Shopify vs WooCommerce: which should you build on?
We build on both. For almost every store that needs to grow without a developer on staff, Shopify wins. Here's the honest comparison.
The short answer.
Shopify is the better choice for most stores: hosting, security, checkout, and updates are handled, apps are one-click, and it scales to Plus without a rebuild. WooCommerce makes sense when the business already runs deep on WordPress, the catalog is simple, and someone is responsible for updates and hosting. WooCommerce has no platform fee but costs more to keep running; Shopify costs $39–$399 a month and far less in maintenance.
Ask us which fits- Pick Shopify if
- You sell and want it handled
- Pick WooCommerce if
- You're WordPress-first with a small catalog
- Monthly
- $39–$399 vs $0 + hosting
- Maintenance
- Low vs ongoing
- Checkout
- Shopify's is faster, proven
- Our default
- Shopify
| Shopify | WooCommerce | |
|---|---|---|
| Platform fee | $39–$399 / mo (Plus ~$2,300) | Free plugin; hosting $20–$100+ / mo |
| Hosting, security, updates | Included | Your responsibility |
| Checkout | Hosted, optimized, Shop Pay | Plugin-dependent; you maintain it |
| Apps / extensions | Large app store, mostly one-click | Large plugin ecosystem, more conflicts |
| Performance | Consistently fast | Depends on hosting and plugins |
| Content and blogging | Adequate | Excellent (it's WordPress) |
| B2B / wholesale | Native on Plus; apps otherwise | Plugins |
| Ownership and portability | Data exportable; theme is Shopify-specific | Full control of code and data |
| Best for | Most product businesses | Content-heavy sites that also sell a little |
Our verdict
If selling is the business, build on Shopify. If publishing is the business and selling is a side door — a studio, a publisher, a nonprofit with a small shop — WooCommerce on a well-maintained WordPress site is fine. The mistake we see most is a growing store on WooCommerce with nobody maintaining it, which is how checkout breaks on a Friday. Moving from WooCommerce to Shopify is one of the most common projects we do.
Shopify vs WooCommerce questions.
Our honest take.
Is WooCommerce really free?
The plugin is. Hosting, premium extensions, security, backups, and the developer time to keep it all working are not. Most stores spend more on WooCommerce than they would on Shopify once that's counted.
Can I move from WooCommerce to Shopify without losing SEO?
Yes, with a redirect map for every product, collection, and page URL. We do this as part of every migration.
Which is faster?
Shopify, consistently, because the hosting and checkout are the same for every store. A WooCommerce site can be fast with good hosting and discipline.
Which do you recommend?
Shopify for nearly every store. We'll tell you if yours is the exception.
Two free ways to start.
Either one costs nothing and comes with no sales call.
Free quote — within 24 hours
Tell us what you need and get a fixed price back within one business day. Shopify, WordPress, Webflow, or custom.
Get a free quoteFree site audit — within 2 days
Send us your current site. We'll email back what's slowing it down, why it isn't ranking, and the three fixes that matter most.
Request a free audit