Shopify vs WooCommerce
type: Article
description: Shopify is a fully hosted SaaS platform with built-in hosting and payment processing starting at $39/month, while WooCommerce is a free open-source plugin for WordPress that requires separate hosting ($5-15/month) and technical setup. Shopify prioritizes ease-of-use for non-technical users, whereas WooCommerce offers greater customization flexibility for developers.
language: en-US
date published: 2025-06-01T00:00:00.000Z
date created: 2025-06-01T00:00:00.000Z
date modified: 2026-07-02T06:05:15.568Z
content reference time: 2026-07-02T06:05:15.568Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
about: Shopify
about: WooCommerce
abstract: Shopify is a fully hosted SaaS platform with built-in hosting and payment processing starting at $39/month, while WooCommerce is a free open-source plugin for WordPress that requires separate hosting ($5-15/month) and technical setup. Shopify prioritizes ease-of-use for non-technical users, whereas WooCommerce offers greater customization flexibility for developers.
text: Hosting Model. Starter Monthly Cost. Transaction Fees. Customization Flexibility. Learning Curve. Uptime Guarantee. App Store Size
conclusion text: Choose Shopify if you want a turnkey solution with minimal technical setup, professional hosting, built-in security, and predictable all-in-one costs—ideal for non-technical entrepreneurs and small businesses prioritizing simplicity. Choose WooCommerce if you need maximum customization, lower upfront costs, control over your data infrastructure, or already have WordPress expertise—best for developers and businesses with specific technical requirements.
additional property: Active Stores
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Shopify: 4.6 Million+ | WooCommerce: ~6 Million+
  value reference: WooCommerce
additional property: Global Market Share
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Shopify: 27% | WooCommerce: 38%
  value reference: WooCommerce
additional property: Platform Transaction Fees
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Shopify: 2.0% (third-party gateways) / 0% (Shopify Payments) | WooCommerce: 0%
additional property: Available Apps/Plugins
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Shopify: 13,000+ | WooCommerce: 59,000+
  value reference: WooCommerce
additional property: Average Conversion Rate (Desktop)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Shopify: 1.4% | WooCommerce: 2.0-2.5%
  value reference: WooCommerce
additional property: Average Conversion Rate (Mobile)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Shopify: 1.2% | WooCommerce: 2.03%
  value reference: WooCommerce
additional property: Hosting Model
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Shopify: Fully Managed SaaS | WooCommerce: Self-Hosted Open-Source
additional property: AI/Automation Optimization
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Shopify: Native AI-driven commerce agents built-in | WooCommerce: Requires custom engineering
additional property: Starting Monthly Price
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Shopify: $29 | WooCommerce: N/A
additional property: Top Tier Plan Price
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Shopify: $399 | WooCommerce: N/A
additional property: Design Templates Available
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Shopify: 200+ templates | WooCommerce: N/A
additional property: App Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Shopify: 8,000+ | WooCommerce: N/A
additional property: Support Channels
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Shopify: Phone, Email & Chat | WooCommerce: N/A
additional property: Enterprise Plan Available
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Shopify: Yes ($2,300+/month) | WooCommerce: N/A
additional property: Annual Cost (Base Plan)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Shopify: $468 | WooCommerce: N/A
additional property: Per-Transaction Commission
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Shopify: 0% | WooCommerce: N/A
additional property: Accessible Customer Base
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Shopify: 0 (self-driven) | WooCommerce: N/A
additional property: Setup Time to First Sale
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Shopify: 1-3 days | WooCommerce: N/A
additional property: Brand Control Score
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Shopify: 9-10 (full) | WooCommerce: N/A
additional property: App/Integration Ecosystem
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Shopify: 4,600+ | WooCommerce: N/A
additional property: Annual Account Suspension Risk
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Shopify: ~0.01% | WooCommerce: N/A
additional property: Typical Seller Monthly Revenue Threshold
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Shopify: $5,000+ (lower barrier) | WooCommerce: N/A
additional property: Product Variation Limit
