E-commerce · · 7 min read
Shopify vs WooCommerce in 2026: Which Should a Growing Store Choose?
Choose Shopify if you want to sell fast with minimal technical upkeep and don't mind a monthly fee. Choose WooCommerce if you want full ownership, unlimited flexibility and lower platform fees, and you have someone to maintain it.
Shopify: $29–$299/month on annual billing, with card fees of 2.5%–2.9% + 30¢ through Shopify Payments, and very little maintenance. WooCommerce: the plugin is free, but expect $500–$2,000 in year one for hosting, theme and extensions. It's more flexible, and you're responsible for it.
What's the main difference between Shopify and WooCommerce?
Shopify is a hosted platform you rent: hosting, security and updates are handled for you. WooCommerce is free software that runs on your own WordPress site: you own everything, and you maintain everything.
That single difference drives almost every other trade-off. Shopify charges for convenience. WooCommerce charges in time and technical responsibility.
How much does Shopify cost in 2026?
Shopify's main plans cost $29 to $299 a month billed annually, or $39 to $399 billed monthly, plus card-processing fees on every sale.
- Basic: $29/month annual ($39 monthly). Online cards 2.9% + 30¢
- Grow: $79/month annual ($105 monthly). Online cards 2.7% + 30¢
- Advanced: $299/month annual ($399 monthly). Online cards 2.5% + 30¢
- Paid apps and themes are extra. Using a payment provider other than Shopify Payments adds a further fee per sale
How much does WooCommerce really cost?
The WooCommerce plugin is free, but a working store isn't. Most small stores spend about $500–$2,000 in the first year, before payment fees.
- Hosting: $3–$15/month shared, $30–$150/month for managed WooCommerce hosting
- Domain: about $10–$20/year
- Premium theme: $30–$200 one-off
- Extensions: typically $200–$600/year for a small store
- WooPayments: 2.9% + $0.30 per US card transaction, with no monthly fee
Which is better for a store that's growing?
Shopify scales more smoothly for most stores, because the infrastructure grows with you. WooCommerce scales well too, but only with good hosting and someone keeping plugins, security and performance in check.
- Pick Shopify if you want to focus on products and marketing, not servers
- Pick WooCommerce if you need deep customisation, already run WordPress, or want to avoid platform fees
- Pick WooCommerce if your payment provider, such as Paystack or Flutterwave in Nigeria, is easier to integrate there
- Pick Shopify if nobody on your team wants to be responsible for updates and backups
Can you switch from WooCommerce to Shopify, or back?
Yes. Products, customers and orders can be migrated with apps or by a developer. Design and custom features have to be rebuilt, and old URLs should be redirected to protect your search rankings.
Key takeaways
- Shopify: you rent convenience. WooCommerce: you own flexibility and the upkeep.
- Shopify plans run $29–$299/month on annual billing in 2026.
- WooCommerce typically costs $500–$2,000 in year one before payment fees.
- Check which payment providers each platform supports in your country.
Frequently asked questions
Often, at small scale and over time, because there's no platform subscription. But cheap hosting and neglected updates are false economies. Budget for proper hosting and maintenance.
Both can rank well. WooCommerce gives more technical control. Shopify is solid out of the box. Content and site speed matter more than the platform.
Shopify can be used in Nigeria, but check which payment options are available for your store and what extra fees apply when you use a third-party gateway.
Sources
Planning a store and not sure which platform fits?
Get a fixed quote