If you’re setting up an online shop, or replacing one that isn’t working, the choice usually comes down to two platforms: Shopify and WooCommerce. Both power millions of shops, both can look professional, and both can sell almost anything. The real difference is in how you run them day to day.
We build on both, so this isn’t a sales pitch for either. Here’s an honest comparison to help you work out which suits your business.
The short version
Shopify is an all-in-one service. You pay a monthly fee and Shopify handles the hosting, security, updates and checkout. You focus on selling.
WooCommerce is a free plugin that turns a WordPress website into a shop. You get more control and flexibility, but you’re responsible for hosting, updates and security, or for paying someone to look after them.
Costs
The two platforms charge in different ways, so it’s worth comparing the total cost rather than the headline price.
Shopify
- A monthly plan fee, which rises as you move to higher plans with more features
- Payment processing fees on every card payment
- An extra transaction fee if you use a payment provider other than Shopify Payments
- Apps for extra features, many of which charge their own monthly fee
- Optionally, a premium theme as a one-off cost
Shopify’s costs are predictable, but app subscriptions can quietly add up. It’s worth reviewing them once a year.
WooCommerce
- The plugin itself is free
- Hosting, which needs to be good quality for a shop
- Premium extensions for features like subscriptions, bookings or advanced shipping, usually paid annually
- Payment processing fees from your payment provider
- Maintenance: updates, security and backups, either your time or a support plan
WooCommerce can be cheaper to run, especially for larger catalogues or higher sales volumes, but only if the maintenance is planned and budgeted for.
Day-to-day running
This is where the platforms differ most.
Shopify is designed so a non-technical shop owner can run everything: adding products, processing orders, issuing refunds, creating discount codes and printing shipping labels. Its admin and mobile app are clean and easy to learn. Because Shopify runs the platform, there are no software updates to install and no server to worry about.
WooCommerce runs inside WordPress, so if you already use WordPress you’ll feel at home. The admin is flexible but busier, and the experience depends on which theme and plugins your shop uses. WordPress, WooCommerce and every plugin need regular updates, and occasionally an update causes a conflict that needs fixing.
Flexibility and features
WooCommerce wins on flexibility. Because you control the code and the hosting, almost anything is possible: unusual product options, complex pricing rules, custom integrations with your other systems, or a shop that’s part of a larger content-led website. You also own your data and can move host whenever you like.
Shopify can do a great deal through its apps and themes, and it covers the needs of most shops comfortably. But you work within Shopify’s structure. Some things, such as the format of your web addresses and parts of the checkout, can only be changed so far, and moving away from Shopify later takes some work.
Selling in person
If you also sell from a shop, market stall or events, Shopify has a real advantage. Shopify POS lets you use the same system for in-person and online sales, with one set of stock levels, customer records and reports. WooCommerce can do this too, but it relies on third-party tools and takes more setting up.
SEO and content
Both platforms can rank well on Google when they’re set up properly. What makes the difference is the work that goes into them: good category pages, useful product descriptions, fast loading, structured data and helpful content.
WooCommerce has the edge for content-heavy sites, because WordPress is a mature publishing platform with excellent SEO tools. Shopify’s blogging and page tools are more basic, but more than enough for most shops, as our case study on taking a retailer from page three to page one shows.
Security and reliability
Shopify takes care of security, payment compliance and uptime for you. Its checkout is secure and fast by default, and it can handle sudden traffic spikes, such as a sale or a mention in the press, without you doing anything.
WooCommerce can be just as secure and reliable, but it depends on your hosting and on keeping everything updated. A neglected WooCommerce shop is a common target for attackers. If you choose WooCommerce, good hosting and a maintenance plan aren’t optional.
How to choose
Shopify is usually the better fit if:
- You want to focus on selling, not on looking after a website
- You don’t have technical help in-house
- You sell in person as well as online
- You want predictable costs and minimal maintenance
WooCommerce is usually the better fit if:
- You already run a WordPress site and want to add a shop to it
- You need features or integrations that Shopify can’t easily provide
- Content and publishing are a big part of how you attract customers
- You want full control of your data, hosting and code, and have help to maintain it
Still not sure?
The right answer depends on how you want to run the shop, as much as what you sell. If you’d like a second opinion, we’re happy to talk it through and give you a straight recommendation. You can see an example of a recent Shopify build in our Friar House case study, or read more about our e-commerce service.
