Shopify vs WooCommerce 2026: Hosted vs Self‑Hosted
Quick Verdict
Choose Shopify if you want to sell online with zero technical hassle. Choose WooCommerce if you need full control and already know WordPress.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Shopify | WooCommerce |
|---|---|---|
| Setup Time | ✅ Minutes | ⚠️ Hours to days |
| Hosting Included | ✅ Fully managed | ❌ Need separate hosting |
| Payment Processing | ✅ Shopify Payments | ✅ WooPayments + Stripe |
| Transaction Fees | ⚠️ 0.5-2% on third-party | ✅ None (hosting cost only) |
| Themes | ✅ 180+ (some paid) | ✅ Thousands (free + paid) |
| Customization | ⚠️ Liquid templates | ✅ Unlimited (PHP/CSS) |
| SEO | ✅ Good defaults | ✅ Full control (Yoast/RankMath) |
| Scalability | ✅ Shopify Plus available | ⚠️ Depends on hosting |
| Data Ownership | ⚠️ Shopify owns data | ✅ You own everything |
| Support | ✅ 24/7 chat/phone | ⚠️ Community forums |
Shopify
The all-in-one e-commerce platform that powers millions of stores
Strengths
- Zero setup — live in minutes
- Built-in payments (Shopify Payments)
- App ecosystem (8000+ apps)
- Mobile-optimized checkout
- 24/7 support
Weaknesses
- Transaction fees on third-party payments
- Limited customization without Liquid
- Monthly cost adds up with apps
Best for: Non-technical founders and brands that want to sell online without touching code
WooCommerce
The open-source e-commerce plugin for WordPress
Strengths
- Free core plugin
- Unlimited customization
- Full data ownership
- WordPress ecosystem
- No transaction fees (built-in)
Weaknesses
- Requires hosting (Kinsta recommended)
- Security and updates are your responsibility
- Plugin conflicts can crash stores
- Performance requires optimization
Best for: Developers and teams who want full control and already run WordPress
Pricing
| Tier | Shopify | WooCommerce |
|---|---|---|
| Starter/Basic | $39/mo | $0 (plugin) + $35/mo hosting |
| Standard | $105/mo | $0 (plugin) + $70/mo hosting |
| Advanced | $399/mo | $0 (plugin) + $115/mo hosting |
| Enterprise | $2,300/mo (Plus) | $0 (plugin) + custom hosting |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is WooCommerce really free?
The core plugin is free. But you need paid hosting ($35+/mo on Kinsta), a domain, and likely some premium plugins ($50-300/year). Total cost is comparable to Shopify Basic for small stores.
Is Shopify better for beginners?
Yes. Shopify requires zero technical knowledge. WooCommerce requires WordPress familiarity and some comfort with plugins, themes, and hosting management.
Which is better for SEO?
WooCommerce has a slight edge because WordPress gives you full control over URL structures, schema, meta tags, and content. Shopify's SEO is good but more restrictive.
Can I migrate from WooCommerce to Shopify?
Yes. Shopify has a WooCommerce migration tool that imports products, customers, and orders. Some manual cleanup is usually needed for custom fields.
Which is better for dropshipping?
Shopify. Its app ecosystem (Oberlo, DSers, Spocket) makes dropshipping significantly easier than WooCommerce's equivalent plugins.
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