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Shopify: 2,000+ | WooCommerce: N/A
additional property: Multi-Currency Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Shopify: 200+ | WooCommerce: N/A
additional property: Transaction Processing Fee
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Shopify: 0% (on Shopify Payments) | WooCommerce: N/A
additional property: Design Customization Entry Point
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Shopify: Advanced (Liquid code access) | WooCommerce: N/A
additional property: Available Templates
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Shopify: ~300 (optimized for sales) | WooCommerce: N/A
additional property: Recommended Maximum Annual Revenue
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Shopify: Unlimited | WooCommerce: N/A
additional property: Transaction Fee Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Shopify: 3.89% | WooCommerce: 2% (with Stripe/PayPal)
  value reference: WooCommerce
additional property: Monthly Costs at 100 Sales ($50/item)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Shopify: $214 | WooCommerce: N/A
additional property: Base Monthly Subscription (Starter Plan)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Shopify: $29 | WooCommerce: N/A
additional property: Listing Renewal Fee
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Shopify: Included in subscription | WooCommerce: N/A
additional property: Product Variant Limit
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Shopify: Unlimited | WooCommerce: N/A
additional property: Sales Breakeven Point
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Shopify: $1,350 | WooCommerce: N/A
additional property: Monthly Active Buyers (Marketplace Access)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Shopify: Self-driven traffic | WooCommerce: N/A
additional property: Commission Fee (Per Transaction)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Shopify: 2.9% + $0.30 | WooCommerce: N/A
additional property: Built-in Customer Base
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Shopify: Zero (must generate own traffic) | WooCommerce: N/A
additional property: Average Time to First Sale
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Shopify: 30-90 days (with marketing) | WooCommerce: N/A
additional property: Brand Customization Level
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Shopify: Complete (10/10) | WooCommerce: N/A
additional property: Customer Data Access
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Shopify: 100% direct access to customer emails and data | WooCommerce: N/A
additional property: Product Listing Limits
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Shopify: Unlimited products | WooCommerce: N/A
additional property: Payment Methods Supported
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Shopify: 100+ | WooCommerce: N/A
additional property: Setup Time to Live Store
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Shopify: 7-14 days | WooCommerce: N/A
additional property: Available Apps & Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Shopify: 6,000+ apps | WooCommerce: N/A
additional property: Checkout Conversion Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Shopify: 3.2-3.5% | WooCommerce: N/A
additional property: Platform Uptime SLA
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Shopify: 99.99% | WooCommerce: N/A
additional property: Built-in Enterprise Features
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Shopify: Moderate; app-dependent for advanced needs | WooCommerce: N/A
additional property: API Control & Headless Capability
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Shopify: Good GraphQL API; limited headless options | WooCommerce: N/A
additional property: Ideal Business Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Shopify: $0-20M GMV (optimal fit) | WooCommerce: N/A
interactivity type: active
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/entity/shopify
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/shopify
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/entity/woocommerce
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/woocommerce
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/answer/shopify-vs-woocommerce
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/schema/shopify-vs-woocommerce
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/shopify-vs-squarespace
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/shopify-vs-wix
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/etsy-vs-shopify
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/bigcommerce-vs-woocommerce
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/magento-vs-shopify
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/shopify-vs-square
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/ecwid-vs-shopify
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/amazon-vs-shopify
teaches: How to choose between Shopify and WooCommerce
genre: Software

