software
WordPress vs Shopify 2026: Cost, Customization & Ease
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
Open-source self-hosted CMS offering complete customization and ownership
Developers, agencies, large enterprises, and businesses needing custom functionality and scalability
Score63%
VS
S
Shopify
Fully managed cloud-based e-commerce platform with integrated payments and hosting.
Non-technical entrepreneurs, small-to-medium retailers, and brands prioritizing ease of use and quick launch
Score63%
Quick Answer
AI SummaryWordPress 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.
Our Verdict
AI-assistedChoose 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.
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WordPress
8.5/10
Shopify
6.5/10
S
Choose WordPress if
Best pickDevelopers, agencies, large enterprises, and businesses needing custom functionality and scalability
S
Choose Shopify if
Non-technical entrepreneurs, small-to-medium retailers, and brands prioritizing ease of use and quick launch
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Key Differences at a Glance
- Hosting & Infrastructure:✓ Shopify wins(Fully managed cloud hosting vs Self-hosted (you manage server))
- Monthly Cost (Basic Plan):✓ WordPress wins($0-15/month (hosting only) vs $39/month minimum)
- Payment Gateway Integration:✓ Shopify wins(Built-in with Shopify Payments (2.9% + 30¢) vs Requires plugins (2-3% fees))
Key Facts & Figures
124 numeric metrics compared
| Metric | WordPress | Shopify | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Market Share | 43% | — | — |
| Customization Rating(score /5) | 5/5 | — | — |
| Ease of Use Rating(1-5 scale) | 3/5 | — | — |
| Starting Price(USD/month) | $100-200 (hosting only) | $5 (Starter Plan) | |
| SEO Capabilities Rating(score /5) | 5/5 | — | — |
| Base Monthly Cost (Annual Billing)(USD/month) | $4 (WordPress.com) + $20-100 hosting | — | — |
| Total Annual Cost (All-In)(USD/year) | $260-2200+ (hosting, plugins, maintenance) | — | — |
| Average Page Load Speed(seconds) | 3.4 seconds | — | — |
| Setup Time (Professional)(hours) | 40-100+ hours | — | — |
| Monthly Maintenance Hours Required(hours) | 5-20+ hours | — | — |
| Monthly Cost (Entry Level)(USD) | $4 (managed) / $0 (self-hosted) | — | — |
| Time to Live Website(hours) | 24-72 hours | — | — |
| Global Market Share (CMS)(percent) | 43% | — | — |
| Available Plugins/Integrations(count) | 58,000+ | — | — |
| Page Load Speed (Average)(ms) | 2.5-4.0s (varies with plugins) | — | — |
| Average Monthly Cost (Managed)(USD) | $24.50 | — | — |
| Setup Time for Beginners(minutes) | 4-8 hours | — | — |
| SEO Plugin Options(count) | 15+ top options | — | — |
| Page Speed (Average)(ms) | 2500-3500 | — | — |
| Annual Hosting Cost(USD) | $60-300+ per year | — | — |
| Design Templates Available(count) | 90,000+ themes | 200+ templates | |
| Revenue Share on Ad Revenue(percent) | 100% (you keep all) | — | — |
| Content Export Difficulty(ease score (1-10)) | Easy via XML export (9/10) | — | — |
| Technical Maintenance Required(hours per month) | 2-5 hours (updates, security, backups) | — | — |
| Starting Monthly Cost(USD) | $0-15 | $39 | |
| Transaction Fees(%) | 2-3% via Stripe/PayPal plugins | 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction | |
| Setup Time to Launch(minutes) | 7-21 days | 1-2 days | |
| Annual Cost (100K Revenue)(USD) | $240 + hosting ($10-50/month) | $468 + transaction fees ($2,900) | |
| Average Development Time (Basic Site)(weeks) | 1-2 days | — | — |
| Reported Security Vulnerabilities (2024)(CVEs) | 156 plugin/theme CVEs | — | — |
| Monthly Hosting Cost (Basic)(USD) | $2-10 | — | — |
| Maximum Concurrent Users (Optimized)(users) | 10,000-50,000 | — | — |
| Monthly Cost (Entry-Level Plan)(USD) | $5-15 (hosting only) | — | — |
| Total Plugins/Apps Available(count) | 50,000+ | — | — |
| Average Page Load Time(milliseconds) | 2.5 (optimized) | — | — |
| Initial Setup Time(minutes) | 20-40 hours (with learning) | Hours to 1 day | |
| Monthly Cost (Basic Tier)(USD) | $5-15 hosting | — | — |
| 3-Year Total Cost Ownership(USD) | $180-360 (hosting only) | — | — |
| Available Themes/Templates(count) | 10,000+ free & premium | — | — |
| Plugin/Extension Ecosystem(count) | 60,000+ plugins | — | — |
| Average Website Speed (Page Load)(seconds) | 1.5-2.5 seconds (optimized) | — | — |
| Monthly Cost (Minimum)(USD) | $0 (self-hosted, domain only) | — | — |
| Monthly Cost (Fully Managed Equivalent)(USD) | $25-50/month (WP Engine, Kinsta managed hosting) | — | — |
