Key facts
- Shopify: hosted SaaS, monthly plans, app store, Shopify Admin GraphQL API
- Shopify adds a transaction fee when you use a third-party payment gateway, lower on higher plans
- WooCommerce: free plugin on self-hosted WordPress, with hosting and extensions to pay for
- WooCommerce stores orders in dedicated tables (HPOS) by default in current versions
- Both integrate with Xero, QuickBooks, Stripe, marketplaces and EPOS systems
- dijitul quotes builds and migrations at a fixed price after a free chat
The short answer
Choose Shopify if you want to launch quickly, have no appetite for managing hosting and updates, and your catalogue and checkout are fairly standard. Choose WooCommerce if you want full control over code, data and hosting, already run WordPress for content, need unusual product or checkout logic, or want to avoid platform transaction fees.
Neither is better in general. We build on both, and we have built ecommerce since the CubeCart and OpenCart days, so we are not tied to either platform.
Comparison table
| Factor | Shopify | WooCommerce |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting | Included and managed by Shopify | Your choice of hosting; you manage it |
| Running costs | Monthly plan, paid apps, payment fees | Hosting, paid extensions, payment fees |
| Platform transaction fees | Extra fee if not using Shopify Payments, lower on higher plans | None from WooCommerce itself |
| Maintenance | Platform updates handled by Shopify | WordPress, plugin and PHP updates are your job |
| Customisation | Themes (Liquid), apps, checkout extensibility within Shopify's rules | Full code access, any PHP customisation |
| Content and SEO | Good; blog and content tools are simpler | Strong; WordPress is a full content platform |
| B2B and complex pricing | B2B features on higher plans, or apps | Plugins or custom code |
| API | Admin GraphQL API, webhooks | WooCommerce REST API, webhooks, WordPress hooks |
| Data ownership | Exportable, but platform-hosted | Your database on your server |
| Best for | Fast launch, low maintenance, standard retail | Control, content-heavy sites, custom logic |
Shopify in more detail
Shopify's strength is that it just runs. Hosting, security patches, PCI DSS compliance for the checkout and scaling for traffic spikes are Shopify's problem. The app store fills most gaps, and the Shopify Admin GraphQL API and webhooks make integrations straightforward. Shopify has moved new public app development to the GraphQL Admin API, so integrations we build use it.
The trade-offs are cost structure and limits. Monthly plans, several paid apps and, if you use a payment provider other than Shopify Payments, an extra percentage on each transaction add up. Checkout customisation is controlled through checkout extensibility, with the deepest options on Shopify Plus. Unusual pricing or product logic can mean several apps that do not always work well together. See Shopify development and Shopify integration.
WooCommerce in more detail
WooCommerce is a free plugin for WordPress. You own the code and the database, choose your hosting, and can change anything with PHP. For content-led businesses it is a natural fit, because WordPress handles articles, landing pages and SEO well. Current versions store orders in dedicated database tables (High-Performance Order Storage), which helps larger shops.
The trade-off is responsibility. WordPress core, WooCommerce, extensions and PHP all need regular updates and testing, and hosting quality matters a great deal for speed and security. With good hosting and a maintenance plan, WooCommerce is reliable. Without them, it degrades. Hosting is available through dijitul hosting. See WooCommerce development.
A quick decision checklist
Answer these honestly and the choice usually becomes clear.
- Who will look after the site day to day? If nobody technical, Shopify's managed platform removes a lot of risk. If you have a developer or a maintenance plan, WooCommerce's extra control becomes usable.
- How standard is your catalogue? Simple products and variants suit either. Configurable products, made-to-measure pricing, or bookings mixed with products often fit WooCommerce or custom code better.
- Which payment provider do you want? If you are happy with Shopify Payments, Shopify's extra gateway fee does not apply. If you need a particular provider, factor the fee in.
- How much content will you publish? Content-heavy brands often prefer WordPress's editing tools.
- What must the shop integrate with? List accounting, stock, EPOS, marketplaces and couriers. Check app availability on Shopify and plugin quality on WooCommerce, and consider whether a custom integration is needed either way.
- Where do you want your data? If owning the database outright matters, WooCommerce gives you that directly.
Integrations and switching platforms
Both platforms connect to Xero, QuickBooks, Stripe, marketplaces, EPOS and warehouse systems, either through apps or custom integrations. If your business depends on a complex integration, that often matters more than the platform choice, and we scope it first.
Moving between platforms is common in both directions. A careful ecommerce migration keeps products, customers, order history and URLs, with 301 redirects to protect search rankings. We have built migration tools since the CubeCart to OpenCart and osCommerce to CubeCart days. Related: WordPress vs custom CMS.
Frequently asked questions
Is Shopify or WooCommerce cheaper?
It depends on your plan, apps, hosting and payment provider. Shopify bundles hosting but adds subscription, app and possible transaction fees. WooCommerce has no platform fee but needs good hosting and maintenance. dijitul compares both for your situation in a free chat.
Which is better for SEO?
Both can rank well. WooCommerce benefits from WordPress's content tools and full control over markup. Shopify handles technical basics well but has some fixed URL structures. Content quality and site speed matter more than the platform.
Can you move our shop from WooCommerce to Shopify or back?
Yes. dijitul migrates products, customers, orders and URLs between platforms, sets up 301 redirects for every product and category, and tests integrations before switching over, so search rankings and customer accounts survive the move.
Which is better for B2B or trade selling?
Shopify offers B2B features on higher plans; WooCommerce relies on plugins or custom code. For complex trade pricing and credit accounts, a bespoke portal integrated with either platform is sometimes the cleaner answer.
Do we need a developer for Shopify?
Not for a simple shop. You need one for custom themes, apps, integrations with accounting or stock systems, or unusual checkout logic. dijitul builds those at a fixed price after a free chat.
Related
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