primaryImage
type: ImageObject
width: 1200
height: 630
caption: Shopify vs WooCommerce — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B

A Versus B
type: Organization

Shopify
type: SoftwareApplication
language: en-US
description: Fully managed cloud-based e-commerce platform with integrated payments and hosting.
subject of: Shopify vs WooCommerce

WooCommerce
type: SoftwareApplication
alternate name: Woocommerce
language: en-US
description: Free, open-source WordPress e-commerce plugin with unlimited customization and scalability.
subject of: Shopify vs WooCommerce

Shopify vs WooCommerce — Structured Comparison Data
type: Dataset
description: Machine-readable comparison dataset for Shopify vs WooCommerce. Contains 154 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
language: en-US
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
creator: A Versus B
distribution: JSON-LD knowledge graph
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json+ld
distribution: Raw comparison JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: Structured FAQ pairs JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: AI Answer API (citation-ready)
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: Related comparisons JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
variable measured: Active Stores
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Adoption
variable measured: Global Market Share
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Market Position
variable measured: Platform Transaction Fees
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Available Apps/Plugins
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: Average Conversion Rate (Desktop)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Average Conversion Rate (Mobile)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Hosting Model
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Technical
variable measured: AI/Automation Optimization
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Innovation
variable measured: Starting Monthly Price
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Top Tier Plan Price
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Design Templates Available
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Design
variable measured: App Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Integration
variable measured: Support Channels
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Support
variable measured: Enterprise Plan Available
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Annual Cost (Base Plan)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Per-Transaction Commission
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Accessible Customer Base
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Market Access
variable measured: Setup Time to First Sale
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Time to Revenue
variable measured: Brand Control Score
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Control
variable measured: App/Integration Ecosystem
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Extensibility
variable measured: Annual Account Suspension Risk
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Reliability
variable measured: Typical Seller Monthly Revenue Threshold
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Scale Potential
variable measured: Product Variation Limit
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Product Management
variable measured: Multi-Currency Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: International Features
variable measured: Transaction Processing Fee
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Design Customization Entry Point
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ease of Use
variable measured: Available Templates
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Design
variable measured: Recommended Maximum Annual Revenue
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Scalability
variable measured: Transaction Fee Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Monthly Costs at 100 Sales ($50/item)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Base Monthly Subscription (Starter Plan)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Listing Renewal Fee
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Product Variant Limit
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Sales Breakeven Point
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Economics
variable measured: Monthly Active Buyers (Marketplace Access)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Market
variable measured: Commission Fee (Per Transaction)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Costs
variable measured: Built-in Customer Base
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Reach & Traffic
variable measured: Average Time to First Sale
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Speed & Efficiency
variable measured: Brand Customization Level
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Control & Flexibility
variable measured: Customer Data Access
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Control & Flexibility
variable measured: Product Listing Limits
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Scalability
variable measured: Payment Methods Supported
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Setup Time to Live Store
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Implementation
variable measured: Available Apps & Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: Checkout Conversion Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Platform Uptime SLA
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Reliability
variable measured: Built-in Enterprise Features
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Functionality
variable measured: API Control & Headless Capability
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Customization
variable measured: Ideal Business Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Market Fit
variable measured: Implementation Complexity
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Setup & Deployment
variable measured: Payment Processing Fee
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Monthly Base Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Store Design Flexibility
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Customization
variable measured: Transaction Fee Percentage
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Annual Marketplace Visitors
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Traffic
variable measured: Available Apps/Extensions
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Integrations
variable measured: Suitable Product Categories
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Product Type
variable measured: Developer Cost (Hourly)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Operating Costs
variable measured: Market Share
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Adoption
variable measured: Free Plan Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Transaction Fee (Standard)
variable measured: Supported Sales Channels
variable measured: Inventory Locations Support
variable measured: Starting Price
variable measured: Monthly Base Cost (Starter Plan)
variable measured: Initial Setup Time
variable measured: Built-in Features Included
variable measured: Multi-Store Support
variable measured: Maximum Plan Cost
is based on: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/shopify-vs-woocommerce

Shopify vs WooCommerce — Attribute Category Vocabulary
type: DefinedTermSet
language: en-US
description: Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Shopify vs WooCommerce.
has defined term: Adoption
has defined term: Market Position
has defined term: Pricing
has defined term: Ecosystem
has defined term: Performance
has defined term: Technical
has defined term: Innovation
has defined term: Design
has defined term: Integration
has defined term: Support
has defined term: Features
has defined term: Market Access
has defined term: Time to Revenue
has defined term: Control
has defined term: Extensibility
has defined term: Reliability
has defined term: Scale Potential
has defined term: Product Management
has defined term: International Features
has defined term: Ease of Use
has defined term: Scalability
has defined term: Economics
has defined term: Market
has defined term: Costs
has defined term: Reach & Traffic
has defined term: Speed & Efficiency
has defined term: Control & Flexibility
has defined term: Implementation
has defined term: Functionality
has defined term: Customization
has defined term: Market Fit
has defined term: Setup & Deployment
has defined term: Traffic
has defined term: Integrations
has defined term: Product Type
has defined term: Operating Costs
has defined term: Payments
has defined term: User Experience
has defined term: Usability
has defined term: Free Plan
has defined term: Security
has defined term: Ownership
has defined term: Cost
has defined term: Total Cost of Ownership
has defined term: Market Adoption
has defined term: Community Support
has defined term: Infrastructure

