Choosing the right e-commerce platform is a critical decision. It affects the growth and efficiency of your online business. With options like Shopify and WooCommerce, it’s essential to understand what each platform offers and how it fits with your specific needs.

I’ve prepared this comparison Shopify vs WooCommerce guide to help our team decide on the best choice for a new side-project we’re working on. This was the overall breakdown of the results…

Shopify vs WooCommerce Market Share; Who’s Winning?

As of 2024, Shopify holds a leading position among e-commerce platforms. According to Mobiloud, it powers approximately 26.2% of all online stores, translating to around 4.65 million websites. WooCommerce follows closely, capturing 20.1% of the e-commerce market, supporting over 3.5 million websites using its checkout functionality, and even more sites that utilize WooCommerce elements.

From the top one million e-commerce stores, Shopify maintains its lead, with 28.8% of the share compared to WooCommerce’s 18.2% share.

This data highlights Shopify’s popularity among larger-scale, high-traffic sites, whereas WooCommerce’s open-source flexibility makes it a favorite across smaller, customizable storefronts within the WordPress ecosystem.

A Shopify Overview

Shopify is a hosted e-commerce solution. This means it provides all the tools you need to set up, customize, and manage an online store without requiring you to handle the technical details like hosting, security, or software updates.

However, it’s important to note that Shopify is owned and operated by a private company: Shopify Inc. This means the platform is not open-source or self-hosted. In other words, you don’t own the software or infrastructure behind your store.

Instead, you’re essentially renting access to Shopify’s ecosystem, which includes its servers, software, and customer support. While this setup offers convenience, reliability, and scalability, it also means you’re subject to the company’s pricing, terms of service, and potential limitations.

In a position like ours—where our new store is going to be a side-project—the pros seem to outweigh the cons early on.

Key Benefits of Shopify

Being a hosted e-commerce solution, Shopify offers a range of benefits that self-hosted solutions might not, making it a top choice for creators, influencers, and even large-scale brands. Its all-in-one platform handles hosting, security, payment processing, and updates, enabling you to focus on designing your store and growing your business.

Its simplicity and reliability have made Shopify particularly appealing to online creators and influencers. Their advertising on sites like YouTube is why I took it more seriously this year.

A standout example of this is MrBeast, one of the world’s most popular YouTubers, who uses Shopify to power his merchandise store: mrbeast.store. With millions of fans worldwide, MrBeast definitely needs a dependable platform that can handle high traffic. His merch drops and promotions bring along large-scale orders, so the fact Shopify can manage such demand seamlessly shows its robustness.

By removing the complexities of running an online store, Shopify enables both “hobbyists” like us as well as creators like MrBeast to focus on what we do best: connecting with our audiences and building our brands.

Here’s a quick look at the main benefits.

Ease of Use

Shopify’s intuitive dashboard makes it easy to set up and manage your store without any technical skills. You can get started within hours and access a streamlined interface for managing orders, tracking inventory, and analyzing sales performance.

My first few hours playing around with the Shopify store builder were a breeze. I found what I needed quite easily and was able to understand the setup process in minutes.

All-in-One Solution

Shopify is a complete, managed solution, meaning it includes hosting, SSL, and built-in security. You don’t have to handle each one of these separately, as I’ve been used to doing with WordPress and WooCommerce.

This alone is invaluable for new business owners who want a “hands-off” experience when it comes to website management.

Expansive App Ecosystem

Shopify’s App Store offers over 6,000 apps. I’ve found everything from SEO tools to inventory management and email marketing. The majority of what you’ll need will be on the app store, especially for a newer store.

24/7 Customer Support

Shopify provides 24/7 support via chat, email, and phone. For businesses new to e-commerce, this level of support can make a difference in navigating setup or resolving unexpected issues.

We’ve seen what it can be like for e-commerce store owners over the years through our WooCommerce research, so this alone is a big vote in Shopify’s favor.

