
When deciding between WordPress vs Shopify for your ecommerce business, consider that both platforms have evolved into powerful solutions, offering different approaches to building and managing an online store. This guide compares the two platforms, covering everything from pricing, including WordPress Hosting, their features to ease of use and customization options. Understanding WordPress vs Shopify and their different strengths and weaknesses will help you see which platform is the best choice for your needs, and which suits your level of technical knowledge. Reading this guide will help you make an informed decision and create a successful online store.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- WordPress is a versatile CMS that can be used for any website, while Shopify is a dedicated ecommerce platform.
- Initial costs are lower with WordPress, but ongoing expenses can vary based on your needs; Shopify has more predictable pricing, but may be more expensive long-term, due to transaction fees and monthly subscriptions.
- Both platforms offer the necessary ecommerce features, but Shopify’s built-in tools are more comprehensive initially, while WordPress needs additional plugins and integrations.
- Shopify excels in user-friendliness with its intuitive interface and guided setup process, while WordPress has a steeper learning curve but offers more control over the user experience.
- WordPress provides nearly unlimited customization and design options, while Shopify offers pre-built templates with more limited options.
- WordPress has superior content marketing and SEO capabilities due to its origins as a blogging platform, while Shopify offers more basic built-in marketing tools.
- Shopify handles all security and maintenance aspects as a hosted platform, while WordPress requires manual attention to updates, security, and maintenance tasks.
- Shopify’s infrastructure offers out-of-the-box scalability and performance, while WordPress depends on hosting choice and optimization efforts.
- WordPress is best for businesses with high customization, traffic, and content needs with more available resources, while Shopify suits users looking for ease of use and a hands-off platform.
Table of Contents
Platform Overview: WordPress vs Shopify
While both WordPress and Shopify can help business owners create an online store, the key differences are in their approach, features, and infrastructure.
WordPress & WooCommerce
WordPress is a powerful, open-source Content Management System (CMS) for creating all types of websites, including ecommerce sites. The platform currently powers approximately 43% of all websites on the internet. The WordPress platform offers almost unlimited flexibility, functionality, and design options.
WordPress has developed a plugin to use your website for ecommerce. WooCommerce integration is designed to transform your website into a fully functional online store. This combination allows users to create sites tailored to their needs, offering several features and customization options.
However, WordPress does have a steeper learning curve for beginners and requires slightly more technical knowledge to get your website up and running. Thankfully, once you understand the basics of the dashboard and how it works, it becomes much easier, even if you have no coding knowledge. Also, many resources are available online to help you with web development, page builders, and maintenance.
Even though it’s an open-source platform, WordPress needs a web hosting service to be accessible online and to ensure performance and security. The specific server requirements will depend on your store’s size and traffic volume.

Shopify Overview
The Shopify platform is cloud-based, hosted on its servers, designed specifically for ecommerce stores. It provides a comprehensive solution for online businesses. It combines a user-friendly interface with intuitive tools, making it accessible for beginners, and streamlines the setup and selling process. The Shopify ecosystem handles hosting, security, and payment processing.
It also takes care of the technical aspects, like server management and maintenance, allowing users to focus on their content, products, and marketing.
Pricing Comparison of WordPress vs Shopify
WordPress
The WordPress core software is free, but there are added costs for web hosting and domain name registration, to get your WordPress site online and accessible to your customers.
WordPress ecommerce hosting is a service that provides the server space and resources (CPU, RAM, bandwidth) to store your website’s files and data to make it accessible on the Internet.
A domain name is the address of your website, for example, “yourstore.com”, which requires an initial registration fee and needs to be renewed at least annually. You can get a free domain name registration* for your site, landing page, and email address with WordPress Hosting from Hosted.com. We also offer renewal periods from 1 – 10 years.
There is a library of thousands of free themes and plugins for your WordPress website’s look, feel, and features. Similarly, there is a vast range of premium versions you can pay for to get more advanced design and functionality for your WordPress site.
Shopify
Shopify is subscription-based with a monthly fee depending on your chosen plan, with more costs for premium themes and apps. It offers several paid plans with different features; some offer a free trial. The basic plan starts at $25 per month and increases to $2300 for their Plus plan. Depending on your plan, you may incur transaction fees for each sale if you decide not to use Shopify payments.
This platform also offers a marketplace of themes and apps for extending your store’s functionality, design, and customer experience. Many are free, but premium versions require monthly or one-off additional fees.