Adoption
type: DefinedTerm
term code: adoption
in defined term set: Shopify vs WooCommerce — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Market Position
type: DefinedTerm
term code: market-position
in defined term set: Shopify vs WooCommerce — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Pricing
type: DefinedTerm
term code: pricing
in defined term set: Shopify vs WooCommerce — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Ecosystem
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ecosystem
in defined term set: Shopify vs WooCommerce — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Performance
type: DefinedTerm
term code: performance
in defined term set: Shopify vs WooCommerce — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Technical
type: DefinedTerm
term code: technical
in defined term set: Shopify vs WooCommerce — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Innovation
type: DefinedTerm
term code: innovation
in defined term set: Shopify vs WooCommerce — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Design
type: DefinedTerm
term code: design
in defined term set: Shopify vs WooCommerce — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Integration
type: DefinedTerm
term code: integration
in defined term set: Shopify vs WooCommerce — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Support
type: DefinedTerm
term code: support
in defined term set: Shopify vs WooCommerce — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: features
in defined term set: Shopify vs WooCommerce — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Market Access
type: DefinedTerm
term code: market-access
in defined term set: Shopify vs WooCommerce — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Time to Revenue
type: DefinedTerm
term code: time-to-revenue
in defined term set: Shopify vs WooCommerce — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Control
type: DefinedTerm
term code: control
in defined term set: Shopify vs WooCommerce — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Extensibility
type: DefinedTerm
term code: extensibility
in defined term set: Shopify vs WooCommerce — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Reliability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: reliability
in defined term set: Shopify vs WooCommerce — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Scale Potential
type: DefinedTerm
term code: scale-potential
in defined term set: Shopify vs WooCommerce — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Product Management
type: DefinedTerm
term code: product-management
in defined term set: Shopify vs WooCommerce — Attribute Category Vocabulary

International Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: international-features
in defined term set: Shopify vs WooCommerce — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Ease of Use
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ease-of-use
in defined term set: Shopify vs WooCommerce — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Scalability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: scalability
in defined term set: Shopify vs WooCommerce — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Economics
type: DefinedTerm
term code: economics
in defined term set: Shopify vs WooCommerce — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Market
type: DefinedTerm
term code: market
in defined term set: Shopify vs WooCommerce — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Costs
type: DefinedTerm
term code: costs
in defined term set: Shopify vs WooCommerce — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Reach & Traffic
type: DefinedTerm
term code: reach-&-traffic
in defined term set: Shopify vs WooCommerce — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Speed & Efficiency
type: DefinedTerm
term code: speed-&-efficiency
in defined term set: Shopify vs WooCommerce — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Control & Flexibility
type: DefinedTerm
term code: control-&-flexibility
in defined term set: Shopify vs WooCommerce — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Implementation
type: DefinedTerm
term code: implementation
in defined term set: Shopify vs WooCommerce — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Functionality
type: DefinedTerm
term code: functionality
in defined term set: Shopify vs WooCommerce — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Customization
type: DefinedTerm
term code: customization
in defined term set: Shopify vs WooCommerce — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Market Fit
type: DefinedTerm
term code: market-fit
in defined term set: Shopify vs WooCommerce — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Setup & Deployment
type: DefinedTerm
term code: setup-&-deployment
in defined term set: Shopify vs WooCommerce — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Traffic
type: DefinedTerm
term code: traffic
in defined term set: Shopify vs WooCommerce — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Integrations
type: DefinedTerm
term code: integrations
in defined term set: Shopify vs WooCommerce — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Product Type
type: DefinedTerm
term code: product-type
in defined term set: Shopify vs WooCommerce — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Operating Costs
type: DefinedTerm
term code: operating-costs
in defined term set: Shopify vs WooCommerce — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Payments
type: DefinedTerm
term code: payments
in defined term set: Shopify vs WooCommerce — Attribute Category Vocabulary

User Experience
type: DefinedTerm
term code: user-experience
in defined term set: Shopify vs WooCommerce — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Usability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: usability
in defined term set: Shopify vs WooCommerce — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Free Plan
type: DefinedTerm
term code: free-plan
in defined term set: Shopify vs WooCommerce — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Security
type: DefinedTerm
term code: security
in defined term set: Shopify vs WooCommerce — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Ownership
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ownership
in defined term set: Shopify vs WooCommerce — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Cost
type: DefinedTerm
term code: cost
in defined term set: Shopify vs WooCommerce — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Total Cost of Ownership
type: DefinedTerm
term code: total-cost-of-ownership
in defined term set: Shopify vs WooCommerce — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Market Adoption
type: DefinedTerm
term code: market-adoption
in defined term set: Shopify vs WooCommerce — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Community Support
type: DefinedTerm
term code: community-support
in defined term set: Shopify vs WooCommerce — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Infrastructure
type: DefinedTerm
term code: infrastructure
in defined term set: Shopify vs WooCommerce — Attribute Category Vocabulary

