Shopify vs WooCommerce Cost Calculator
Compare the real monthly and yearly cost of running your store on Shopify or WooCommerce at your sales level.
Your numbers
Your result · updates as you type
Cheaper at your sales
Shopify
Shopify saves about $1,112 a year: $9,057 against $10,169.
- Shopify (Basic) per month
- $755
- WooCommerce per month
- $847
- Difference as % of sales
- 0.46%
Shopify comes out cheaper here once WooCommerce's hosting and upkeep are counted. If you'll maintain a WooCommerce store yourself, set upkeep to 0 and compare again. I build on both platforms. If you'd like an exact quote for your catalog on either one, the Hire me button reaches me.
Breakdown
- Shopify Basic plan, billed yearly
- $29.00/mo
- Shopify Payments (2.9% + $0.30)
- $665.71/mo
- Shopify apps and developer help
- $60.00/mo
- Shopify total
- $754.71/mo
- WooCommerce core plugin
- $0
- Hosting
- $40.00/mo
- WooPayments (2.9% + $0.30)
- $665.71/mo
- Extensions (yearly cost ÷ 12) and upkeep
- $141.67/mo
- WooCommerce total
- $847.38/mo
- Rates used
- Shopify and WooPayments, United States
How the comparison works
Shopify charges a monthly plan and includes hosting, security and updates. WooCommerce is free to download, but you pay for hosting, paid extensions and someone to keep WordPress updated. Both charge card fees on every sale.
| Cost | Shopify (US) | WooCommerce (US) |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | $29 to $299/mo billed yearly | Free core plugin |
| Hosting | Included | $25 to $350/mo for most stores (WooCommerce's figure) |
| Add-ons | Apps, often monthly | Extensions, $29 to $299 a year each (WooCommerce's figure) |
| Card payments | 2.9% + 30¢ on Basic, down to 2.5% + 30¢ on Advanced | WooPayments: 2.9% + $0.30 on US cards |
Example: the calculator's starting values
- Sales
- $20,000 a month at $70 AOV (285.7 orders)
- Shopify Basic
- $29 + $665.71 card fees + $60 apps = $754.71/mo
- WooCommerce
- $40 hosting + $41.67 extensions + $100 upkeep + $665.71 WooPayments = $847.38/mo
Shopify is cheaper by about $1,112 a year ($9,057 against $10,169). Set WooCommerce upkeep to $0 and WooCommerce wins instead.
What the numbers don't show
- Who does the upkeep. WooCommerce's lower bills assume someone handles plugin updates, backups, security and speed. If that's you, count your time.
- Ownership. WooCommerce is open source, so you own the code and data and can move hosts. Shopify is hosted, so you trade some control for less maintenance.
- Content. WordPress is a strong publishing platform. If blog content drives your sales, that counts for WooCommerce.
- Payment options outside the US. WooPayments and Shopify Payments rates differ by country. The calculator switches to UK, Irish, Canadian or Australian rates when you change currency.
Still undecided? The which ecommerce platform quiz weighs these factors against your answers.
If you're already on one of them
- 01
Find your real numbers
Shopify: plan and app charges are on your bills under Settings → Billing. WooCommerce: add up your hosting invoice, extension renewals and any maintenance retainer.
- 02
Include the switching cost
A migration costs money once and saves (or costs) money every month. Estimate it with the Shopify migration cost calculator, then divide by the yearly saving to see how long it takes to pay back.
Questions people ask
Is WooCommerce really free?
The plugin is free, with no platform fee or revenue share. You still pay for hosting, a domain, any paid extensions and payment processing.
Which is cheaper, Shopify or WooCommerce?
It depends on upkeep. WooCommerce usually wins if you maintain the site yourself; Shopify often wins once you pay someone to look after WordPress. Card fees are close at the standard US rates.
Does Shopify charge transaction fees?
Not when customers pay through Shopify Payments. With another gateway, Shopify adds 2% on Basic, 1% on Grow, 0.6% on Advanced and 0.2% on Plus.
What are WooPayments fees?
For US merchants, 2.9% + $0.30 per card payment, plus 1.5% for international cards and 1% if currency conversion is needed. UK and EU merchants pay 1.5% plus a fixed fee on domestic cards.
Related tools
Want this builtinto your store?
I'm Emmanuel, a Shopify and WooCommerce developer. If this tool pointed at something you'd rather have fixed for you (a faster store, cleaner product data, a migration, a custom feature), send me a note.
Emmanuel Asika
Shopify & WooCommerce developer, Dublin
I build and fix online stores: new builds, migrations, speed, SEO and the custom bits apps can't do.
Last reviewed 30 September 2026.
Sources: Shopify: Pricing (US) · Shopify: Pricing (UK) · Shopify: Pricing (Ireland, EUR) · Shopify: Pricing (Canada) · Shopify: Pricing (Australia) · Shopify Help Center: Pricing plans and billing overview (third-party transaction fees) · WooCommerce: Pricing · WooCommerce: WooPayments fees