| Plugin/Integration Count(available) | 58,000+ plugins | — | — |
| Setup Time (No Technical Knowledge)(hours) | 2-4 hours (theme selection, plugin setup) | — | — |
| E-commerce Market Share(% of online stores) | 38% (WooCommerce dominates) | — | — |
| Hosted Server Uptime Guarantee(%) | 99% (varies by host) | — | — |
| Customizable Themes(count) | 60,000+ available themes | — | — |
| Available Plugins/Extensions(count) | 58,000+ plugins | — | — |
| Minimum Annual Cost(USD) | $100-200 (domain + basic hosting) | — | — |
| SEO Customization Level(score out of 10) | 9/10 (full control + advanced plugins) | — | — |
| Global Market Share(percent) | 43% | 27% | |
| Annual Cost (Base Tier)(USD) | $120-500/year | $348-3,588/year | |
| Payment Processing Fee(% + fixed) | 2.9% + $0.30 (Stripe) | 2.9% + $0.30 (Shopify Payments) | |
| Available Extensions/Apps(count) | 58,000+ plugins | 8,000+ apps | |
| Uptime Guarantee(percent) | Depends on host (typically 99.9%) | 99.99% guaranteed | |
| Monthly Cost (Base Plan)(USD) | $3-10/month + free software | — | — |
| Available Plugins/Themes(count) | 58,000+ plugins + 10,000+ themes | — | — |
| Setup Time for Non-Developers(minutes) | 60-120 minutes | — | — |
| Customization Flexibility Score(scale 1-10) | 9.5 out of 10 | — | — |
| SEO Control Capabilities(scale 1-10) | 9 out of 10 | — | — |
| Base Monthly Cost (Managed Hosting)(USD) | $4-$300/month | — | — |
| Page Speed (Typical Setup)(ms) | 1,200-2,500ms | — | — |
| Available Themes(count) | 100,000+ | — | — |
| Active Stores | 4.6 Million+ | 4.6 Million+ | |
| Platform Transaction Fees(%) | 2.0% (third-party gateways) / 0% (Shopify Payments) | 2.0% (third-party gateways) / 0% (Shopify Payments) | |
| Available Apps/Plugins(count) | 13,000+ | 13,000+ | |
| Average Conversion Rate (Desktop)(%) | 1.4% | 1.4% | |
| Average Conversion Rate (Mobile)(%) | 1.2% | 1.2% | |
| Starting Monthly Price(USD) | $29 | $29 | |
| Top Tier Plan Price(USD/month) | $399 | $399 | |
| App Integrations(count) | 8,000+ | 8,000+ | |
| Annual Cost (Base Plan)(USD/year) | $468 | $468 | |
| Per-Transaction Commission(%) | 0% | 0% | |
| Accessible Customer Base(millions) | 0 (self-driven) | 0 (self-driven) | |
| Setup Time to First Sale(weeks) | 1-3 days | 1-3 days | |
| Brand Control Score(scale 1-10) | 9-10 (full) | 9-10 (full) | |
| App/Integration Ecosystem(apps) | 4,600+ | 4,600+ | |
| Annual Account Suspension Risk(%) | ~0.01% | ~0.01% | |
| Typical Seller Monthly Revenue Threshold(USD) | $5,000+ (lower barrier) | $5,000+ (lower barrier) | |
| Product Variation Limit(variations per SKU) | 2,000+ | 2,000+ | |
| Transaction Processing Fee(percent) | 0% (on Shopify Payments) | 0% (on Shopify Payments) | |
| Available Templates(count) | ~300 (optimized for sales) | ~300 (optimized for sales) | |
| Recommended Maximum Annual Revenue(USD) | Unlimited | Unlimited | |
| Transaction Fee Rate(percentage + fixed fee) | 3.89% | 3.89% | |
| Monthly Costs at 100 Sales ($50/item)(USD) | $214 | $214 | |
| Base Monthly Subscription (Starter Plan)(USD) | $29 | $29 | |
| Sales Breakeven Point(USD/month) | $1,350 | $1,350 | |
| Commission Fee (Per Transaction)(%) | 2.9% + $0.30 | 2.9% + $0.30 | |
| Built-in Customer Base(millions) | Zero (must generate own traffic) | Zero (must generate own traffic) | |
| Average Time to First Sale(days) | 30-90 days (with marketing) | 30-90 days (with marketing) | |
| Brand Customization Level(scale 1-10) | Complete (10/10) | Complete (10/10) | |
| Customer Data Access(percentage) | 100% direct access to customer emails and data | 100% direct access to customer emails and data | |
| Payment Methods Supported(count) | 100+ | 100+ | |
| Setup Time to Live Store(days) | 7-14 days | 7-14 days | |
| Available Apps & Integrations(count) | 6,000+ apps | 6,000+ apps | |
| Checkout Conversion Rate(%) | 3.2-3.5% | 3.2-3.5% | |
| Platform Uptime SLA(percent) | 99.99% | 99.99% | |
| Monthly Base Cost(USD) | $29-$399 | $29-$399 | |
| Store Design Flexibility(scale 1-10) | Extensive (9/10) | Extensive (9/10) | |
| Transaction Fee Percentage(%) | 2.9% | 2.9% | |
| Available Apps/Extensions(count) | 10,000+ | 10,000+ | |
| Developer Cost (Hourly)(USD/hour) | $100-150 (optional) | $100-150 (optional) | |
| Market Share(%) | ~30% of all online stores | ~30% of all online stores | |
| Free Plan Cost(USD/month) | $5 (Starter plan minimum) | $5 (Starter plan minimum) | |
| Supported Sales Channels(count) | 10+ (online store, POS, social, marketplace, B2B, wholesale) | 10+ (online store, POS, social, marketplace, B2B, wholesale) | |
