Creating an online food store: WooCommerce or Agrojusto

If you want to launch your own online food store and aren't sure which platform to build it on (WooCommerce or Agrojusto), this article will be a big help. We'll go over the pros and cons of each option so you can build your digital business where it works best for your business goals.

Let's start by looking at what WooCommerce by WordPress is and what Agrojusto is.

Just to be clear, we're not trying to sell you anything; you'll know which one to choose after reading this article.

What is WooCommerce

WooCommerce is a WordPress plugin used to create online stores. WordPress is the world's most popular CMS (content management system) because it's open source.

This type of platform is usually managed by programmers or developers. While building a store on WordPress isn't overly complex, you do need some basic knowledge. It isn't quick: it takes time and some investment (especially to pay for web hosting for the store).

What is Agrojusto

It's a platform that lets you create an online food store in a matter of minutes. It's completely free, with no sales commissions. Interesting, right?

Let's see how it works.

Agrojusto lets you have an online store and sell your products without having to pay for web hosting. That alone is a big advantage, since it means no monthly or annual expense.

It's also a very intuitive platform that guides you step by step as you create your store, upload products and information, and improve little by little, without having to hire programmers or anyone else. It's a simple system, ideal for entrepreneurs.

That said, keep in mind it's only for selling food or agroecological products (at least for now).

You might also like: The difference between an online store and a marketplace

What you need on each platform to build your online store from scratch

With WooCommerce you need to:

• Purchase a web hosting plan.
• Install WordPress and the plugin itself.
• Install the Mercado Pago plugin.
• Install a plugin for forms, sales, and shipping. Yes, everything runs on plugins that you keep adding as you want more features.
• Get help from a programmer or someone with basic knowledge, especially if you have no idea what it's all about.

With Agrojusto you need to:

• Create your online store with your email.
• Upload your information and products.
• Add your Mercado Pago account to receive payments.
• Start selling.

Yes, it's simpler because it already has everything you need, tailored to your needs.

WooCommerce vs. Agrojusto comparison

Service costs

If you choose WooCommerce, you'll need to factor in the cost of hosting (you can pay monthly or annually), and if you're not familiar with this kind of e-commerce platform, we recommend getting help from a professional: a developer or programmer (especially at the beginning).

With Agrojusto, the service is completely free and commission-free. There are no hidden fees. It does offer a paid plan, but you don't have to sign up for it right away: you decide when to do so, or whether to stay on the Free plan.

Ease of use

With WooCommerce, since it's a WordPress plugin, you should have some idea of how it works. Although the platform is managed with blocks, you may feel overwhelmed at first by so many options and things on screen. You need a basic understanding of the subject.

Agrojusto has a simpler interface. The platform itself guides you through filling in all your details and uploading your products. You don't need any prior knowledge of programming or e-commerce.

Online store design

WooCommerce offers a variety of templates for online store design. The wide range of options is because it's used worldwide and lets you create stores of every kind and industry.

Agrojusto's design is simpler, since it focuses solely on creating food stores, especially in the healthy and agroecological space.

Basic features for selling online

WooCommerce lets you keep adding forms, payment methods, and anything else you want thanks to its extensive app repository.

With Agrojusto, you can add payment methods like Mercado Pago and access (without downloading anything) special features for the food market, such as:

• Exporting orders to Excel.
• A route sheet to improve delivery logistics.
• Your store's own QR code.
• Contact with producers to get better prices.

Personalized support

When it comes to using WooCommerce and its features, you'll find plenty of material in forums and on YouTube. Since it's open-source software, thousands of people, including developers from all over the world, share opinions and useful content about it.

With Agrojusto, customer service is more personalized. If you have any questions or need guidance, you can contact customer support and quickly get the answers you need. They also have an online library of materials (videos, webinars, blog articles, etc.) for entrepreneurs and producers, available to every user who creates a store on the platform.

Conclusion

If you're unsure which platform to choose, WooCommerce or Agrojusto, we recommend going over each point to find the answer you need. When starting a business, you should consider costs, customer service (the more personalized, the better), available plans, commissions, security for your customers, and several other key points we covered above.

Remember that with Agrojusto you can only create food-related stores, while with WooCommerce you can create any kind of store.

What matters is that you take that step (or rather, that click) into the digital world and start making your dreams come true.