Shopify and WooCommerce run a huge share of small online stores, and both can work well. The right one depends less on features and more on how much of the technical side you want to own.
The quick comparison
| Shopify | WooCommerce | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A hosted store platform | A free plugin that turns WordPress into a store |
| Monthly cost | $29 to $299 a month for most plans, billed yearly | Plugin is free; you pay for hosting, extensions and a theme |
| Hosting and security | Handled for you | Your job, or your host's |
| Time to launch | Fastest | Slower, more setup |
| Flexibility | Good, within Shopify's rules | Almost unlimited |
| Best for | Most small stores that want to sell, not tinker | Stores that already run on WordPress or need custom features |
Shopify prices are from Shopify's pricing page.
Choose Shopify if
- You want to launch quickly and spend your time on products and customers.
- Nobody on your team wants to manage hosting, updates or security patches.
- You sell mostly physical products with standard shipping.
Choose WooCommerce if
- Your business already runs on WordPress and you want the store in the same site.
- You need unusual pricing, bookings, memberships or custom product options.
- You'd rather pay for hosting and development than a platform fee that grows with your plan.
What people forget to compare
- Payment fees. On Shopify, using an outside payment provider adds a transaction fee on top of the processor's. Count it.
- Apps and extensions. Both get expensive as you add reviews, subscriptions and email tools. Price the ones you'll actually need.
- Who maintains it. A WooCommerce store needs regular updates and backups. Budget for that or for a care plan.
Already on one and thinking of switching?
It's doable, but plan it like any site move: map every product and page URL and redirect it, or you'll lose search traffic. Our migration service covers that.
Want help choosing or building?
We build online stores on Shopify, and WooCommerce stores as part of our site on your platform work. Just getting started? Read how to start an online store.