Shopify vs WooCommerce: the real cost of each
One is a subscription, the other is a plugin with hidden operational costs. Neither is free, and the cheaper option depends on whether your time has a price.
| Shopify | WooCommerce | |
|---|---|---|
| Platform cost | ~$29-39/month after trial | Plugin free |
| Hosting | Included | From ~$5/month |
| Transaction fee | Extra fee if not using Shopify Payments | Processor fee only |
| Maintenance | Handled for you | You handle updates and security |
| Apps | Paid, add up quickly | Mixed free and paid |
| Data ownership | Export limited | Full database access |
Pick Shopify if…
Shopify if you want to sell this month and never think about servers. The subscription is the whole cost of operations — SSL, hosting, PCI compliance and updates are included.
Pick WooCommerce if…
WooCommerce if you already run WordPress, need full control of data and templates, or sell something with unusual shipping logic. The plugin is free; the trade is your attention.
Which is cheaper for a small store?
WooCommerce on existing hosting, until you value your maintenance time. Add two premium extensions and the gap narrows fast.
Can I migrate later?
Products and customers export as CSV in both directions. Themes, apps and metafields do not survive the move.
Does WooCommerce take a cut of sales?
No. Shopify takes no cut either if you use its own payments — the difference is the monthly fee versus hosting.