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E-commerce Platforms

Shopify vs WooCommerce: Which E-commerce Platform Fits Your Business 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.

Bill BelcaminoBy Bill Belcamino · Last updated September 18, 2026 · Our methodologyResearched and fact-checked by the HelpCompare team
Shopify logoFrom $29/mo

Shopify

VS
WooCommerce logoFree plugin

WooCommerce

See the full spec table Read the FAQ
Shopify vs WooCommerceVerified Sep 18, 2026
Bill Belcamino
Bottom line up frontby Bill Belcamino, founder of HelpCompare
Editorial assessment

Bottom line up front: Is WooCommerce really cheaper to run than Shopify?

Not by much once you sell real volume, because card fees are the big line item and WooCommerce's free plugin doesn't make them any smaller.

At $50,000 a month in sales, this page puts Shopify Basic's card cost at $1,750/mo against a $29/mo subscription billed yearly, and Stripe as a WooCommerce gateway lists the same 2.9% + 30¢, so it lands in the same place. Shopify's rate steps down to 2.5%+30¢ on Advanced, while WooCommerce's stays flat unless you go and negotiate. Flat-rate processing is priced for small sellers, and once your volume is steady, many processors will quote interchange-plus pricing, which shows the card networks' cost and their own markup separately, so the markup is the part you can shop. WooCommerce lets you move processors for a better quote, while leaving Shopify Payments on Shopify triggers a surcharge. Get a processing quote at your real monthly volume before you compare subscription prices.

My read of the verified data on this page, checked against vendor sources on September 18, 2026. Disagree or spot an error? Tell Bill

Verified data

Shopify vs WooCommerce: quick facts

At a glanceShopifyWooCommerce
CategoryE-commerce Platforms
Entry priceFrom $29/moFree plugin
Free planNo free tier (3-day trial, then $1/mo for 3 months intro offer)Yes, WooCommerce itself is free forever; only supporting infrastructure costs money

Is Shopify cheaper than WooCommerce?

Shopify is priced at From $29/mo and WooCommerce at Free plugin. See the full breakdown below for what is included at each tier.

Verified data

Shopify vs WooCommerce at a glance

CategoryShopifyWooCommerce
Pricing modelTiered SaaS subscription: Basic $29/mo, Grow $79/mo, Advanced $299/mo billed yearly ($39, $105, $399/mo billed monthly), plus per-transaction feesFree core plugin; costs are à la carte — hosting, domain, SSL, and optional premium extensions/themes
Free planNo 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 requirementFully hosted/managed by Shopify — no separate hosting purchase neededSelf-hosted — requires your own web hosting, typically on WordPress
Ease of setupGuided, beginner-friendly setup wizard with drag-and-drop theme editorMore hands-on: install WordPress + the plugin, then manage updates, backups, and security yourself
App/plugin ecosystemShopify App Store — curated marketplace built specifically for ShopifyWooCommerce.com extensions plus the broader WordPress.org directory (72,000+ plugins)
Payment processing fees2.9% + 30¢ per transaction via Shopify Payments; extra surcharge for third-party gatewaysNo platform-imposed transaction fee — you pay only your chosen gateway’s rate

Verified September 18, 2026Prices recorded from each vendor’s own pricing page. See sources

Total cost of ownership: Shopify vs WooCommerce for your team

Estimate built from the published starting rate shown above (as of Sep 2026). Excludes add-ons, usage overages, and negotiated discounts.

WooCommerce has no published price: this calculator uses $25/mo as a placeholder for hosting, and your real cost depends on the host, theme, and extensions you choose.

Editorial assessment

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.

Verified data

Shopify vs WooCommerce: security, offline & remote work

How Shopify and WooCommerce compare on compliance reports, sign-in controls, offline access and the setup details that matter for remote, hybrid and in-office teams. Every value links to the vendor page it came from.

What we checkedShopifyWooCommerce
Security & compliance
SOC 2 reportSOC 2 Type IIsourceNot published
ISO/IEC 27001Not publishedNot published
Other certificationsPCI DSS Level 1, SOC 3sourceNot published
HIPAA (BAA)Not publishedNot published
GDPR data processing agreementDPA offeredsourceNot published
Single sign-on (SAML/OIDC)YesShopify PlussourceNot published
SCIM user provisioningYesShopify PlussourceNot published
Two-factor authenticationYesEnforcement: Shopify PlussourceNot published
Admin audit logYesShopify PlussourceNot published
Data residency choicesNot publishedNot published
EncryptionNot publishedNot published
Self-hosting optionNot publishedYessource
Offline access
Offline modePartialThe Shopify POS app can complete checkouts offline with cash, custom payment methods and (once activated) card payments on supported readers; customers, gift cards, returns and inventory/order sync need internet, and orders sync automatically on reconnect.sourceNot documented
Desktop appsNot publishedNot published
Mobile appsiOS, AndroidsourceiOS, Androidsource
Offline limitsOffline card payments need POS app 9.14.0+, a supported Shopify reader, a staff permission, and are capped by per-device daily and per-transaction limits.source—
Remote, hybrid & in-office
IP allowlistingNot publishedNot published
Device & session controlsNot publishedNot published
Office & room hardwareShopify POS runs on iOS/Android and supports Shopify card readers (POS Go, POS Terminal, Tap & Chip and others) plus retail hardware such as barcode scanners and cash drawers.sourcePOS mode in the Woo mobile app accepts card payments via an M2 reader (US) or WisePad 3 reader (UK and other supported countries), Tap to Pay, or an Android phone as a remote reader.source
Editorial assessment

What this means for your team

  • Audit reports: Shopify states a SOC 2 report on its own site; we found no SOC 2 statement for WooCommerce. If your security team requires SOC 2, ask WooCommerce directly before shortlisting.
  • Single sign-on: Shopify includes it on Shopify Plus. WooCommerce doesn’t document single sign-on with your own identity provider. If your team signs in through Okta, Microsoft Entra ID or Google, price the plan that includes SSO, not the entry plan.
  • Working offline: Shopify works offline only in part; WooCommerce doesn’t document an offline mode. Details are in the Offline mode row above.
  • In the office: Shopify: Shopify POS runs on iOS/Android and supports Shopify card readers (POS Go, POS Terminal, Tap & Chip and others) plus retail hardware such as barcode scanners and cash drawers. WooCommerce: POS mode in the Woo mobile app accepts card payments via an M2 reader (US) or WisePad 3 reader (UK and other supported countries), Tap to Pay, or an Android phone as a remote reader.

