If you sell products online, you need a Shopify store. If you sell services and need to build trust, you need a multi-page website. If you have one offer and want one action, you need a landing page. Many businesses end up using more than one, and the right place to start depends on what you want your visitors to do first.
This guide explains each option in plain language, shows them side by side, and gives you a short way to choose.
Key takeaways
- Choose a Shopify store if you sell products online and want customers to check out on your site.
- Choose a multi-page website if you sell services or want to explain who you are, what you do and why to trust you.
- Choose a landing page if you have one offer or one campaign and want visitors to take one action.
- The three are not rivals. Many businesses start with one and add the others later.
- If you are unsure, start with what visitors need to do first: buy, contact you, or sign up.
The three options in plain language
A Shopify store is a website built for selling. Customers browse products, add them to a cart and check out on your site. Shopify includes hosting, and its themes let you build without coding, as one comparison notes.
A website is a set of connected pages under one domain. Webflow describes it as a place to give visitors a full picture of a brand or offering. Typical pages are Home, Services, About, Portfolio and Contact. A blog fits here too.
A landing page is a single page built around one goal. Webflow says it has one main call to action and usually drops the full navigation so visitors stay on one path. It suits a specific offer or a paid ad campaign.
The three side by side
| Shopify store | Multi-page website | Landing page | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Selling products online | Explaining services and building trust | One offer or one campaign |
| Visitors do | Browse, add to cart, check out | Read, compare, then contact you | Take one action, such as asking for a quote |
| Pages | Home, collections, product pages and more | Several pages with a menu | One page |
| Good if you | Have products to sell | Sell services or want to be found in search | Run ads or promote one offer |
| Grows into | More products, blog, apps | More pages, a blog, a store later | A full website or store |
How to choose: start with what you sell
You sell products. Pick a Shopify store. It handles products, a cart and checkout in one place. Our guide on how to set up a Shopify store shows what the process looks like.
You sell services. Pick a multi-page website. People who hire a service want to see who you are, what you do and proof that you do it well. A site with a few clear pages does that better than a single page. If you are weighing whether to hire help, read how to hire a web designer.
You have one offer or run ads. Pick a landing page. When someone clicks an ad, a page that matches the ad and asks for one action gives them less to get lost in. Webflow says removing distractions tends to raise conversion, though results vary by business.
You are just starting and unsure. Begin with the simplest option that does your main job: a store if you sell products, otherwise a small website. Add a landing page later when you run your first campaign.
Four quick questions
- Do customers buy from you online? If yes, you need a store.
- Do customers need to understand your business before they contact you? If yes, you need a website.
- Do you have one specific offer to promote? If yes, add a landing page.
- Do you want people to find you through search? A website or store with several pages gives search engines more to show. A single landing page has less to rank for.
You can combine them
The three options work well together. A store can have a landing page for a seasonal offer. A service website can have a landing page for one campaign. Pick the one that matches your first goal, and add the others as the business grows.
Mistakes to avoid
- Building a store when you have nothing to sell online. If people only call or message you, a website fits better.
- Using only a landing page when you need trust. A single page gives little room to show your work.
- Sending ad traffic to a busy homepage. Visitors may not find the thing the ad promised.
- Skipping the contact path. Every page needs a clear next step, such as Get a quote.
Not sure which one fits your business?
Barry's Software builds all three: Shopify store setup, website design and landing page design. Tell us what you sell and what you want visitors to do, and we will suggest the right fit.
Get a quoteFrequently asked questions about Shopify, websites and landing pages
What is the difference between a Shopify store and a website?
A Shopify store is a website built for selling products, with a cart and checkout. A regular website is a set of pages that explain a business and its services, usually with a way to contact it.
Do I need a website for my small business?
If customers search for you online, check you out before calling, or compare you with others, a website helps. It gives you a place to show what you do and how to contact you.
What is a landing page?
A landing page is a single page built around one goal, such as asking for a quote. It usually has one main call to action and little or no menu, so visitors stay on one path.
Do I need a landing page and a website?
Not always. A website suits most small businesses first. A landing page becomes useful when you run ads or promote one specific offer.
Can I start with a landing page and build a website later?
Yes. Many businesses start with one page to get going, then add pages as they grow. Plan the brand, colors and wording from the start, so the pages fit together later.
Can a Shopify store also have a blog and regular pages?
Yes. A Shopify store can have pages such as About and Contact, and a blog alongside its products. Our guide on how to set up a Shopify store covers pages and menus.
Which one should I choose if I am not sure?
Start with what visitors need to do first. If they buy, build a store. If they contact you, build a website. If you have one offer to promote, build a landing page. Get a quote and we will help you choose.