| Monthly Base Cost (Starter Plan)(USD) | $5-39 (all-inclusive) | $5-39 (all-inclusive) | |
| Maximum Plan Cost(USD/month) | $2,300+ (Shopify Plus enterprise) | $2,300+ (Shopify Plus enterprise) | |
| Mid-Tier Plan Cost(USD/month) | $105 (Shopify Plan) | $105 (Shopify Plan) | |
| Enterprise Plan Cost(USD per user/month) | $2,300+ (Shopify Plus) | $2,300+ (Shopify Plus) | |
| Third-Party App Integrations(integrations) | 6000+ | 6000+ | |
| Free Physical Items Limit(items/month) | None (paid plans only) | None (paid plans only) | |
| Base Monthly Cost(USD) | $39/month (Basic plan) | $39/month (Basic plan) | |
| Uptime SLA Guarantee(percent) | 99.99% | 99.99% | |
| Native App Integrations(apps) | 6,800 verified apps | 6,800 verified apps | |
| Setup Time (No-Code)(hours) | 1-2 hours to launch | 1-2 hours to launch | |
| Payment Gateway Options(number) | 100+ official integrations | 100+ official integrations | |
| Transaction Fees (Basic Plan)(%) | 2.9% + $0.30 | 2.9% + $0.30 | |
| Average Setup Time(days) | 2-3 days | 2-3 days | |
| App Ecosystem Size(apps) | ~8,000+ apps | ~8,000+ apps | |
| Market Share (2026)(%) | 28% | 28% | |
| Starting Monthly Cost (USD)(USD) | $39/month | $39/month | |
| Available App Integrations(count) | 8,000+ apps | 8,000+ apps | |
| Multi-Channel Selling Integration(channels) | 100+ sales channels (Amazon, Facebook, TikTok, eBay, etc.) | 100+ sales channels (Amazon, Facebook, TikTok, eBay, etc.) |
Sourced from publicly available data ·
Key Differences
7 attributes compared head-to-head
Shopify leads
S
4ShopifyWordPress
Attribute
Shopify
- Self-hosted (you manage server)Hosting & InfrastructureFully managed cloud hosting(winner)
- $0-15/month (hosting only)(winner)Monthly Cost (Basic Plan)$39/month minimum
- Requires plugins (2-3% fees)Payment Gateway IntegrationBuilt-in with Shopify Payments (2.9% + 30¢)(winner)
- Unlimited (full code access)(winner)Customization FlexibilityLimited (Liquid templating language)
- High (server management, updates, backups)Technical Expertise RequiredMinimal (point-and-click interface)(winner)
- 58,000+ plugins available(winner)App Ecosystem8,500+ apps available
- You manage SSL, updates, backupsSecurity ResponsibilityShopify manages all security & compliance(winner)
- Hosting & Infrastructure
WordPress
Self-hosted (you manage server)
Shopify
Fully managed cloud hosting(winner)
- Monthly Cost (Basic Plan)
WordPress
$0-15/month (hosting only)(winner)
Shopify
$39/month minimum
- Payment Gateway Integration
WordPress
Requires plugins (2-3% fees)
Shopify
Built-in with Shopify Payments (2.9% + 30¢)(winner)
- Customization Flexibility
WordPress
Unlimited (full code access)(winner)
Shopify
Limited (Liquid templating language)
- Technical Expertise Required
WordPress
High (server management, updates, backups)
Shopify
Minimal (point-and-click interface)(winner)
- App Ecosystem
WordPress
58,000+ plugins available(winner)
Shopify
8,500+ apps available
- Security Responsibility
WordPress
You manage SSL, updates, backups
Shopify
Shopify manages all security & compliance(winner)
Full Comparison
| Attribute | WordPress | Shopify |
|---|---|---|
| Web Market Share | 43% | — |
| Global Market Share (CMS)(percent) | 43% | — |
| Active Stores | 4.6 Million+ | — |
| Customization Rating(score /5) | 5/5 | — |
| SEO Capabilities Rating(score /5) | 5/5 | — |
| CMS Content Item Limit(items) | Unlimited | — |
| Maximum Pages(pages) | Unlimited | — |
| Native CMS Included | Yes - requires plugins for advanced features | — |
Show 20 more attributesReal-Time Collaboration (2026) Yes - Yjs CRDT engine in WP 7.0 — Design Templates Available(count) 90,000+ themes 200+ templates Available Plugins/Apps(count) 58,000+ 8,500+ Customization Flexibility(percentage) 10 (full code access) 6 (Liquid templating limits) Product Limit(products) Unlimited Unlimited (pricing tier independent) SEO Customization Control(capability level) Complete control via robots.txt, .htaccess, code injection Built-in tools with limitations on code-level access Enterprise Plan Available(boolean) Yes ($2,300+/month) — Product Variant Limit(variants) Unlimited — Payment Methods Supported(count) 100+ — Supported Sales Channels(count) 10+ (online store, POS, social, marketplace, B2B, wholesale) — Inventory Locations Support(locations) Unlimited with advanced sync — Built-in Features Included(features) Hosting, SSL, domain, support included — Multi-Store Support(stores) Separate subscriptions required — Customization Depth (Code Access)(null) Theme/app API limited (Liquid template language) — Product Upload Limit(products) Unlimited — Native Multi-Vendor Support No (requires apps) — Advanced SEO Tools (Built-in) Limited (basic automation) — Product Listings Limit(count) Unlimited — Multi-Channel Selling Integration(channels) 100+ sales channels (Amazon, Facebook, TikTok, eBay, etc.) — Free SSL Certificate & Hosting Included in all plans — | ||
