Quick winner breakdown
- Hosting, SSL and platform included in one monthly plan
- Shopify
- No monthly platform fee for the core software
- WooCommerce
- Full ownership of site code and data
- WooCommerce
The choice between Shopify and WooCommerce is a fundamental trade-off between convenience and control. Shopify is a managed platform where hosting, security, and core checkout software are bundled into one monthly bill, while WooCommerce is free open-source software that gives you complete ownership of your code and data on WordPress. The worked example below tallies the exact monthly and first-year expenses for each platform at 30 orders a month, followed by documented technical requirements and practical decision criteria.
The core difference: hosted or self-hosted
Shopify is a subscription service that bundles hosting, security, software, and payments into a single bill. You configure products and fulfill orders inside a unified dashboard while the platform manages servers and updates.
WooCommerce is a free open-source plugin for WordPress with zero monthly software fees. In exchange, you choose your host, connect your domain, run plugin updates, and manage server security.
| Feature or duty | Shopify | WooCommerce |
|---|---|---|
| Primary model | Fully hosted commerce platform | Self-hosted open-source plugin |
| Software subscription | From $29/mo yearly ($39/mo monthly) | $0 core software fee |
| Web hosting and SSL | Unlimited hosting and SSL included | You buy hosting and configure SSL |
| Data and code ownership | Hosted by Shopify | WooCommerce.com says you fully own your site, code and data |
| Server maintenance | Handled automatically by platform | You maintain PHP, WordPress, and database |
| Payment gateways | Shopify Payments (2.9% + 30¢); 2% on others | 100+ gateways with zero platform surcharges |
All prices reflect US-dollar list rates checked on 2026-10-03.
Worked example: monthly and first-year totals at 30 orders
To see the real cash difference between a hosted platform and self-hosting, consider a realistic store scenario: an online brand selling a $40 physical product, processing 30 orders a month ($1,200 in gross sales).
Both Shopify Payments on Basic and WooPayments charge an identical base rate for standard US domestic credit and debit cards: 2.9% + 30¢. On $1,200 of sales across 30 orders, the processing calculation is 2.9% of $1,200 ($34.80) plus 30¢ × 30 orders ($9.00), equaling $43.80 a month in card processing fees. Over a full 12-month year (360 orders totaling $14,400 in gross sales), card fees total $43.80 × 12 = $525.60.
Monthly operating cost comparison
| Expense line | Shopify Basic (yearly) | WooCommerce (Hostinger) |
|---|---|---|
| Platform / software | $29.00 | $0.00 |
| Web hosting | Included ($0.00) | $2.99 (promo) / $10.99 (renewal) |
| Card processing (30 orders) | $43.80 | $43.80 |
| Month total (year one) | $72.80 | $46.79 |
| Month total (at renewal) | $72.80 | $54.79 |
During the initial hosting term, WooCommerce costs $46.79 a month, saving $26.01 a month compared to Shopify Basic’s $72.80. Once hosting renews at its regular rate of $10.99 a month, WooCommerce costs $54.79 a month, saving $18.01 a month.
First-year total cash outlay
Entry hosting pricing often requires multi-year commitments. Hostinger’s Premium web hosting plan costs $2.99 a month when you pay for 48 months upfront ($143.52 total upfront, regular price $575.52), which includes a free domain for the first year. For Shopify, yearly billing on Basic costs $29 a month paid as $348.00 upfront for the year, and a custom domain bought through a standard registrar like Hostinger costs $19.99 a year.
| Year-one cash line | Shopify Basic | WooCommerce |
|---|---|---|
| Software and hosting | $348.00 (12 months) | $143.52 (48 months upfront) |
| Custom domain registration | $19.99 | $0.00 (free year 1) |
| Card processing (360 orders) | $525.60 | $525.60 |
| Total year-one cash spent | $893.59 | $669.12 |
In year one, WooCommerce requires $669.12 in total out-of-pocket cash, while Shopify Basic requires $893.59. That is a net cash difference of $224.47 in your first year ($893.59 minus $669.12), and the WooCommerce hosting payment covers your hosting for three additional years.
What that $224 cash difference actually buys
The cash savings on WooCommerce are real, but they come with documented technical duties. On Shopify, that $224 buys hosting and SSL as part of the plan, so there is no server for you to keep up to date.
