I'm in a bit of a tight spot with my online store. I sell a product that exists in a somewhat grey area, and my main customer base is in the EU and US. Because of this, I'm wary of platforms like Shopify that might suddenly close my store without a second thought. I started six months ago with a WooCommerce site, but the developer I hired really messed things up. It's bogged down by over 30 plugins, making it extremely slow, and even after hiring another developer to fix the issues, I can't get my Google PageSpeed score above 40, and my Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) is over 7 seconds. Ideally, I want to eventually move away from WordPress/WooCommerce entirely and consider a custom-built site. I'm particularly interested in exploring custom-built apps or platforms like PrestaShop. If anyone here has experience navigating these challenges, I'd love to hear your thoughts!
5 Answers
You could also consider building a custom web app using React or Svelte and integrating a backend like Medusa or Vendure. While it's more work than WooCommerce, it could give you exactly what you want without the common pitfalls.
Have a look at CS-Cart. It's PHP-based, and I used it for a similar project in the US with great results. If you need a developer, I can help connect you.
Sticking with WooCommerce might be best for you right now. Just be careful about who you hire. Start with a better theme, like StoreFront, to really see what WooCommerce can do. Many users have had good experiences with it, especially when they keep it streamlined.
Thanks, I’ll definitely look into StoreFront!
You might want to weigh the costs of going custom since it can run significantly higher than a standard solution. Just keep that in mind when you're budgeting.
WooCommerce can definitely work if you find a reliable developer. You shouldn't need all those plugins; the right setup can make a massive difference. If you're considering something else, Magento is another good choice, but do expect higher costs for both hosting and development. Just confirm it's a good fit for your needs before diving in.
That's true, but can WooCommerce handle what I'm selling in the long run, especially after all these issues? How much speed improvement can I realistically expect?
There might be limits, yeah. But focusing on a minimal setup with fewer plugins could really help boost your site's performance.
I use Vue with Medusa for my projects, and it’s worked pretty well so far!