Drawbacks of Shopify

Being a hosted solution also brings about a few limitations and drawbacks that you should consider. These might not make or break your store early on if you plan to keep things small, but they will have an effect as you scale up.

Limimted Customization Options

Since Shopify operates within a closed ecosystem, customization options are limited to what the platform allows. Advanced features may require paid apps which can increase your monthly costs.

That being said, there are plenty of Shopify agencies and developers out there who can do a great job at customizing your store for a reasonable price, starting with those in the Shopify Partners program.

Transaction Fees and Scaling

Unless you use Shopify Payments, Shopify charges transaction fees on each sale, which can impact profits over time. They range from 2% down to 0.2% depending on the plan you’re on.

Similarly, Shopify’s subscription and app costs can add up over time, making it more expensive for growing businesses.

I’ll talk about the financial aspect a bit more later on.

A WooCommerce Overview

WooCommerce is a free, open-source plugin built specifically for WordPress, making it one of the most versatile solutions for creating and managing an online store. As an open-source tool, WooCommerce offers unparalleled customization, enabling businesses to create a unique storefront tailored to their specific needs.

This level of control makes WooCommerce an ideal choice for businesses that value flexibility and want to build an e-commerce presence that aligns perfectly with their brand identity. It’s especially well-suited for developers, agencies, or tech-savvy entrepreneurs who are comfortable managing hosting, security, and updates on their own.

Additionally, the open-source nature of WooCommerce fosters a vibrant community of developers and contributors, ensuring a steady stream of extensions, themes, and resources.

While this approach offers greater freedom and scalability, it may require more hands-on involvement and technical knowledge compared to simpler, fully hosted solutions.

Key Benefits of WooCommerce

On the contrary to Shopify, since WooCommerce is self-hosted, you have the benefit of being able to do with it as you wish (or as much as your wallet allows). This is the main reason that it has flourished into such a widely used e-commerce platform over the past couple of decades.

Customization Options

With WooCommerce, you have the freedom to control every aspect of your store, from design to functionality. You can use custom code, third-party plugins, or integrate custom checkout flows to make your store unique.

There are thousands of third-party WooCommerce plugins out there that can do pretty much everything. From building a sales funnel to integrating shipping solutions, I’ve seen it all over the years.

No Transaction Fees

WooCommerce itself doesn’t impose transaction fees, enabling you to maximize profit margins. Unlike Shopify, you can integrate virtually any payment gateway without facing additional charges.

Some of these gateways do require a premium plugin, but those typically cost anywhere from $29 to $99 a year for a license fee, which won’t impact your store’s profits much at all.

Scalability and Control

WooCommerce lets you choose your hosting provider and allows for scalability as you grow. To optimize performance, check out our guide on choosing a WooCommerce hosting provider.

Most of the top hosting companies offer WooCommerce-specific hosting nowadays, which I’ve seen evolve over time. They give you everything you need to run a fast and scalable e-commerce store, and often times, also offer managed hosting where they handle most of the technical aspects.

Built-In Content Integration

Built on WordPress, WooCommerce provides you with an easy way to add blogs, guides, and landing pages to your site for a content-driven marketing strategy.

This is where the SEO benefits will come in handy. I’ve even written a dedicated guide about enhancing your WooCommerce SEO where I covered everything from content strategies to user experience.

Drawbacks of WooCommerce

For non-technical store owners and those who don’t want to be so involved in the day-to-day behind-the-scenes aspects of running a store, WooCommerce might not be the best fit.

The nature of being open-source and self-hosted means that you need to be more involved in building and maintaining your own platform. I’ve been doing this with our websites for over a decade. Even though issues don’t crop up daily, when they do, it’s important to know what you’re doing or have someone on your team who does.

Technical Knowledge Required

WooCommerce has a steeper learning curve compared to Shopify. Managing web hosting, SSL, and security can be challenging for beginners, but these elements offer control not available with hosted solutions.

If you have someone on your team who knows about all these aspects and can help you optimize them, that’s great. Otherwise, it’s going to become an issue over time and could cause more trouble than you’d expect. For example, compatibility between third-party plugins will become a reality early on.

