Shopify vs WooCommerce
E-commerce pricing comparison · 2026
Shopify pricing ranges from $39–$2300/month, while WooCommerce ranges from $0–$200/month. These products use different pricing models (Hybrid (seat + usage) vs Per-seat subscription), so a direct price comparison isn't meaningful — costs depend on usage volume and mix.
Sources & confidence
Every dollar amount and contract clause below traces back to a sourced fact. We don't manufacture composite scores.
Plans at a glance
Every tier per product. Lock one to drive the cost row above and reveal a tier-specific outbound CTA.
Contract terms
The fine print, surfaced. Green = buyer-friendly. Each clause backed by a quoted source.
What users say
Aggregated, with sample sizes. We use whichever review platform has data.
Shopify and WooCommerce represent fundamentally different approaches to e-commerce. Shopify is a fully hosted platform starting at $29/month (annual) for its Basic plan, scaling up to $399/month for Advanced. WooCommerce is a free, open-source WordPress plugin where costs come primarily from hosting, ranging from $0 for self-hosted setups to around $70/month for managed WooCommerce hosting. The total cost of ownership differs significantly depending on your technical expertise and customization needs.
Plan-by-Plan Pricing
| Plan | Shopify | WooCommerce |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | $39 /month | Free /month |
| Grow (formerly Shopify) | $105 /month | $25 /month |
| Advanced | $399 /month | $70 /month |
| Shopify Plus | $2.3K /month | $200 /month |
Cost at Scale
Total cost of ownership — licenses, implementation, and hidden costs included.
Shopify
5 scenariosWooCommerce
6 scenariosMarket Intelligence
Shopify
- Median annual cost
- $948
- Average negotiated discount
- 25%
WooCommerce
- Median annual cost
- $399
- Based on
- 296 deals
Contract Terms
| Term | Shopify | WooCommerce |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-renewal | Yes | Yes |
| Cancellation | Monthly subscription can be cancelled anytime | — |
| Minimum commitment | Monthly billing cycle | Annual subscriptions for plugins |
| Price escalation | No published schedule for price increases mentioned in sources | — |
| Can downgrade | Yes | — |
Continue researching
Our Verdict
Choose Shopify if you want an all-in-one hosted solution with minimal technical overhead, reliable uptime, and built-in payment processing -- plans start at $29/month annually and include hosting, security, and support. Choose WooCommerce if you want full control over your store with lower baseline costs, especially if you already have WordPress experience -- the plugin itself is free, and shared hosting starts at just $20-25/month.
Frequently Asked Questions
01 Is WooCommerce cheaper than Shopify?
WooCommerce can be significantly cheaper since the plugin itself is free and shared hosting starts around $20-25/month, compared to Shopify's Basic plan at $29/month (annual billing) or $39/month paid monthly. However, WooCommerce costs can add up quickly when you factor in premium themes, extensions, SSL certificates, and security plugins, potentially matching or exceeding Shopify's pricing.
02 Which is better for small businesses just starting out?
Shopify is generally better for beginners and small businesses that want to start selling quickly without technical complexity. Its Basic plan at $29/month (annually) includes everything needed to launch a store. WooCommerce is better for budget-conscious businesses with some technical skills, as it offers a free starting point with self-hosted setups.
03 Can WooCommerce replace Shopify?
Yes, WooCommerce can replace Shopify for most e-commerce use cases, though it requires more hands-on management. WooCommerce offers greater flexibility and customization since it is open-source, and its total cost can range from $0 to $200/month depending on your hosting and extension choices. However, you will need to handle your own hosting, security updates, and maintenance, which Shopify includes in its $29-$399/month plans.