Shopify vs WooCommerce for UK businesses

Both platforms run successful UK stores, and the choice mostly comes down to one question: do you want to run a store, or do you want to run a store and a website platform? Shopify handles the technical side for you, while WooCommerce gives you full control and full responsibility. Here’s how they compare.

The quick comparison

What Shopify actually costs in the UK

These are the figures on Shopify’s UK pricing page when we checked in November 2026. They can change, so please check the current page.

Also factor in apps, as they’re often the real cost. Stores commonly pay for several, at anywhere from a few pounds to hundreds per month each. A premium theme is usually a one-off cost.

What WooCommerce actually costs

The plugin is free, but your store isn’t. You’ll be paying for:

• Hosting. Cheap shared hosting tends to struggle with a store. Budget for quality managed WordPress or dedicated hosting, since checkout pages can’t be fully cached.
• Extensions. Subscriptions, bookings, advanced shipping and similar features are usually paid annually.
• Payment fees. Your provider’s charges apply. Compare them directly with Shopify’s rates, because they’re not free either.
• Maintenance. Either your time or a developer’s. Updates need testing, because a broken checkout can cost real money. See our maintenance service.

So which is cheaper?

It depends on your numbers. WooCommerce often looks cheaper at first because there’s no subscription and no platform transaction fee. Once you add quality hosting, extensions and maintenance time, the gap narrows or even reverses. Conversely, a high-revenue store on Shopify with lots of apps can pay significant monthly sums. Work it through for your own volume, over three years, and include the cost of your own time.

SEO

Either can rank very well, and your products and content matter far more than the platform. WooCommerce offers more technical control, and it has WordPress’s strong content tools. Shopify has some fixed URL patterns, such as /products/ and /collections/, and less flexibility around some technical settings, though these rarely stop a store from performing. The biggest SEO difference is usually speed, and either platform can be slowed down by too many apps or plugins. Our eCommerce SEO page has more detail.

UK-specific points

• VAT. Both can handle UK VAT, including showing prices inclusive of tax. If you’re selling internationally, check how each handles EU VAT and the rules on low-value consignments.
• Payments. Both support the common options, including Klarna, Clearpay, Apple Pay and Google Pay, usually through your payment provider. Check what’s supported on your plan.
• Accounting. Both connect to Xero, QuickBooks and Sage, generally through apps or extensions.
• Couriers. Royal Mail, DPD, Evri and others integrate with both, directly or through tools like ShipStation.
• Consumer law. Your legal duties, such as the 14-day cancellation right for online purchases, are the same on either platform.

Choose Shopify if

• You’d rather spend your time on selling than on managing a website.
• You don’t have a developer on hand.
• You expect sudden traffic spikes from campaigns or social media.
• You want to launch quickly, with a dependable checkout.

Choose WooCommerce if

• You already have a WordPress site that brings you traffic through content.
• You need custom product logic that Shopify’s structure makes difficult.
• You want complete ownership of your data and code.
• You have a developer or a maintenance partner in place.

Can you switch later?

Yes, in either direction, although it takes planning. Products and customers can move, but customers usually have to reset their passwords, and redirects are needed to keep search rankings. See eCommerce platform migration for what’s involved. If you’re not sure which is right for you, talk to us about your store, and we’ll give you our honest view.