On WooCommerce, you manage the server yourself. WooCommerce documents hosting requirements: WordPress 6.9 or greater, PHP 8.3 or greater, MySQL 8.0 or greater (or MariaDB 10.6 or greater), HTTPS support, and a WordPress memory limit of 256 MB or greater. WooCommerce warns that servers failing these specifications risk security vulnerabilities and poor performance.
Put a price on your time too. As a hypothetical, two hours a month on updates and backups is 24 hours a year; at $15 an hour that is $360, more than the $224 cash difference. If upkeep takes you less than about 15 hours a year ($224 ÷ $15), WooCommerce still comes out ahead.
Run it with your own numbers: software fee + hosting cost + (monthly sales × card %) + (order count × 30¢) + domain cost amortized monthly. Model this per order with our profit per order calculator. For full business expense planning, see our monthly cost guide.
Shopify: predictable pricing and zero server management
Shopify structures its service into three core plans: Basic ($29 a month on yearly billing, or $39 monthly), Grow ($79 yearly, $105 monthly), and Advanced ($299 yearly, $399 monthly). Every plan includes unlimited web hosting, an SSL certificate, a custom domain connection, unlimited product listings, abandoned checkout recovery, gift cards, and automated sales tax calculation.
When you use Shopify Payments, standard online card rates start at 2.9% + 30¢ on Basic, dropping to 2.7% + 30¢ on Grow, and 2.5% + 30¢ on Advanced. Built-in fraud analysis is included with Shopify Payments. If you process payments through an external provider like PayPal or Stripe, Shopify charges an additional third-party transaction fee: 2% on Basic, 1% on Grow, and 0.6% on Advanced. In-person card transactions cost 2.6% + 10¢ on Basic, and POS Pro, listed for physical storefronts, is an $89 a month add-on per location.
The advantage of Shopify is that hosting is part of the plan. The trade-off is recurring cost: if you need specialized features, apps from the Shopify App Store often require separate monthly subscription fees. Our guide to cutting store app subscriptions details how to audit app expenses.
New stores can test the platform through an introductory promotion: 3 days free, followed by $1 a month for the first 3 months. For a comprehensive review of all plan inclusions, see Shopify pricing explained.
WooCommerce: open-source control and unbundled costs
WooCommerce powers ecommerce inside WordPress. The core plugin is completely free to install from the WordPress plugin directory, and woocommerce.com emphasizes that you can sell without monthly platform subscription fees.
Because WooCommerce is open source, woocommerce.com says you fully own your site, code and data, and you choose your own host.
However, running a WooCommerce store means assembling individual services:
- Web hosting: Required. Entry options like Hostinger’s Premium plan cost $2.99 a month on a 48-month term ($143.52 upfront), renewing at $10.99 a month. It includes 20 GB SSD storage, free weekly backups, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Domain name: A custom domain is free for the first year with Hostinger hosting, renewing at $19.99 a year.
- Payment processing: WooPayments charges 2.90% + 30¢ for standard US domestic cards, with no setup fees or monthly gateway charges. International card transactions add 1.50%, currency conversion adds 1.00%, and disputes incur a $15.00 fee that is refunded automatically if you dispute and win. Alternatively, WooCommerce connects with over 100 third-party payment gateways (including Stripe, PayPal, and Square) without platform surcharges.
- Shipping tools: You can print USPS shipping labels directly from the WooCommerce dashboard via WooCommerce Shipping (US-only).
There is no plan ladder on WooCommerce. Scaling your business means upgrading your hosting server resources and adding developer-vetted extensions for subscriptions, bookings, or memberships as needed.
Maintenance, security, and hosting duties
The practical split between Shopify and WooCommerce comes down to who maintains the server.
On Shopify, hosting and the SSL certificate are included in every plan, so there is no server for you to update.
On WooCommerce, you or your hosting provider must actively maintain the software stack. WooCommerce documents exact server baselines:
- WordPress version: WordPress 6.9 or greater.
- PHP version: PHP 8.3 or greater.
- Database: MySQL 8.0 or greater, or MariaDB 10.6 or greater.
- Memory limit: WordPress memory limit of 256 MB or greater (for WooCommerce 10.8 and later).
- HTTPS: SSL encryption support required.
WooCommerce warns that running on servers below these specifications can expose your store to security vulnerabilities and poor performance. Keep backups (Hostinger’s Premium plan lists free weekly backups) and test updates before applying them to the live store.
