WooCommerce vs Shopify: Best Platform for E-Commerce Success

Table of Contents

• WooCommerce vs Shopify Quick Comparison Table
• 1. Cost
• 2. Ease of Use
• 3. Customisation
• 4. Market Share
• 5. Scalability
• 6. Add-ons and Plugins
• 7. Payment Gateways
• 8. Marketing Features
• 9. eCommerce Features
• 10. Security
• 11. Customer Support
• Which is the Right Choice for you?
• Conclusion
• Take Your WordPress to the Next Level With Us

With over 6.3 million active websites on WooCommerce and more than 5 million stores powered by Shopify, these two platforms dominate the e-commerce space.

But with all that popularity comes confusion. It’s tough to know which one will truly fit your business needs.

WooCommerce promises total control and flexibility, but it can also feel overwhelming with customisation options. Shopify is often praised for its ease of use and all-in-one features, but it comes at a higher price tag.

The struggle is real! How do you balance costs, ease of use, scalability, and future growth without picking the wrong platform?

At WP Creative, we help businesses across Australia build successful online stores using both WooCommerce and Shopify. We know the strengths and trade-offs of each inside out.

Let’s break it down and help you choose the best platform for your eCommerce success.

WooCommerce vs Shopify Quick Comparison Table

WooCommerce is a self-hosted eCommerce plugin for WordPress that offers full control and customisation but requires some technical setup.

Shopify, in turn, is an all-in-one, dedicated eCommerce platform that simplifies online selling with built-in tools and minimal maintenance.

Here’s a quick comparison between WooCommerce and Shopify based on some core features:

Features	WooCommerce	Shopify
Cost	Free (with hosting costs)	Monthly subscription starting at $39/month
Ease of Use	Requires setup, not beginner-friendly	Intuitive, beginner-friendly
Customisation	Highly flexible, open-source	Limited backend modifications
Market Share	Over 6 million stores, strong WordPress user base	4+ million stores worldwide
Scalability	Needs optimisation & good hosting	Effortlessly scales with business
Payment Gateways	Multiple gateways with no extra charges	Shopify Payments & external payment gateways (fees apply)
Security	Dependent on hosting & manual updates	Fully managed, SSL & PCI compliant
Marketing Tools	Advanced SEO via plugins, great for blogging	Built-in marketing tools but SEO limitations
Themes and Templates	Large library of free and premium WordPress themes	Professionally designed themes, but limited customisation
Add-ons and Plugins	50,000+ WordPress plugins available	App Store with 8,000+ apps (many paid)
Mobile Experience	Mobile-optimised but dependent on the theme	Fully responsive with a mobile-first approach
Multichannel Selling	Requires plugins for social selling & marketplaces	Built-in sales channels (Facebook, Instagram, Amazon, etc.)
Customer Support	Built-in marketing tools, but SEO limitations	24/7 live chat, phone, and email support

1. Cost

WooCommerce and Shopify have very different pricing structures. One offers flexibility with variable costs, while the other provides a straightforward subscription model.

Your budget plays a huge role in determining which platform is the best fit, whether you are a small business owner, a startup, or an enterprise.

WooCommerce

WooCommerce is free to install, but since it’s a self-hosted solution, you’ll need to pay for hosting, security, and extra features separately. Here’s a breakdown of WooCommerce costs:

• Hosting: Starts from $5 to $30/month (varies based on the provider and performance).
• Domain: Around $10 to $20 per year if not included in hosting.
• Themes: Free and paid options ($50–$200 for premium themes).
• Plugins & Extensions: Some essential features, like SEO, marketing, or payment gateways, may require paid plugins ($5–$100/month, depending on needs).
• Maintenance: Costs can arise if you need to hire developers for security, updates, or customisation.

Pros

• Free core platform with no monthly subscription.
• No transaction fees (depends on the payment gateway used).
• More control over costs. You only pay for what you need.
• Scalable pricing. You can start small and upgrade as needed.
• One-time purchases for themes and plugins (instead of recurring costs like Shopify apps).

Cons:

• Hosting costs can add up, and better performance requires premium WordPress hosting.
• Paid plugins may be needed for features like SEO, marketing automation, and advanced analytics.
• Requires maintenance, so security, updates, and backups must be handled manually or through a paid service.

