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Platform comparison

Shopify vs WooCommerce: which platform fits your store?

Shopify and WooCommerce side by side — hosting, costs, customisation, apps, B2B, international selling and maintenance — and how to decide between them.

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Our verdict

Shopify wins on speed to market and low maintenance; WooCommerce wins on ownership and flexibility. If you would rather spend on growth than on servers and updates, pick Shopify. If you already live in WordPress or need logic no app offers, pick WooCommerce.

At a glance

Shopify vs WooCommerce compared

A practical, high-level comparison based on the projects we deliver. Every business is different — use it as a starting point.

Shopify and WooCommerce compared by criterion
CriterionShopifyWooCommerce
HostingFully hosted SaaSSelf-hosted on WordPress
Best forD2C brands that want speed to marketContent-led brands that want full ownership
Cost modelMonthly subscription plus apps; extra transaction fees unless you use Shopify PaymentsFree core; you pay for hosting, premium plugins and upkeep
CustomisationLiquid themes, apps, Shopify FunctionsFull code access, plugins, block themes
Apps & extensionsOne of the largest app stores and partner networksVast WordPress plugin and theme ecosystem
B2BNative B2B on Shopify PlusVia plugins or custom development
International sellingShopify Markets for currencies, languages and domainsMulti-language and multi-currency via plugins
Maintenance effortLowHigher — hosting, updates, security

How to decide

When to choose Shopify, and when to choose WooCommerce

Both platforms can run a successful store. The right choice depends on your catalogue, your team, your budget and where you plan to sell.

Shopify

Shopify is a fully hosted commerce platform: hosting, security, checkout and updates are handled for you. Features are added through themes and one of the largest app stores in e-commerce.

Choose Shopify if

  • You want to launch quickly and keep maintenance low
  • You sell direct to consumers and expect to scale
  • You want a large app ecosystem and a proven checkout
  • You would rather pay a subscription than run servers

Keep in mind

  • App subscriptions add up as the store grows
  • Checkout and core logic change only through Shopify's extension points, and the deepest options need Shopify Plus
Shopify development

WooCommerce

WooCommerce is a free, open-source commerce plugin for WordPress. You choose the hosting and own the code and data, and almost anything can be changed with plugins or custom development.

Choose WooCommerce if

  • You already run WordPress or rely heavily on content
  • You want full control over code, hosting and data
  • You have unusual product or pricing logic
  • You have someone to look after updates and security

Keep in mind

  • Speed and security depend on your hosting and the quality of your plugins
  • Updates need testing, because plugins can conflict with each other
WooCommerce development

Switching

Moving from Shopify to WooCommerce — or the other way

Already on one of these platforms and considering the other? We migrate stores between Shopify and WooCommerce in either direction, without losing data, revenue or search rankings.

  • Products, variants, customers and order history transferred
  • Every old URL mapped to its new address with 301 redirects
  • Integrations reconnected and tested before launch
  • A rehearsed go-live, so sales continue uninterrupted
E-commerce migration service

FAQ

Shopify vs WooCommerce FAQ

Can't find your answer? Talk to our team.

Shopify wins on speed to market and low maintenance; WooCommerce wins on ownership and flexibility. If you would rather spend on growth than on servers and updates, pick Shopify. If you already live in WordPress or need logic no app offers, pick WooCommerce.

It depends on what you count. Shopify: Monthly subscription plus apps; extra transaction fees unless you use Shopify Payments. WooCommerce: Free core; you pay for hosting, premium plugins and upkeep. Compare the total cost over two or three years — platform fees, apps or extensions, hosting, development and maintenance — rather than the monthly price alone.

Maintenance effort on Shopify: Low. On WooCommerce: Higher — hosting, updates, security. Hosted platforms take care of servers, security patches and updates for you; self-hosted platforms leave that work to you or your agency.

Yes, in either direction. We move products, customers, order history and content, map every old URL to its new address with 301 redirects, and rehearse the go-live so that sales and search rankings carry over.

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