Team access and staff accounts
On Shopify Basic, no separate staff accounts are included. To give staff their own logins, upgrade to Grow ($79 a month on yearly billing, up to 5 staff accounts) or Advanced ($299 a month, up to 15). On WooCommerce, staff log in through WordPress, so check what your host and extensions allow before you plan around it.
Who should pick which platform
Choose Shopify if:
- You are a non-technical founder. You want a store that works out of the box with zero server setup, database management, or software updates.
- You value predictable costs and managed security. You prefer paying one consolidated bill for hosting, SSL, and store software.
- You run an in-person retail counter. Shopify lists in-person card rates on every plan (2.6% + 10¢ on Basic) and a POS Pro add-on at $89 a month per location.
Choose WooCommerce if:
- You already run an active WordPress website or blog. Adding the free WooCommerce plugin lets you sell products directly inside your existing site and content workflow.
- You want to own the code and data. WooCommerce is open source, and you choose and can change your host.
- You are a developer or have technical support. You are comfortable managing PHP versions, server requirements, database backups, and plugin compatibility.
- You have a very tight startup budget. You want to keep ongoing software expenses at $0, paying only for entry-level hosting.
Who should pick something else
- Stores under 10 orders a month. Paying $29 a month for Shopify or committing $143.52 for hosting can be premature. Marketplaces like Etsy or Amazon charge fees per sale rather than monthly subscriptions. Compare options in Etsy, Amazon or your own store.
- Content-first creators needing simple sales. If your site is an art portfolio or consulting service selling only a few products, Squarespace Core ($29 a month) offers visual design with an integrated checkout. See Shopify vs Squarespace vs Wix.
- Sellers of regulated or restricted products. Check the platform’s terms and the payment provider’s rules before you build; a payment account can be refused after launch on either platform.
Common mistakes when choosing between them
- Believing WooCommerce is completely free. The plugin is free, but hosting, domain registration, premium extensions, and maintenance time represent real costs.
- Selecting budget hosting that fails server requirements. WooCommerce warns that a server below its requirements risks security vulnerabilities and poor performance, so check PHP 8.3+ and a 256 MB memory limit before you pay.
- Using external payment gateways on Shopify without checking fees. Third-party processors on Shopify add a 2% fee on Basic on top of gateway fees. Use Shopify Payments to avoid this charge.
- Looking only at promotional hosting rates. Hostinger’s $2.99 monthly rate requires 4 years upfront and renews at $10.99 a month. Factor renewal rates into your calculations.
- Skipping backup and export testing. Before listing products, confirm how you will back up records and export data if you change platforms later.
How to decide in five steps
- Estimate your order volume and technical comfort. Pick Shopify for automated hosting and zero maintenance. Pick WooCommerce for open-source control and WordPress integration.
- Calculate your true year-one costs. Run projected sales through the formula above, including hosting, domain renewal, and payment processing fees.
- Verify server compatibility for WooCommerce. Confirm your host supports WordPress 6.9+, PHP 8.3+, MySQL 8.0+, and 256 MB memory.
- Determine staff access requirements. Shopify Basic has no staff accounts; Grow ($79/month yearly) includes up to 5.
- Test before committing cash. Start Shopify’s 3-day free trial and $1/month promotional period, or test WooCommerce on a staging site. List five items and place a test order. Follow our launch checklist and how to open an online store.
This comparison is general information, not legal or tax advice.
Sources (checked 2026-10-03)
- Shopify: pricing, plan prices, hosting, SSL, Shopify Payments card rates, third-party fees, staff accounts, POS Pro, apps
- Shopify: free trial, trial terms and introductory promotion
- Shopify Help Center: domains, myshopify.com address and custom domain connection
- WordPress.org: WooCommerce plugin, free core software, data ownership, gateway integrations
- WooCommerce: What is WooCommerce?, no monthly platform fees, WordPress architecture, open-source ownership
- WooCommerce: server requirements, host requirements, PHP and database specifications, security vulnerability warnings
- WooCommerce: WooPayments fees, US card processing rates, dispute fee, pricing model
- Stripe: pricing, US card rate and dispute fees
- PayPal: business fees, US Checkout transaction rates
- Hostinger: web hosting, Premium entry pricing, promotional term, renewal rate, storage and backup features
- Hostinger: domains, standard .com renewal rates
