Shopify vs WooCommerce
The honest comparison is not about features — both handle products, payments and shipping. It is about who is responsible when something breaks at 2am, and whether you need pricing logic Shopify will not let you express.
Free proposal · No contracts over 30 days · Reply within one business day
Shopify
Hosted commerce
Choose it for straightforward retail where operational simplicity is worth a monthly fee and a fixed URL structure.
Strengths
- Checkout you never maintain and that converts well
- Uptime and PCI compliance are the platform’s problem
- Excellent app ecosystem for operations
- Scales through traffic spikes without intervention
Trade-offs
- URL structure is fixed — /collections/ and /products/ cannot be changed
- Transaction fees unless you use Shopify Payments
- App subscriptions accumulate quickly
- Checkout customisation limited to supported extension points
WooCommerce
Commerce on WordPress
Choose it for complex pricing, trade accounts, or a catalogue that needs deep editorial content around it.
Strengths
- Complete control of URLs, templates and logic
- No platform transaction fee
- Content and commerce in one system
- Complex pricing, customer groups and quote flows are achievable
Trade-offs
- You own hosting, security, uptime and PCI scope
- Performance requires real infrastructure work
- Plugin conflicts and update risk
- Needs a maintenance relationship, not just a build
Where each one actually wins
| Criterion | Shopify | WooCommerce |
|---|---|---|
| Time to launch | Faster | Slower |
| Monthly cost | Subscription plus apps plus fees | Hosting plus maintenance |
| URL control | None | Complete |
| Peak traffic | Handled for you | Your infrastructure problem |
| Complex pricing | Constrained | Unconstrained |
| Content depth | Basic blogging | Full WordPress |
| Security responsibility | Platform | You |
| SEO ceiling | High | High |
Our recommendation
Most stores should be on Shopify. The operational load a self-hosted store carries is consistently underestimated, and the fixed URL structure costs less than people fear — plenty of large stores rank fine on it. Choose WooCommerce when you have pricing logic Shopify cannot express, a catalogue that needs substantial editorial content, or a genuine reason to avoid platform fees at your volume. Do not choose it to save money; the hosting and maintenance a serious Woo store needs closes most of that gap.
Any question in your mind?
The questions we get asked most, answered without the sales gloss. If yours is not here, ask us directly — you will get a straight answer either way.
Still have questions?
Book 30 minutes with a strategist. No deck, no pitch — just answers about your situation.
Book a callLooking for pricing, contract terms or timelines?
Read all FAQsWhat happens next
- Shopify DevelopmentCustom Shopify themes and apps, built lean — because every app you install is rent and milliseconds.Read
- WooCommerce DevelopmentWooCommerce built for stores that need full control of pricing logic, content and data — and can own the hosting.Read
- E-Commerce MigrationPlatform migrations that keep the rankings, the customers and the order history — redirect map first.Read
- E-Commerce SEOCategory and product page optimisation, faceted navigation control and feed hygiene for stores with real catalogues.Read
Other decisions people ask us about
Ready to Build Your Next Big Project?
Tell us what you are trying to grow. You will get a straight answer on whether we can help, and what it would cost, within one business day.