Shopify vs WooCommerce

Shopify is the hosted ecommerce platform that handles everything for you. WooCommerce is a free WordPress plugin that gives you full control but requires you to manage hosting, security, and updates yourself. This is a classic convenience vs. flexibility tradeoff.

Updated 2026-09 · 2026

Shopify

The hosted ecommerce platform that just works

$39/moper month (Basic plan)

Strengths

+Dead simple to set up - you can have a store live in an afternoon
+Handles hosting, security, SSL, and PCI compliance for you
+Huge app ecosystem for extending functionality

Weaknesses

-Transaction fees if you don't use Shopify Payments (2% on Basic)
-Monthly costs add up fast once you add apps and themes
-Limited customization unless you learn Liquid templating

Best for

Anyone who wants to sell online without dealing with technical infrastructure

WooCommerce

Free ecommerce plugin for WordPress with full control

Freeplugin (hosting separate, ~$10-30/mo)

Strengths

+The plugin itself is completely free and open source
+Total control over your store - you own everything
+Thousands of plugins and themes available

Weaknesses

-You handle hosting, security, backups, and updates yourself
-Performance requires optimization work - it won't be fast out of the box
-Plugin conflicts are a real and recurring headache

Best for

Teams with some technical ability who want full ownership and lower ongoing costs

Feature Comparison

Feature	Shopify	WooCommerce
Setup difficulty	Very easy - guided setup wizard	Moderate - need WordPress + hosting first
Monthly cost (realistic)	$39-399/mo + apps	$10-30/mo hosting + paid extensions
Transaction fees	0% with Shopify Payments, 0.5-2% otherwise	Only payment processor fees
Themes	100+ official, many paid ($150-350)	Thousands, many free
Customization	Limited without Liquid knowledge	Fully customizable with PHP/HTML/CSS
Hosting	Included - fully managed	Self-managed or managed WordPress host
SEO	Good basics, some limitations on URL structure	Excellent - full control via Yoast/RankMath
Scalability	Handles scale well - Shopify Plus for enterprise	Needs optimization and better hosting as you grow
Payment gateways	Shopify Payments + 100+ third-party	Any gateway via plugins
Multi-currency	Built-in with Shopify Markets	Requires plugins, some paid

The Verdict

Shopify is the right call if you want to focus on selling, not managing infrastructure. You pay more per month but you save a lot of time and headache. WooCommerce is the better choice if you already know WordPress, want full control, or need to keep costs low. The 'free' in WooCommerce is a bit misleading though - between hosting, premium plugins, and a decent theme, you'll still spend money. The real difference is ownership and flexibility vs. convenience.

How to switch from Shopify to WooCommerce

Full Shopify export guide →

1Export your data from Shopify: go to Products, Orders, and Customers in the admin and use the Export button on each to download CSV files (products.csv, orders_export.csv, customers_export.csv). Shopify's native export doesn't fully capture order line items for re-import, so if you need complete order history, use a paid migration app like Matrixify before you cancel your Shopify plan.
2Set up WordPress hosting (e.g. SiteGround, WP Engine, or Bluehost), install WordPress, then install and activate the WooCommerce plugin, and pick a theme that matches your store's layout.
3Import your product catalog using WooCommerce's built-in Tools > Import > Product CSV Importer, mapping the Shopify CSV columns to WooCommerce fields; for customers and full order history, run the Matrixify/Cart2Cart import instead of the native tool.
4Reconnect a payment gateway (Stripe, PayPal, or WooCommerce Payments) and reinstall SSL, backups, and any tax/shipping plugins so checkout matches what you had configured on Shopify.
5Rebuild your integrations and automations - reconnect email marketing (Mailchimp/Klaviyo), Zapier workflows, and any inventory/accounting sync using their WooCommerce-compatible plugins or APIs.
6Test the full checkout flow end-to-end, set up 301 redirects from old Shopify product/collection URLs to the new WooCommerce URLs, then switch your domain's DNS and notify your team and customers of the cutover.

Shopify vs WooCommerce: common questions

How do I export my products and orders from Shopify?+

Go to Products > All Products (or Orders/Customers) in your Shopify admin and use the Export button to download a CSV file. Shopify's built-in export covers products, customers, and basic order data, but it doesn't include order line-item details in a format WooCommerce can import directly - for a full order history migration most people use a paid app like Matrixify or Cart2Cart.

What do I lose when I move from Shopify to WooCommerce?+

You lose Shopify Payments, the managed hosting/SSL/PCI compliance, and the curated app ecosystem - all of that becomes your responsibility on WooCommerce. You'll need to find WordPress plugin equivalents for fraud protection, abandoned cart recovery, and other features that were built into Shopify.

Is the free WooCommerce plugin enough for a small team, or will I need paid extensions?+

The core plugin handles basic product listings, cart, and checkout fine for a small store. But most real stores end up paying for extensions like WooCommerce Subscriptions, Table Rate Shipping, or a premium theme, plus a managed WordPress host - so 'free' typically becomes $20-60/mo once you're operational.

Will my Shopify apps and integrations still work after switching to WooCommerce?+

No, Shopify apps don't carry over - you'll need to find WooCommerce/WordPress plugin equivalents (there are thousands) or rebuild the connection manually. Zapier, email marketing tools, and accounting integrations usually have WooCommerce versions, but expect to spend time reconfiguring triggers and mappings from scratch.

Does WooCommerce actually cost less than Shopify over time?+

Usually yes, especially at higher order volumes since there's no per-transaction platform fee, but the gap narrows once you factor in hosting, premium plugins, a decent theme, and developer time for maintenance. For a small store doing modest volume, realistic all-in WooCommerce costs often land in the $30-100/mo range versus $39-105/mo for Shopify's mid-tier plans.