*Ts & Cs Apply
Free Domain Registration applies to the following domain name extensions: .com, .online, and is only applicable at time of purchase.
Free Domain Registration depends on the selected hosting plan and only applies on 12-, 24-, and 36-month billing cycles. All listed prices exclude Premium domain names.
Ecommerce Features
While WordPress is an incredibly versatile CMS, it requires installing and activating ecommerce plugins like WooCommerce to transform it into a fully functional online store. It’s a popular choice for businesses of all sizes, offering a flexible and customizable solution for selling almost unlimited products online. As we discussed above, Shopify is designed for ecommerce functionality and provides comprehensive built-in features.
Both platforms offer the essentials including:
- Shopping carts and payment gatewaysincluding PayPal, Stripe, and credit cards.
- Inventory management to track stock levels, manage product pages and variations, and set low-stock alerts.
- Shipping options for different methods and calculating rates based on weight, dimensions, and destination.
- Calculate and apply taxes based on shipping, location, and rates.
- Create and manage product variations, such as various colors, sizes, or materials.
- Customers can create accounts, track orders, and manage their information in addition to staff accounts.
- Integration with email marketing, social media platforms, and other digital marketing tools.

Ease of Use & Learning Curve
WordPress
While WordPress excels in content management tools, making it easy to create blog posts, pages, and other content, it does have a steeper learning curve to build a WordPress website than Shopify.
This is due to its open-source nature, meaning you have full control over every aspect of your website, but it also means you’re responsible for managing it. This can include hosting, domain name, and plugin configurations.
First, you’ll need to install the WordPress core software, and the dashboard can be overwhelming for beginners, with numerous menus and settings. However, this becomes easier over time.
Then, you must install and configure the WooCommerce plugin, select a theme that suits your brand, and customize it.
Managing products, inventory, and orders can be more complex, especially for those unfamiliar with the WooCommerce platform. Advanced functionalities may require other plugins or custom development.
Shopify
Creating a Shopify store is designed to be user-friendly, with a streamlined interface and intuitive tools. This makes it ideal for quickly creating and managing an online store without extensive technical knowledge.
The setup process is relatively straightforward, involving a few steps to create a store with a simple dashboard and easy-to-understand menus and settings. It also providesa user-friendly interface for managing products, inventory, and orders.
While primarily an ecommerce platform, Shopify also offers basic content management features for creating pages and blog posts.
Design & Customization
WordPress
WordPress lets you use plugins and themes to change your WordPress website’s look and feel. It gives you full control over customization and features, allowing you to create unique online stores.
This is due to the vast library of premium and free WordPress themes, each with its unique design and layout options. You can further customize your store’s appearance and functionality using CSS, HTML, and JavaScript, or by installing additional plugins. Most themes are designed to be mobile-responsive for shopping on all types of devices.
While Shopify also offers customization, it’s not as flexible as WordPress, because options are limited to its theme editor and app store for more features. Change your website’s design by customizing fonts, colors, and layout elements. However, these changes are limited by the theme’s structure.
Marketing & SEO
Both platforms offer strong marketing and SEO (Search Engine Optimization) capabilities. WordPress is ideal for users who want to implement more advanced SEO tools and marketing features. Shopify, on the other hand, provides a more user-friendly approach that focuses on ease of use and some built-in marketing features.
SEO Tools
WordPress is naturally SEO-friendly along with plugins like Yoast, All in One SEO Pack, and Google Analytics that improve visibility in search results. This includes advanced features like customizing meta titles, descriptions, and other on-page elements.
Shopify provides built-in SEO features, letting store owners optimize product titles, descriptions, and meta tags with a simpler approach to SEO, making it easier for beginners.
Marketing Capabilities
WordPress uses plugins to implement email marketing, social media integration, and other marketing strategies. These require more technical knowledge to set up and manage but are more comprehensive.
Shopify offers built-in marketing tools, including email marketing, discount codes, gift cards, and social media integration. These tools make it easier for users to implement marketing strategies without having extensive technical knowledge.
Blog Functionality
The WordPress CMS was originally a blogging platform; it excels at creating and managing blog content. You can easily create, categorize and publish blogs, and add tags to improve SEO to drive traffic and engage your target audience.
Shopify supports basic blogging capabilities, allowing you to create blog posts to improve your store’s SEO and attract customers. However, the options are more limited compared to WordPress.
Security & Maintenance
Both platforms offer high-quality security features and maintenance options. WordPress stores require a more technical approach to maintain security and perform updates. On the other hand, Shopify provides a more hands-off experience; it handles most security and maintenance tasks.