| Ease of Use Rating(1-5 scale) | 3/5 | — |
| Setup Time for Beginners(minutes) | 4-8 hours | — |
| Setup Time(minutes) | 30-60 minutes | 30-60 minutes |
| Starting Price(USD/month) | $100-200 (hosting only) | $5 (Starter Plan)(winner) |
| Base Monthly Cost (Annual Billing)(USD/month) | $4 (WordPress.com) + $20-100 hosting | — |
| Total Annual Cost (All-In)(USD/year) | $260-2200+ (hosting, plugins, maintenance) | — |
| Monthly Cost (Entry Level)(USD) | $4 (managed) / $0 (self-hosted) | — |
| Average Monthly Cost (Managed)(USD) | $24.50 | — |
Show 37 more attributesAnnual Hosting Cost(USD) $60-300+ per year — Starting Monthly Cost(USD) $0-15 $39 Transaction Fees(%) 2-3% via Stripe/PayPal plugins 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction Annual Cost (100K Revenue)(USD) $240 + hosting ($10-50/month) $468 + transaction fees ($2,900) Monthly Cost (Entry-Level Plan)(USD) $5-15 (hosting only) — Monthly Cost (Basic Tier)(USD) $5-15 hosting — 3-Year Total Cost Ownership(USD) $180-360 (hosting only) — Monthly Cost (Minimum)(USD) $0 (self-hosted, domain only) — Monthly Cost (Fully Managed Equivalent)(USD) $25-50/month (WP Engine, Kinsta managed hosting) — Minimum Annual Cost(USD) $100-200 (domain + basic hosting) — Annual Cost (Base Tier)(USD) $120-500/year $348-3,588/year Payment Processing Fee(% + fixed) 2.9% + $0.30 (Stripe) 2.9% + $0.30 (Shopify Payments) Monthly Cost (Base Plan)(USD) $3-10/month + free software — Base Monthly Cost (Managed Hosting)(USD) $4-$300/month — Self-Hosted Option Yes, completely free — Platform Transaction Fees(%) 2.0% (third-party gateways) / 0% (Shopify Payments) — Starting Monthly Price(USD) $29 — Top Tier Plan Price(USD/month) $399 — Annual Cost (Base Plan)(USD/year) $468 — Per-Transaction Commission(%) 0% — Transaction Processing Fee(percent) 0% (on Shopify Payments) — Transaction Fee Rate(percentage + fixed fee) 3.89% — Monthly Costs at 100 Sales ($50/item)(USD) $214 — Base Monthly Subscription (Starter Plan)(USD) $29 — Listing Renewal Fee(USD per listing) Included in subscription — Monthly Base Cost(USD) $29-$399 — Transaction Fee Percentage(%) 2.9% — Free Plan Cost(USD/month) $5 (Starter plan minimum) — Monthly Base Cost (Starter Plan)(USD) $5-39 (all-inclusive) — Maximum Plan Cost(USD/month) $2,300+ (Shopify Plus enterprise) — Mid-Tier Plan Cost(USD/month) $105 (Shopify Plan) — Enterprise Plan Cost(USD per user/month) $2,300+ (Shopify Plus) — Base Monthly Cost(USD) $39/month (Basic plan) — Transaction Fees (Standard)(%+fixed) 2.9% + $0.30 — Transaction Fees (Basic Plan)(%) 2.9% + $0.30 — Starting Monthly Cost (USD)(USD) $39/month — Transaction Fees (Payment Processing)(%) 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction — | ||
| Current Version | 6.9 (RC 7.0 March 2026) | — |
| Hosting Management(type) | Self-hosted (user managed) | — |
| Average Page Load Speed(seconds) | 3.4 seconds | — |
| Page Load Speed (Average)(ms) | 2.5-4.0s (varies with plugins) | — |
| Page Speed (Average)(ms) | 2500-3500 | — |
| Maximum Concurrent Users (Optimized)(users) | 10,000-50,000 | — |
| Average Page Load Time(milliseconds) | 2.5 (optimized) | — |
Show 6 more attributesAverage Website Speed (Page Load)(seconds) 1.5-2.5 seconds (optimized) — Page Speed (Typical Setup)(ms) 1,200-2,500ms — Average Conversion Rate (Desktop)(%) 1.4% — Average Conversion Rate (Mobile)(%) 1.2% — Checkout Conversion Rate(%) 3.2-3.5% — Mobile Responsiveness Mobile-optimized by default — | ||
| Setup Time (Professional)(hours) | 40-100+ hours | — |
| Setup Time to Live Store(days) | 7-14 days | — |
| Average Setup Time(days) | 2-3 days | — |
| Monthly Maintenance Hours Required(hours) | 5-20+ hours | — |
| Time to Live Website(hours) | 24-72 hours | — |
| Available Plugins/Integrations(count) | 58,000+ | — |
| Plugin/Integration Count(available) | 58,000+ plugins | — |
| Available Plugins/Themes(count) | 58,000+ plugins + 10,000+ themes | — |
| App/Integration Ecosystem(apps) | 4,600+ | — |
| AI-Powered Features (Native) | Partial - WordPress 7.0 adds core AI (plugin-dependent before) | — |
