WooCommerce vs Shopify costs differ in shape. Shopify charges a monthly plan, from $29 a month billed yearly on Basic, plus card fees. WooCommerce is free software but needs hosting, listed at $25 to $350 a month, plus extensions and card fees. For many D2C brands, card fees and apps matter more than the plan price.
You are choosing a store platform for a direct-to-consumer brand, and the sticker prices hide the real bill. This guide compares WooCommerce vs Shopify costs using the official pricing pages read on 30 October 2026, with a worked monthly example so you can see what actually moves the total.
WooCommerce vs Shopify costs: the short version
Shopify’s pricing page, read on 30 October 2026, listed four plans: Basic at $39 a month ($29 a month billed yearly), Grow at $105 ($79 yearly), Advanced at $399 ($299 yearly) and Plus from $2,300 a month. Online card rates were 2.9% plus 30 cents on Basic, 2.7% on Grow, 2.5% on Advanced and 2.25% on Plus. Using a third-party payment provider adds a fee of 2%, 1%, 0.6% and 0.2%, in that order.
WooCommerce’s pricing page describes the core plugin as free with no monthly subscription and no revenue share. It lists hosting at $25 to $350 a month for most stores, extensions at $29 to $299 a year each, and card processing with WooPayments at about 2.50% to 2.90% plus 30 cents. It does not say which countries WooPayments covers, so check availability for yours.
So the WooCommerce vs Shopify costs question comes down to who bundles what. Shopify bundles hosting and the platform into a plan. WooCommerce makes you assemble hosting, extensions and upkeep. Our WordPress vs Shopify guide for a Canadian small shop covers the same choice for a smaller seller.
WooCommerce vs Shopify costs side by side
Use this table to line up WooCommerce vs Shopify costs one by one. Prices are as listed by each vendor on 30 October 2026.
| Cost | Shopify | WooCommerce |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | $39 a month, $29 billed yearly (Basic) | Free core plugin |
| Hosting | Included in the plan | $25 to $350 a month for most stores |
| Card rate online | 2.9% + 30¢ (Basic) down to 2.25% + 30¢ (Plus) | About 2.50% to 2.90% + 30¢ with WooPayments |
| Third-party gateway fee | 2% (Basic), 1% (Grow), 0.6% (Advanced), 0.2% (Plus) | No extra fee, per WooCommerce’s page |
| Extras | Apps and themes priced separately | Extensions $29 to $299 a year each |
| Upkeep | Platform handles core updates | Updates, backups and security are yours or a care plan’s |
Worked example: where the WooCommerce vs Shopify costs really land
This example is invented for illustration. Say a D2C brand takes 400 orders a month at an average of $50, so $20,000 in sales, all paid by card at standard rates.
- Card fees on Shopify Basic: 2.9% of $20,000 is $580, plus 400 × 30 cents is $120, so $700.
- Shopify Basic plan: $29 a month on yearly billing, so about $729 in total before apps.
- WooCommerce at the same card rate: $700, plus hosting of $25 to $350, plus about $5 a month for two $29 extensions, so about $730 to $1,055 before upkeep.
The lesson from these WooCommerce vs Shopify costs is that card fees dominate at this volume, and the platform price is a small slice. Apps, themes, upkeep and your time can swing the result more than the plan.
6 steps to compare WooCommerce vs Shopify costs for your brand
Do these in order and the WooCommerce vs Shopify costs answer usually shows up.
Estimate orders and average order value
Card fees scale with sales, so volume matters more than plan price. Use last quarter’s real numbers if you have them.
Price the card fees
Work out fees on each side with the vendors’ own rates. Remember the extra fee on Shopify if you use an outside gateway.
List the features you must have
Subscriptions, bundles, bookings and shipping rules often need paid apps or extensions on either platform.
Want help choosing a platform?
Udaan Digital Solutions builds on WooCommerce and Shopify and can compare both for your brand. We promise no sales or rankings.
Talk to Our Team See Pricing →Add hosting and upkeep for WooCommerce
Hosting, updates, backups and security are real costs. Include the time you will spend or the care plan you will buy.
Check tax and compliance
US sales tax rules vary by state and by where you sell. Neither platform replaces advice from a qualified tax professional.
Plan for search and ads
A cheap store with no traffic loses money. UDS lists monthly SEO plans from ₹7,999, about $84 (read 24 Oct 2026). See SEO outsourcing to India for US small businesses.
WooCommerce vs Shopify costs checklist
Tick each line to settle WooCommerce vs Shopify costs before you commit.
- Volume: Orders and average order value estimated.
- Card fees: Calculated for both platforms.
- Features: Must-haves priced as apps or extensions.
- Hosting: WooCommerce hosting and care plan quoted.
- Tax: Sales tax approach agreed with an adviser.
- Payments: WooPayments availability checked for your country.
- Exit: Know how to export products and customers.
- Traffic: Search and ads budget set.
Frequently asked questions: WooCommerce vs Shopify costs
Which is cheaper, WooCommerce or Shopify?
On WooCommerce vs Shopify costs, neither is always cheaper. Shopify charges a monthly plan, from $29 a month billed yearly on Basic. WooCommerce is free software but needs hosting, listed at $25 to $350 a month, plus extensions. Card fees are similar and often the biggest line, so calculate with your own sales.
Are card fees the same on both?
They can be close. Shopify listed 2.9% plus 30 cents on Basic. WooCommerce listed about 2.50% to 2.90% plus 30 cents with WooPayments. Shopify adds a fee when you use an outside gateway. Check current rates and whether WooPayments is available in your country.
What hidden costs should a D2C brand expect?
Apps or extensions for features like subscriptions, a theme, product photography, email tools, upkeep for WooCommerce and your own time. These are not in the headline plan price. List each one monthly before you compare platforms.
Is WooCommerce harder to run than Shopify?
Usually it needs more hands-on care, because hosting, updates, backups and security are yours or a care plan's. Shopify handles core hosting and updates inside its plan. If you have no one to maintain a store, price that support in.
Can I switch platforms later?
Yes, but it takes work. Products, customers and orders can usually be exported and imported, while design and apps often need rebuilding. Check export options before you commit, and plan a migration window with redirects to protect search visibility.
Do prices change?
Yes. The figures here were read from Shopify and WooCommerce pages on 30 October 2026 and can change at any time. Always check the vendor's current pricing page and any regional differences before you decide.
Related reading and sources
- Shopify pricing
- WooCommerce pricing
- Ecommerce Website Cost in India with WooCommerce
- WordPress vs Shopify for a Canadian Small Shop
- SEO Outsourcing to India for US Small Business
- UDS pricing
Final verdict
WooCommerce vs Shopify costs differ in shape: Shopify bundles hosting into a monthly plan, while WooCommerce is free software with separate hosting, extensions and upkeep. Card fees often dominate, so calculate with your own sales, price the apps you need and plan for tax and traffic. Udaan Digital Solutions, Greater Noida, can compare both for your brand: +91 7042278448.
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Vendor pages were read on 30 October 2026 and can change. Udaan Digital Solutions prices were read on 24 October 2026, and dollar figures are approximate at about ₹94.95 per US dollar. GST treatment is not stated. The worked example is invented for illustration. This article is general information, not tax or legal advice. We promise no sales or rankings.
