Shopify vs WooCommerce: Which E-commerce Platform Wins in 2026?
A fully hosted subscription platform vs. the free, self-hosted WordPress plugin — here is the real cost and control tradeoff for online stores.
From $29/moShopify
WooCommerce
Shopify vs WooCommerce at a glance
| Category | Shopify | WooCommerce |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Tiered SaaS subscription: Basic $29/mo, Grow $79/mo, Advanced $299/mo (annual), plus per-transaction fees | Free core plugin; costs are à la carte — hosting, domain, SSL, and optional premium extensions/themes |
| Free plan | No free tier (3-day trial, then $1/mo for 3 months intro offer) | Yes — WooCommerce itself is free forever; only supporting infrastructure costs money |
| Hosting requirement | Fully hosted/managed by Shopify — no separate hosting purchase needed | Self-hosted — requires your own web hosting, typically on WordPress |
| Ease of setup | Guided, beginner-friendly setup wizard with drag-and-drop theme editor | More hands-on: install WordPress + the plugin, then manage updates, backups, and security yourself |
| App/plugin ecosystem | Shopify App Store — curated marketplace built specifically for Shopify | WooCommerce.com extensions plus the broader WordPress.org directory (59,000+ plugins) |
| Payment processing fees | 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction via Shopify Payments; extra surcharge for third-party gateways | No platform-imposed transaction fee — you pay only your chosen gateway’s rate |
Pros & cons
Shopify
Pros
- Fully hosted and managed — no server setup, patching, or backups to handle
- Fast, guided setup with polished themes and a drag-and-drop editor
- Curated App Store and built-in support/reliability at scale
Cons
- Recurring subscription cost that rises with plan tier
- Extra surcharge for using a payment gateway other than Shopify Payments
- Less low-level control/customization than a self-hosted platform
WooCommerce
Pros
- Core plugin is free and open-source with no mandatory monthly platform fee
- Full control and customization since it runs on self-hosted WordPress
- No extra transaction surcharge for choosing your own payment gateway
Cons
- Requires sourcing and managing your own hosting, domain, and SSL certificate
- More technical upkeep — updates, backups, security, and plugin conflicts are on you
- Premium extensions and themes can add up, offsetting the ‘free’ core cost
Choose Shopify if…
Choose Shopify if you want a fully hosted, low-maintenance store with guided setup and don’t want to manage hosting or security yourself.
Choose WooCommerce if…
Choose WooCommerce if you already use WordPress, want maximum customization and no per-transaction platform fee, and are willing to manage hosting yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Shopify cost compared to WooCommerce?
Shopify starts at $29/mo (Basic, billed yearly), while WooCommerce starts at Free plugin (hosting/extensions cost extra, roughly $8–$350/mo).
Which has better reviews on G2, Shopify or WooCommerce?
Shopify holds a 4.4/5 (~5,143 reviews) rating on G2, compared to WooCommerce at 4.4/5 (~1,282 reviews).
Who should choose Shopify?
Choose Shopify if you want a fully hosted, low-maintenance store with guided setup and don’t want to manage hosting or security yourself.
Who should choose WooCommerce?
Choose WooCommerce if you already use WordPress, want maximum customization and no per-transaction platform fee, and are willing to manage hosting yourself.
Ready to pick one?
See live pricing directly from each vendor before you decide.