Head-to-head cost model
Shopify vs WooCommerce: which costs less in 2026?
Under the US practical-stack baseline, Shopify starts $252 lower over 12 months. Each platform now uses its own published payment profile where one exists; unconfirmed plan and provider terms keep this a shortlist, not a recommendation.
01 / US baseline
Two scopes, platform-specific payment terms.
Scenario: US$20,000 monthly revenue and 400 monthly orders. Each row uses its published US domestic-card baseline or is labeled quote-required. Practical scope adds lean operating allowances; platform-only removes them.
Shopify
- Practical stack
- $9,048
- Platform only
- $8,748
- Platform overhead
- $648
- Payment basis
- 2.9% + $0.30
- Evidence
- Planning allowance — confirm checkout
WooCommerce
- Practical stack
- $9,300
- Platform only
- $8,700
- Platform overhead
- $900
- Payment basis
- 2.9% + $0.30
- Evidence
- Planning allowance — confirm checkout
02 / Operational fit
The lower total is not the whole decision.
Use the model to expose the cost difference, then test which platform removes more work or risk from the store you actually plan to operate.
Choose Shopify when operating simplicity and commerce depth are worth more than the lowest modeled subscription cost.
- Purpose-built catalog, checkout, order, and inventory workflows
- Large integration ecosystem for growing operational requirements
Choose WooCommerce when control is strategic and you can reliably own or outsource WordPress maintenance.
- High control over hosting, code, content, and data
- Extensive WordPress and extension ecosystem
03 / Local currencies
How the modeled gap travels.
Each market uses the local-currency equivalent of the same store size. Local official terms are used where published; converted allowances and missing provider quotes remain explicitly labeled.
| Market | Shopify | WooCommerce | Lower baseline | Evidence boundary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $9,048 | $9,300 | Shopify | Published / planning baseline |
| United Kingdom | £5,073 | £4,575 | WooCommerce | Published / planning baseline |
| Canada | $11,712 | $12,444 | Shopify | Published / planning baseline |
| Australia | $8,334 | $8,682 | Shopify | Published / planning baseline |
| Euro Area | €5,839 | €5,115 | WooCommerce | Published / planning baseline |
| Singapore | $12,962 | $13,997 | Shopify | Published / planning baseline |
| Taiwan | $334,260 | $342,450 | Shopify | Provider quote required |
04 / Source check
Confirm both checkouts on the same day.
The model uses Local annual plan and rate selected from official pricing for Shopifyand US$25/mo low end of Woo's published hosting range, plus editable allowances for WooCommerce. Local billing and promotions can move independently.
06 / Your scenario
Test Shopify and WooCommerce with your inputs.
Change the country, revenue, orders, and scope, then replace both platform rows with the exact plan and gateway quotes available to you.
Compare my costs