WordPress is a self-hosted, open-source platform requiring technical management but offering unlimited customization and lower long-term costs, while Shopify is a fully managed SaaS solution with built-in payment processing, hosting, and security that requires no coding but charges monthly fees and limits customization.
WordPress vs Shopify — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Open-source content management system powering 43% of websites with visual editor and plugin ecosystem.
Fully managed cloud-based e-commerce platform with integrated payments and hosting.
Hosting & Infrastructure. Monthly Cost (Basic Plan). Payment Gateway Integration. Customization Flexibility. Technical Expertise Required. App Ecosystem. Security Responsibility
Choose WordPress if you need complete customization, want to minimize long-term costs, or plan to build a large multi-product ecosystem—it's ideal for developers and businesses ready to manage their own infrastructure. Choose Shopify if you want to launch quickly without technical skills, need integrated payment processing and shipping tools, or prefer predictable monthly costs with enterprise-grade security—it's perfect for entrepreneurs and small-to-medium retailers.
WordPress: $100-200 (hosting only) | Shopify: $5 (Starter Plan)
WordPress: 6.9 (RC 7.0 March 2026) | Shopify: N/A
WordPress: Self-hosted (user managed) | Shopify: N/A
WordPress: $4 (WordPress.com) + $20-100 hosting | Shopify: N/A
WordPress: $260-2200+ (hosting, plugins, maintenance) | Shopify: N/A
WordPress: $4 (managed) / $0 (self-hosted) | Shopify: N/A
WordPress: Yes - requires plugins for advanced features | Shopify: N/A
WordPress: Yes - Yjs CRDT engine in WP 7.0 | Shopify: N/A
WordPress: 2.5-4.0s (varies with plugins) | Shopify: N/A
WordPress: Partial - WordPress 7.0 adds core AI (plugin-dependent before) | Shopify: N/A
WordPress: Via plugins (WooCommerce, MemberPress) | Shopify: N/A
WordPress: 15+ top options | Shopify: N/A
WordPress: $60-300+ per year | Shopify: N/A
WordPress: 90,000+ themes | Shopify: 200+ templates
WordPress: 43% of all websites (self-hosted instances) | Shopify: N/A
WordPress: 100% (you keep all) | Shopify: N/A
WordPress: Easy via XML export (9/10) | Shopify: N/A
WordPress: 2-5 hours (updates, security, backups) | Shopify: N/A
WordPress: 2-3% via Stripe/PayPal plugins | Shopify: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
WordPress: 7-21 days | Shopify: 1-2 days
WordPress: 10 (full code access) | Shopify: 6 (Liquid templating limits)
WordPress: You manage updates, SSL, backups | Shopify: Shopify manages all compliance
WordPress: Unlimited | Shopify: Unlimited (pricing tier independent)
WordPress: $240 + hosting ($10-50/month) | Shopify: $468 + transaction fees ($2,900)
WordPress: Beginner (0-6 months experience) | Shopify: N/A
Reported Security Vulnerabilities (2024)
WordPress: 156 plugin/theme CVEs | Shopify: N/A
WordPress: Extensive—drag-drop, theme customizer, page builders | Shopify: N/A
WordPress: $5-15 (hosting only) | Shopify: N/A
WordPress: 2.5 (optimized) | Shopify: N/A
WordPress: Intermediate to Advanced | Shopify: N/A
WordPress: Full export capability | Shopify: N/A
WordPress: Full (robots.txt, schema, redirects) | Shopify: N/A
WordPress: 20-40 hours (with learning) | Shopify: Hours to 1 day
WordPress: $180-360 (hosting only) | Shopify: N/A
WordPress: 10,000+ free & premium | Shopify: N/A
WordPress: 60,000+ plugins | Shopify: N/A
WordPress: Unlimited (WooCommerce) | Shopify: N/A
WordPress: 1.5-2.5 seconds (optimized) | Shopify: N/A
WordPress: $0 (self-hosted, domain only) | Shopify: N/A
WordPress: $25-50/month (WP Engine, Kinsta managed hosting) | Shopify: N/A
