So you want to start selling online. Exciting stuff.
But then comes the first big question: Which platform do I use?
If you've done any digging, you've probably landed on two big names: WordPress and Shopify. And chances are, you're feeling a little stuck.
One camp screams "FREEDOM!" The other promises "IT JUST WORKS!"
So which one is right for you? Let's sit down and sort it out together—no tech jargon, no bias, just the honest truth.
First, Let's Get One Thing Straight
WordPress and Shopify are not the same thing. They feel similar on the surface, but underneath? Totally different animals.
Shopify is what we call a "hosted" platform. Think of it like renting a furnished apartment. Everything is already there—the lights work, the furniture is set up, and if the sink leaks, you call the landlord. You pay rent every month, and someone else handles the maintenance.
WordPress (specifically WordPress.org with WooCommerce) is like buying a plot of land. You own it completely. You can build whatever you want—a tiny house, a mansion, a castle with a moat. But you are also responsible for everything. You hire the builders, fix the roof when it leaks, and deal with the permits.
Neither is wrong. It just depends on whether you want to be a tenant or a homeowner.
5 Things Shopify Does Really Well
1. You Can Launch This Week (Seriously)
With Shopify, you can sign up, pick a theme, add your products, and be open for business in an afternoon. There is no hunting for hosting, no installing certificates, no praying that everything works together. It's all just... there.
2. They Handle the Boring Stuff
Security updates? Shopify does them for you while you sleep. PCI compliance? Built-in. SSL certificate? Included. If your site goes down because of a traffic spike, that's their problem, not yours. You literally do not have to think about the technical side.
3. Everything Works Together
Ever installed a plugin on WordPress that broke your entire site? That doesn't happen on Shopify. Because Shopify controls the ecosystem, apps are built to play nice. Payment gateways, shipping calculators, abandoned cart emails—they all just work.
4. Real Support When You're Stuck
If something goes wrong at 2 a.m., you can actually talk to a human. Shopify has 24/7 support. WordPress has... forums. Helpful forums, sure, but you are relying on strangers on the internet.
5. Built for Selling, Not Just Blogging
Shopify was born for ecommerce. Features like multi-channel selling (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok) and their POS system for physical retail are baked right in, not tacked on later.
5 Things That Might Bug You About Shopify
1. Those Monthly Fees Add Up
Shopify starts around $25–$39 per month for the basic plan. Then you add apps ($10 here, $20 there), then transaction fees if you don't use Shopify Payments. It's like a streaming service—it seems cheap until you realize you're paying for five of them.
2. You Don't Really "Own" Your Store
This is the big one. If Shopify decides your store violates their terms (even by accident), they can shut you down. It happens. And because you're on their land, there's not much you can do.
3. Customization Has a Ceiling
You can tweak colors and fonts easily. But if you want to do something truly weird or unique with your checkout flow or data structure? You might hit a wall. You can only customize what Shopify lets you customize.
4. The Checkout Experience Is... Shopifys
No matter how much branding you do, the actual checkout page has a familiar Shopify look. For most customers, this is fine. But if you want a totally unique brand experience down to the last pixel, it might bug you.
5. Apps Can Get Expensive Fast
Shopify's basic features are solid, but anything fancy usually requires a paid app. And those app subscriptions are monthly, just like your Shopify bill. It's death by a thousand small subscriptions.
5 Things WordPress (with WooCommerce) Does Really Well
1. You Own Everything
Your content, your customer data, your design—it's all yours. You can pack up your site and move to a different host whenever you want. No one can wake up one morning and delete your store.
2. Unlimited Design Freedom
WordPress gives you access to the code. If you can imagine it, you can build it. Want a completely custom checkout flow? Go for it. Want to display products in a weird, artistic grid? Done. The only limit is your skill (or your developer's skill).
3. It Can Be Much Cheaper (Long Term)
The software itself is free. You pay for hosting (as low as $10–$20/month) and a domain. No monthly platform fees. No mandatory transaction fees. If you have a lot of products and plan to be in this for the long haul, WordPress can save you thousands.
4. The Plugin Universe Is Massive
Need a feature? There's a plugin for it. And many of them are free or one-time payments, not monthly subscriptions. Over 60,000 plugins mean you can add almost any functionality you can dream up.
5. SEO Is King
WordPress was built for content, and Google loves content. With plugins like Yoast or RankMath, you have granular control over every aspect of your search engine optimization. Many SEO experts still consider WordPress the gold standard.
5 Things That Might Drive You Nuts About WordPress
1. You Are the IT Department
Updates are your responsibility. WordPress core updates, theme updates, plugin updates—if you ignore them, your site becomes a target for hackers . And if one plugin update conflicts with another, your site could crash. That stress is real.
2. Setup Is a Project
You need to buy hosting, install WordPress, install WooCommerce, choose a theme, configure payment gateways, set up shipping... it's a lot . You can't just "start selling" in an afternoon unless you already know what you're doing.
3. You Have to Be Picky About Plugins
Remember that massive plugin library? Not all plugins are created equal. Some are coded poorly. Some are abandoned. Some slow your site to a crawl. You have to be a savvy shopper, or you'll regret it.
4. Performance Is on You
A fast WooCommerce site requires good hosting, image optimization, caching, and sometimes a CDN. If you throw on too many plugins or cheap out on hosting, your site will be slow—and customers will leave .
5. Costs Can Sneak Up on You
While the software is free, you might end up paying for premium plugins, a developer's time, or better hosting. It's not "free" if you value your time at all.
So, How Do You Choose?
Alright, let's get practical. Here is how to pick based on you.
Pick Shopify If:
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You want to sell this month, not next year. If speed to market matters, Shopify wins.
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You hate dealing with tech. Like, genuinely hate it. If the thought of "updating PHP" makes your eye twitch, go with Shopify.
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You sell both online and in person. Shopify's POS system is best-in-class.
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You want one predictable bill. You pay your monthly fee and (mostly) know what you're getting.
Pick WordPress If:
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You already have a WordPress blog. Adding WooCommerce to an existing site is a no-brainer.
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You have a developer (or you are one). If you have tech skills or a budget to hire them, WordPress gives you the most bang for your buck.
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You care about long-term costs. If you plan to scale to thousands of products and don't want monthly platform fees eating into profits, WordPress is cheaper in the long run.
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You want total control. If the idea of someone else owning your storefront makes you uncomfortable, self-hosted WordPress is your answer.
The Bottom Line
Here is the truth they don't tell you:
Shopify is renting a beautiful, furnished apartment. You move in fast, everything works, and if something breaks, you call the super. But you follow their rules, and you never quite own the walls.
WordPress is buying land and building your own house. It takes longer. It costs more upfront in sweat (or paying builders). There are permits and inspections and leaky roofs to fix. But it is undeniably, completely yours.
Neither choice is wrong. It's just a question of what kind of person you are.
Do you want someone else to handle the hard stuff so you can focus on selling? Pick Shopify.
Do you want full control and lower long-term costs, and you're willing to learn (or pay for help)? Pick WordPress.
And hey, if you change your mind later? You can always move. Plenty of people do.
Now go sell some stuff. 🚀