Shopify vs WooCommerce (2026): features, security and which one to buy
Shopify and WooCommerce compared on what they do, who they suit, their key features, pros and cons, and what each vendor publishes on security, admin and contract terms, with every fact checked on October 24, 2026.
Shopify or WooCommerce: the short answer
Choose Shopify if
- Small and mid-size brands that want a hosted store without managing servers.
- Merchants that will use Shopify Payments to avoid the third-party gateway fee.
- Brands that need a path from a cheap plan to Plus without replatforming.
Choose WooCommerce if
- Merchants already on WordPress who want full code control.
- Stores with unusual product or checkout logic that justifies developer time.
- Merchants wanting no platform revenue share.
What are Shopify and WooCommerce?
Shopify
Hosted ecommerce platform sold in Basic, Grow, Advanced and Plus tiers, with payment fees that drop as the plan price rises. Brands that want a hosted store and a clear upgrade path to Plus should shortlist it. Compare tiers on staff seats and on payment fees, which fall as the plan rises. Using an outside gateway adds a surcharge, so test Shopify Payments availability for your country first.
WooCommerce
Free open source ecommerce plugin for WordPress where you pay for hosting, extensions and your chosen payment processor. Anyone with a WordPress site and technical help can run this without platform revenue share. Costs shift to hosting, extensions at $29 to $299 yearly each, and a payment processor. Before committing, decide who will handle updates, backups and security.
Shopify vs WooCommerce: features compared
| Shopify | WooCommerce | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Hosted ecommerce platform sold in Basic, Grow, Advanced and Plus tiers, with payment fees that drop as the plan price rises. | Free open source ecommerce plugin for WordPress where you pay for hosting, extensions and your chosen payment processor. |
| Best for | Small and mid-size brands that want a hosted store without managing servers. | Merchants already on WordPress who want full code control. |
| Company size | Starter stores to enterprise (Plus) | Small to large, developer-led. |
| Hosted versus self-hosted | Hosted SaaS. | Self-hosted on WordPress (host of your choice) |
| Payment processing and transaction fees | Shopify Payments online card 2.1% + EUR 0.30 on Basic down to 1.3% + EUR 0.30 on Plus; third-party gateways add 2% / 1% / 0.6% / 0.2% by plan. | WooPayments about 2.50-2.90% + 30 cents; other gateways add no WooCommerce fee. |
| App and integration ecosystem | Not published | Extensions sold a la carte at $29-$299/year each. |
| Scalability and checkout limits | Staff seats rise from none (Basic) to 5, 15 and unlimited (Plus) | No product variant limits per vendor page; depends on your hosting. |
| Free plan or trial | Free trial | Free plan |
| Starting price | $29/month billed yearly ($39 monthly) for Basic | Free (core); hosting typically $25-$350/month |
| G2 rating | 4.4 (4,964 reviews) | 4.4 (1,278 reviews) |
Shopify vs WooCommerce pricing
Shopify starts at $29/month billed yearly ($39 monthly) for Basic and WooCommerce at Free (core); hosting typically $25-$350/month. The pricing bases differ, so compare the full quote for your team rather than the entry price.
| Shopify | WooCommerce | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | flat monthly plan plus payment fees | free software plus hosting, extensions and processor fees |
| Billing | Monthly and annual. | Monthly hosting plus annual extensions. |
| Add-ons | POS Pro EUR 79/month per location. | Extensions $29-$299/year each. |
Security, admin and contract: Shopify vs WooCommerce
What each vendor states publicly about single sign-on, provisioning, audit logs, data location and the contract. A blank is a question for the sales call, not a no.
| Shopify | WooCommerce | |
|---|---|---|
| Data residency | Not published | Depends on the host you choose. |
| Contract | Monthly or yearly on Basic to Advanced; Plus offers 1 or 3 year terms, cancel when term ends. | No platform contract; extension licenses are yearly. |
Differences most comparisons miss
Worth knowing about Shopify
- Third-party payment gateway fee is 2% on Basic and 0.2% on Plus, on top of the gateway's own fees, so gateway choice changes plan economics.
- Basic includes no additional staff accounts; Grow adds 5, Advanced 15, Plus unlimited.
- Plus starts at EUR 2,100/month and the FAQ offers 1 or 3 year terms.
- Yearly billing cuts the headline price by roughly 25%.
Worth knowing about WooCommerce
- Core software is free with 0% revenue share; real cost is hosting ($25-$350/month per vendor) plus extensions.
- Extensions are priced $29-$299 per year each, so a stack of them recurs annually.
- You carry security, updates and backups yourself unless the host does.
- Vendor TCO comparisons on its own page rely on a partner's numbers.
Shopify vs WooCommerce: frequently asked questions
Which is better, Shopify or WooCommerce?
It depends on the team. Shopify is the stronger pick for small and mid-size brands that want a hosted store without managing servers, while WooCommerce suits merchants already on WordPress who want full code control. Compare the feature rows above against your must-haves before you look at price.
Can I try Shopify and WooCommerce for free?
Shopify: free trial. WooCommerce: free plan.
Sources
Both columns use the same sources: vendor pricing and product pages, documentation, G2 and company records, checked on October 24, 2026. Full source lists are on the Shopify and WooCommerce reviews.