8

3.8

🏆

Overall Winner: Shopify

. Shopify stands out for its comprehensive set of marketing tools, especially in email marketing, blogging, and ads and promotions. SmugMug, while offering basic SEO tools, social media integration, and analytics and reporting, lacks in email marketing, blogging, and ads and promotions.

Marketing Features
SEO Tools		Basic
Email Marketing
Blogging
Social Media Integration	Advanced integration for selling directly on social platforms
Analytics and Reporting	Detailed analytics for in-depth insights	Google Analytics integration
Ads and Promotions	Google Ads integration; sophisticated ad campaign management

8.6

7.9

🏆 Winner: Shopify

. Comparing Shopify vs SmugMug, Shopify takes the lead with its 24/7 customer support available through chat, email, and phone. Shopify’s extensive community forums and clear tutorials further enhance the support experience, making it easier for users to find solutions quickly. Additionally, Shopify offers a dedicated program for enterprise-level businesses, including a dedicated account manager and priority support.

SmugMug, on the other hand, provides customer support primarily through email and chat, available 364 days a year. While SmugMug’s support is responsive and accessible, phone support is limited to higher-tier business subscriptions. For enterprise customers, SmugMug offers specialized support with hands-on account representatives and tailored assistance, ensuring a high level of service for professional photographers and businesses. However, the lack of 24/7 support and limited phone support options place it behind Shopify in this category.

9.0

6.0

🏆

Winner: Shopify

. Shopify’s security measures are more comprehensive and robust, with a focus on data encryption, two-factor authentication, and a dedicated incident response team. This makes it a safer choice for users who prioritize security.

SmugMug, while offering privacy settings and content protection, does not provide as much detailed information about its security measures. However, it does take privacy and security seriously, implementing strict privacy settings and controls that allow users to manage who can access their content. For more detailed information, users are advised to consult SmugMug’s official documentation and support pages.

7.9


Personalized Design	Shopify AI Builder offers personalized design suggestions
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 assistance in creating and optimizing site content

🏆 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 AI feature

SmugMug, on the other hand, does not have any AI capabilities. This is a significant disadvantage, especially when compared to Shopify’s extensive AI features.

6.5

7.2

🏆 Winner: SmugMug

. Both Shopify and SmugMug offer different approaches to user management.

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.
SmugMug allows the primary account holder full control over the account, with the ability to add additional users through “Shared Account Management” for Portfolio and Pro level accounts. These additional users can be given various roles with different permissions, enabling them to manage or edit the website without full access to billing or account settings.

Shopify User Roles and Access Levels:

Role	Description	Access Highlights
Store Owner	Full control over store	Manage products, orders, discounts, payments, apps, settings. Create and manage staff accounts.
Staff	Configurable access by owner	Add/edit products, manage orders, fulfill orders, manage customers, update content. Access level can be customized by the owner.
Collaborator	Limited access for external partners	View and manage specific sections like blog or product categories. Cannot access full store settings.

SmugMug User Roles and Access Levels:

Role	Description	Access Highlights
Owner	The primary account holder who has full control over the site.	Complete access to all features, settings, content management, and billing.
Admin	Users granted almost the same level of access as the owner, minus some critical billing or account settings.	Manage content, order prints, access to stats, and settings except for account and billing changes.
Contributor	Users who can upload and manage content in specific galleries.	Upload content to assigned galleries, edit captions, and keywords. Limited access to settings.

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

SmugMug

33 reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars

Shopify’s slightly higher 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.

Users appreciate SmugMug for its reliability, ease of use, and the platform’s ability to securely host and share high-resolution photographs and videos. Highlights include seamless mobile device syncing, excellent gallery features for showcasing assets, and robust customization options minus JavaScript support. However, some users desire improvements in facial recognition technology for automatic album creation, expanded asset management capabilities beyond primarily photos, and more advanced search functionalities. Concerns about rising costs and the platform’s intuitiveness were also mentioned. Overall, SmugMug is valued for its central storage solution, privacy features for client photos, and its ability to simplify file sharing and photo sales.

The making of this blog

We followed a clear, step-by-step process to write and research this article.

Our Ranking Criteria

FAQ

Which platform is better for photographers, Shopify or SmugMug?

SmugMug is specifically designed for photographers and creatives, offering tailored features such as customizable templates optimized for high-quality images, robust photo protection, and straightforward e-commerce capabilities for selling prints and digital downloads. Shopify, while offering a comprehensive e-commerce solution, may not provide the same level of specialized features for photographers.

Can I sell digital downloads on both Shopify and SmugMug?

Yes, both platforms allow you to sell digital downloads. Shopify offers this feature as part of its comprehensive e-commerce tools, suitable for a wide range of products including digital items. SmugMug specializes in selling digital downloads, particularly for photographers, with features designed to simplify the process of selling and delivering digital content.

How do Shopify and SmugMug compare in terms of ease of use?

SmugMug scores slightly higher in ease of use, particularly for photographers and visual artists, due to its user-friendly interface and focus on photo galleries. Shopify, while also user-friendly, has a broader focus on e-commerce, which may present a steeper learning curve for users unfamiliar with online selling.

Which platform offers better customer support, Shopify or SmugMug?

Shopify is known for its 24/7 customer support and a wide range of online resources, including guides, forums, and FAQs. SmugMug also offers robust support options, but Shopify’s comprehensive support system and resources for enterprise-level businesses give it an edge in this category.

Are there any significant differences in the pricing structures of Shopify and SmugMug?

Shopify and SmugMug have different pricing structures that reflect their target audiences and features. Shopify’s plans are generally more expensive, catering to a broad range of e-commerce needs with a focus on scalability. SmugMug offers more affordable options tailored for photographers and creatives, with plans that focus on photo storage, sharing, and sales.

Which platform is better for creating a visually stunning website?

SmugMug is the preferred choice for creating visually stunning websites, especially for photographers and creatives. It offers a range of customizable, easy-to-use templates optimized for displaying high-quality images. Shopify also provides sleek and professional templates, but SmugMug’s focus on visual content gives it an advantage in this area.