faq
type: FAQPage
language: en-US
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
date modified: 2026-07-02T06:05:15.568Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
is part of: shopify-vs-woocommerce
main entity: Which platform is cheaper long-term for a store doing $50,000 in annual revenue?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: WooCommerce is typically $300-500/year cheaper. Shopify at $39/month basic plan costs $468/year, plus ~$1,450 in transaction fees (2.9% + 30¢ on $50K revenue) = $1,918 total. WooCommerce costs ~$120/year for hosting + $1,450 in transaction fees = $1,570 total, saving ~$350 annually. However, Shopify saves 20-30 hours/year on server management.
    language: en-US
main entity: Can I switch from Shopify to WooCommerce without losing data?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Yes, but it requires effort. You can export products, orders, and customers from Shopify using CSV or third-party apps (like Matrixify or LitExtension). However, custom fields, customer accounts, and order history don't always map perfectly to WooCommerce, so plan 4-8 weeks for a complete migration with manual data cleaning.
    language: en-US
main entity: Which is better for SEO and marketing?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: WooCommerce has a slight edge because WordPress is SEO-optimized by default (Yoast SEO plugin, custom URLs, schema markup control). Shopify's SEO capabilities are solid but more limited in customization. Both can rank well; success depends more on content strategy and backlinks than platform choice.
    language: en-US
main entity: What if I need a custom feature neither platform supports out-of-the-box?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: WooCommerce wins here. You can hire a developer to write custom PHP code directly into your store for ~$1,000-5,000. Shopify requires either using the limited Shopify API, hiring a Shopify Plus certified partner (~$10,000+ minimum), or using a third-party automation service like Zapier (monthly fees).
    language: en-US
main entity: Which platform has better customer support?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Shopify offers 24/7 live chat/phone support included with all plans. WooCommerce relies on community forums, documentation, and paid support from hosting providers or freelance developers. For businesses without technical teams, Shopify's support is a major advantage.
    language: en-US

How to Choose Between Shopify and WooCommerce
type: HowTo
description: Shopify is a fully hosted SaaS platform with built-in hosting and payment processing starting at $39/month, while WooCommerce is a free open-source plugin for WordPress that requires separate hosting ($5-15/month) and technical setup. Shopify prioritizes ease-of-use for non-technical users, whereas WooCommerce offers greater customization flexibility for developers.
language: en-US
total time: PT3M
step: Consider: Hosting Model
step: Consider: Starter Monthly Cost
step: Consider: Transaction Fees
step: Consider: Customization Flexibility
step: Consider: Learning Curve
step: Consider: Uptime Guarantee
step: Consider: App Store Size
tool: A Versus B Comparison Guide
tip: HowToTip
  text: Choose Shopify if you want a turnkey solution with minimal technical setup, professional hosting, built-in security, and predictable all-in-one costs—ideal for non-technical entrepreneurs and small businesses prioritizing simplicity. Choose WooCommerce if you need maximum customization, lower upfront costs, control over your data infrastructure, or already have WordPress expertise—best for developers and businesses with specific technical requirements.

Consider: Hosting Model
type: HowToStep
position: 1
text: Hosting Model: Shopify has Fully hosted (included in subscription), while WooCommerce has Self-hosted (requires separate WordPress hosting).

Consider: Starter Monthly Cost
type: HowToStep
position: 2
text: Starter Monthly Cost: Shopify has $39/month, while WooCommerce has $0 (plugin) + $5-15/month (hosting).

Consider: Transaction Fees
type: HowToStep
position: 3
text: Transaction Fees: Shopify has 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction (Shopify Payments), while WooCommerce has Depends on payment gateway (0-2.9% + fees).

Consider: Customization Flexibility
type: HowToStep
position: 4
text: Customization Flexibility: Shopify has Limited to theme/app ecosystem (~6,800 apps), while WooCommerce has Unlimited via code and 70,000+ WordPress plugins.

Consider: Learning Curve
type: HowToStep
position: 5
text: Learning Curve: Shopify has Beginner-friendly (no coding required), while WooCommerce has Requires WordPress/PHP knowledge for advanced features.

Consider: Uptime Guarantee
type: HowToStep
position: 6
text: Uptime Guarantee: Shopify has 99.99% SLA guaranteed, while WooCommerce has Depends on hosting provider (typically 99.9%).

