Shopify Sections vs. Page Builders: Which is Right for Your Online Store?

As an online store owner, you want your website to look and function the way you envision it. This often requires you to customize your store's design and layout to meet your unique needs. In the world of Shopify, there are two popular options for achieving this: Shopify sections and page builders.

In this article, we'll explore the differences between Shopify sections and page builders, their respective strengths and weaknesses, and which one is right for your online store.

What are Shopify Sections?

Shopify sections are pre-designed content blocks that can be used to build pages on your website. They allow you to create pages with customizable sections such as a product carousel or grid, image or video gallery, text blocks, collapsible text blocks, and much more. Shopify sections are easy to use and usually require no coding knowledge, making them a popular choice for small business owners who want to customize their website without investing too much time or money.

Shopify sections are available in most Shopify themes or purchased separately and can be accessed through the Shopify Theme Editor. You can add, delete, and reorder sections as needed, and customize the layout, fonts, and colors to match your brand. Shopify sections are also responsive, which means they automatically adjust to different screen sizes, making them a great choice for creating a mobile-friendly website.

What are Page Builders?

Page builders are drag-and-drop tools that allow you to create custom pages for your website. They typically offer a wide range of design options such as layouts, fonts, colors, and animations, and can be used to create complex page designs with ease. Page builders often come with a variety of pre-built templates and elements, which can be customized to match your brand.

Page builders are popular among website designers and developers, as they offer greater flexibility and control over the design and layout of a website. They also offer more advanced features such as the ability to create custom post types, custom fields, and custom templates, which can be used to build complex websites with multiple page types.

The three most popular Shopify page builders are:

1. Shogun

   Shogun is a popular Shopify page builder that offers a variety of drag-and-drop design elements, as well as pre-built templates to help you get started.

   One of the standout features of Shogun is its seamless integration with Shopify. This means that you can easily add and edit Shogun pages from within the Shopify dashboard.

   In terms of pricing, Shogun offers a variety of plans starting at $39/month. There is also a limited free version as well.

2. PageFly

   PageFly is another popular Shopify page builder that offers a variety of drag-and-drop design elements, as well as pre-built templates.

   One of the standout features of PageFly is its extensive library of pre-built templates. These templates are designed to work with a variety of different niches and industries, making it easy to find a template that fits your specific needs.

   In terms of pricing, PageFly offers a variety of plans starting at $24/month. There is also a limited free version as well.

3. GemPages

   GemPages is a newer Shopify page builder that offers a variety of drag-and-drop design elements, as well as pre-built templates.

   One of the standout features of GemPages is its emphasis on performance. GemPages is designed to be lightweight and fast, which can help improve your store's overall performance.

   In terms of pricing, GemPages offers a variety of plans starting at $29/month. There is also a limited free version as well.

Shopify Sections vs. Page Builders: Pros and Cons

Now that we know what Shopify sections and page builders are, let's explore their respective strengths and weaknesses.

Shopify Sections Pros:

1. Easy to use: Shopify sections are beginner-friendly and require little to no coding knowledge. This makes them an accessible option for small business owners who want to customize their website without investing too much time or money.
2. Consistent design: Shopify sections are designed to work seamlessly with Shopify themes, which means that they offer a consistent design aesthetic across your website.
3. They have little negative impact on page speed: Because sections are just snippets of code, they don’t really slow your webpage down. Sure there may be images or videos being loaded or some additional scripts that add functionality, but it’s at a minimum.
4. Responsive design: Shopify sections are responsive, which means they automatically adjust to different screen sizes. This makes them a great choice for creating a mobile-friendly website.

Shopify Sections Cons:

1. Limited customization: Shopify sections (mainly those that are included in Shopify Themes) offer limited customization options, which can make it challenging to create highly unique and complex page designs.
2. Theme-dependent: Shopify sections are dependent on the theme you're using, which means that you're limited to the sections that are available in your theme.
3. No advanced features: Shopify sections do not offer advanced features such as the ability to create custom fields, and custom templates. You do have the ability to use existing metafields but the sections can’t create them.

Page Builders Pros:

1. Greater control: Page builders offer greater control over the design and layout of your website, making it easier to create unique and complex page designs.
2. Advanced features: Page builders offer advanced features such as the ability to create custom post types, custom fields, and custom templates, which can be used to build complex websites with multiple page types.
3. Wide range of design options: Page builders offer a wide range of design options such as layouts, fonts, colors, etc.

Page Builders Cons:

1. Learning curve: Page builders can have a steep learning curve and may require some coding knowledge or experience to use effectively.
2. Cost: Page builders can be expensive as they usually require a monthly subscription, and if you one day decide you don’t want to use it, you will lose the pages that you created.
3. Site speed: Page builders, as many Shopify Apps, come with a rather heavy toll on page speed. Because they offer so many options in functionality and layout, all of that code needs to load and process whether you’re using it or not.
4. Compatibility issues: Page builders may not be fully compatible with all themes and plugins, which can lead to technical issues or conflicts.

Using qwiqode Shopify sections

Qwiqode offers a variety of different types of “code snippets” in the form of sections that can be added to existing Shopify themes in order to provide additional and more flexible ways to display content.  They are easy to install, without needing to hire a developer. You can do it yourself :)

There are different types of sliders/carousels to display products, collections and/ or testimonials. Various ways to attract visitors and many sections that include video capabilities. Some of these may already be part of your theme, but most probably, you’re limited with their features or styling options. We try to solve that by including a ton of settings giving you the freedom to achieve exactly what you want.

Head over to our product catalog to see the variety.

Which is Right for Your Online Store?

Deciding between Shopify sections and page builders ultimately comes down to your specific needs and goals. Here are some questions to consider when making your decision:

1. How much customization do you need? If you're looking for specific content blocks to add to various pages in your store that will display your content and don't require complex page designs, Shopify sections may be the best choice for you. If you require more advanced customization options and want complete control over your website's design, a page builder may be a better option.
2. How much time do you have to invest? Shopify sections are easy to use and require little to no coding knowledge, making them a great choice for small business owners who want to customize their website without investing too much time. If you have more time to invest in learning a new tool, a page builder may be a good option for you.
3. What is your budget? Shopify sections are typically included in most Shopify themes and require no additional cost. Or if you are looking at additional sections, like the ones we offer, the cost is relatively low and you pay just once, no subscription required. Page builders, on the other hand, can be expensive and usually require a monthly subscription – which can add up fast. Consider your budget when making your decision.
4. What are your technical abilities? Shopify sections are beginner-friendly and if they’re not included in your theme, they are very easily installed. Page builders, on the other hand, may require some coding knowledge or experience to use effectively. You also need to have the patience to work with these builders to achieve your desired outcome. Consider your technical abilities when making your decision.

Conclusion

Shopify sections and page builders both offer unique strengths and weaknesses when it comes to customizing your online store's design and layout. Ultimately, the decision of which to use comes down to your specific needs and goals.

You can leverage Shopify’s design customization features and take your e-commerce store to the next level by working with us or hiring an experienced Shopify designer from a reputable talent marketplace. 

Whatever you choose, make sure it aligns with your budget, technical abilities, and overall goals for your online store.