Shopify
Shopify automatically handles most security aspects, including updates and maintenance tasks. Their infrastructure includes firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and regular automatic daily backups of your store’s data with easy-to-use tools to restore your online shop to a previous state. They also include an SSL certificate with all plans, ensuring a secure connection for your customers.
WordPress
WordPress uses security plugins like Wordfence to protect your store from hacking attempts and malware. They require regular updates to the core software, WooCommerce, and plugins to address and patch any new security vulnerabilities and ensure performance.
WordPress websites require an SSL certificate to secure your store’s connection and protect sensitive customer data. WordPress relies on third-party plugins or manual backups to protect your store’s data and regular backups to safeguard your website from data loss or accidental deletion.
You get a free SSL certificate when you sign up for WordPress Hosting from Hosted.com. We install and configure it on your server, so your ecommerce WordPress site and user data are encrypted immediately. You also get a suite of malware detection and removal, daily automated backups, and expert customer service at no extra cost.
Scalability & Performance
WordPress and Shopify offer excellent scalability and performance capabilities. WordPress, while more flexible, requires more technical ability to optimize performance and scalability.
WordPress can easily handle increased traffic levels with the right hosting plan. Depending on traffic and site complexity, you may need to upgrade server resources or cache plugins to handle spikes and more features. Similarly, you can boost WordPress website speeds with techniques like image compression, minification, or using a CDN (Content Delivery Network).
Shopify, however, provides a more streamlined approach, with Shopify technical support handling performance optimization. Shopify is built on a scalable ecommerce infrastructure that can handle increased traffic while offering fast load times and a smooth user experience.
WordPress vs Shopify: Which is Better for You?
When comparing WordPress vs Shopify, the best ecommerce platform for you largely depends on your needs and technical skills. If you are looking for a flexible and customizable platform, WordPress is great. If you want an easy-to-use platform specifically focused on ecommerce, then choose Shopify.
WordPress
If you are more comfortable with website management and hosting, WordPress with WooCommerce would be a better choice. It gives WordPress users full control over store design and functionality with highly customizable solutions and features. It handles large, complex sites easily and you are not tied into a self-contained ecosystem.
Upgrading your WordPress Hosting plan with Hosted.com as your WordPress website grows is easy. Simply contact our Sales Team and they take care of everything for you.
It also can be more cost-effective, as the core software plus many WordPress plugins and themes are free. Hosting is also generally cheaper than the higher-tier Shopify plans.
Shopify
If you want to create an online store without having much technical knowledge, you may find Shopify easier to use as an ecommerce website builder. It is better suited for small businesses looking for an all-in-one solution with minimal setup and maintenance.
However, as your site grows, you may find adding new features and customizations harder because of the limited options available. Upgrading your plan and adding Shopify apps and themes can also become expensive.
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FAQs
What is WordPress hosting with WooCommerce?
WordPress hosting with WooCommerce is a web hosting service specifically optimized to run WordPress and its WooCommerce plugin efficiently. It typically includes features like automatic updates, enhanced security, and performance optimization for ecommerce WordPress sites.
Which is better – WordPress vs Shopify?
It depends on your needs. Choose Shopify if you want an all-in-one solution with minimal technical requirements. Choose WordPress if you need maximum customization and don’t mind site management with technical support available.
Should I move from Shopify to WordPress?
Consider moving to WordPress if you need more control over your store’s functionality, want to reduce transaction fees, or require extensive customization.
Is WordPress the best for ecommerce?
WordPress with WooCommerce is excellent for ecommerce but isn’t necessarily the best for everyone. It’s ideal for businesses that need extensive customization and content marketing capabilities with increased performance and scalability.
Can WordPress be used on Shopify?
No, WordPress cannot be directly used on Shopify, as they are separate platforms. However, you can integrate your Shopify store with a WordPress blog or use the “Buy Button” feature to embed Shopify products on a WordPress website.
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- About the Author
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Rhett isn’t just a writer at Hosted.com – he’s our resident WordPress content guru. With over 6 years of experience as a content writer, with a background in copywriting, journalism, research, and SEO, and a passion for websites.
Rhett authors informative blogs, articles, and Knowledgebase guides that simplify the complexities of WordPress, website builders, domains, and cPanel hosting. Rhett’s clear explanations and practical tips provide valuable resources for anyone wanting to own and build a website. Just don’t ask him about coding before he’s had coffee.