Shopify

Shopify operates on a tiered subscription model, making it easier to budget for e-commerce expenses. All plans include hosting, security, and essential features, but pricing varies based on store size and needs.

Shopify Pricing Plans:

• Basic Shopify Plan – $39/month (for small businesses and new stores).
• Shopify Plan – $105/month (for growing online businesses with more advanced features).
• Advanced Shopify – $399/month (for scaling businesses with analytics and lower transaction fees).
• Shopify Plus – Starts at $2,000/month (for enterprise-level businesses).

Pros:

• All-in-one solution with hosting, SSL, and security included.
• No hidden fees.
• No maintenance required as Shopify handles security and updates.
• 24/7 customer support, reducing the need for external help.

Cons:

• Transaction fees, unless you use Shopify Payments.
• Recurring monthly fee,s so costs add up as your business grows.
• Limited control over expenses. Some apps require ongoing subscriptions.
• More expensive in the long run, especially with higher-tier plans and additional paid apps.

Winner – WooCommerce 🏆

WooCommerce wins the cost battle for businesses that want a budget-friendly, scalable solution. The absence of mandatory monthly fees and transaction charges makes it more affordable over time, especially for those who already have a WordPress site.

However, I suggest that you prepare a proper cost breakdown of each of these options for your particular business before you make a decision.

2. Ease of Use

WooCommerce and Shopify offer very different user experiences. So it’s important for you to decide if setting up and managing your store would feel overwhelming for you. With WordPress, you require more technical knowledge whereas Shopify comes with simplicity.

WooCommerce

WooCommerce is a self-hosted, open-source plugin for WordPress, which means it requires manual setup and ongoing management.

Unlike Shopify, it doesn’t provide hosting or an all-in-one dashboard, so you’ll need to handle different aspects separately.

Pros

• Complete control over design, functionality, and features.
• Highly customisable. Perfect for users who want tailored solutions.
• If you’ve used WordPress before, WooCommerce is easier to learn.
• Flexible product management as it supports various product types (digital, physical, subscriptions).

Cons

• Requires technical knowledge. Manual domain setup, hosting, and maintenance can be challenging.
• No built-in hosting. Users must find and manage their own web hosting.
• Requires manual configuration, so additional plugins are required for taxes, shipping, and payments.
• Can be overwhelming for beginners.

Shopify

Shopify is a fully hosted platform, meaning you don’t need to worry about domains, hosting, or security. With an intuitive drag-and-drop editor, built-in tools, and guided setup, Shopify is designed for beginners who want a hassle-free experience.

Pros:

• Beginner-friendly. No technical skills required.
• All-in-one dashboard. You can manage products, payments, and shipping methods in one place.
• Can launch a store in minutes, as the setup is extremely fast.
• Drag-and-drop design tools so it’s easy to build and customise a store.
• No need for external hosting or security management.

Cons:

• Less flexibility. Customisation is limited compared to WooCommerce.
• Theme modifications require coding knowledge.
• App dependency. Some features require additional paid apps.
• Less control over backend settings compared to self-hosted solutions.

Winner – Shopify 🎉

Shopify wins in ease of use, making it the better choice for beginners and business owners who want a smooth, all-in-one platform. With its intuitive dashboard, guided setup, and built-in features, users can launch their store quickly without technical expertise.

So, if you prefer convenience and speed, Shopify is the right eCommerce platform for you.

If speed is a concern, you’ll want to read our guide on how to speed up your Shopify store for better performance!

3. Customisation

From the way it looks to how customers navigate through checkout, customisation plays a huge role in shaping the shopping experience.

If you want full control over every pixel and feature, WooCommerce plugin gives you endless customisation options but it comes with a bit of coding. On the other hand, Shopify keeps things simple, offering an easy way to personalise your store without overwhelming you with too many choices.

WooCommerce

WooCommerce is like having a blank canvas. You can shape your store however you like. WooCommerce lets you tweak, modify, and customise without limits.

Pros:

• You can customise everything from store layout to checkout.
• With endless plugin options, you can add any functionality you can think of.
• Flexible product management. Sell physical, digital, subscriptions, or memberships with ease.
• Perfect for unique, niche stores that need something beyond standard templates.

