I've built and migrated stores on both platforms for 4+ years. Here's my honest take — no affiliate bias, just what actually works for different types of businesses.

The Short Answer

Choose Shopify if: You want to focus on selling, not managing a platform.
Choose WooCommerce if: You need maximum flexibility and already have WordPress.

Shopify: The Pros

Hosting is handled. You don't worry about servers, security patches, or uptime. Shopify handles it all.

Checkout converts better. Shop Pay, one-click checkout, and Shopify's optimised checkout flow are genuinely better than anything WooCommerce can replicate out of the box.

Speed is consistent. A default Shopify store is fast. A default WooCommerce store requires significant optimisation to compete.

App ecosystem is excellent. 8,000+ apps, most well-maintained, easy to install.

Shopify: The Cons

Transaction fees on non-Shopify Payments (0.5%–2% depending on plan).

Limited content flexibility. Blogging, custom page layouts, and content-heavy sites feel constrained.

Cost adds up. $39/month base + apps can push to $200–500/month for a growing store.

WooCommerce: The Pros

Free to start (if you already have WordPress hosting).

Maximum flexibility. Want a custom checkout flow, custom product types, complex membership logic? WooCommerce can do it.

Content + commerce. If content marketing is core to your strategy, WordPress + WooCommerce is unmatched.

No transaction fees regardless of payment processor.

WooCommerce: The Cons

You own maintenance. Plugin updates, security, hosting performance — all your responsibility.

Speed requires work. A poorly configured WooCommerce store is noticeably slower than Shopify.

Checkout UX is harder. Getting WooCommerce checkout to convert as well as Shopify requires custom development.

My Recommendation

| Situation | Recommendation |
|-----------|----------------|
| Starting a new store, focused on selling | Shopify |
| Already on WordPress with existing content | WooCommerce |
| Need complex custom functionality | WooCommerce |
| Want minimum maintenance | Shopify |
| International / multi-currency | Shopify (Markets feature) |
| B2B / wholesale | Either (both have good options) |

The Migration Question

If you're on WooCommerce and considering moving to Shopify, the main considerations are: product data migration (usually straightforward), SEO preservation (critical — 301 redirects must be set up correctly), and app/functionality parity (make sure Shopify can replicate everything you rely on).

I've done 10+ platform migrations. The process typically takes 2–5 days depending on catalog size and complexity.

[Get a free migration assessment →](/contact)