Comparison
Shopify vs WooCommerce: Cost Comparison 2026
Shopify vs WooCommerce total cost breakdown for 2026. Platform fees, transaction costs, hosting, and setup costs compared honestly.
Updated March 2026
Shopify vs WooCommerce: Cost Comparison 2026
Both are the dominant ecommerce platforms, but their cost structures are completely different.
Year 1 Cost Comparison
Shopify Basic ($39/month)
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Shopify Basic (12 months) | $468 |
| Domain | $15 |
| Premium theme | $0–$350 |
| Transaction fees (2.9%+$0.30) | Variable |
| Apps (email, reviews, etc.) | $0–$500 |
| Year 1 Estimated | $483–$1,333 |
WooCommerce
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| WooCommerce plugin | $0 |
| Hosting (managed WP) | $300–$600 |
| Domain | $15 |
| SSL | $0–$100 |
| Premium theme | $50–$200 |
| Plugins (payment, shipping, etc.) | $100–$500 |
| Development setup | $500–$3,000 |
| Year 1 Estimated | $965–$4,415 |
Transaction Fees: The Hidden Cost
Shopify charges 0.5–2% transaction fees unless you use Shopify Payments. On $100,000 annual revenue, that is $500–$2,000/year in avoidable fees.
WooCommerce charges no transaction fees beyond payment processor rates (Stripe: 2.9%+$0.30).
Which Is Cheaper?
At low revenue volumes (<$50K/year), Shopify is often cheaper due to lower setup cost and no developer needed.
At higher revenue (>$100K/year), WooCommerce often wins due to no transaction fees and more flexible architecture.
Use our Ecommerce Cost Calculator for a personalized breakdown.
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- Website Maintenance Cost Calculator — ongoing store costs