| Native Membership Features | Via plugins (WooCommerce, MemberPress) | — |
| Revenue Share on Ad Revenue(percent) | 100% (you keep all) | — |
| Built-in Membership/Subscription System | Requires plugins (WooCommerce, MemberPress) | — |
| SEO Plugin Options(count) | 15+ top options | — |
| SEO Control Capabilities(scale 1-10) | 9 out of 10 | — |
| Monthly Active Users(millions) | 43% of all websites (self-hosted instances) | — |
| Content Export Difficulty(ease score (1-10)) | Easy via XML export (9/10) | — |
| Technical Maintenance Required(hours per month) | 2-5 hours (updates, security, backups) | — |
| Setup Time to Launch(minutes) | 7-21 days | 1-2 days(winner) |
| Required Technical Knowledge(skill level) | Intermediate to Advanced | — |
| Setup Time (No Technical Knowledge)(hours) | 2-4 hours (theme selection, plugin setup) | — |
| Setup Time for Non-Developers(minutes) | 60-120 minutes | — |
Show 2 more attributesDesign Customization Entry Point(coding knowledge required) Advanced (Liquid code access) — Setup Time (No-Code)(hours) 1-2 hours to launch — | ||
| Security Management(responsibility level) | You manage updates, SSL, backups | Shopify manages all compliance |
| Reported Security Vulnerabilities (2024)(CVEs) | 156 plugin/theme CVEs | — |
| PCI DSS Compliance Built-in(null) | Level 1 (fully managed) | — |
| Average Development Time (Basic Site)(weeks) | 1-2 days | — |
| Required Developer Experience Level | Beginner (0-6 months experience) | — |
| Monthly Hosting Cost (Basic)(USD) | $2-10 | — |
| Customization Without Code | Extensive—drag-drop, theme customizer, page builders | — |
| Data Portability / Export(ease rating) | Full export capability | — |
| Customization Flexibility Score(scale 1-10) | 9.5 out of 10 | — |
| Total Plugins/Apps Available(count) | 50,000+ | — |
| Available Themes/Templates(count) | 10,000+ free & premium | — |
| Customizable Themes(count) | 60,000+ available themes | — |
| Available Extensions/Apps(count) | 58,000+ plugins(winner) | 8,000+ apps |
| API Control & Headless Capability | Good GraphQL API; limited headless options | — |
Show 1 more attributeStore Design Flexibility(scale 1-10) Extensive (9/10) — | ||
| SEO Control Level(control rating) | Full (robots.txt, schema, redirects) | — |
| Initial Setup Time(minutes) | 20-40 hours (with learning) | Hours to 1 day(winner) |
| Plugin/Extension Ecosystem(count) | 60,000+ plugins | — |
| Available Plugins/Extensions(count) | 58,000+ plugins | — |
| Built-in Enterprise Features | Moderate; app-dependent for advanced needs | — |
| E-Commerce Product Limit(products) | Unlimited (WooCommerce) | — |
| E-commerce Market Share(% of online stores) | 38% (WooCommerce dominates) | — |
| Hosted Server Uptime Guarantee(%) | 99% (varies by host) | — |
| Uptime Guarantee(percent) | Depends on host (typically 99.9%) | 99.99% guaranteed(winner) |
| Annual Account Suspension Risk(%) | ~0.01% | — |
| Platform Uptime SLA(percent) | 99.99% | — |
| Uptime SLA Guarantee(percent) | 99.99% | — |
| SEO Customization Level(score out of 10) | 9/10 (full control + advanced plugins) | — |
| Data Portability(score out of 10) | 10/10 (complete ownership & backup) | Possible but complex; vendor lock-in concerns exist |
| Global Market Share(percent) | 43%(winner) | 27% |
| Market Share(%) | ~30% of all online stores | — |
| Market Share (2026)(%) | 28% | — |
| Customer Support Availability(hours/week) | Community forums + paid support | 24/7 dedicated support team |
| Developer Community Size(developers) | 500,000+ | — |
| Support Channels(channels) | Phone, Email & Chat | — |
| Hosting Included | No, separate purchase | — |
| Available Themes(count) | 100,000+ | — |
| Available Templates(count) | ~300 (optimized for sales) | — |
| Available Apps/Plugins(count) | 13,000+ | — |
| Available Apps & Integrations(count) | 6,000+ apps | — |
| Third-Party App Integrations(integrations) | 6000+ | — |
| Native App Integrations(apps) | 6,800 verified apps | — |
| Hosting Model | Fully Managed SaaS | — |
| API Capabilities | Full REST & GraphQL APIs | — |
| AI/Automation Optimization | Native AI-driven commerce agents built-in | — |
| New Features (Feb-Mar 2026)(features) | Ongoing regular updates | — |
| App Integrations(count) | 8,000+ | — |
| Accessible Customer Base(millions) | 0 (self-driven) | — |
| Setup Time to First Sale(weeks) | 1-3 days | — |
| Brand Control Score(scale 1-10) | 9-10 (full) | — |
| Typical Seller Monthly Revenue Threshold(USD) | $5,000+ (lower barrier) | — |
