Shopify vs WooCommerce 2026: Which E-commerce Platform is Better?
Starting an online store? Shopify and WooCommerce are the two leading platforms. This guide helps you choose the right one.
Quick Answer:
- Choose Shopify for simplicity and all-in-one solution
- Choose WooCommerce for flexibility and lower costs
At a Glance
| Feature | Shopify | WooCommerce |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Hosted | Self-hosted |
| Starting Price | $39/mo | Free (+ hosting) |
| Ease of Use | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Flexibility | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Best For | Beginners | Developers |
Pricing Comparison
Shopify Pricing
| Plan | Monthly | Transaction Fee* |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | $39 | 2.9% + 30¢ |
| Shopify | $105 | 2.6% + 30¢ |
| Advanced | $399 | 2.4% + 30¢ |
| Plus | $2,300+ | Negotiable |
*Using Shopify Payments. Higher fees with other gateways.
WooCommerce Costs
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| WooCommerce plugin | Free |
| WordPress hosting | $5-50/mo |
| Domain | $12/year |
| SSL Certificate | Free-$100/year |
| Theme | Free-$200 |
| Essential plugins | $0-500/year |
Total: $100-500/year vs Shopify’s $468-4,788/year
Winner: WooCommerce is cheaper long-term.
Ease of Use
Shopify
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very Easy
- All-in-one solution
- Drag-and-drop editor
- No technical knowledge needed
- Hosting included
- 24/7 support
WooCommerce
- ⭐⭐⭐ Moderate
- Requires WordPress knowledge
- Plugin management needed
- You handle hosting
- More setup involved
- Community support
Winner: Shopify — Much easier for beginners.
Features Comparison
Product Management
| Feature | Shopify | WooCommerce |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited products | ✅ | ✅ |
| Product variants | ✅ (100 per product) | ✅ Unlimited |
| Digital products | ✅ | ✅ |
| Subscriptions | App needed | Extension |
| Inventory tracking | ✅ | ✅ |
Payment Options
| Feature | Shopify | WooCommerce |
|---|---|---|
| Credit cards | ✅ Shopify Payments | Any gateway |
| PayPal | ✅ | ✅ |
| Apple Pay | ✅ | ✅ |
| Local payments | ✅ | Plugins |
| Transaction fees | Yes* | Gateway only |
Shipping
| Feature | Shopify | WooCommerce |
|---|---|---|
| Real-time rates | ✅ | Extensions |
| Label printing | ✅ Built-in | Extensions |
| Carrier integration | ✅ | Extensions |
| International | ✅ | ✅ |
Design & Themes
Shopify
- 100+ official themes
- 12 free themes
- Premium: $180-350
- Drag-and-drop editor
- Mobile responsive
- Consistent quality
WooCommerce
- 1,000+ themes
- Many free options
- Premium: $50-200
- Requires WordPress knowledge
- Quality varies
- More customization possible
Winner: Tie — Shopify for ease, WooCommerce for options.
Apps & Extensions
Shopify App Store
- 8,000+ apps
- Curated and reviewed
- Easy installation
- Monthly subscription model
- Quality control
WooCommerce Extensions
- 50,000+ plugins
- Variable quality
- More free options
- One-time purchase common
- Compatibility issues possible
Winner: Shopify for quality, WooCommerce for quantity.
SEO Capabilities
| Feature | Shopify | WooCommerce |
|---|---|---|
| Custom URLs | ✅ (limited) | ✅ Full control |
| Meta tags | ✅ | ✅ |
| Sitemap | ✅ Auto | ✅ Plugins |
| Blog | ✅ Basic | ✅ Full WordPress |
| Speed optimization | ✅ Built-in | You manage |
| CDN | ✅ Included | You set up |
Winner: WooCommerce — More SEO control.
Scalability
Shopify
- Handles traffic spikes
- Plus plan for enterprise
- No server management
- Limited customization
- Predictable costs
WooCommerce
- Scales with hosting
- Unlimited customization
- Full database access
- Requires optimization
- Variable costs
Winner: Shopify for simplicity, WooCommerce for flexibility.
Pros and Cons
Shopify
Pros:
- ✅ Easiest to use
- ✅ All-in-one solution
- ✅ Reliable hosting included
- ✅ 24/7 support
- ✅ Beautiful themes
Cons:
- ❌ More expensive
- ❌ Transaction fees
- ❌ Less customization
- ❌ Locked in to platform
- ❌ Limited SEO control
WooCommerce
Pros:
- ✅ Free and open source
- ✅ Full customization
- ✅ You own everything
- ✅ Better SEO control
- ✅ No transaction fees
Cons:
- ❌ Steeper learning curve
- ❌ You manage hosting
- ❌ Security responsibility
- ❌ Plugin compatibility
- ❌ Requires maintenance
Who Should Use What?
Choose Shopify If:
- You’re not technical
- You want quick setup
- Budget isn’t a concern
- You need phone support
- You value simplicity
Choose WooCommerce If:
- You know WordPress
- Budget is limited
- Customization matters
- You want full control
- You have technical help
Migration Considerations
Moving to Shopify
- Import products via CSV
- Apps for migration
- Redirect old URLs
- Some data loss possible
Moving to WooCommerce
- More complex migration
- Full data portability
- Requires technical knowledge
- Better long-term flexibility
Our Verdict
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Ease of use | Shopify |
| Price/Value | WooCommerce |
| Flexibility | WooCommerce |
| Support | Shopify |
| SEO | WooCommerce |
| Beginners | Shopify |
| Developers | WooCommerce |
Bottom Line
Shopify is best for non-technical users who want a hassle-free experience and can afford the monthly fees.
WooCommerce is better for WordPress users, budget-conscious sellers, and those needing maximum flexibility.
If you’re starting your first store, go with Shopify. If you’re comfortable with WordPress, WooCommerce saves money long-term.
Last updated: January 2026