Comparison
Choose Shopify if you want an all-in-one, low-maintenance store and don't mind a monthly fee and platform lock-in. Choose WooCommerce if you already run WordPress, want full control and lower software costs, and are comfortable managing hosting, security, and updates yourself (or paying someone to).
| Shopify | WooCommerce | |
|---|---|---|
| Setup & maintenance | Hosted, managed for you — easiest | Self-hosted — you manage updates & security |
| Monthly cost | Subscription from ~CAD $39/mo + apps | Free plugin; you pay hosting, themes, extensions |
| Control & flexibility | Curated; limited by platform rules | Near-total control over code and data |
| Ease for non-technical owners | Very easy | Steeper — needs WordPress comfort |
| Payments | Shopify Payments or fees on 3rd-party gateways | Any gateway, no platform transaction fee |
| Scaling | Scales smoothly, handles traffic spikes | Scales with good hosting; more DIY |
Shopify is a predictable monthly subscription plus paid apps and possible gateway fees. WooCommerce software is free, but you pay for hosting, a theme, premium extensions, and maintenance — cheaper in software, but the real cost is the time or developer to run it.
Shopify is easier for beginners because everything — hosting, security, updates, support — is handled for you. WooCommerce is more flexible but expects you to manage a WordPress site, which is a steeper learning curve for non-technical owners.
The WooCommerce plugin is free, but once you add hosting, a theme, extensions, and maintenance, costs add up — sometimes matching or exceeding Shopify. WooCommerce wins on avoiding per-transaction platform fees and gives more control for the money if you can manage it.
Yes, but it's a migration project — you move products, customers, orders, and content, and rebuild the storefront. It's doable and common, but plan for developer time, so it's better to choose deliberately up front.
Both can rank well. WooCommerce (on WordPress) gives more granular control over URLs, content, and technical SEO, which advanced users value. Shopify is very capable out of the box but slightly more constrained. Content and site speed matter more than the platform choice.
Not strictly, but most businesses benefit from one for setup, security, and maintenance. Shopify is designed to be run without a developer; WooCommerce gives more power in exchange for more responsibility.
Related: Ecommerce marketing · Website design & development