Last reviewed: 20 May 2025
Quick answer: Choose Shopify for speed, support, and built‑in scalability; pick WooCommerce for maximum control and WordPress‑native SEO flexibility. This guide compares features, costs, and use cases so you can decide in under 10 minutes.
Table of Contents
Reality check: Total monthly spend often evens out past ~$20 K GMV. Shopify is predictable; WooCommerce scales with complexity.
Switch to Shopify if
Switch to WooCommerce if
Migration tip: Use Cart2Cart or Matrixify for bulk product & order transfer; expect 1–2 weeks for a full re‑platform.
Is Shopify faster than WooCommerce?
Generally yes, Shopify’s CDN and server stack deliver sub‑2 s LCP by default, whereas WooCommerce speed depends on hosting and optimisation.
Can I run a blog on Shopify?
Yes, but WordPress (WooCommerce) offers more SEO plugins and editorial flexibility.
Which platform is cheaper?
Small stores may see WooCommerce cost less initially, but total cost converges as you add managed hosting and premium plugins.
Do both platforms support subscription products?
Shopify uses Subscription APIs (Recharge, Loop); WooCommerce uses Woo Subscriptions plugin.
Need a deeper dive into app ecosystems? Read our guide on the best Shopify referral apps.
Raúl Galera is the Growth Lead at ReferralCandy, where they’ve helped 30,000+ eCommerce brands drive sales through referrals and word-of-mouth marketing. Over the past 8+ years, Raúl has worked hands-on with DTC merchants of all sizes (from scrappy Shopify startups to household names) helping them turn happy customers into revenue-driving advocates. Raúl’s been featured on dozens of top eCommerce podcasts, contributed to leading industry publications, and regularly speaks about customer acquisition, retention, and brand growth at industry events.
Grow your sales at a ridiculously
lower CAC.