Choosing the right e-commerce platform is one of the most important early decisions you’ll make as a business owner. With so many options available, it can be hard to know which tool will serve you best in the long run.

Two of the most popular platforms today are WooCommerce and Shopify. Both have strengths, but the better fit depends on your goals, technical confidence, and how much flexibility you need as your store grows.

In this guide, we’ll compare WooCommerce and Shopify across features, pricing, customisation, SEO, scalability, and more, so you can make the right decision for your business.

WooCommerce and Shopify at a Glance

This table compares WooCommerce and Shopify on key factors such as hosting, pricing, and flexibility, offering a concise overview to help you choose the platform that best meets your needs.

Let’s dive further into these details:

Pricing & Ongoing Costs

WooCommerce

• Free to install and use
• Costs include hosting, SSL, premium themes, and extensions
• More flexible, but less predictable

Shopify

• Monthly subscription starting at a set fee
• Additional costs for premium themes, apps, and third-party integrations
• Extra transaction fees if not using Shopify Payments

Summary: WooCommerce has a lower upfront cost and more control over budget. Shopify offers more predictable monthly expenses.

Customisation & Design Flexibility

WooCommerce

• Full design control via themes, custom CSS, and page builders
• Developers can modify everything – from checkout fields to performance settings

Shopify

• Limited to Shopify’s ecosystem and Liquid templating
• Easier to use but less flexible for custom designs

Summary: WooCommerce is best for full control and customisation. Shopify is faster for templated setups.

Ease of Use & Setup

Shopify

• Quick setup with built-in hosting and no technical setup needed
• Great for entrepreneurs with minimal tech background

WooCommerce

• Requires WordPress installation, domain setup, SSL, and reliable hosting
• Higher learning curve, but more scalable with agency support

Note: WooCommerce is best for users with WordPress experience or those working with a development partner like Ruby Digital.

SEO Capabilities

WooCommerce

• Full SEO control via plugins like Yoast and Rank Math
• Optimise URLs, meta data, schema, and more

Shopify

• Good SEO foundation, but URL structure is fixed and less customisable
• Limited control over technical SEO aspects

Note: WooCommerce is stronger for advanced SEO strategies, giving full access to metadata, schema markup, and performance tools.

Payment Gateways & Transaction Fees

WooCommerce

• Supports all major gateways (Stripe, PayPal, Yoco, PayFast)
• No added transaction fees from WooCommerce

Shopify

• Built-in Shopify Payments (not available in all regions)
• Extra fees for using third-party gateways

WooCommerce often supports more local payment gateways like PayFast and SnapScan.

Scalability & Growth

WooCommerce

• Scales with the right hosting and developer setup
• Ideal for growing brands with custom workflows or large product ranges

Shopify

• Handles large product catalogues and high traffic well
• Limited by the boundaries of Shopify’s core features and pricing tiers

Support & Community

WooCommerce

• Open-source community support
• Help from plugin/theme developers and agencies

Shopify

• 24/7 official customer support
• Centralised help resources, but with limits on flexibility

Which Platform Is Right for You?

When deciding between WooCommerce and Shopify, it’s important to consider your specific needs. For complete control and flexibility, WooCommerce is the best choice. If you’re looking to launch quickly with minimal setup, Shopify is ideal. For content-heavy, SEO-driven websites, WooCommerce excels, while Shopify is better suited for simple stores with small catalogues. If local payment integrations in South Africa are a priority, WooCommerce stands out. For businesses looking to grow with agency support, either platform can be a suitable option depending on your specific requirements.

At Ruby Digital, we specialise in WooCommerce design, development, and SEO, while also offering expertise in Shopify setup and strategic growth.

Both WooCommerce and Shopify are powerful tools for building and growing an online store, but they cater to different needs.

Opt for WooCommerce if you require full control, customisation, and advanced SEO, especially if you’re already using WordPress or planning to.

Choose Shopify if you prefer a quick launch with built-in hosting, minimal setup, and no need for coding expertise. Each platform has its strengths, so the choice ultimately depends on your specific business goals and technical requirements.