Quick answer
- Choose Shopify if you want to focus on selling, not maintaining a website.
- Choose WooCommerce if you already run WordPress, want total control, or have developer help.
- Cost: closer than it looks. WooCommerce's "free" plugin still needs hosting, security and extensions.
Shopify vs WooCommerce at a glance
| Shopify | WooCommerce | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Hosted SaaS | Self-hosted WordPress plugin |
| Starting cost | $29/mo (Basic, yearly) | Free plugin + hosting (~$15–$60/mo) |
| Setup time | Hours | Hours to days |
| Hosting, security, updates | Handled for you | Your responsibility |
| Transaction fees | None with Shopify Payments | None (processing only) |
| Customization | High (themes, apps, Liquid) | Unlimited (open source) |
| Blogging/content | Good | Excellent (WordPress) |
| POS / in-person | Built in | Via extensions |
| Support | 24/7 Shopify support | Community, host and extension vendors |
| Our score | 9.4 | 8.6 |
Try Shopify free (opens in a new tab)
Ease of use
Shopify wins clearly. Sign up, pick a theme, add products, and you're live, with no hosting to choose and no plugins to update. WooCommerce requires setting up WordPress, choosing a host, installing and configuring plugins, and keeping everything compatible. That's easy for developers but a real time cost for everyone else.
Cost: the real comparison
| Cost item | Shopify | WooCommerce |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | $29–$39/mo | Free |
| Hosting | Included | $15–$60+/mo for good managed hosting |
| SSL & security | Included | Often included by host; security plugins may cost extra |
| Theme | Free or one-off premium | Free or one-off premium |
| Extensions/apps | Many free; paid monthly | Many paid yearly licenses |
| Maintenance | None | Your time or a developer's |
For a small store, total costs end up similar. WooCommerce can be cheaper if you're technical and keep extensions minimal. Shopify is usually cheaper once you value your time.
Customization and control
WooCommerce wins. It's open source, so you can modify anything, choose any host, and own every file. Shopify is highly customizable through themes, apps and its Liquid templating language, but you work within Shopify's platform.
Payments and checkout
Shopify's checkout and Shop Pay are a major conversion advantage, and they're maintained for you. WooCommerce supports many gateways (WooPayments, Stripe, PayPal and more) without platform transaction fees, but checkout performance depends on your setup.
SEO
Both can rank. WooCommerce plus WordPress is excellent for content-heavy sites and gives finer control. Shopify gets the technical basics right automatically and is fast on global infrastructure. Our Shopify SEO guide covers how to rank a Shopify store.
Scalability and reliability
Shopify scales automatically, so traffic spikes are Shopify's problem. WooCommerce can scale too, but you'll need better hosting, caching and developer attention as you grow.
Who should choose which?
Choose Shopify if…
- Shopify: you want to launch fast
- You don't want to manage hosting or updates
- You sell in person too (POS)
- You plan to scale quickly
Choose WooCommerce if…
- WooCommerce: you already have a WordPress site
- You have developer skills or support
- You need unusual custom functionality
- Content marketing is your main channel
Have a WordPress site and want Shopify's checkout? You can embed Shopify products with the Buy Button. See adding a store to an existing website.
Our verdict
For most sellers, Shopify is the better choice: you'll launch faster, spend less time on maintenance, and get a better checkout out of the box. Pick WooCommerce if you're already invested in WordPress or have the technical skills to make its flexibility pay off.
Try Shopify free (opens in a new tab)Frequently asked questions
Is WooCommerce really free?
The plugin is free, but you need hosting, a domain, and usually some paid extensions or a premium theme. Most WooCommerce stores spend a similar amount to Shopify once everything is added up.
Which is better for SEO, Shopify or WooCommerce?
Both can rank well. WooCommerce offers more technical control; Shopify gets the basics right automatically and is fast by default. Content quality matters more than platform. See best ecommerce platform for SEO.
Can I move from WooCommerce to Shopify?
Yes. Products, customers and orders can be migrated with Shopify's import tools or migration apps. See how to migrate to Shopify.