| Product Variation Limit(variations per SKU) | 2,000+ | — |
| Multi-Currency Support(currencies) | 200+ | — |
| Recommended Maximum Annual Revenue(USD) | Unlimited | — |
| Product Listing Limits(count) | Unlimited products | — |
| Sales Breakeven Point(USD/month) | $1,350 | — |
| Monthly Active Buyers (Marketplace Access)(millions) | Self-driven traffic | — |
| Commission Fee (Per Transaction)(%) | 2.9% + $0.30 | — |
| Built-in Customer Base(millions) | Zero (must generate own traffic) | — |
| Average Time to First Sale(days) | 30-90 days (with marketing) | — |
| Brand Customization Level(scale 1-10) | Complete (10/10) | — |
| Customer Data Access(percentage) | 100% direct access to customer emails and data | — |
| Ideal Business Size(GMV) | $0-20M GMV (optimal fit) | — |
| Implementation Complexity | Low; point-and-click setup | — |
| Annual Marketplace Visitors(billions) | Self-generated | — |
| Available Apps/Extensions(count) | 10,000+ | — |
| App Ecosystem Size(apps) | ~8,000+ apps | — |
| Available App Integrations(count) | 8,000+ apps | — |
| Suitable Product Categories(primary focus) | All product types | — |
| Developer Cost (Hourly)(USD/hour) | $100-150 (optional) | — |
| Transaction Fee (Standard)(percentage + fixed) | 2.7% + $0.30 | — |
| Payment Gateway Options(number) | 100+ official integrations | — |
| Free Physical Items Limit(items/month) | None (paid plans only) | — |
WordPressSShopify
Web Market Share
43%
—
Global Market Share (CMS)(percent)
43%
—
Active Stores
4.6 Million+
—
Customization Rating(score /5)
5/5
—
SEO Capabilities Rating(score /5)
5/5
—
CMS Content Item Limit(items)
Unlimited
—
Maximum Pages(pages)
Unlimited
—
Native CMS Included
Yes - requires plugins for advanced features
—
Show 20 more attributes
Real-Time Collaboration (2026)
Yes - Yjs CRDT engine in WP 7.0
—
Design Templates Available(count)
90,000+ themes
200+ templates
Available Plugins/Apps(count)
58,000+
8,500+
Customization Flexibility(percentage)
10 (full code access)
6 (Liquid templating limits)
Product Limit(products)
Unlimited
Unlimited (pricing tier independent)
SEO Customization Control(capability level)
Complete control via robots.txt, .htaccess, code injection
Built-in tools with limitations on code-level access
Enterprise Plan Available(boolean)
Yes ($2,300+/month)
—
Product Variant Limit(variants)
Unlimited
—
Payment Methods Supported(count)
100+
—
Supported Sales Channels(count)
10+ (online store, POS, social, marketplace, B2B, wholesale)
—
Inventory Locations Support(locations)
Unlimited with advanced sync
—
Built-in Features Included(features)
Hosting, SSL, domain, support included
—
Multi-Store Support(stores)
Separate subscriptions required
—
Customization Depth (Code Access)(null)
Theme/app API limited (Liquid template language)
—
Product Upload Limit(products)
Unlimited
—
Native Multi-Vendor Support
No (requires apps)
—
Advanced SEO Tools (Built-in)
Limited (basic automation)
—
Product Listings Limit(count)
Unlimited
—
Multi-Channel Selling Integration(channels)
100+ sales channels (Amazon, Facebook, TikTok, eBay, etc.)
—
Free SSL Certificate & Hosting
Included in all plans
—
Ease of Use Rating(1-5 scale)
3/5
—
Setup Time for Beginners(minutes)
4-8 hours
—
Setup Time(minutes)
30-60 minutes
30-60 minutes
Starting Price(USD/month)
$100-200 (hosting only)
$5 (Starter Plan)
Base Monthly Cost (Annual Billing)(USD/month)
$4 (WordPress.com) + $20-100 hosting
—
Total Annual Cost (All-In)(USD/year)
$260-2200+ (hosting, plugins, maintenance)
—
Monthly Cost (Entry Level)(USD)
$4 (managed) / $0 (self-hosted)
—
Average Monthly Cost (Managed)(USD)
$24.50
—
Show 37 more attributes
Annual Hosting Cost(USD)
$60-300+ per year
—
Starting Monthly Cost(USD)
$0-15
$39
Transaction Fees(%)
2-3% via Stripe/PayPal plugins
2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
Annual Cost (100K Revenue)(USD)
$240 + hosting ($10-50/month)
$468 + transaction fees ($2,900)
Monthly Cost (Entry-Level Plan)(USD)
$5-15 (hosting only)
—
Monthly Cost (Basic Tier)(USD)
$5-15 hosting
—
3-Year Total Cost Ownership(USD)
$180-360 (hosting only)
—
Monthly Cost (Minimum)(USD)
$0 (self-hosted, domain only)
—
Monthly Cost (Fully Managed Equivalent)(USD)
$25-50/month (WP Engine, Kinsta managed hosting)
—
Minimum Annual Cost(USD)
$100-200 (domain + basic hosting)
—
Annual Cost (Base Tier)(USD)
$120-500/year
$348-3,588/year
Payment Processing Fee(% + fixed)
2.9% + $0.30 (Stripe)
2.9% + $0.30 (Shopify Payments)
Monthly Cost (Base Plan)(USD)