Cons:

• Requires some technical knowledge, or you might need to hire a developer.
• Too many plugins can slow down performance if not managed properly.
• Manual maintenance needed so updates, security, and optimisations are your responsibility.

Shopify

Shopify is all about keeping things simple. You get a polished, professional-looking store right out of the box, and with its drag-and-drop editor and app integrations, you can personalise it with minimal effort.

But you don’t have full control, as there are some guardrails in place in Shopify.

Pros:

• Super easy customisation. No coding is needed for most changes.
• Responsive, high-quality themes.
• Updates and compatibility are automated.
• Perfect for business owners who want to focus on selling, not tweaking code.

Cons:

• Limited backend access. You can’t modify core files or database settings.
• Checkout customisation is locked behind Shopify Plus ($2,000/month).
• Many advanced features require paid apps, increasing costs over time.

Winner – WooCommerce 🌟

If you’re the type who loves complete creative control and doesn’t mind tinkering, WooCommerce is the clear winner. You can customise everything from your store’s design and layout to its backend functionality and checkout experience. It’s perfect for those who want something unique and tailored to their needs.

4. Market Share

When choosing between WooCommerce and Shopify, it helps to look at their market share and growth trends over the years. A platform’s market share reflects not only its popularity but also its reliability, community support, and long-term viability.

WooCommerce

WooCommerce has long been the most popular among other eCommerce platforms by the sheer number of stores using it. Since it’s a free, open-source WordPress plugin, many WordPress users naturally choose it to power their online shops.

Pros:

• Largest market share, as it is backed by WordPress. Currently powers over 6 million online stores worldwide.
• Strong community support. Holds over 38% of the e-commerce market, making it the most widely used e-commerce solution
• Great for long-term growth. Since it’s open-source, it’s not dependent on a single company.
• Popular among small and large businesses alike, especially content-heavy websites.

Cons:

• Market share has plateaued in recent years as SaaS platforms like Shopify gain traction.
• Can be harder to scale compared to Shopify’s seamless cloud-based infrastructure.
• Growth relies on WordPress trends. If WordPress declines, WooCommerce could be impacted.

Shopify

Shopify may not have the same sheer volume as WooCommerce, but its growth rate has been staggering. It has become the go-to platform for small businesses, startups, and entrepreneurs looking for an easy and reliable way to sell online.

Pros:

• Fastest-growing e-commerce platform.
• Dominates the dropshipping market, thanks to integrations like Oberlo and Printful.
• Preferred by brands and influencers, making it a strong contender in modern e-commerce.

Cons:

• Still trails behind WooCommerce in total market share.
• Primarily used by small to mid-sized businesses, while WooCommerce powers many large content-driven sites.
• Growth depends on an advanced Shopify plan. As costs increase, some businesses may switch to alternatives.

Winner – WooCommerce 🥇

If we’re looking purely at market share, WooCommerce is the clear winner, with the largest number of stores globally. It’s a well-established platform with a massive user base that isn’t going away anytime soon.

This makes WooCommerce a widely adopted, time-tested solution for your needs.

5. Scalability

Your online store should grow seamlessly as you expand, whether you’re increasing product offerings, handling more customers, or needing advanced features.

WooCommerce

WooCommerce is incredibly flexible, but you need to be ready to handle all the tools.

Pros:

• Fastest-growing e-commerce platform.
• Dominates the dropshipping market, thanks to integrations like Oberlo and Printful.
• Preferred by brands and influencers, making it a strong contender in modern e-commerce.

Cons:

• Still trails behind WooCommerce in total market share.
• Primarily used by small to mid-sized businesses, while WooCommerce powers many large content-driven sites.
• Growth depends on an advanced Shopify plan. As costs increase, some businesses may switch to alternatives.

Shopify

Shopify, on the other hand, simplifies scalability by providing built-in tools that handle most of the work for you. As your business grows, Shopify takes care of much of the backend automatically.

Pros

• Shopify offers various paid plans that automatically scale with your business.
• Takes care of the technical side of things like hosting, security, and server management.
• Supports unlimited bandwidth and storage, ensuring your store won’t experience performance issues or downtime during high-traffic periods.
• Shopify Plus, their enterprise-level offering, allows for even more customisation.

