Compare · Ecommerce
Shopify vs WooCommerce.
Shopify is hosted commerce. WooCommerce is a WordPress plugin. Different products, different tradeoffs.
(01) — Strengths
What each does best.
Shopify
- Fully hosted — no server maintenance
- PCI compliance built-in
- Predictable monthly fees
- Reliable uptime
WooCommerce
- Full data ownership on your own server
- No monthly subscription (self-hosted)
- Unlimited customisation
- Familiar to WordPress teams
(02) — Head-to-head
Direct comparison.
| Criterion | Shopify | WooCommerce |
|---|---|---|
| Setup complexity | Very easy | Requires WordPress hosting |
| Total cost of ownership | Higher monthly | Higher maintenance |
| Security | Managed | Your responsibility |
| Customisation depth | Moderate | Unlimited |
| Performance out of the box | Fast | Slow (needs work) |
(03) — Decision
When to pick each.
Pick Shopify when
You want to focus on selling, not managing infrastructure. Standard products. No existing WordPress site.
Pick WooCommerce when
You already run a serious WordPress site and want commerce as an extension. You have in-house sysadmin capacity.
(04) — FAQ
Common questions.
No. Shopify handles security professionally. WooCommerce security depends on your ability to keep WordPress + every plugin patched.
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