Consider: App Store Size
type: HowToStep
position: 7
text: App Store Size: Shopify has 6,800+ official apps, while WooCommerce has 70,000+ WordPress plugins available.

claimreview
type: ClaimReview
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
claim reviewed: Shopify vs WooCommerce
review body: Shopify is a fully hosted SaaS platform with built-in hosting and payment processing starting at $39/month, while WooCommerce is a free open-source plugin for WordPress that requires separate hosting ($5-15/month) and technical setup. Shopify prioritizes ease-of-use for non-technical users, whereas WooCommerce offers greater customization flexibility for developers.
review rating: Rating
  rating: 5
  worst rating: 1
  best rating: 5
  alternate name: Verified Comparison
author: A Versus B
item reviewed: Shopify vs WooCommerce

Implementation Complexity
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: Low; point-and-click setup | WooCommerce: N/A

Payment Processing Fee
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: 2.9% + $0.30 (Shopify Payments) | WooCommerce: N/A

Monthly Base Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: $29-$399 | WooCommerce: $0 (hosting extra: $3-50)
value reference: WooCommerce

Store Design Flexibility
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: Extensive (9/10) | WooCommerce: N/A

Transaction Fee Percentage
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: 2.9% | WooCommerce: N/A

Annual Marketplace Visitors
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: Self-generated | WooCommerce: N/A

Available Apps/Extensions
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: 10,000+ | WooCommerce: N/A

Suitable Product Categories
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: All product types | WooCommerce: N/A

Developer Cost (Hourly)
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: $100-150 (optional) | WooCommerce: N/A

Market Share
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: ~30% of all online stores | WooCommerce: N/A

Free Plan Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: $5 (Starter plan minimum) | WooCommerce: N/A

Transaction Fee (Standard)
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: 2.7% + $0.30 | WooCommerce: N/A

Supported Sales Channels
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: 10+ (online store, POS, social, marketplace, B2B, wholesale) | WooCommerce: N/A

Inventory Locations Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: Unlimited with advanced sync | WooCommerce: N/A

Starting Price
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: $5 (Starter Plan) | WooCommerce: N/A

Monthly Base Cost (Starter Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: $5-39 (all-inclusive) | WooCommerce: N/A

Initial Setup Time
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: Hours to 1 day | WooCommerce: N/A

Built-in Features Included
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: Hosting, SSL, domain, support included | WooCommerce: Core features only

Multi-Store Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: Separate subscriptions required | WooCommerce: 5-10 (plugin-dependent)

Maximum Plan Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: $2,300+ (Shopify Plus enterprise) | WooCommerce: N/A

New Features (Feb-Mar 2026)
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: Ongoing regular updates | WooCommerce: N/A

Mid-Tier Plan Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: $105 (Shopify Plan) | WooCommerce: N/A

Enterprise Plan Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: $2,300+ (Shopify Plus) | WooCommerce: N/A

Third-Party App Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: 6000+ | WooCommerce: N/A

Setup Time
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: 30-60 minutes | WooCommerce: 3-7 days
value reference: WooCommerce

Free Physical Items Limit
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: None (paid plans only) | WooCommerce: N/A

Mobile Responsiveness
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: Mobile-optimized by default | WooCommerce: N/A

Starting Monthly Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: $39 | WooCommerce: ~$5 (hosting)
value reference: WooCommerce

Transaction Fees
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction | WooCommerce: 0% (processor rates 2.7-2.9%)
value reference: WooCommerce

Available Plugins/Apps
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: 8,500+ | WooCommerce: N/A

Setup Time to Launch
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: 1-2 days | WooCommerce: 120-300 minutes (2-5 days with setup)
value reference: Shopify

Customization Flexibility
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: 6 (Liquid templating limits) | WooCommerce: N/A

Security Management
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: Shopify manages all compliance | WooCommerce: N/A

Product Limit
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: Unlimited (pricing tier independent) | WooCommerce: Unlimited

Annual Cost (100K Revenue)
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: $468 + transaction fees ($2,900) | WooCommerce: N/A

Base Monthly Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: $39/month (Basic plan) | WooCommerce: $10-50 (hosting only; plugin free)
value reference: WooCommerce

Transaction Fees (Standard)
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: 2.9% + $0.30 | WooCommerce: 2.9% + $0.30 (Stripe) to 0% (PayPal alternative)

Uptime SLA Guarantee
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: 99.99% | WooCommerce: 99.9% (hosting dependent)
value reference: Shopify

Native App Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: 6,800 verified apps | WooCommerce: 70,000+ WordPress plugins (broader)
value reference: WooCommerce

Setup Time (No-Code)
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: 1-2 hours to launch | WooCommerce: 4-8 hours (requires hosting + WordPress setup)
value reference: Shopify

Customization Depth (Code Access)
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: Theme/app API limited (Liquid template language) | WooCommerce: Full PHP/JavaScript access to all code

Payment Gateway Options
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: 100+ official integrations | WooCommerce: 200+ via WooCommerce Payments + plugins
value reference: WooCommerce

PCI DSS Compliance Built-in
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: Level 1 (fully managed) | WooCommerce: Requires third-party payment processor (not built-in)

