If you’re about to sell online, this is the comparison you end up making. Shopify vs WooCommerce is really a question about who does the work: Shopify does more of it for a subscription, WooCommerce hands you the keys and the toolbox. Here’s what that actually means for a UK shop with one owner and no IT department.
What each platform actually is
Shopify is a hosted ecommerce platform. You pay a monthly subscription, and Shopify runs the servers, the security, the checkout and the software updates. You log in, add products, pick a theme, and sell. It’s the closest thing ecommerce has to renting a finished shop unit.
WooCommerce is a free plugin that turns a WordPress website into a shop. The software costs nothing to download, which is where the “WooCommerce is free” idea comes from. But it runs on WordPress, which means you (or someone you pay) must sort hosting, an SSL certificate, backups, security and updates. It’s buying an empty unit and fitting it out yourself.
That one difference drives everything else in this comparison.
The real cost comparison
The sticker prices tell you almost nothing. What matters is the total cost of ownership: everything you’ll pay, plus everything you’ll do yourself.
| Cost | Shopify | WooCommerce |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Monthly subscription (see Shopify’s UK pricing page for current plans) | Free plugin |
| Hosting and SSL | Included | You buy separately, quality varies hugely |
| Apps and plugins | App store, many charge monthly | Plugin library, key ones (bookings, subscriptions, advanced shipping) often paid |
| Theme | Free and paid options | Free and paid options |
| Payment fees | Card fees per sale, extra fee if you avoid Shopify Payments | Card fees per sale via your chosen gateway |
| Updates and security | Handled for you | Your job, every week, forever |
| Your time | Low once set up | The biggest hidden cost by far |
Two traps worth naming. On Shopify, app costs creep. The subscription looks manageable, then reviews, subscriptions and shipping apps each add their own monthly fee, and the real bill is well above the headline plan. On WooCommerce, your time is the cost. Every plugin update, PHP warning and broken checkout lands on your desk, usually at the worst moment. We see this most weeks with shop owners who came to us after a WooCommerce update took their checkout down on a Friday night.
When Shopify is the right call
Pick Shopify if you want to spend your time selling, not maintaining. It suits you if:
- You have no technical help and don’t want any
- You need the checkout to just work, every day, including Black Friday
- Your needs are standard: products, variants, discount codes, delivery rates
- You value predictable monthly costs over squeezing every pound
Shopify’s weakness is flexibility. If your shop needs something unusual, you’re limited to what the app store offers, at whatever those apps charge.
When WooCommerce is the right call
Pick WooCommerce if you’re technical, or you’re paying someone who is. It suits you if:
- You already run a WordPress site and want the shop on the same platform
- You need custom functionality Shopify’s apps can’t do
- Content matters as much as products (WordPress is still the stronger blogging platform, which helps your SEO)
- You genuinely enjoy tinkering, and you keep backups
Be honest with yourself on that last one. A plumber in Wilmslow who wants to sell spare parts online does not want to be debugging a payment gateway at 9pm. If that’s you, WooCommerce’s “free” is the most expensive free you’ll ever have.
The third option: have it done for you
There’s a path this comparison usually ignores: don’t run the platform at all. With a done-for-you ecommerce website, someone else builds the shop, hosts it, secures it and maintains it, and you just manage orders.
At MarketingDone4U, our done-for-you ecommerce plans start at £149 a month for up to 15 products, with hosting, SSL, a payment gateway and monthly edit time included. Growth is £249 a month for up to 50 products and Pro is £399 a month for up to 100. Fair warning on how the model works: it’s a managed monthly service on a minimum 12-month term, MarketingDone4U owns the website unless you buy it out (buyout available), hosting and professional email are included, extra work is £50 an hour, and support is by email or ticket. We’d rather you know all of that before you start than find it in the small print.
For a fuller breakdown of what shops cost at each size, read our guide to ecommerce website costs in the UK.
So which should you choose?
Here’s the blunt version. Most UK small shops should use Shopify or a managed service. WooCommerce wins on paper and loses in practice for non-technical owners, because the platform’s flexibility only pays off if someone is there to use it.
Still weighing up simpler builders too? Our Wix vs Shopify comparison covers the website-first route, and our honest review of the best website builders puts all the main options side by side.
Frequently asked questions
Is WooCommerce really free?
The plugin is free to download, but running it isn’t. You’ll pay for hosting, an SSL certificate, usually a theme, and often paid plugins for shipping, bookings or subscriptions. Add the hours you’ll spend on updates and fixes and a “free” WooCommerce shop can cost more than a paid platform.
Is Shopify or WooCommerce better for SEO?
Both can rank well. WooCommerce, sitting on WordPress, gives you more control over technical SEO and content, which suits shops that publish a lot. Shopify covers the fundamentals well with less effort. For most small shops, product page quality and reviews matter far more than the platform choice.
Can I switch from WooCommerce to Shopify later?
Yes. Products, customers and orders can be migrated using export files or migration apps, and it’s done every day. Expect some manual tidy-up on URLs, redirects and product descriptions, though. Moving platforms mid-trade is disruptive, so it’s worth choosing carefully now rather than planning to switch later.
How many products can a small shop start with?
Fewer than you think. A focused shop with 15 well-photographed, well-described products usually outsells a sprawling one with 200 thin listings. Our Starter ecommerce plan covers up to 15 products for exactly this reason. Start tight, learn what sells, then expand your range from evidence rather than guesswork.
Do I need to handle my own payments and card fees?
On any platform you’ll pay card processing fees per sale; that’s how payment providers earn. Shopify pushes you towards Shopify Payments and adds a surcharge if you use another gateway. WooCommerce lets you pick any gateway. On our managed plans, we set the payment gateway up for you.
Want this done for you? See our ecommerce website plans, or compare every service and price in one place.
