Online Business Tools
Shopify vs WooCommerce
Shopify and WooCommerce are two popular ecommerce platforms, but they suit different types of online stores. Shopify is a fully hosted commerce platform with built-in hosting, checkout, payments, themes, apps, analytics, POS and support. WooCommerce is a free, open-source ecommerce platform for WordPress that gives store owners more control over hosting, payments, extensions, code and data. This comparison looks at cost, hosting, setup, payments, SEO control, customisation, apps, support, ownership and everyday store management to help you decide which ecommerce platform better fits your business.
Last updated: May 13, 2026
Shopify
Shopify
A fully hosted commerce platform for building, running and growing an online store
VS
Automattic
WooCommerce
A free, open-source ecommerce platform for building stores on WordPress
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Specifications
Pros & Cons
Shopify — Pros
✓Fully hosted platform, so hosting, security and core infrastructure are managed for you
✓Built-in checkout, payments, themes, analytics and app ecosystem
✓Easier setup for beginners who want to start selling without managing WordPress hosting
✓Shopify App Store provides a large ecosystem of vetted apps and integrations
✓POS options are available for selling online and in person
✓24/7 support is included on Shopify plans, with support options depending on plan
Shopify — Cons
✕Monthly platform fees apply, and pricing varies by country, plan and billing term
✕Third-party transaction fees may apply if you do not use Shopify Payments
✕Some advanced features, staff accounts, checkout customisation and B2B tools depend on higher-tier plans
✕Less direct control over hosting, database access and server-level configuration than WooCommerce
✕App costs can increase total monthly cost as your store becomes more complex
WooCommerce — Pros
✓Free, open-source ecommerce platform for WordPress
✓No monthly platform fee for the core WooCommerce plugin
✓Store owners can choose their own hosting provider, payment processor, themes and extensions
✓Strong flexibility for developers and technically confident store owners
✓Full access to WordPress content, plugins, code and database workflows
✓No WooCommerce revenue share or extra platform fee for using third-party payment solutions
WooCommerce — Cons
✕Hosting, domain, security, backups and performance are your responsibility or your host’s responsibility
✕Total cost depends on hosting, premium extensions, themes, payment processing and maintenance
✕Setup can take longer than Shopify, especially for beginners unfamiliar with WordPress
✕Plugin conflicts, updates and troubleshooting may require more technical confidence
✕Support is more distributed across hosting providers, plugin developers, forums and WooCommerce resources
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Our Verdict
Shopify and WooCommerce are both strong ecommerce platforms, but they are built around different priorities. Shopify is the better fit for store owners who want a hosted, all-in-one commerce platform where hosting, checkout, payments, security, themes, apps and support are bundled into one system. It is especially useful for beginners, small businesses and growing merchants who want to start selling without managing technical infrastructure. WooCommerce is the better fit for store owners who want more control over WordPress, hosting, code, database access, payment options, extensions and long-term customisation. It is especially useful for WordPress users, developers, content-heavy stores and businesses that want more ownership over their ecommerce setup. The bottom line: choose Shopify if you want the simpler hosted ecommerce platform with built-in tools and less technical setup. Choose WooCommerce if you want an open-source WordPress-based store with more flexibility, ownership and control over hosting, extensions and customisation.
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose Shopify if...
→You want a hosted ecommerce platform that manages core infrastructure for you
→You want to launch faster without setting up WordPress hosting and plugins
→You prefer built-in checkout, payments, themes, analytics and app integrations
→You want support and ecommerce tools bundled into one platform
→You plan to sell online and in person using Shopify’s POS options
→You prefer simplicity and managed commerce features over full technical control
Choose WooCommerce if...
→You already use WordPress or want to build your store on WordPress
→You want more control over hosting, code, database access and customisation
→You prefer an open-source ecommerce platform with no monthly core platform fee
→You want to choose your own hosting provider, payment processor and extensions
→Your store depends heavily on content, SEO flexibility or custom workflows
→You are comfortable managing updates, plugins, security and performance
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is Shopify or WooCommerce better for beginners?
A: Shopify is usually better for beginners who want to launch an online store without managing hosting, WordPress setup, updates or server configuration. It is a fully hosted platform with built-in checkout, payments, themes, analytics, app integrations and support. WooCommerce can also work for beginners, especially if they already know WordPress or use managed WooCommerce hosting, but it usually requires more setup decisions around hosting, themes, plugins, backups and security. Choose Shopify if you want the simpler hosted path. Choose WooCommerce if you are comfortable with WordPress and want more control.
Q: Is WooCommerce really free compared to Shopify?
A: WooCommerce’s core plugin is free and open source, with no monthly platform subscription. However, running a WooCommerce store usually still involves costs such as hosting, domain registration, premium themes, extensions, payment processing and maintenance. Shopify has monthly platform fees, but hosting, core commerce tools, checkout and security are included in the hosted platform. WooCommerce may be cheaper or more expensive depending on your hosting, extensions and technical needs. Shopify may be simpler to budget for because the core platform cost is more bundled.
Q: Which platform is better for SEO — Shopify or WooCommerce?
A: Both Shopify and WooCommerce can support strong ecommerce SEO. Shopify includes built-in SEO tools for online stores, editable metadata, clean storefront themes and app integrations. WooCommerce has stronger flexibility for users who want WordPress-level control over URLs, content, plugins, schema, redirects and technical SEO settings. The better choice depends on how much SEO control you need and how comfortable you are managing WordPress. For most small stores, Shopify’s SEO tools may be enough. For content-heavy stores or advanced technical SEO workflows, WooCommerce can offer more flexibility.
Q: Can I migrate from Shopify to WooCommerce or vice versa?
A: Yes, migration between Shopify and WooCommerce is possible, but it should be planned carefully. Products, customers, orders, URLs, images, redirects, payment settings, shipping rules and tax settings may all need attention. Store design usually needs to be rebuilt because Shopify themes and WordPress/WooCommerce themes work differently. For small stores, migration tools may be enough. For larger stores or stores with complex apps, subscriptions, customer data or SEO traffic, professional migration support is often safer.
Sources & References
Prices, features and specifications in this comparison were verified from official sources.
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