TL;DR Quick Answer
Shopify wins overall — scoring 9.2/10. Choose WooCommerce for maximum flexibility, custom code control, and lower platform fees. Choose Shopify if you want a fully-managed platform, faster launch, and less technical overhead. Both have generous trial options.
WooCommerce
WooCommerce
Free plugin, full code access, no platform fees, unlimited customisation
Score: 8.8/10
Shopify
Shopify
Fully managed, fast launch, built-in payments, 24/7 support
Score: 9.2/10
Winner
Our Verdict
Shopify
Best for most new stores — see why below
→ Read our reasoning
WooCommerceWordPress e-commerce plugin · Free (hosting ~$10–30/mo)
WooCommerce is a free open-source WordPress plugin powering ~30% of all online stores. It's infinitely customisable, has no monthly platform fee, and gives you full database and code access — but you own all hosting, security, and maintenance.
ShopifyFully-hosted e-commerce platform · from $39/mo
Shopify is the most popular fully-hosted e-commerce platform. It handles servers, security, PCI compliance, and updates automatically. Plans start at $39/mo and include built-in payment processing, abandoned cart recovery, and 24/7 support.
Verdict at a Glance
This comparison comes down to one question: do you want to own the infrastructure or rent it? WooCommerce (free plugin) gives maximum ownership — but you pay in time and technical expertise for setup, security, and updates. Shopify ($39–$399/mo) manages everything, so you trade control for convenience and predictability.
For most new stores and growing brands, Shopify is the safer starting point. The cost of engineering time maintaining WooCommerce often exceeds Shopify's subscription. Large stores with custom infrastructure needs, existing WordPress ecosystems, or very specific checkout flows should seriously consider WooCommerce.
Pricing Comparison (2026)
| Plan | WooCommerce | Shopify |
|---|
| Platform fee | Free (plugin) | $39–$399/mo |
| Hosting | $5–$30/mo (separate) | Included |
| SSL | ~$0–$10/yr (many hosts include it) | Included |
| Transaction fees | None from WooCommerce (gateway charges apply) | 0.5–2% (waived with Shopify Payments) |
| Total cost of ownership | $20–$100+/mo (varies by hosting) | $39–$399/mo + transaction fees |
| Trial | Free to install | 3-day free, then $1/mo for 3 months |
Real cost note: WooCommerce's "free" label is misleading. Factor in hosting, a paid WordPress theme ($50–$200), premium plugins (WooCommerce extensions can cost $50–$300/yr each), and developer time. At scale, a professionally-managed WooCommerce store often costs more than Shopify.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | WooCommerce | Shopify |
|---|
| Setup difficulty | High (WordPress + hosting + plugins) | Low (wizard-driven, ~1 hour) |
| Customisation | Unlimited (full code access) | Limited to theme + apps |
| Hosting management | Your responsibility | Fully managed |
| Payment gateways | 100+ via plugins | 100+ via apps |
| Built-in payments | No (requires gateway plugin) | Yes (Shopify Payments) |
| Abandoned cart recovery | Via paid plugin | Built in (all plans) |
| SEO control | Full (plugins like RankMath/Yoast) | Good (limited URL structure control) |
| App ecosystem | 60,000+ WordPress plugins | 10,000+ Shopify apps |
| Support | Community, documentation | 24/7 live chat, phone, email |
| Security / PCI | Your responsibility | Handled by Shopify |
Our Final Verdict
Shopify is our recommendation for most stores. Here is when to choose each:
- Choose WooCommerce if you already run a WordPress site, have developer resources, need complete code control, or are building a highly custom checkout flow. Also a strong choice for content-heavy stores where WordPress's blog capabilities give you an SEO edge.
- Choose Shopify if you want the fastest path to launch, prefer a fully-managed platform with predictable costs, need reliable 24/7 support, and don't want to maintain servers or security. The $39/mo Basic plan includes everything most new stores need.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is WooCommerce better than Shopify?
WooCommerce (8.8/10) is better for maximum flexibility and cost control — it's free to install and has no monthly platform fee. Shopify (9.2/10) is better for ease of use, managed hosting, and 24/7 support. Most new stores benefit more from Shopify's simplicity; high-tech teams with custom requirements often prefer WooCommerce.
How much does WooCommerce cost compared to Shopify?
WooCommerce is free to install but you pay ~$10–30/mo for WordPress hosting, plus costs for themes and plugins. Shopify plans start at $39/mo (Basic) with hosting included, rising to $105/mo and $399/mo. At lower sales volumes, WooCommerce can be cheaper; at higher volumes, the engineering time to maintain WooCommerce often outweighs Shopify's monthly fee.
Can I try Shopify for free?
Yes — Shopify offers a 3-day free trial, then $1/mo for the first 3 months on any paid plan. WooCommerce itself is free to install; you only pay for WordPress hosting (from ~$5/mo) and optional premium plugins.
Which platform is better for SEO — WooCommerce or Shopify?
WooCommerce (on WordPress) has a slight SEO edge due to complete URL structure control, full blog capabilities via WordPress, and powerful free SEO plugins (Yoast, RankMath). Shopify's SEO is solid but has some limitations on URL structure and canonical handling. For content-heavy stores, WooCommerce's WordPress foundation is a meaningful advantage.
Does WooCommerce charge transaction fees?
WooCommerce itself doesn't charge transaction fees. Your payment gateway does — Stripe charges 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction, PayPal is similar. Shopify charges an additional 0.5–2% transaction fee on top of payment processing unless you use Shopify Payments (which waives the extra fee).