Higher Setup Costs

While WooCommerce itself is free, expenses for hosting, domains, and premium plugins can add up. It’s not just about getting to a stage where your store is live, you then need to maintain and grow it over time.

Those expenses will add up and since you’re relaying on many third-party developers, you’re at their mercy in terms of price increases and what each one offers.

How I Compared Shopify vs WooCommerce

Having written extensively about WooCommerce for over a decade here at WP Mayor, I approached this comparison with a deep understanding of WooCommerce’s capabilities and limitations.

To fairly evaluate Shopify, I invested time in researching its features, benefits, and nuances to identify the key differences between the two platforms. This process allowed me to focus on a few critical areas that are most relevant to businesses deciding between the two.

Ease of Use vs. Flexibility

Shopify’s ease of use is one of its strongest selling points, making it an excellent choice for beginners and entrepreneurs who prioritize simplicity and speed. Here are some key reasons why I’m liking Shopify so far:

• It offers a step-by-step onboarding process that helps you set up your store with ease. From selecting a theme to adding products and configuring payments, the platform walks you through every stage, eliminating guesswork.
• With a wide selection of professionally designed themes, Shopify allows users to quickly create a visually appealing storefront. These themes are responsive, ensuring your store looks great on any device. More on this later.
• Shopify’s intuitive drag-and-drop design editor enables you to customize your store without needing to know code. You can easily rearrange elements, edit content, and adjust colors and fonts to match your branding.
• Shopify’s tools and themes are mobile-friendly out of the box, allowing you to manage your store and provide a great shopping experience for customers on any device.

Aside from the visual elements, Shopify also helps out in other, more technical areas:

• Shopify takes care of hosting, so you don’t need to worry about finding a server or managing technical setups. It also includes built-in SSL encryption, ensuring your store is secure from the start.
• The Shopify App Store provides a wide range of apps to extend your store’s functionality with just a few clicks. From marketing tools to inventory management, most features can be added without any technical know-how.
• Shopify Payments is fully integrated, making it easy to start accepting payments immediately. External gateways like PayPal or Stripe can also be enabled with minimal setup.

For those who encounter challenges, Shopify’s 24/7 customer support team is available via live chat, email, or phone to help resolve issues quickly.

Unlike self-hosted solutions, Shopify even handles software updates automatically, ensuring your store always has access to the latest features and security patches.

Overall, whether it’s server maintenance, troubleshooting, or optimizing performance, Shopify takes care of the technical aspects so you can focus entirely on running your business.

These features make Shopify an attractive choice for those who value a quick and hassle-free setup, allowing them to launch and grow their store without getting bogged down by technical complexities.

WooCommerce, on the other hand, requires familiarity with WordPress, as it is a plugin for the platform. While this setup involves a steeper learning curve, it offers you far greater flexibility and control.

If you have a business that is looking for a truly unique storefront, you will find WooCommerce’s open-source nature perfect for customization, allowing you or your developers to tailor every aspect of the store.

If you’re new to WooCommerce, WP Mayor’s WooCommerce topic page can provide valuable guidance on everything from setting up your first WooCommerce store to optimizing your store to drive more sales.

Cost Structure

Shopify has predictable monthly fees with additional costs for certain apps and transaction fees unless using Shopify Payments.

WooCommerce can have generally lower overall cost if managed well, though the need for hosting, security, and premium plugins can add up quick!

Store Setup Customization and Control

If your goal is a fully customizable store with unlimited control, WooCommerce is the better choice. Shopify, while customizable within limits, relies on third-party apps that won’t offer the same level of flexibility and control that you get with WooCommerce.

Scalability

Both platforms are scalable, but in different ways. Shopify offers structured plans for growth, while WooCommerce lets you scale by choosing more robust hosting options and adding custom features over time, whenever needed.

