About 14; min
Shopify charges $29-299/month and takes a cut of every sale. WooCommerce is “free” but needs hosting, plugins, and maintenance. Everyone argues about which is cheaper, but few people do the actual math. We did. Here’s the true cost comparison at every revenue level.
Last updated: March 18, 2026. Prices sourced from shopify.com, woocommerce.com, and current hosting provider rates.
The “Sticker Price” vs Reality
| Shopify | WooCommerce | |
|---|---|---|
| Software cost | $29-299/mo | $0 (open source) |
| Hosting | Included | $15-100/mo (you provide) |
| SSL certificate | Included | Usually included with hosting |
| Payment processing | 2.5-2.9% + 30¢ | Stripe: 2.9% + 30¢ (same) |
| Extra transaction fee | 0-2% (if not using Shopify Payments) | None |
| Themes | Free or $150-400 | Free or $50-100 |
| Essential plugins/apps | $50-300/mo | $20-150/mo |
| Maintenance | None (managed) | Updates, security, backups (DIY or $50-200/mo) |
WooCommerce’s software is free. Everything else costs money. Shopify’s software costs money. Everything else is mostly included. The total cost depends on what you need and how much revenue you generate.
True Cost Comparison: Small Store ($5K/month revenue)
$204 vs $125 /month
Shopify Basic: $29 plan + $175 processing (2.9%+30¢ on $5K) = ~$204/mo
WooCommerce: $25 hosting + $100 plugins + $175 processing (Stripe same rate) – $125 before processing, same after = ~$300 total
Wait — with the same payment processor, processing costs are identical. The real difference is infrastructure.
Let’s separate this properly:
| Cost component | Shopify Basic | WooCommerce |
|---|---|---|
| Platform/hosting | $29/mo | $25-50/mo |
| Essential apps/plugins | $50-150/mo | $20-80/mo |
| Theme (amortized) | $10-25/mo | $5-10/mo |
| Maintenance/dev | $0 | $0-100/mo (DIY = $0) |
| Infrastructure total | $89-204/mo | $50-240/mo |
| Payment processing (on $5K) | ~$175 | ~$175 (Stripe) |
| Grand total | $264-379/mo | $225-415/mo |
At low revenue, the costs are surprisingly similar. The difference comes down to whether you value simplicity (Shopify) or control (WooCommerce).
True Cost at Scale: $50K/month Revenue
| Cost component | Shopify Grow ($79/mo) | WooCommerce |
|---|---|---|
| Platform/hosting | $79 | $50-100 |
| Apps/plugins | $100-300 | $50-150 |
| Processing (2.7% on $50K) | $1,380 | $1,475 (Stripe 2.9%) |
| Maintenance | $0 | $100-200 |
| Monthly total | ~$1,559-1,759 | ~$1,675-1,925 |
At $50K/month, Shopify’s lower processing rates (2.7% vs Stripe’s 2.9%) start saving money. The 0.2% difference on $50K = $100/month. This offsets the higher platform fee.
~$25K-50K /month revenue
Below $25K/month: WooCommerce can be cheaper (lower plugin costs, no platform fee)
Above $50K/month: Shopify’s lower processing rates and included infrastructure often win
The $25K-50K range: roughly equal, depends on your plugin stack
Beyond Price: The Real Differences
| Factor | Shopify | WooCommerce |
|---|---|---|
| Setup time | 1-2 days | 1-2 weeks (if you know WordPress) |
| Technical skill needed | None | WordPress basics minimum |
| Customization | Limited (Liquid templates) | Unlimited (full PHP/WordPress) |
| Hosting management | Fully managed | You handle it |
| Security/PCI | Included | Your responsibility |
| Uptime | 99.99% SLA | Depends on your host |
| Plugin/app ecosystem | 8,000+ apps (monthly fees) | 59,000+ plugins (many free) |
| Data ownership | On Shopify’s platform | 100% yours |
| Migration difficulty | Hard to leave | Easy (standard WordPress) |
| SEO control | Good (some limitations) | Full control |
| Multi-currency | Built-in (Shopify Markets) | Plugin required |
When Shopify Is the Better Choice
- You’re not technical — Shopify works out of the box. WooCommerce requires WordPress knowledge.
- Speed matters — Launch in days, not weeks. Shopify’s setup is dramatically faster.
- You don’t want to manage hosting — security, updates, backups, server optimization — Shopify handles all of it.
- High revenue ($50K+/month) — lower processing rates and PCI compliance included.
- Dropshipping — Shopify’s app ecosystem for dropshipping (DSers, Spocket) is more mature.
When WooCommerce Is the Better Choice
- You know WordPress — or are willing to learn. The learning curve pays off in flexibility.
- Full customization needed — custom checkout flows, unique product types, complex pricing rules.
- Already have a WordPress site — adding WooCommerce to an existing blog or site is seamless.
- Budget-conscious startup — $25/month hosting + free plugins gets you started at minimal cost.
- Data ownership matters — your store, your database, your hosting. Move anywhere, anytime.
- Content marketing + e-commerce — WordPress’s blogging and SEO capabilities are unmatched.
Who Should Pick What
First-time store owner, non-technical: Shopify. Don’t overthink it. The simplicity is worth the premium.
WordPress developer or comfortable with tech: WooCommerce. More control, potentially lower cost, and you own everything.
High-revenue store ($50K+/month): Shopify or Shopify Plus. The managed infrastructure and lower processing rates justify the cost at scale.
Content-first business (blog + store): WooCommerce on WordPress. Shopify’s blog is an afterthought. WordPress’s is best-in-class.
Tight budget, willing to learn: WooCommerce. $25-50/month all-in is hard to beat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is WooCommerce really free?
The plugin is free. Running a store is not. You need hosting ($15-100/mo), a domain ($12/yr), and likely paid plugins ($20-150/mo). “Free” means “no software license fee,” not “no cost.”
Can I migrate from Shopify to WooCommerce?
Yes, but it’s not simple. Products and orders migrate with tools like Cart2Cart. Theme, apps, and customizations don’t transfer. Budget 1-4 weeks and potentially hire a developer.
Is Shopify better for SEO?
No. WooCommerce/WordPress gives you more SEO control (URL structure, schema, speed optimization). Shopify’s SEO is good but has limitations like forced /collections/ and /products/ URL prefixes.
Which is better for international selling?
Shopify. Shopify Markets handles multi-currency, tax calculation, and duties out of the box. WooCommerce can do it with plugins, but the setup is complex.
Can I use WooCommerce without WordPress?
No. WooCommerce is a WordPress plugin. It requires WordPress to run. If you don’t want WordPress, WooCommerce isn’t an option.
Pricing data sourced from shopify.com/pricing and current hosting/plugin rates as of March 18, 2026. WooCommerce costs vary significantly based on hosting provider and plugin choices.