Cons

• As your store scales and you upgrade to higher-tier plans, the cost increases significantly, with Shopify’s plans jumping from $39/month to $105/month, and beyond.
• Shopify places limits on how many new products you can create daily (1,000 after reaching 50,000 products).
• Customisation Limits

Winner – Shopify 👏

Shopify provides a more seamless and hands-off approach. Its automatic infrastructure management, unlimited bandwidth, and easy plan upgrades make it ideal for businesses that want a hassle-free way to grow.

The platform allows you to focus on sales and marketing without worrying about technical aspects.

6. Add-ons and Plugins

When it comes to expanding the capabilities of your e-commerce store, add-ons and plugins are essential tools. Both WooCommerce and Shopify offer a range of options to extend your store’s functionality.

WooCommerce

WooCommerce is an open-source WordPress plugin, and with WordPress being home to one of the largest plugin ecosystems on the web, WooCommerce benefits from an extensive library of third-party plugins.

Pros

• You can install any free WordPress plugin to extend your store’s capabilities.
• WooCommerce integrates with almost any service, such as accounting software, CRMs, and marketing tools.
• There are both free and premium plugins available, allowing you to start small and expand as needed.

Cons

• Too many plugins can slow down your website
• Some plugins may require manual setup and may need a developer’s help to configure properly.
• Plugins need to be updated regularly to ensure security and compatibility

Shopify

Shopify’s approach to add-ons is more streamlined and user-friendly. While Shopify has a vast app marketplace, it doesn’t offer the same level of customisation as WooCommerce.

Pros

• Shopify’s app store has plenty of user-friendly apps.
• Since Shopify vets its app marketplace, the apps you’ll find tend to be well-designed, reliable, and regularly updated.
• You don’t need to know any code to install and use apps.

Cons

• While you can add many features via apps, you’re somewhat restricted in terms of customisation options.
• Many advanced features on Shopify are behind paid apps.
• Shopify store owners often rely on third-party apps for essential features.

Winner – Draw

When it comes to add-ons and plugins, both WooCommerce and Shopify have their strengths. WooCommerce offers unmatched flexibility and customisation, with thousands of plugins available to extend every aspect of your store.

Shopify, on the other hand, offers a more streamlined, user-friendly approach. Its app marketplace is curated and easy to navigate, making it ideal for those who want a simple, hands-off approach to adding functionality.

7. Payment Gateways

Both WooCommerce and Shopify offer a variety of payment gateway options, but the platforms differ in terms of ease of integration, fees, and flexibility.

WooCommerce

Since WooCommerce is integrated with WordPress, it offers a high level of flexibility in terms of payment gateways. You can integrate almost any gateway like PayPal, Stripe or Amazon Pay, but the process might require additional setup.

Pros

• Integrates with a variety of payment gateways, giving you more options for your target market.
• Full control over how payment gateways are configured and integrated.
• WooCommerce doesn’t charge any extra fees for using payment gateways, but the gateway providers may have their own charges.

Cons

• Some payment gateways require manual configuration, and if you’re not familiar with the process, it might require technical expertise or help from a developer.
• As a self-hosted platform, WooCommerce requires you to maintain the security of payment gateway integrations and ensure they remain up-to-date.

Shopify

Shopify comes with built-in options, which make it incredibly easy to set up and use.

Pros

• Built-in Shopify payments make it easy to start accepting payments without additional setup.
• Shopify supports international payments.
• The integration process is straightforward, with little to no technical knowledge required.
• Shopify’s transaction fees for Shopify Payments are lower than those for third-party gateways.

Cons

• Charges a transaction fee (ranging from 0.5% to 2%) if you choose to use a third-party payment gateway instead of Shopify Payments.
• While Shopify Payments is easy to use, you have less control over certain aspects of the payment process compared to WooCommerce.
• Shopify Payments isn’t available in all countries.

Winner – WooCommerce 👑

WooCommerce comes out on top in this one. With its extensive list of supported payment gateways, you can choose the option that best suits your business. Plus, WooCommerce doesn’t charge additional fees for third-party integrations, which can save you money in the long run.

8. Marketing Features

Marketing features are important for your e-commerce platform, as it is essential to keep growing your e-commerce store.

These tools help you promote your products, engage customers, and boost sales.

