Shopify vs WooCommerce: Which Is Better in 2026?
Advertising disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you sign up through them we may earn a commission — at no extra cost to you. This never affects our rankings or reviews.
Shopify and WooCommerce are the two most popular ways to build an online store — but they take opposite approaches. Shopify is a fully hosted, all-in-one platform; WooCommerce is a free, open-source plugin for WordPress that you host yourself. Here's how they compare.
Choose Shopify if: you want the fastest, easiest path to a professional store with hosting, security and support handled for you.
Visit ShopifyChoose WooCommerce if: you already use WordPress, want full control and no monthly platform fee, and are comfortable managing hosting.
Visit WooCommerceHead-to-head: BP Score breakdown
| Shopify | WooCommerce | |
|---|---|---|
| BP Score | 4.4 | 4.2 |
| Value | 3.0 | 5.0 |
| Ease of use | 5.0 | 3.0 |
| Features | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Support | 4.0 | 3.0 |
| Scalability | 5.0 | 4.0 |
| Pricing | From ~$29/mo, 3-day free trial then $1/mo intro | Free core plugin; pay for hosting and extensions |
| Best for | Anyone launching or scaling a serious online store | WordPress users who want full control and no platform fees |
Winner highlighted per row. Scores use our BP Score method.
Pros & cons
👍 Shopify
- Fastest way to launch a professional store
- Massive app store and theme ecosystem
- Reliable hosting and checkout that converts
👍 WooCommerce
- Free and open-source with total flexibility
- Owns your data on your own hosting
- Thousands of extensions and themes
👎 Shopify
- Monthly fee plus transaction fees off Shopify Payments
- Advanced customization needs Liquid or apps
👎 WooCommerce
- You manage hosting, updates and security
- Costs add up with premium extensions
FAQ
Is Shopify or WooCommerce cheaper?
WooCommerce is free to install and you only pay for hosting and extensions, so it can be cheaper — but costs add up with premium plugins. Shopify's monthly fee is more predictable.
Which is easier for beginners?
Shopify. It handles hosting, security and updates so you can focus on selling, while WooCommerce expects you to manage those yourself.
Can I move from Shopify to WooCommerce later?
Yes, you can migrate products and customers, though it takes effort. Many sellers start on Shopify for speed and only move if they need WooCommerce's flexibility.
Read the full reviews: Shopify · WooCommerce