Transaction Fees (Basic Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: 2.9% + $0.30 | WooCommerce: N/A

Product Upload Limit
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: Unlimited | WooCommerce: N/A

Average Setup Time
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: 2-3 days | WooCommerce: N/A

App Ecosystem Size
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: ~8,000+ apps | WooCommerce: N/A

Market Share (2026)
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: 28% | WooCommerce: N/A

Native Multi-Vendor Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: No (requires apps) | WooCommerce: N/A

Advanced SEO Tools (Built-in)
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: Limited (basic automation) | WooCommerce: N/A

Starting Monthly Cost (USD)
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: $39/month | WooCommerce: N/A

Transaction Fees (Payment Processing)
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction | WooCommerce: N/A

Available App Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: 8,000+ apps | WooCommerce: N/A

Product Listings Limit
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: Unlimited | WooCommerce: N/A

API Capabilities
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: Full REST & GraphQL APIs | WooCommerce: N/A

Multi-Channel Selling Integration
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: 100+ sales channels (Amazon, Facebook, TikTok, eBay, etc.) | WooCommerce: N/A

Free SSL Certificate & Hosting
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: Included in all plans | WooCommerce: N/A

Annual Cost (Base Tier)
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: $348-3,588/year | WooCommerce: N/A

Available Extensions/Apps
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: 8,000+ apps | WooCommerce: 1000+ WooCommerce extensions
value reference: Shopify

Uptime Guarantee
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: 99.99% guaranteed | WooCommerce: N/A

Customer Support Availability
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: 24/7 dedicated support team | WooCommerce: Community-based
value reference: Shopify

SEO Customization Control
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: Built-in tools with limitations on code-level access | WooCommerce: N/A

Data Portability
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: Possible but complex; vendor lock-in concerns exist | WooCommerce: Full export capability, own data

Total Cost of Ownership (Year 1)
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: N/A | WooCommerce: $30-$360

Product Catalog Limit
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: N/A | WooCommerce: Unlimited

Payment Gateway Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: N/A | WooCommerce: 50+ (Stripe, PayPal, Square, Authorize.net, etc.)

Initial Setup Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: N/A | WooCommerce: $0-500

Monthly Server Infrastructure
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: N/A | WooCommerce: $10-100

Product Catalog Capacity
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: N/A | WooCommerce: 50,000 (practical limit)

Average Deployment Time
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: N/A | WooCommerce: 1-2 weeks

Developer Resources (Stack Overflow Tags)
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: N/A | WooCommerce: 185,000+ questions

Minimum Monthly Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: N/A | WooCommerce: $3-10 (hosting only)

Setup Time (No-Code Path)
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: N/A | WooCommerce: 4-8 hours (learning curve)

Available Extensions/Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: N/A | WooCommerce: 5,000+ plugins and extensions

Maximum Products
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: N/A | WooCommerce: Unlimited

Annual Cost at $100K Revenue
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: N/A | WooCommerce: $156 (hosting) + $2,000 (fees)

Monthly Cost (Base Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: N/A | WooCommerce: $0 (plus hosting $50-200/year)

Available Plugins/Extensions
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: N/A | WooCommerce: 60,000+

Design Templates Included
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: N/A | WooCommerce: 500+ (from ecosystem)

Setup Time for Beginners
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: N/A | WooCommerce: 20-40 hours (requires technical setup)

User Base
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: N/A | WooCommerce: 10+ million active stores

Official Support Availability
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: N/A | WooCommerce: Community-based, no official phone support

Annual Hosting + Domain Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: N/A | WooCommerce: $50-200 minimum

Active Online Stores
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: N/A | WooCommerce: 5.2 million

Available Extensions/Modules
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: N/A | WooCommerce: 5,000+

Minimum Hosting Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: N/A | WooCommerce: $3-5

Core License Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: N/A | WooCommerce: Free

Native Multi-Currency Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: N/A | WooCommerce: Via extensions

Typical Setup Time (for beginners)
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: N/A | WooCommerce: 2-4 hours

Community Size (Stack Exchange questions)
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: N/A | WooCommerce: 45,000+

Startup Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: N/A | WooCommerce: $0-200 (domain + initial setup)

Monthly Hosting & Maintenance Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: N/A | WooCommerce: $5-50 (hosting only; support separate)

Payment Processing Fees
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: N/A | WooCommerce: 0% (payment gateway only: 2.9% + $0.30)

Maximum Product Capacity
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: N/A | WooCommerce: Unlimited

