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Shopify vs WooCommerce: Which Is Better for a New Online Store?

Raimundo Oliveira

By , founder & editor · Published · Updated · 2 min read

Fact-checked against official vendor pages · How we review

Shopify is an all-in-one store platform from $39/mo (or $29/mo billed yearly) on the Basic plan. WooCommerce is a free WordPress plugin, but you pay for hosting, a domain and any paid extensions.

Illustration of a hosted online storefront next to a self-hosted store with a plugin piece, a shopping bag and a cart

Key takeaways

  • Shopify is the faster, all-in-one option: hosting, security and checkout are included.
  • WooCommerce is free but needs WordPress hosting, a domain and possibly paid extensions.
  • Shopify adds a 0.2%–2% fee if you use a third-party payment provider.
  • Already on WordPress with traffic? WooCommerce usually makes more sense.

Shopify · Best all-in-one store builder

Basic from $29/mo billed yearly ($39 monthly)

Start your Shopify trial

Quick answer

Quick answer

Pick Shopify if you want to launch fast, with hosting, security and checkout handled for you, and you’re fine with a monthly fee. Pick WooCommerce if you already use WordPress, want full control of your store and data, and are comfortable managing hosting, updates and backups.

Quick picks

  • Shopify Best all-in-one store builder

    Basic from $29/mo billed yearly ($39 monthly)

    Start your Shopify trial

  • WooCommerce Best for WordPress sites

    Free plugin · you pay for hosting, domain and extensions

    Details

  • Bluehost Our pick for first websites

    From $3.99/mo intro (36-month term) · renews at $9.99/mo

    Get Bluehost hosting

Some links are affiliate links. How we earn money.

Shopify plans and fees (reference)

Shopify planBilled monthlyBilled yearly (per month)Online card rate (standard)Fee if you use a third-party payment provider
Basic$39$292.9% + 30¢2%
Grow$105$792.7% + 30¢1%
Advanced$399$2992.5% + 30¢0.6%
PlusFrom $2,300—2.25% + 30¢0.2%

The card rates apply when you use Shopify’s own payment processing; the extra transaction fee applies only when you use another payment provider. Shopify’s pricing page also advertised a 3-day free trial, then $1/month for 3 months when we checked.

Reference · checked on shopify.com/pricing on November 14, 2026 (USD). Prices and offers vary by country and may change.

What WooCommerce really costs

WooCommerce is listed on WordPress.org as free (“This plugin is free but offers additional paid commercial upgrades or support”) and has 7+ million active installations. Your real costs are:

  • Hosting for the WordPress site (see how to choose web hosting).
  • A domain name and its yearly renewal.
  • Paid extensions you may need, such as subscriptions, bookings or memberships.
  • Payment processing fees from the gateway you choose.
  • Optional premium theme, backups and security tools.

Side-by-side comparison

FeatureShopifyWooCommerce
Software costMonthly planFree plugin
HostingIncludedYou choose and pay for it
Setup skillsBeginner-friendlySome WordPress knowledge
Updates and securityHandled by ShopifyYour responsibility (or your host’s)
Design flexibilityThemes and apps within ShopifyFull control with WordPress themes and code
Content and bloggingBuilt-in blogWordPress, one of the most complete CMS options
Moving away laterExport possible, rebuild neededYou own the files and database

Pick Shopify if…

  • You want to sell within days without touching servers.
  • You prefer one monthly bill and one support team.
  • You plan to sell in person too (Shopify offers point-of-sale features).

No stock yet? Zendrop connects to Shopify so you can sell products without holding inventory (Zendrop review):

Pick WooCommerce if…

  • You already run a WordPress site or blog with traffic.
  • You want to own your store’s data and code.
  • You need deep customization and are fine maintaining plugins and backups.

WooCommerce needs a WordPress host. If you don’t have one yet, see how to choose web hosting; Bluehost is one of the hosts we cover:

Before you decide

  1. Estimate monthly sales and calculate payment fees for each option.
  2. List must-have features (subscriptions, digital downloads, multi-currency) and check whether they need paid apps or extensions.
  3. Add yearly costs for domain, theme and apps or extensions.
  4. Try both: Shopify’s trial, and a WooCommerce test site on a staging or low-cost plan.

Shipping your own products? Easyship compares 550+ courier services and prints discounted labels from Shopify or WooCommerce (Easyship review):

Want to start selling this week?

Try Shopify free for 3 days, then $1/month for 3 months (offer shown on Shopify’s pricing page).

Start your Shopify trial

Frequently asked questions

Is WooCommerce free?

The WooCommerce plugin is free on WordPress.org, but you pay for hosting, a domain, payment processing and any paid extensions or themes you add.

How much does Shopify cost per month?

On November 14, 2026, Shopify Basic was listed at $39/month billed monthly or $29/month billed yearly; Grow at $105 or $79; Advanced at $399 or $299 (USD).

Does Shopify charge transaction fees?

If you use Shopify Payments, you pay the card rate for your plan. If you use a third-party payment provider, Shopify adds a fee of 2% (Basic), 1% (Grow), 0.6% (Advanced) or 0.2% (Plus).

Which is better for SEO and blogging?

Both can rank well. WordPress with WooCommerce offers more control over content and site structure, while Shopify covers the basics with less setup.

Sources checked

General information, not professional advice. Plans, prices and features change: confirm them on the vendor’s official site before you buy. Affiliate disclosure · How we review

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