$3-10/month + free software
—
Base Monthly Cost (Managed Hosting)(USD)
$4-$300/month
—
Self-Hosted Option
Yes, completely free
—
Platform Transaction Fees(%)
2.0% (third-party gateways) / 0% (Shopify Payments)
—
Starting Monthly Price(USD)
$29
—
Top Tier Plan Price(USD/month)
$399
—
Annual Cost (Base Plan)(USD/year)
$468
—
Per-Transaction Commission(%)
0%
—
Transaction Processing Fee(percent)
0% (on Shopify Payments)
—
Transaction Fee Rate(percentage + fixed fee)
3.89%
—
Monthly Costs at 100 Sales ($50/item)(USD)
$214
—
Base Monthly Subscription (Starter Plan)(USD)
$29
—
Listing Renewal Fee(USD per listing)
Included in subscription
—
Monthly Base Cost(USD)
$29-$399
—
Transaction Fee Percentage(%)
2.9%
—
Free Plan Cost(USD/month)
$5 (Starter plan minimum)
—
Monthly Base Cost (Starter Plan)(USD)
$5-39 (all-inclusive)
—
Maximum Plan Cost(USD/month)
$2,300+ (Shopify Plus enterprise)
—
Mid-Tier Plan Cost(USD/month)
$105 (Shopify Plan)
—
Enterprise Plan Cost(USD per user/month)
$2,300+ (Shopify Plus)
—
Base Monthly Cost(USD)
$39/month (Basic plan)
—
Transaction Fees (Standard)(%+fixed)
2.9% + $0.30
—
Transaction Fees (Basic Plan)(%)
2.9% + $0.30
—
Starting Monthly Cost (USD)(USD)
$39/month
—
Transaction Fees (Payment Processing)(%)
2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
—
Current Version
6.9 (RC 7.0 March 2026)
—
Hosting Management(type)
Self-hosted (user managed)
—
Average Page Load Speed(seconds)
3.4 seconds
—
Page Load Speed (Average)(ms)
2.5-4.0s (varies with plugins)
—
Page Speed (Average)(ms)
2500-3500
—
Maximum Concurrent Users (Optimized)(users)
10,000-50,000
—
Average Page Load Time(milliseconds)
2.5 (optimized)
—
Show 6 more attributes
Average Website Speed (Page Load)(seconds)
1.5-2.5 seconds (optimized)
—
Page Speed (Typical Setup)(ms)
1,200-2,500ms
—
Average Conversion Rate (Desktop)(%)
1.4%
—
Average Conversion Rate (Mobile)(%)
1.2%
—
Checkout Conversion Rate(%)
3.2-3.5%
—
Mobile Responsiveness
Mobile-optimized by default
—
Setup Time (Professional)(hours)
40-100+ hours
—
Setup Time to Live Store(days)
7-14 days
—
Average Setup Time(days)
2-3 days
—
Monthly Maintenance Hours Required(hours)
5-20+ hours
—
Time to Live Website(hours)
24-72 hours
—
Available Plugins/Integrations(count)
58,000+
—
Plugin/Integration Count(available)
58,000+ plugins
—
Available Plugins/Themes(count)
58,000+ plugins + 10,000+ themes
—
App/Integration Ecosystem(apps)
4,600+
—
AI-Powered Features (Native)
Partial - WordPress 7.0 adds core AI (plugin-dependent before)
—
Native Membership Features
Via plugins (WooCommerce, MemberPress)
—
Revenue Share on Ad Revenue(percent)
100% (you keep all)
—
Built-in Membership/Subscription System
Requires plugins (WooCommerce, MemberPress)
—
SEO Plugin Options(count)
15+ top options
—
SEO Control Capabilities(scale 1-10)
9 out of 10
—
Monthly Active Users(millions)
43% of all websites (self-hosted instances)
—
Content Export Difficulty(ease score (1-10))
Easy via XML export (9/10)
—
Technical Maintenance Required(hours per month)
2-5 hours (updates, security, backups)
—
Setup Time to Launch(minutes)
7-21 days
1-2 days
Required Technical Knowledge(skill level)
Intermediate to Advanced
—
Setup Time (No Technical Knowledge)(hours)
2-4 hours (theme selection, plugin setup)
—
Setup Time for Non-Developers(minutes)
60-120 minutes
—
Show 2 more attributes
Design Customization Entry Point(coding knowledge required)
Advanced (Liquid code access)
—
Setup Time (No-Code)(hours)
1-2 hours to launch
—
Security Management(responsibility level)
You manage updates, SSL, backups
Shopify manages all compliance
Reported Security Vulnerabilities (2024)(CVEs)
156 plugin/theme CVEs
—
PCI DSS Compliance Built-in(null)
Level 1 (fully managed)
—
Average Development Time (Basic Site)(weeks)
1-2 days
—
Required Developer Experience Level
Beginner (0-6 months experience)
—
Monthly Hosting Cost (Basic)(USD)
$2-10
—
Customization Without Code
Extensive—drag-drop, theme customizer, page builders
—
Data Portability / Export(ease rating)
Full export capability
—
Customization Flexibility Score(scale 1-10)
9.5 out of 10
—
Total Plugins/Apps Available(count)
50,000+
—
Available Themes/Templates(count)
10,000+ free & premium
—
Customizable Themes(count)
60,000+ available themes
—
Available Extensions/Apps(count)
58,000+ plugins
8,000+ apps
API Control & Headless Capability
Good GraphQL API; limited headless options
—
Show 1 more attribute
Store Design Flexibility(scale 1-10)
Extensive (9/10)
—
SEO Control Level(control rating)
Full (robots.txt, schema, redirects)
