Choose Shopify if you want a store that is fast to launch, hosted and looked after for you; choose WooCommerce if you want full control, deep customisation, or you already run a WordPress site. Neither is universally better. Shopify trades flexibility for convenience and predictable running. WooCommerce trades convenience for ownership and control, and needs someone responsible for hosting, updates and security.
This comparison looks at cost, ease of use, flexibility, SEO, payments, maintenance and when each makes sense for an Australian small business. We build on both platforms, so we have no reason to push one regardless of fit. We will say plainly where it is a close call.
Shopify vs WooCommerce at a glance
| Shopify | WooCommerce | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Hosted, all-in-one store platform | Free e-commerce plugin for WordPress |
| Platform cost | Monthly plan. At the time of writing (October 2026): Basic A$56/month, or A$42 on annual billing | Plugin is free; you pay for hosting, domain and extensions |
| Setup effort | Lower; many things are built in | Higher; you assemble hosting, theme and plugins |
| Hosting and security | Handled by Shopify | Your responsibility (or your provider’s) |
| Flexibility | Strong through apps and themes; some limits on checkout and back-end | Very high; you can change almost anything |
| Content and blogging | Capable, simpler | Excellent, since it runs on WordPress |
| Best for | Stores that want to sell and grow without technical upkeep | Content-led stores, complex requirements, or businesses already on WordPress |
Shopify price is from Shopify’s Australian pricing page, viewed in October 2026. Prices change, so check before you commit.
Pricing: what each really costs
Shopify
You pay a monthly plan fee, with lower payment processing rates on higher plans. Per Shopify’s Australian pricing at the time of writing, online card rates are 1.7% + 30c on Basic and 1.55% + 30c on Grow, and a transaction fee applies if you use an outside payment provider. Add apps, a theme if you buy one, and the cost of setup. For a full breakdown, read how much a Shopify store costs in Australia.
WooCommerce
The plugin costs nothing, but a store needs hosting that can cope with checkout traffic, an SSL certificate, backups, security and usually some paid extensions for features like subscriptions, bookings or advanced shipping. Costs vary widely with hosting quality. Maintenance matters more here: WP Creative’s guide puts WooCommerce care plans at roughly $500 to $2,500 a month, though many small stores need less. See website maintenance costs in Australia.
Because Shopify’s cost is mostly visible in the plan fee, and WooCommerce’s cost is spread across hosting, extensions and upkeep, the sticker comparison can mislead. Add up the whole year, including your time, before judging which is cheaper.
Ease of use
Shopify is the easier platform for non-technical owners. Products, inventory, discounts, shipping and checkout are built into one dashboard, and the platform handles updates. WooCommerce lives inside WordPress. It is manageable, but updates, plugin conflicts and hosting problems are yours to solve or to pay someone to solve.
Flexibility and customisation
WooCommerce wins on raw flexibility. Because you control the code and the database, unusual pricing rules, custom product builders or niche integrations are easier. Shopify has a very large app ecosystem and can be customised through its theme code, and checkout customisation depends on your plan. For most standard retail stores, Shopify’s flexibility is enough. For unusual requirements, ask a developer to check feasibility on both before choosing.
SEO
Both can rank well when set up properly. WooCommerce, on WordPress, gives you finer control over URLs, content and structured data, and is a strong base for content-heavy stores. Shopify has fixed URL structures for products and collections, but covers the technical basics out of the box. In both cases, results depend on content, site speed and structure rather than the platform alone. Our e-commerce and Shopify SEO service works on either, and no platform choice guarantees rankings.
Payments, GST and shipping in Australia
Both platforms support major Australian payment options and can be configured for GST. Shopify Payments rates are published on its pricing page. WooCommerce works with Stripe, PayPal and other gateways, each with their own fees. For shipping, both integrate with Australia Post and other carriers, and via plugins or apps for live rates. Confirm GST settings with your accountant either way.
Maintenance and risk
With Shopify, the platform is updated for you, and your main upkeep is apps and theme. With WooCommerce, you need a plan for updates, backups and security. A hacked or broken store loses sales, so the cost of neglect is real. NumLogic offers website maintenance plans for WooCommerce and WordPress.
Which should you choose?
- Choose Shopify if you want to launch quickly, prefer predictable running costs, do not want to manage hosting, or plan to sell across channels such as social and marketplaces.
- Choose WooCommerce if content and SEO are central to your strategy, you need custom behaviour, you already run WordPress, or you want ownership of every part of the stack.
- Either works for many small stores, in which case choose the one your team and developer can support well.
If you are already on WooCommerce and thinking of switching, our Shopify migration service moves products, customers and redirects. If you are starting fresh, our Shopify store development has a launch package at From A$1,990, and our WordPress website design has a starter package at From A$1,490 for a site you can add commerce to. See the pricing page for scope. The hands-on work is done by our vetted team in Pakistan under one point of contact.
Real-world scenarios
A new store selling a few dozen products. Shopify is usually the faster, lower-risk route. You can launch quickly, take payments, and spend your time on products and marketing rather than hosting.
A business with a large blog or resource library that also sells. WooCommerce on WordPress can keep content and commerce in one place, with strong editorial control. That suits businesses where articles drive most of the traffic.
A store with complicated pricing, such as quote-based or tiered trade pricing. Check both options carefully. WooCommerce often adapts more easily, though Shopify apps cover many cases. Ask a developer to test your real requirement first.
An existing WooCommerce store that is slow or constantly breaking. Before migrating, check whether the cause is hosting, plugins or something fixable. Sometimes speed optimisation solves the problem. If the maintenance burden is the real issue, moving to Shopify may be the better long-term answer.
Questions to ask before you choose or hire
- How many products and variants will I have in 12 months?
- Who will look after updates, backups and security?
- What special features do I need that apps might not cover?
- What is the total first-year cost, including hosting, apps and maintenance?
- Do I own the store, data and domain?
- How will existing URLs be redirected if I migrate?
- Is the quote ex-GST or inc-GST?
- Has the provider built stores on both platforms?
How to get an accurate quote
Describe your product count, shipping needs, integrations, existing platform and traffic, and ask for the total first-year cost on both platforms side by side. A provider who builds on both will compare honestly. For a general view of site budgets, read how much a website costs in Australia.
Frequently asked questions
Is Shopify better than WooCommerce?
Neither is better in every case. Shopify is easier and hosted, WooCommerce is more flexible and needs more upkeep. The right choice depends on your skills, budget and requirements.
Is WooCommerce really free?
The plugin is free. Hosting, extensions, security and maintenance are not, so total cost depends on your setup.
Is Shopify or WooCommerce cheaper?
Shopify has predictable monthly fees plus apps. WooCommerce can be cheaper for small stores on good, simple hosting, and costlier once you add extensions and maintenance. Compare the full year.
Shopify vs WordPress for e-commerce: what is the difference?
WordPress is a content platform. With WooCommerce it becomes a store. Shopify is purpose-built for selling. WordPress suits content-led brands, Shopify suits store-first businesses.
Can I switch from WooCommerce to Shopify later?
Yes. Products, customers and orders can be migrated, and URLs redirected to protect SEO. Plan it carefully.
Which is better for SEO?
Both can rank. WooCommerce offers more control, while Shopify covers the basics well. Content, speed and structure matter more than the platform.
Not sure which platform fits your store? Tell us what you sell and we will give you an honest recommendation, even if it is not us.