WooCommerce

WooCommerce comes with the powerful marketing capabilities of WordPress, including local SEO optimisation, content marketing, and multiple sales channels.

Pros

• Seamless integration with powerful SEO plugins for on-page optimisation.
• Built-in blogging features to drive traffic and improve your content marketing strategy.
• Plenty of plugins and integrations for email marketing, discounts, and promotions.
• Full control over discounting and promotions.

Cons

• Some integrations and customisations, like advanced SEO setup or email marketing automation, may require technical expertise or third-party help.
• Setting up marketing features, especially with plugins and integrations, can be time-consuming and may require ongoing maintenance.

Shopify

Shopify offers basic SEO features, built-in email marketing tools and supports affiliate marketing however, it is not as customisable as WooCommerce.

Pros

• Easy-to-use marketing tools with no technical expertise required.
• Many marketing and eCommerce tools are included by default (email marketing, discounts, and SEO).
• Shopify automates many marketing tasks, such as abandoned cart recovery and email campaigns.
• Direct integration with popular social media platforms allows for easy product promotion and sales.

Cons

• Limited ability to fully customise your marketing campaigns compared to WooCommerce.
• Many advanced marketing features, such as additional email marketing tools or affiliate programs, require third-party apps that come with additional costs.
• SEO tools are not as robust or customisable.

Winner – WooCommerce 🔥

WooCommerce offers the greatest flexibility and control, particularly for those who want to fully customise their marketing strategies.

With its seamless integration with powerful SEO tools, email marketing platforms, and content creation features through WordPress, WooCommerce allows you to tailor every aspect of your marketing efforts.

Running a Shopify store instead? No problem, our SEO experts provide SEO services for Shopify to help your online store rank higher and drive more sales.

9. eCommerce Features

When it comes to creating an online store, the eCommerce features that each platform offers can make all the difference.

From product management and inventory control to checkout options and customer service tools, both WooCommerce and Shopify provide robust e-commerce features.

WooCommerce

WooCommerce comes with features like Product Management, Checkout Options, Inventory Management and Shipping & Tax.

Pros

• You have complete control over your product listings, checkout experience, and store design.
• Supports a wide range of products and integrates with numerous third-party services.
• You can use any tool or plugin to extend your store’s functionality as your business grows.
• Built-in inventory management tools, with plugins available for more advanced needs.

Cons

• Advanced customisation of eCommerce features often requires coding or the use of plugins.
• Regular updates and management of plugins, themes, and hosting.

Shopify

Shopify focuses on providing a user-friendly, all-in-one solution for store owners who prefer convenience over customisation.

Pros

• Setting up and managing your store’s eCommerce features is simple.
• Shopify’s all-in-one system includes everything you need to manage products, payments, taxes, and shipping.
• A smooth, simplified checkout process that can be enhanced with apps on higher-tier plans.
• Shopify makes it easy to manage customer data and run targeted marketing campaigns.
• Advanced inventory features available with higher-tier plans.

Cons

• Doesn’t offer the same level of customisation for eCommerce features as WooCommerce.
• Advanced eCommerce features, such as multi-location inventory or more complex shipping rules, are locked behind higher-tier plans.

Winner – Draw

While Shopify is the better choice for those who want a simple, user-friendly experience with integrated eCommerce features, WordPress comes with the greatest level of customisation and control.

Read More: How to Set Up Shopify Order Tracking for Australian Customers

10. Security

When running an online store, security is one of the most critical factors to consider. Let’s break down how both platforms handle security to ensure your eCommerce business stays safe.

WooCommerce

Since WooCommerce is a self-hosted solution integrated with WordPress, the responsibility for security lies with you. While WooCommerce itself offers security features, much of the security depends on your hosting environment, plugins, and how well you maintain your site.

Pros

• You can customise security settings and choose your own security plugins and measures.
• Install various third-party plugins to strengthen your store’s security.
• You can choose a hosting provider with a strong security focus, such as SiteGround or WP Engine.

Cons

• Security is not automated, and you must manage updates, backups, and monitoring yourself.
• For new store owners, maintaining strong security can be a challenge.

Shopify

Shopify, being a fully hosted solution, offers robust security out of the box. Since Shopify handles most of the backend, the platform provides comprehensive security measures to protect both your store and customer data.

