Shopify vs WooCommerce
Last updated: 2026-07-07
Shopify and WooCommerce are the two most popular e-commerce platforms, but they represent completely different approaches. Shopify is an all-in-one hosted platform — everything included, no maintenance, monthly fee. WooCommerce is a free WordPress plugin — you control everything, but you handle hosting, security, and updates yourself.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | popular Shopify | best WooCommerce |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $39/mo | $0 (plugin free, hosting costs apply) |
| Free trial | 3-day free trial, then $1/mo for 3 months | No trial — plugin is free to install |
| Best for | E-commerce businesses of all sizes | WordPress users who want full control |
| Free plan | ✗ | Yes — free plugin |
| Starting price | $39/mo (Basic), $105/mo (Grow), $399/mo (Advanced) | $0 plugin + hosting ($5-$100+/mo) |
| Storefront builder | Drag-and-drop + Liquid | — |
| Payment processing | Shopify Payments + 100+ gateways | Stripe, PayPal, 100+ gateways |
| Inventory | Unlimited products | Unlimited products |
| App store | 8,000+ apps | — |
| Themes | Free + paid (premium) | — |
| Abandoned cart | Standard plan+ | — |
| SSL + PCI | Included | — |
| Support | 24/7 chat + email + phone | Community + paid support |
| Storefront | — | WordPress themes |
| Extensions | — | 700+ official extensions |
| Transaction fees | — | None (gateway fees only) |
| SSL | — | Must configure yourself |
| Customisation | — | Unlimited (open source) |
Shopify Pros & Cons
Pros
- All-in-one e-commerce — store, payments, shipping, marketing
- Shopify Payments — no need for third-party payment processor
- Massive app store (8,000+ apps) for extending functionality
- Excellent themes — free and paid (designed for conversion)
- Reliable and fast — hosted on Shopify's infrastructure
- Built-in SSL, security, and PCI compliance
Cons
- Transaction fees if not using Shopify Payments (0.5-2%)
- App costs add up — many essential features need paid apps
- Limited blog functionality (not a WordPress replacement)
- Customising themes requires Liquid (Shopify's templating language)
- Abandoned cart recovery only on Grow plan ($105/mo)+
WooCommerce Pros & Cons
Pros
- Free plugin — no monthly platform fee (hosting costs apply)
- Full source code access — complete customisation possible
- No transaction fees (use any payment gateway)
- Integrates with all WordPress plugins and themes
- Huge ecosystem of WooCommerce extensions
- You own all your data (no lock-in)
Cons
- Requires WordPress hosting, security, and maintenance
- Setup is more complex than Shopify (not beginner-friendly)
- No built-in payment processor (must integrate Stripe, PayPal, etc.)
- Performance depends on your hosting quality
- Security is your responsibility (updates, SSL, backups)
- Premium extensions add up in cost
Final Verdict
If you want to focus on selling and not on maintaining infrastructure, Shopify is the right choice — $39/mo covers hosting, SSL, security, and payment processing. If you want full control, no transaction fees, and complete customisation, WooCommerce is the better long-term choice — but you'll spend time on technical maintenance that Shopify handles for you.
Our pick: Shopify (convenience) / WooCommerce (control)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is WooCommerce really free?
The WooCommerce plugin is free, but you still pay for WordPress hosting ($5-$100+/mo), a theme ($0-$200), and premium extensions ($0-$500+/yr). There are no transaction fees (you only pay your payment gateway's fees). Total cost depends on your hosting and extension choices.
Which is easier to set up: Shopify or WooCommerce?
Shopify is significantly easier — sign up, pick a theme, add products, and you're live. WooCommerce requires installing WordPress, configuring the WooCommerce plugin, setting up hosting, SSL, and payment gateways. If you're not technical, Shopify is the better starting point.
Does Shopify charge transaction fees?
Yes. If you use a third-party payment gateway (not Shopify Payments), Shopify charges 0.5-2% per transaction depending on your plan. If you use Shopify Payments, there are no Shopify transaction fees (you only pay standard credit card processing fees).
Ready to try?
Start with a free trial and see which tool fits your workflow.