Shopify: worth knowing

  • OfflineOffline card payments are not routed to the processor until reconnection, so declines only surface later; Shopify advises reconnecting ideally within 24 hours. source
  • OfficeWith the POS Terminal reader, offline payments still require the store's local Wi-Fi network to be working. source
  • OfflineWhile offline, Shopify POS cannot sync orders and inventory with the Shopify admin; syncing resumes automatically on reconnect. source
  • SecuritySAML SSO, SCIM provisioning, mandatory two-step authentication and the organization user activity log are all Shopify Plus-only. source

WooCommerce: worth knowing

  • SecurityThe core WooCommerce plugin is not PCI certified; PCI DSS compliance is the store owner's responsibility. source
  • SecurityA WooCommerce store's security is tied to its WordPress install and host, so the hosting choice decides most security controls. source
  • OfflinePOS mode downloads the store's product catalog to the device for browsing, search and barcode scanning; WooCommerce does not document offline checkout. source

Checked September 19, 2026 against each vendor’s own trust center, help docs and app pages. Hover or tap “source” to see the exact wording we relied on. “Not published” means we could not find the vendor saying it on its own site; it doesn’t mean the feature is missing. Plan names are the lowest plan the vendor says includes the feature. Security · Offline · Remote vs office · Download the data

Making the switch?

Read our step-by-step migration guides

We mapped out exactly what transfers automatically and what you will need to rebuild by hand, in both directions.

Switching from Shopify to WooCommerce → Switching from WooCommerce to Shopify →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Shopify?

Shopify is a hosted e-commerce platform that lets businesses build, manage, and scale online stores.

What is WooCommerce?

WooCommerce is a free, open-source e-commerce plugin that turns a WordPress website into an online store.

How much does Shopify cost compared to WooCommerce?

Shopify starts at $29/mo (Basic, billed yearly), while WooCommerce starts at Free plugin (paid hosting is required; hosting and extension costs depend on the providers you choose).

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.

How much do transaction fees actually cost at $50,000/month in sales?

More than most buyers expect on both sides. With Shopify Payments, Shopify’s own card rate ranges 2.9%+30¢ (Basic) down to 2.5%+30¢ (Advanced). At $50,000/month with a $50 average order (1,000 orders), that’s $1,750/mo on Basic or $1,550/mo on Advanced. WooCommerce charges no platform fee itself, but you still pay a payment gateway (Stripe, PayPal, or WooPayments) at that gateway rate. Stripe lists 2.9% + 30¢ per domestic card transaction, also $1,750/mo at the same volume; PayPal Checkout is 3.49% plus a fixed fee. The real difference at this scale isn’t “free WooCommerce vs. paid Shopify”: it’s that Shopify’s card rate actually drops as you move up its plan tiers, while WooCommerce’s gateway rate stays flat unless you separately negotiate a lower rate or route to a cheaper processor.

Ready to pick one?

See live pricing directly from each vendor before you decide.

See Shopify pricing See WooCommerce pricing

Canonical data for the tools on this page

Every pricing fact, rating, AI billing model and switching guide we hold on each tool, on one page, with the date each figure was last verified.

ShopifyPricing, free plan, AI cost & every comparison›WooCommercePricing, free plan, AI cost & every comparison›
BigCommerce vs ShopifyHead-to-head comparisonBigCommerce vs WooCommerceHead-to-head comparison

Sources

Prices on this page were recorded from each vendor’s own pricing page on the date shown at the top of the page. Vendors change pricing often — check the live source before you buy.

Every figure is also in our open dataset (JSON and CSV, CC BY 4.0), with its source page and verification date. See how we research pricing.

Cite this page: HelpCompare, “Shopify vs WooCommerce”, helpcompare.com/shopify-vs-woocommerce/ (updated ).

Source links on this site are checked every month; last check . How sources are checked.

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01 · CompareWhich tool fits your team, side by side.132 comparisons 02 · Price & approveSourced, dated pricing and a one-page brief for sign-off.Decision brief 03 · SwitchWhat moves, what you rebuild, what it costs.264 guides 04 · ShareDownload and cite the data. CC BY 4.0.Open data
Bill Belcamino, founder of HelpCompare
About the author

Bill Belcamino

Founder and author, HelpCompare

Engineer by training, operator by experience, marketer by choice. Bill spent eight and a half years as an engineer at HP, was COO of Auctiva (the number one third-party selling platform on eBay, past 200,000 users) and ran Google’s $70M/year search syndication partnership at Alot.com. Then he spent 13 years building his own web properties with his own money at stake. He has bought, trialled, integrated and cancelled more SaaS tools than he can count, and started HelpCompare because the real cost of switching tools is the part nobody covers.

“I’ve sat on both sides of the table: the agency recommending the tool and the client paying for it.”

Researched and fact-checked by the HelpCompare team. Pricing on this page was last verified on September 18, 2026. No paid sponsorships, no affiliate commissions.

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