Pros

• Shopify automatically applies security updates, ensuring your store is always protected.
• Shopify is fully PCI compliant, offering top-notch security for handling payment data.
• Offers built-in two-factor authentication for enhanced security.
• Hosts your store on secure servers with industry-standard security protocols.

Cons

• Less flexibility to customise security features to your exact specifications.

Winner – Shopify 🏆

Shopify offers the most comprehensive and hassle-free solution. The platform automatically handles updates, patches, PCI compliance, SSL encryption, and backups.

Shopify’s built-in security features, including two-factor authentication and fraud prevention tools, make it a great choice for store owners who want peace of mind and don’t want to spend time worrying about security.

11. Customer Support

When choosing an eCommerce platform, reliable customer support is crucial for resolving technical issues and ensuring smooth operations.

WooCommerce relies heavily on community-driven resources and third-party support, while Shopify provides direct, 24/7 customer support.

WooCommerce

Since WooCommerce is an open-source plugin for WordPress, the level of official customer support is somewhat limited. Instead, the WooCommerce support ecosystem relies heavily on community-driven resources, third-party support, and independent developers.

Pros

• Access to a large community of users, developers, and forums.
• Extensive articles and tutorials to help you solve the most common problems on your own.
• You can choose between free community support or paid services for more specialised assistance.

Cons

• No 24/7 Official Support
• Finding the right support can be challenging, especially for unique issues, as you may have to navigate through multiple resources.

Shopify

It offers extensive, official customer support for all users. Shopify’s support structure is designed to provide prompt, reliable assistance to both beginners and experienced store owners.

Pros

• Live chat, email, and phone support available at any time.
• Shopify’s dedicated support team provide personalised assistance.
• Access to a network of professionals who can help with design, development, or marketing.
• Extensive resources available for self-help, including articles, video tutorials, and guides.

Cons

• Support Dependent on Shopify’s Resources

Winner – Shopify 🎉

Shopify takes the lead here by offering 24/7 live support and a comprehensive help centre. The platform is designed to make support accessible to all users, regardless of experience level.

With direct access to dedicated support representatives and a vast network of experts, Shopify provides a hands-off experience for store owners who want reliable, immediate help.

Want to know the difference between Shopify and Shopify Plus? Check out our detailed comparison guide!

Which is the Right Choice for you?

Both Shopify and WooCommerce offer strong e-commerce solutions, but the right choice depends on your business needs.

If you want a cost-effective and customisable platform, and you have some technical knowledge, WooCommerce is a great fit. It gives you complete control over your store’s design and features.

On the other hand, if you’re looking for a simple, all-in-one solution that’s easy to set up with 24/7 support, Shopify is the way to go. It’s ideal for beginners or those who want a fully functional eCommerce store quickly.

Thinking about switching platforms?

We provide Shopify migration services and WordPress migration services from any platform and CMS. Our team ensures a smooth transfer from Shopify to WooCommmerce and vice versa with no data loss, downtime or SEO impact.

Conclusion

Selecting the best eCommerce website builder depends on factors like your budget, technical expertise, and how much control you want over your store. A good platform should be reliable, easy to use, customisable, and offer excellent support.

WooCommerce, with its deep integration into WordPress, provides extensive flexibility and control but requires more hands-on management. Shopify, on the other hand, is an easy-to-use, all-in-one solution that simplifies setup and scaling but offers fewer customisation options. Think about your business needs and priorities to decide which platform will best support your goals.

If you’re leaning towards Shopify, don’t miss our Shopify SEO optimisation guide to help you rank and grow.

Take Your WordPress to the Next Level With Us

At WP Creative, we work with both eCommerce platforms every day. Whether you need the flexibility of WooCommerce or the simplicity of Shopify, we’ll help you choose the right platform for your business goals.

Our WooCommerce and Shopify developers specialise in custom web design and development, performance optimisation, seamless integrations, and ongoing support. We don’t just build eCommerce sites, we create complete shopping experiences that attract traffic, convert better, and grow with your business.

We’ve helped brands across Australia turn their ideas into high-performing eCommerce sites, and we’d do the same for you.

Let’s talk about your goals and build the right eCommerce solution together.

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