WordPress: 58,000+ plugins | Shopify: N/A
WordPress: 2-4 hours (theme selection, plugin setup) | Shopify: N/A
WordPress: 38% (WooCommerce dominates) | Shopify: N/A
WordPress: 99% (varies by host) | Shopify: N/A
WordPress: 30-60 minutes | Shopify: 30-60 minutes
WordPress: 60,000+ available themes | Shopify: N/A
WordPress: $100-200 (domain + basic hosting) | Shopify: N/A
WordPress: 9/10 (full control + advanced plugins) | Shopify: N/A
WordPress: 10/10 (complete ownership & backup) | Shopify: Possible but complex; vendor lock-in concerns exist
WordPress: $120-500/year | Shopify: $348-3,588/year
WordPress: 2.9% + $0.30 (Stripe) | Shopify: 2.9% + $0.30 (Shopify Payments)
WordPress: 58,000+ plugins | Shopify: 8,000+ apps
WordPress: Depends on host (typically 99.9%) | Shopify: 99.99% guaranteed
WordPress: Community forums + paid support | Shopify: 24/7 dedicated support team
WordPress: Complete control via robots.txt, .htaccess, code injection | Shopify: Built-in tools with limitations on code-level access
WordPress: 43% | Shopify: ~30% of all online stores
WordPress: WordPress plugins | Shopify: N/A
WordPress: Simple to Medium (Blogs, Business Sites) | Shopify: N/A
WordPress: $3-10/month + free software | Shopify: N/A
WordPress: 58,000+ plugins + 10,000+ themes | Shopify: N/A
WordPress: 60-120 minutes | Shopify: N/A
WordPress: No, separate purchase | Shopify: N/A
WordPress: Yes, completely free | Shopify: N/A
WordPress: Requires plugins (WooCommerce, MemberPress) | Shopify: N/A
WordPress: N/A | Shopify: 2.0% (third-party gateways) / 0% (Shopify Payments)
WordPress: N/A | Shopify: Fully Managed SaaS
WordPress: N/A | Shopify: Native AI-driven commerce agents built-in
WordPress: N/A | Shopify: Phone, Email & Chat
WordPress: N/A | Shopify: Yes ($2,300+/month)
WordPress: N/A | Shopify: 0 (self-driven)
Typical Seller Monthly Revenue Threshold
WordPress: N/A | Shopify: $5,000+ (lower barrier)
WordPress: N/A | Shopify: 0% (on Shopify Payments)
WordPress: N/A | Shopify: Advanced (Liquid code access)
WordPress: N/A | Shopify: ~300 (optimized for sales)
Base Monthly Subscription (Starter Plan)
WordPress: N/A | Shopify: Included in subscription
Monthly Active Buyers (Marketplace Access)
WordPress: N/A | Shopify: Self-driven traffic
WordPress: N/A | Shopify: Zero (must generate own traffic)
WordPress: N/A | Shopify: 30-90 days (with marketing)
WordPress: N/A | Shopify: Complete (10/10)
WordPress: N/A | Shopify: 100% direct access to customer emails and data
WordPress: N/A | Shopify: Unlimited products
WordPress: N/A | Shopify: Moderate; app-dependent for advanced needs
WordPress: N/A | Shopify: Good GraphQL API; limited headless options
WordPress: N/A | Shopify: $0-20M GMV (optimal fit)
WordPress: N/A | Shopify: Low; point-and-click setup
WordPress: N/A | Shopify: Extensive (9/10)
WordPress: N/A | Shopify: Self-generated
WordPress: N/A | Shopify: All product types
WordPress: N/A | Shopify: $100-150 (optional)
WordPress: N/A | Shopify: $5 (Starter plan minimum)
WordPress: N/A | Shopify: 10+ (online store, POS, social, marketplace, B2B, wholesale)
WordPress: N/A | Shopify: Unlimited with advanced sync
WordPress: N/A | Shopify: $5-39 (all-inclusive)
WordPress: N/A | Shopify: Hosting, SSL, domain, support included
WordPress: N/A | Shopify: Separate subscriptions required
WordPress: N/A | Shopify: $2,300+ (Shopify Plus enterprise)
WordPress: N/A | Shopify: Ongoing regular updates
WordPress: N/A | Shopify: $105 (Shopify Plan)
WordPress: N/A | Shopify: $2,300+ (Shopify Plus)
WordPress: N/A | Shopify: None (paid plans only)
WordPress: N/A | Shopify: Mobile-optimized by default
WordPress: N/A | Shopify: $39/month (Basic plan)