Design Customization Options
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: N/A | WooCommerce: 8,000+ extensions and plugins

Built-in Customer Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: N/A | WooCommerce: Community forums only; paid support $50-200/mo

Annual Cost for $50k Revenue Store
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: N/A | WooCommerce: $600-1,200 (hosting + minimal fees)

Time to Launch
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: N/A | WooCommerce: 40-80 (with developer or steep learning curve)

Available Extensions/Plugins
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: N/A | WooCommerce: 58,000+ WooCommerce extensions

Hosting Included
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: N/A | WooCommerce: No (self-hosted or third-party required)

SSL Certificate Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: N/A | WooCommerce: $0-50 (Let's Encrypt free or paid premium)

Design Customization Level
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: N/A | WooCommerce: 10 (full code access)

Ecommerce Templates
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: N/A | WooCommerce: 200+ premium + free themes

Technical Expertise Required
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: N/A | WooCommerce: 3.5 (Medium-High: WordPress + PHP knowledge helpful)

Unlimited Product Listings
type: PropertyValue
value: Shopify: N/A | WooCommerce: Yes (depends only on hosting)

SpeakableSpecification
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Shopify — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

WooCommerce — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

Compare Shopify vs WooCommerce
type: Action
additional type: CompareAction
target: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/shopify-vs-woocommerce
object: Shopify
object: WooCommerce

Transaction Fee (Standard)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Payments

Supported Sales Channels
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Inventory Locations Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Starting Price
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Monthly Base Cost (Starter Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Initial Setup Time
type: PropertyValue
value reference: User Experience

Built-in Features Included
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Multi-Store Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Maximum Plan Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

New Features (Feb-Mar 2026)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Innovation

Mid-Tier Plan Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Enterprise Plan Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Third-Party App Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ecosystem

Setup Time
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Usability

Free Physical Items Limit
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Free Plan

Mobile Responsiveness
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Starting Monthly Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Transaction Fees
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Available Plugins/Apps
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Setup Time to Launch
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ease of Use

Customization Flexibility
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Security Management
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Security

Product Limit
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Annual Cost (100K Revenue)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Base Monthly Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Transaction Fees (Standard)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Uptime SLA Guarantee
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Reliability

Native App Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ecosystem

Setup Time (No-Code)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ease of Use

Customization Depth (Code Access)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Payment Gateway Options
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Payments

PCI DSS Compliance Built-in
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Security

Transaction Fees (Basic Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Product Upload Limit
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Average Setup Time
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Implementation

App Ecosystem Size
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Integrations

Market Share (2026)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Market Position

Native Multi-Vendor Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Advanced SEO Tools (Built-in)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Starting Monthly Cost (USD)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Transaction Fees (Payment Processing)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Available App Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Integrations

Product Listings Limit
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

API Capabilities
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Technical

Multi-Channel Selling Integration
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Free SSL Certificate & Hosting
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Annual Cost (Base Tier)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Available Extensions/Apps
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Customization

Uptime Guarantee
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Reliability

Customer Support Availability
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Support

SEO Customization Control
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Data Portability
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ownership

Total Cost of Ownership (Year 1)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Product Catalog Limit
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Payment Gateway Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Initial Setup Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Cost

Monthly Server Infrastructure
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Cost

Product Catalog Capacity
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Functionality

Average Deployment Time
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Implementation

Developer Resources (Stack Overflow Tags)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Support

Minimum Monthly Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Setup Time (No-Code Path)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ease of Use

Available Extensions/Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Maximum Products
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Scalability

Annual Cost at $100K Revenue
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Total Cost of Ownership

Monthly Cost (Base Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Available Plugins/Extensions
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ecosystem

Design Templates Included
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Design

Setup Time for Beginners
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Usability

User Base
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Adoption

Official Support Availability
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Support

Annual Hosting + Domain Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Active Online Stores
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Market Adoption

Available Extensions/Modules
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Extensibility

Minimum Hosting Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Cost

Core License Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Cost

Native Multi-Currency Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Typical Setup Time (for beginners)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ease of Use

Community Size (Stack Exchange questions)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Community Support

Startup Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Monthly Hosting & Maintenance Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Payment Processing Fees
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Maximum Product Capacity
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Design Customization Options
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Built-in Customer Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Support

Annual Cost for $50k Revenue Store
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Time to Launch
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ease of Use

Available Extensions/Plugins
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Extensibility

Hosting Included
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Infrastructure

SSL Certificate Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Security

Design Customization Level
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Customization

Ecommerce Templates
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Design

Technical Expertise Required
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ease of Use

Unlimited Product Listings
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features