Shopify vs WooCommerce: what it really costs
Figures checked on 2026-10-13 against www.shopify.com, stripe.com, www.paypal.com and wordpress.org. US pricing.
Cost breakdown
| Cost item | Shopify | WooCommerce |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Basic $29/mo · Grow $79/mo · Advanced $299/mo (billed yearly). Monthly billing: $39 / $105 / $399. | Core plugin free (open source). |
| Hosting | Included, unlimited bandwidth, free SSL. | You buy it separately; price varies by host (not included here). |
| Online card processing | Shopify Payments: 2.9% + 30¢ (Basic), 2.7% + 30¢ (Grow), 2.5% + 30¢ (Advanced); +1% for international cards. | Depends on gateway. Stripe US: 2.9% + 30¢ per domestic card. PayPal Checkout US: 3.49% + $0.49; +1.5% international. |
| Extra platform transaction fee | None with Shopify Payments; 2% / 1% / 0.6% with third-party gateways. | None from WooCommerce. |
| Themes & apps/extensions | Free and paid themes; paid apps billed monthly. | Free and paid extensions; many billed yearly. |
| Maintenance | Handled by Shopify. | You (or your host) handle updates, backups, security. |
Run your own numbers in the profit calculator — switch the platform to compare per-unit fees.
Shopify pros
- Hosting, security and checkout handled for you
- No extra transaction fee with Shopify Payments
- Built-in multichannel and Markets tools for selling abroad
Cons
- Monthly fee plus app subscriptions add up
- Third-party gateways incur an extra fee
- Limited checkout customization below Plus
WooCommerce pros
- Free, open-source core; you own your data
- Any gateway, any host, deep customization
- Fits naturally if you already run WordPress content
Cons
- You manage hosting, updates and security
- Costs are less predictable (hosting + extensions)
- Performance depends on your host and plugins
Who should choose which
Choose Shopify if you want to launch fast, don't want to maintain servers, and can use Shopify Payments in your country.
Choose WooCommerce if you already run WordPress, need full control or a gateway Shopify penalizes, and are comfortable with maintenance.
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Disclosure: we may earn a commission from some links in the future. It doesn't change our numbers.
FAQ
Is WooCommerce cheaper than Shopify?
The WooCommerce plugin itself is free, but you pay for hosting, a domain, and any paid extensions. Shopify Basic is $29/month billed yearly ($39 monthly) with hosting included. Which is cheaper depends on your hosting and extension choices.
Does Shopify charge transaction fees?
Not when you use Shopify Payments. If you use a third-party gateway, Shopify adds 2% on Basic, 1% on Grow and 0.6% on Advanced, on top of the gateway's own fees.
Which is better for cross-border sellers?
Shopify includes Markets features for local currencies, translation and duty/tax estimation (some require Shopify Payments). WooCommerce can do the same with extensions and gives full control over hosting and data, but you maintain it yourself.