WordPress: N/A | Shopify: 6,800 verified apps
WordPress: N/A | Shopify: 1-2 hours to launch
WordPress: N/A | Shopify: Theme/app API limited (Liquid template language)
WordPress: N/A | Shopify: 100+ official integrations
WordPress: N/A | Shopify: Level 1 (fully managed)
WordPress: N/A | Shopify: No (requires apps)
WordPress: N/A | Shopify: Limited (basic automation)
WordPress: N/A | Shopify: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
WordPress: N/A | Shopify: Full REST & GraphQL APIs
WordPress: N/A | Shopify: 100+ sales channels (Amazon, Facebook, TikTok, eBay, etc.)
WordPress: N/A | Shopify: Included in all plans
How to choose between WordPress and Shopify
WordPress vs Shopify — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for WordPress vs Shopify. Contains 189 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
WordPress vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for WordPress vs Shopify.
Can I migrate from Shopify to WordPress?
Yes, but it's complex and time-consuming. Shopify provides a CSV export of products, but you'll need plugins or developers to import into WordPress WooCommerce, recreate product pages, and manually configure payment gateways. Expect 20-100+ hours for a 500+ product store. Many businesses hire migration specialists (cost: $2,000-10,000+).
WordPress edges out Shopify for SEO flexibility. WordPress lets you install Yoast SEO or Rank Math for granular control over meta tags, sitemaps, and structured data. Shopify's SEO is good out-of-the-box but less customizable. Both support mobile optimization and fast loading with proper configuration. WordPress wins for advanced SEO users; Shopify is sufficient for most small retailers.
What happens to my store if the platform shuts down?
WordPress: You own your data and code. You can move your entire site to any hosting provider. Shopify: You own your data but cannot run Shopify code elsewhere. If Shopify shut down (unlikely), you'd need to rebuild your store on another platform using exported CSV files. This is a real risk for vendor lock-in.
Do I need coding skills to use either platform?
WordPress: Requires some technical skills (hosting setup, plugin installation, theme customization). Non-technical users can use drag-and-drop builders (Elementor, Divi) but customization still demands knowledge. Shopify: Requires no coding skills. Fully visual editor with pre-built templates. You can launch a store in hours with zero technical experience.
Shopify has integrated payment processing with Shopify Payments (2.9% + 30¢) and 100+ payment app integrations. WordPress requires WooCommerce plugins for payments—Stripe, PayPal, Square, etc. (typically 2-3% fees). Shopify is easier; WordPress offers more provider flexibility but more setup complexity.
How to Choose Between WordPress and Shopify
Hosting & Infrastructure: WordPress has Self-hosted (you manage server), while Shopify has Fully managed cloud hosting.
Monthly Cost (Basic Plan): WordPress has $0-15/month (hosting only), while Shopify has $39/month minimum.
Payment Gateway Integration: WordPress has Requires plugins (2-3% fees), while Shopify has Built-in with Shopify Payments (2.9% + 30¢).
Customization Flexibility: WordPress has Unlimited (full code access), while Shopify has Limited (Liquid templating language).
Technical Expertise Required: WordPress has High (server management, updates, backups), while Shopify has Minimal (point-and-click interface).
App Ecosystem: WordPress has 58,000+ plugins available, while Shopify has 8,500+ apps available.
Security Responsibility: WordPress has You manage SSL, updates, backups, while Shopify has Shopify manages all security & compliance.