Pricing last checked: October 2026. Prices are in USD and change often, so confirm on each platform's pricing page before you commit.
"How much will my online store cost?" is the first question almost every new store owner asks, and the honest answer is: it depends on the platform, and it depends on what's not on the pricing page.
Shopify and WooCommerce are the two most common choices for small businesses. Shopify charges a clear monthly fee. WooCommerce is free software, but a working store still needs hosting, a theme, extensions, and maintenance. This guide compares what each one actually costs, so you can budget with fewer surprises.
The Short Answer
Shopify is predictable: you pay a monthly plan fee, then add apps and payment fees.
WooCommerce can start cheaper, but the total depends heavily on your hosting, extensions, and how much of the setup and upkeep you do yourself.
Payment processing fees are similar on both, so the real difference is in the fixed costs and your time.
What Shopify Costs in 2026
Plan Prices
Shopify's three main plans are priced like this (billed annually vs. billed monthly):
Plan
Billed annually
Billed monthly
Best for
Basic
$29/mo
$39/mo
New stores
Grow
$79/mo
$105/mo
Growing businesses
Advanced
$299/mo
$399/mo
High-volume stores
Paying annually saves roughly 25% compared with paying month to month.
Payment and Transaction Fees
With Shopify Payments, the online card rate starts at 2.9% + 30¢ on the Basic plan and drops slightly on higher plans. If you use a third-party gateway instead, Shopify adds its own transaction fee on top, which is around 2% on Basic, 1% on Grow, and 0.6% on Advanced.
Shopify Payments isn't available in every country. If it isn't available where you sell from, plan for those third-party fees from day one.
Costs That Aren't on the Pricing Page
Apps for reviews, subscriptions, email marketing, or advanced shipping often carry their own monthly fees.
Premium themes, if you don't want to use a free one.
Your domain, if you buy it separately.
What WooCommerce Costs in 2026
WooCommerce itself is a free plugin for WordPress, but it doesn't include the things that make a store work. Here's where the money goes:
Hosting
Hosting is usually your biggest fixed cost. Basic shared hosting can be very cheap, while managed WooCommerce hosting costs considerably more but handles speed, security, and backups for you. Published estimates range widely, from tens of dollars a year for entry-level hosting to several hundred or more for managed plans.
Domain, Theme, and Extensions
Domain: typically $12–20 a year.
Theme: free options exist (including WooCommerce's own Storefront), or $0–$200 for a premium theme.
Extensions: many stores need a handful for things like subscriptions, bookings, or shipping, and individual extensions commonly run from about $29 to $299 a year each.
Payment Fees
WooPayments charges 2.9% + 30¢ per US domestic card transaction, which is in line with Shopify Payments on its entry plan. Stripe and PayPal charge similar rates, and you only pay when you make a sale.
Maintenance and Your Time
This is the cost people forget. WordPress, themes, and plugins all need regular updates, backups, and security checks. You can do this yourself, which costs time, or pay a professional, which costs money.
Example First-Year Cost for a Small Store
These are illustrative estimates for a small store (under about 100 products), not quotes. The assumptions are listed so you can adjust them.
Shopify (Basic, annual)
WooCommerce (starter)
Platform / software
$348 ($29 × 12)
$0
Hosting
Included
roughly $60–$300
Domain
$12–20
$12–20
Theme
Free or paid
Free or $0–$200
Apps / extensions
$0–$300 (assumption)
$0–$600 (assumption)
Approximate fixed total
about $360–$870
about $70–$1,100
Payment processing is on top of both and scales with your sales. At roughly 2.9% + 30¢ per card sale on each platform, that's likely to become a larger cost than the software itself once sales grow.
Which One Is Cheaper for You?
Shopify tends to cost less overall when...
You want to launch without hiring a developer
You'd rather pay a monthly fee than manage hosting, updates, and security
Your time is worth more than the monthly fee
WooCommerce tends to cost less overall when...
You're comfortable with WordPress, or you have someone who is
You want full control over design, data, and which services you use
You're starting small and can grow your hosting as you grow
Neither is "cheaper" in every case. The platform with the lower sticker price can end up costing more once you add the things it doesn't include.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an ecommerce website cost in 2026? A small DIY store can cost a few hundred dollars in its first year, while a custom-built, professionally managed store can cost thousands. The platform, hosting, extensions, and how much work you outsource are what move the number.
Is WooCommerce really free? The plugin is free, but a working store needs hosting, a domain, and usually some paid extensions, plus time or money for maintenance.
Does Shopify charge a fee on every sale? If you use Shopify Payments, you pay card processing fees (2.9% + 30¢ online on Basic) but no extra Shopify transaction fee. If you use a third-party gateway, Shopify adds its own fee on top of what the gateway charges.
Can I switch from one platform to the other later? Yes, products, customers, and orders can be migrated, but it takes planning to keep your SEO and URLs intact. It's easier to choose well up front.
Do I need a developer for either platform? Not for a simple store. Shopify is easier to run without one. WooCommerce works best with at least some WordPress experience, especially for design changes and ongoing maintenance.
Final Thoughts
Don't choose on the sticker price alone. Add up the hosting, themes, apps or extensions, payment fees, and the time you'll spend maintaining the store, then compare totals.
If you'd like help deciding or building the store, the team at Pixelscape works on both Shopify and WordPress/WooCommerce and can walk you through the trade-offs for your products and budget.
Not sure which platform fits your budget? Talk to our team and we'll help you compare the real costs for your store.
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