Shopify vs WooCommerce: which is right for your UK shop?

• Shopify is a hosted, all-in-one platform. You pay monthly, and Shopify handles hosting, security and updates. It’s usually the easier choice for most small shops.
• WooCommerce is a free plugin that turns a WordPress site into a shop. You host it yourself, which gives more control but more responsibility.

If you want to sell without thinking about the technology, Shopify is usually simpler. If you already have a WordPress site, or want full control and are happy to maintain it, WooCommerce is worth considering.

Strengths:

• Quick to set up, with polished themes.
• Hosting, security and updates handled for you.
• Shopify Payments and many other payment options.
• A large app store for reviews, subscriptions, upsells and more.
• Good for selling across channels, including social media and in person.

Trade-offs:

• Monthly plan fees, plus app subscriptions that add up.
• Transaction fees may apply if you don’t use Shopify’s own payments. Check current pricing.
• Less control over some technical details.
• Moving away later means rebuilding your shop elsewhere.

Strengths:

• The plugin itself is free.
• Full control: you own the site and can host it anywhere.
• Works alongside a content-rich WordPress site and blog.
• Huge range of extensions.

Trade-offs:

• You pay for hosting, and often for premium extensions.
• You’re responsible for updates, security and backups.
• Performance depends heavily on hosting and how the site is built.
• More things can go wrong, so you’ll want someone reliable to look after it.

Whichever you choose, make sure your shop handles:

• VAT, if you’re registered: prices shown correctly and VAT on invoices. If you’re not VAT registered, make sure the shop doesn’t add it.
• UK shipping options: Royal Mail, couriers, click and collect, and delivery zones.
• Payments UK customers expect: cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay, and possibly PayPal or buy-now-pay-later.
• Returns and consumer rights: clear policies for online orders.
• Cookie consent and privacy: see our guide to cookie banners and UK GDPR.

Don’t compare only the headline monthly fee. Add up everything for a year:

• Platform or hosting fees.
• Theme cost.
• Apps or extensions, often monthly.
• Payment processing fees.
• Design, set-up and product upload.
• Maintenance and updates.

Prices change often, so check current pricing on each provider’s website and ask for a written estimate of running costs.

• Small product range, want simplicity: Shopify.
• Already on WordPress with lots of content: WooCommerce can make sense.
• Selling online and in person: Shopify’s card readers and point of sale are handy.
• Need unusual custom features: either can work; custom development adds cost.
• Only a few products or bookings: you may not need a full shop at all. A simple payment link or booking system on your website can be enough.

A good shop on either platform has the same foundations:

• Clear product photos and honest descriptions.
• Prices, delivery costs and timings shown early.
• A fast, simple checkout, especially on mobile.
• Reviews and trust signals near the buy button.

If your shop isn’t converting, the problem is usually the experience, not the platform. A UX audit can show where customers drop off. If you’re starting from scratch, my website design Pro package (from £1,995) covers online shops.

What running each shop feels like week to week:

• Adding products: both are straightforward once set up. Shopify’s admin is generally simpler for beginners.
• Processing orders: both show new orders, print packing slips and connect to shipping tools.
• Updates: Shopify updates itself. WooCommerce needs WordPress, theme and plugin updates, ideally tested first.
• Problems: on Shopify, you contact Shopify or the app developer. On WooCommerce, you or your developer investigate across hosting, plugins and theme.
• Customising: both can be customised. WooCommerce gives deeper access; Shopify gives a safer, more limited space.

Whichever platform you choose, the first sales usually come from people who already know you. Tell existing customers, share products on Instagram, and add the shop link to your Google Business Profile.

Then focus on the basics that make people buy: great photos, honest descriptions, clear delivery costs and a quick checkout. Paid ads work far better once these are in place, because every click has a better chance of turning into an order.

Some businesses don’t need either. If you sell gift vouchers, a handful of products, or class places, a simple payment link, booking system or voucher tool on a normal website may be cheaper and easier. Start with what customers need to do, then choose the lightest tool that does it.

• Test a full order on your phone, from product page to confirmation email.
• Check delivery costs and timings show before checkout, not at the last step.
• Make sure returns, delivery and privacy pages are linked in the footer.
• Add clear contact details so customers can ask questions before buying.
• Set up Google Search Console and submit your shop’s sitemap.
• Check product pages load quickly with real photos, not just placeholders.
• Make sure order notifications reach the right person, every time.
• Decide who will answer customer emails and how quickly.

Launching with these in place avoids the most common reasons first-time buyers abandon a new shop.

• Shopify is usually simpler; WooCommerce gives more control but needs looking after.
• Compare a full year of costs, not just the monthly fee.
• Check VAT, shipping, payments and returns work properly for UK customers.
• Great photos, clear delivery costs and a quick checkout matter more than the platform.
• If you only sell a few items, a simple payment link may be enough.