—
Initial Setup Time(minutes)
20-40 hours (with learning)
Hours to 1 day
Plugin/Extension Ecosystem(count)
60,000+ plugins
—
Available Plugins/Extensions(count)
58,000+ plugins
—
Built-in Enterprise Features
Moderate; app-dependent for advanced needs
—
E-Commerce Product Limit(products)
Unlimited (WooCommerce)
—
E-commerce Market Share(% of online stores)
38% (WooCommerce dominates)
—
Hosted Server Uptime Guarantee(%)
99% (varies by host)
—
Uptime Guarantee(percent)
Depends on host (typically 99.9%)
99.99% guaranteed
Annual Account Suspension Risk(%)
~0.01%
—
Platform Uptime SLA(percent)
99.99%
—
Uptime SLA Guarantee(percent)
99.99%
—
SEO Customization Level(score out of 10)
9/10 (full control + advanced plugins)
—
Data Portability(score out of 10)
10/10 (complete ownership & backup)
Possible but complex; vendor lock-in concerns exist
Global Market Share(percent)
43%
27%
Market Share(%)
~30% of all online stores
—
Market Share (2026)(%)
28%
—
Customer Support Availability(hours/week)
Community forums + paid support
24/7 dedicated support team
Developer Community Size(developers)
500,000+
—
Support Channels(channels)
Phone, Email & Chat
—
Hosting Included
No, separate purchase
—
Available Themes(count)
100,000+
—
Available Templates(count)
~300 (optimized for sales)
—
Available Apps/Plugins(count)
13,000+
—
Available Apps & Integrations(count)
6,000+ apps
—
Third-Party App Integrations(integrations)
6000+
—
Native App Integrations(apps)
6,800 verified apps
—
Hosting Model
Fully Managed SaaS
—
API Capabilities
Full REST & GraphQL APIs
—
AI/Automation Optimization
Native AI-driven commerce agents built-in
—
New Features (Feb-Mar 2026)(features)
Ongoing regular updates
—
App Integrations(count)
8,000+
—
Accessible Customer Base(millions)
0 (self-driven)
—
Setup Time to First Sale(weeks)
1-3 days
—
Brand Control Score(scale 1-10)
9-10 (full)
—
Typical Seller Monthly Revenue Threshold(USD)
$5,000+ (lower barrier)
—
Product Variation Limit(variations per SKU)
2,000+
—
Multi-Currency Support(currencies)
200+
—
Recommended Maximum Annual Revenue(USD)
Unlimited
—
Product Listing Limits(count)
Unlimited products
—
Sales Breakeven Point(USD/month)
$1,350
—
Monthly Active Buyers (Marketplace Access)(millions)
Self-driven traffic
—
Commission Fee (Per Transaction)(%)
2.9% + $0.30
—
Built-in Customer Base(millions)
Zero (must generate own traffic)
—
Average Time to First Sale(days)
30-90 days (with marketing)
—
Brand Customization Level(scale 1-10)
Complete (10/10)
—
Customer Data Access(percentage)
100% direct access to customer emails and data
—
Ideal Business Size(GMV)
$0-20M GMV (optimal fit)
—
Implementation Complexity
Low; point-and-click setup
—
Annual Marketplace Visitors(billions)
Self-generated
—
Available Apps/Extensions(count)
10,000+
—
App Ecosystem Size(apps)
~8,000+ apps
—
Available App Integrations(count)
8,000+ apps
—
Suitable Product Categories(primary focus)
All product types
—
Developer Cost (Hourly)(USD/hour)
$100-150 (optional)
—
Transaction Fee (Standard)(percentage + fixed)
2.7% + $0.30
—
Payment Gateway Options(number)
100+ official integrations
—
Free Physical Items Limit(items/month)
None (paid plans only)
—
Pros & Cons
10 pros·6 cons across both
S
WordPress
+5-3
Pros
- Unlimited customization with full source code access
- No monthly fees beyond hosting ($0-15/month possible)
- 58,000+ plugins for extended functionality
- Supports unlimited products without pricing tier increases
- SEO-friendly architecture with Yoast and Rank Math plugins
Cons
- Requires technical knowledge to install, update, and maintain
- You are responsible for backups, security patches, and SSL certificates
- Payment processing requires additional plugins with transaction fees (2-3%)
S
Shopify
+5-3
Pros
- Built-in payment processing (Shopify Payments) with 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction
- Fully managed hosting, SSL, security, and PCI compliance included
- No technical skills required—drag-and-drop store builder
- 24/7 customer support via chat, email, and phone
- Integrated shipping, inventory, and fulfillment tools
Cons
- Monthly subscription starting at $39 plus transaction fees add up quickly
- Limited customization without Liquid coding knowledge
- Vendor lock-in—migrating data away is complex and costly
Frequently Asked Questions
5 questions
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+).
Resources & Learn More
Curated sources to dive deeper
Where to Buy
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