Should I sell online with WooCommerce or Shopify?
Choose Shopify if selling products is the main job of your site and you want hosting, checkout and security in one subscription. Choose WooCommerce if your site already runs on WordPress, the shop is one part of it, and someone will keep it updated. Compare total monthly cost, not the headline price.
How do they compare?
| Shopify | WooCommerce | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A hosted store platform | A plugin for your WordPress site |
| Hosting and security | Included in the subscription | Yours to arrange and look after |
| Updates | Handled by Shopify | WordPress, WooCommerce and extensions need updating |
| Extra features | Apps from the Shopify App Store | Free and paid extensions |
| Control | Within Shopify’s limits | Full control of design and code |
WooCommerce describes itself as “the open-source ecommerce platform for WordPress,” and its plugin page notes the core is free, with paid extensions and services available. Shopify runs the store for you on its own platform.
The short version
- Shopify: a hosted platform; one subscription covers hosting and checkout.
- WooCommerce: a free, open-source plugin that adds a store to WordPress.
- Shopify suits product-first businesses that don’t want to manage software.
- WooCommerce suits WordPress sites where the shop is one part of a bigger site.
- If you only sell a few things, you may not need either.
Why does the choice matter?
Your store platform decides who does the upkeep. With Shopify, much of that is Shopify’s job. With WooCommerce, someone has to update WordPress, the store and its extensions, and test checkout after each round. See why plugin updates matter. Moving later is possible, but it’s a real project, so it pays to choose well up front.
What are the common mistakes?
- Comparing headline prices only. Add apps or extensions, themes, hosting, payment processing and the time to look after it.
- Missing Shopify’s gateway fees. Shopify’s help center says third-party transaction fees apply when you use a payment provider other than Shopify Payments, with an exception for PayPal when Shopify Payments is your main provider.
- Running WooCommerce with nobody on updates. An unpatched store is a security risk.
- Building a whole store for five products. See the simplest way to take payments online.
Which questions decide it?
- How many products, and how often do they change?
- Do you need bookings, subscriptions or wholesale pricing?
- Is your current site on WordPress, and do you want to keep it?
- Who will look after the shop each week?
- Which payment provider do you already use?
If most answers point to “the shop is the business,” lean Shopify. If they point to “the shop is part of the site,” lean WooCommerce.
What does it cost, and how long does it take?
Both charge or pass on payment processing fees, and both have paid add-ons. Shopify charges a subscription; WooCommerce needs hosting and care. Prices change, so check each platform’s current pricing page. Setup time depends mostly on how many products and shipping rules you have.
How does E-3 handle this?
We build and look after WordPress sites, with website care after launch. Questions about orders and online stores are one of the most common things clients ask us about. Start a project: tell us about your shop.
Related questions
Rather talk it through?
Call our team, or send a note and we’ll reply within one business day. No pressure and no jargon.