WordPress vs Shopify: which suits your small business?

What is the core difference?

WordPress (+ WooCommerce)

• Open-source software you install on hosting you choose
• You own the code, data and hosting
• Huge choice of themes and plugins
• Strong for content, blogs and service sites
• You (or your agency) handle updates, security and backups

Shopify

• Hosted platform with a monthly subscription
• Hosting, security and checkout are managed for you
• App store for extra features, often with their own fees
• Built first and foremost for selling products
• Less control over code, data structure and checkout

Which one costs more to run?

The two platforms charge in different ways, so compare the whole picture rather than one line item.

• WordPress itself is free. You pay for hosting, any premium theme or plugins, and maintenance time — updates, backups and security checks.
• Shopify charges a monthly plan, and paid apps add their own subscriptions. Payment fees vary by plan and provider — check Shopify’s current pricing page for your country.

A store that needs many paid apps on Shopify can cost more over time; a WordPress site that nobody maintains can cost more when something breaks. Neither is “cheap” or “expensive” on its own.

Which platform fits which business?

Both platforms can do most of what a small business needs. This table shows the usual starting point, not a rule.

Who maintains the site after launch?

This is the question most comparisons skip. A WordPress site needs regular plugin and core updates, backups you have tested, and an eye on security. Many WordPress problems we see come from sites nobody has updated in a long time. Shopify takes most of that off your plate, but you still own your apps, theme changes and product data.

Be honest about who will do this work. If the answer is “nobody”, choose the platform that needs less of it — or arrange a maintenance plan from day one.

Can you switch platforms later?

Yes, but it is a project, not a button. Products, customers, orders, URLs and redirects all need to move without losing search rankings. Choosing carefully now saves that work later.

Which platform handles selling features better?

Shopify includes a polished checkout, product management, discount codes and order handling out of the box, and its app store fills most gaps. WordPress needs WooCommerce for selling; once installed, it covers the same ground and lets a developer change almost anything, including how checkout and pricing rules work.

• Subscriptions, bookings and memberships exist on both, usually through extensions or apps.
• Multiple languages and currencies are possible on both; check the exact setup you need before choosing.
• Connecting to your ERP or stock system works on both through their APIs — plan it at the start, not after launch.

If you can list the five features that matter most, test each on both platforms before you commit.