Payment Options

Shopify favors its in-house Shopify Payments and adds fees for external gateways, while WooCommerce integrates with any payment processor without extra payment charges. That being said, certain payment gateway integrations are paid too, so you’ll have to pay an annual fee to keep using it. Learn about flexible payment options with WP Mayor’s guide to WooCommerce payment gateways.

Store Designs and Themes

Design flexibility is a critical factor for businesses looking to create a branded shopping experience. Both Shopify and WooCommerce offer numerous themes and customization options, but they approach design in different ways. Here’s a breakdown of each platform’s design capabilities.

Shopify: Streamlined and Professional Themes

Shopify provides a curated selection of themes in its Shopify Theme Store, offering both free and premium options. The platform emphasizes high-quality, mobile-responsive designs that are easy to set up with minimal customization.

Here’s a quick run-down of how Shopify themes work:

• Shopify themes are designed for simplicity, with customizable sections like headers, footers, and featured products. Editing is easy with Shopify’s drag-and-drop editor, making it suitable for users without design experience.
• All Shopify themes are mobile-optimized by default, ensuring your store looks great across devices from day one.
• While free themes are available, many users opt for premium themes (ranging from $150–$350), which offer more advanced layouts and customization options.
• Shopify themes come with built-in support, meaning you can get assistance from the Shopify team or theme developers for troubleshooting and adjustments.

Shopify’s closed system means that customization beyond the themes and features available in the Shopify Theme Store can be limited. Many advanced design changes require code modifications or third-party apps, which can obviously increase your costs.

WooCommerce: Full Design Freedom with WordPress Themes

WooCommerce is built on WordPress, giving users access to a vast library of themes that range from free options to highly customizable premium themes. The flexibility of WooCommerce makes it a top choice for brands with specific design requirements.

Here’s why WordPress themes might work better for you:

• WooCommerce integrates with virtually any WordPress theme, offering thousands of options. Popular builders like Elementor, Divi, Bricks, and more, all integrate directly with WooCommerce too, offering extensive customization options.
• WooCommerce themes are available at a wide range of price points, from free themes to premium options that range between $40–$100. Additionally, you can add specific functionality through WordPress plugins, providing flexibility but adding on (potentially significantly) to your annual costs.
• WooCommerce’s open-source framework enables users to implement custom code wherever and whenever needed, so you’re free to change nearly every aspect of the design to fit your brand. That being said, customizations can break as WooCommerce or your third-party plugins release updates, so keep an eye on that and test regularly.

While WooCommerce offers essentially unlimited design freedom, it requires a greater investment in time and sometimes technical knowledge to set up and maintain. Additionally, WooCommerce’s theme options vary in quality, so selecting a reputable theme provider is important.

Which Company Should You Trust Most?

This is a very subjective topic but one that matters a lot when deciding who to trust with your e-commerce business. Rather than give you an answer one way or another, take a look at each brand’s story below and decide for yourself which one you prefer to invest your time and money into.

Here’s Shopify’s story of why it exists, and you can also check out their Founder Stories series for some really interesting and inspiration case studies.

WooCommerce doesn’t have a similar video on their YouTube channel and isn’t as active in the area of video content, which is a shame. Below is an introduction from the WordPress.com webinars which you might find helpful. They’ve also got a Customer Stories series with a few case studies.

Which Platform Is Best for You?

This decision ultimately comes down to the following:

1. Choose Shopify if you want a fully managed, beginner-friendly experience with a streamlined setup and reliable support.
2. Choose WooCommerce if you value customization and control, are comfortable with WordPress, and are looking to scale with fewer limitations on design or functionality.

Based on this alone, you can make an informed decision on which platform is best for your e-commerce store and start building right away.

Conclusion

Both Shopify and WooCommerce have strengths and weaknesses that cater to different business needs. Shopify’s ease of use makes it ideal for beginners, while WooCommerce’s customization options give advanced users the flexibility they need to grow.

For help making the switch or building a new e-commerce site, contact WP Mayor’s team today for a free consultation. We’re collaborating with WooCommerce and Shopify experts to help you make the best choice for your business.