Shopify rents you a store that just works. WooCommerce gives you one you fully own.
Shopify is hosted, managed and quick to launch, with a monthly fee and an app for everything. WooCommerce is a free WordPress plugin you can shape any way you like, if someone takes care of hosting, updates and security.
Our bias, declared
We build and market stores on both. For most brands that live on online sales, we recommend Shopify, because checkout, uptime and security are handled and the team can focus on selling. WooCommerce makes sense when you already run a strong WordPress site, need custom features or pricing logic, or want full ownership of your store and data. Its lower software cost only pays off if someone keeps it maintained.
Side by side
| Factor | Shopify | WooCommerce |
|---|---|---|
| Software cost | About $29, $79 or $299 a month billed yearly | Free plugin, no monthly platform fee |
| Hosting and security | Included and managed | You choose and pay for hosting, often $15-$300+ a month |
| Payment fees | No extra fee with Shopify Payments; 0.6%-2% extra with other processors | No platform fee; WooPayments charges 2.9% + $0.30 per US card sale |
| Apps vs plugins | Large app store, many apps charge monthly | Huge plugin ecosystem, many premium extensions charge yearly |
| Customization | Strong, within Shopify's structure | Almost unlimited with code access |
| Launch speed | Fast, with little technical help | Slower, usually needs a developer |
| Maintenance | Handled by Shopify | Updates, backups and compatibility checks are your job |
| Content and blogging | Capable but basic | Built on WordPress, excellent for content-heavy stores |
Choose shopify when
Online sales are the business
Shopify's checkout, uptime and payments are built for stores that depend on online revenue and can't afford downtime during a launch or sale.
You don't have a developer
Shopify lets a small team launch and run a store without managing servers, updates or plugin conflicts.
You'll scale ads and email
Shopify connects cleanly to ad platforms, email tools and analytics, which matters once acquisition spend grows.
Choose woocommerce when
You already run a strong WordPress site
Adding WooCommerce keeps your content, SEO history and store in one place, without migrating a site that already ranks.
You need custom features
Unusual pricing rules, B2B ordering, complex product options or custom integrations are often easier to build on WooCommerce.
You want full ownership
WooCommerce runs on hosting you control, with full access to the code and data. You aren't tied to one platform's pricing or rules.
What each really costs
Shopify's core plans run about $29, $79 and $299 a month billed yearly. Add paid apps, a theme and payment processing. If you use a processor other than Shopify Payments, Shopify adds 0.6%-2% per order.
WooCommerce itself is free, but stores pay for hosting, a theme, premium extensions and maintenance. Estimates for a small store range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars a year, and complex stores cost far more.
The biggest hidden cost on WooCommerce is upkeep. Plugins need updates and testing, and neglected stores are a common target for attacks. On Shopify, the hidden cost is app subscriptions that pile up over time.
Related questions
Sometimes. The software is free, but hosting, extensions, development and maintenance add up. For small stores with no developer, Shopify often costs less overall. For stores with in-house WordPress skills, WooCommerce can be cheaper.
Other comparisons
Services referenced
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