This comes up on almost every e-commerce scoping call: "Should we use Shopify or WooCommerce?" There's no universally correct answer, but there is a correct answer for your specific situation, and it usually comes down to one question: how much do you want to manage yourself?
The core difference
Shopify is a fully hosted platform. Shopify runs the servers, handles security updates, and keeps things online, you just build the store on top of it. WooCommerce is a plugin that turns a self-hosted WordPress site into a store, which means you (or whoever manages your site) are responsible for hosting, updates, and security.
Neither approach is "better" in the abstract. It's a trade-off between convenience and control.
Choose Shopify if...
- You want to launch and not think about server maintenance, backups, or security patches
- You're a small team without dedicated technical staff
- You want a large, polished app ecosystem for things like subscriptions, reviews, and loyalty programs
- You're fine with a monthly platform fee on top of your other costs
Choose WooCommerce if...
- You already run WordPress, or want your store and content site to live in one place
- You want full control over hosting, meaning you can optimize costs at scale or meet specific data-residency requirements
- You need deep, non-standard customization that would require expensive custom app development on Shopify
- You're comfortable with (or have someone handling) ongoing maintenance and plugin updates
What the pricing actually looks like
Shopify charges a recurring monthly fee (typically $29–$299+ depending on tier) plus transaction fees unless you use Shopify Payments. WooCommerce itself is free, but you pay for hosting, a domain, and any premium plugins or themes, and that adds up differently depending on your traffic and needs. Neither is reliably "cheaper" once you account for everything; it depends on your scale and how much custom work you need.
A question that matters more than either platform
Whichever platform you pick, the platform itself won't fix a confusing product catalog, a slow checkout, or generic design that doesn't build trust. We've built serious stores on both, our Tack Shop case study is a Shopify build handling 90+ brands. The platform is a foundation, not a strategy.
If you're not sure which fits your situation, take our two-minute quiz or tell us about your store and we'll give you a straight recommendation, including package pricing on our pricing page.