Shopify vs WooCommerce: True Cost Comparison (2026)

Shopify costs more than WooCommerce below $20,000/mo in revenue. Above that, the gap closes fast. A small Shopify store doing $5,000/mo pays roughly $240/mo in total platform costs (4.8% of revenue). The same store on WooCommerce pays $60-$75/mo. But once you hit $20,000+ in monthly sales, Shopify's transaction fees grow while WooCommerce's costs stay flat — and the total spend is nearly identical.

Most "Shopify vs WooCommerce" articles focus on features. This one focuses on money. Below is the full 2026 cost breakdown for both platforms, including the fees nobody mentions until you're already paying them. True Margin built this comparison so ecommerce founders can pick the platform that actually fits their profit margins.

Shopify Pricing Plans (2026)

Shopify's sticker prices are straightforward. The real cost is in the transaction fees that stack on top.

The third-party gateway surcharge is the fee most people miss. If you don't use Shopify Payments — maybe because it's not available in your country or you prefer another processor — Shopify charges 0.6-2.0% on top of whatever your payment gateway already charges. On Basic, that means you could be paying 2.9% (your processor) + 2.0% (Shopify surcharge) = 4.9% per transaction. That's brutal. For a full breakdown, see our guide on Shopify fees explained.

WooCommerce Costs (2026)

WooCommerce is a free WordPress plugin. But "free" does not mean "no cost." You need hosting, a theme, and plugins — and those add up.

A small WooCommerce store costs $75-$920/yr. That includes shared hosting, a free or cheap theme, and 1-2 premium plugins. A mid-sized store with managed hosting, a premium theme, and 5-10 plugins runs $1,420-$6,550/yr. The big difference: WooCommerce has no per-transaction surcharge on top of your payment processor. You pay Stripe or PayPal their standard 2.9% + $0.30, and that's it.

Side-by-Side: True Monthly Cost at Different Revenue Levels

Here's where it gets real. These numbers include the subscription fee, transaction fees, and estimated plugin/hosting costs. No hidden surprises.

At lower revenue, WooCommerce wins on cost — every time. The gap is clearest below $10,000/mo. But as your store grows, Shopify's higher-tier plans reduce transaction fees and the convenience factor matters more. Past $20,000/mo in GMV, the cost difference becomes less about the platform and more about how many apps and plugins you need.

The Costs Nobody Talks About

The subscription vs hosting debate is only half the story. Both platforms have costs that don't show up in pricing pages.

Shopify's hidden costs:

• Apps — Most serious Shopify stores run 5-15 paid apps at $10-$100/mo each. Email marketing, reviews, upsells, SEO, analytics. A typical app stack adds $100-$500/mo.
• Premium themes — Free themes are limited. Most merchants buy a theme for $180-$350, then pay a developer $500-$2,000 to customize it.
• Shopify Payments lock-in — If Shopify Payments isn't ideal for your business, that 0.6-2.0% surcharge on third-party gateways is a recurring tax you can't avoid.

WooCommerce's hidden costs:

• Developer time — WooCommerce requires more hands-on management. Security updates, plugin conflicts, hosting optimization. Budget $50-$200/mo for a developer or 5-10 hours of your own time.
• Security — WordPress is the most-targeted CMS. You need a security plugin ($100-$300/yr), regular backups, and an SSL certificate (usually free with good hosting, but not always).
• Scaling pain — Shared hosting at $7/mo works until you hit 500+ daily visitors. Then you need managed hosting at $30-$100/mo to keep your site fast.

When Shopify Wins

Pick Shopify if you want to launch fast and don't want to manage infrastructure. It's the right choice when:

• You're non-technical and need everything in 1 dashboard
• You're doing $20,000+/mo and the Advanced plan's lower fees make sense
• You need built-in POS, shipping labels, and fraud analysis
• Your time is worth more than the cost difference

For stores at scale, Shopify's ecosystem is hard to beat. The average Shopify store doing $20,000+/mo spends less time on platform management and more time on growth. We break down typical revenue benchmarks in our average Shopify store revenue guide.

When WooCommerce Wins

Pick WooCommerce if you want full control and lower fixed costs. It's the right choice when:

• You're technical (or have a developer) and want total customization
• You're doing under $10,000/mo and every dollar in fees matters
• You need a payment gateway that Shopify doesn't support well
• You already run a WordPress site and want to add ecommerce

WooCommerce is the budget pick, not the cheap pick. You save on subscription fees but invest in setup and maintenance. If you don't have the technical skills or the budget for a developer, those savings evaporate quickly.

The Bottom Line

Below $20,000/mo in revenue, WooCommerce is cheaper by $150-$800/mo. Above that, the gap narrows and Shopify's convenience often justifies the premium. Neither platform is "better" — the right choice depends on your revenue, technical ability, and how you value your time.

What matters more than platform cost is knowing your actual profit after all fees. A store on Shopify Basic paying 4.8% in platform costs might still be more profitable than a WooCommerce store paying 2% — if the Shopify store converts better and spends less on maintenance. Run the numbers for your specific situation with True Margin's free Shopify profit calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is WooCommerce really free?

The WooCommerce plugin itself is free, but you still need hosting ($7-$40/mo), a domain ($10-$15/yr), a premium theme ($50-$200 one-time), and premium plugins ($50-$300/yr each). A small WooCommerce store realistically costs $75-$920/yr. A mid-sized store with multiple premium plugins runs $1,420-$6,550/yr.

How much does Shopify actually cost per month?

Shopify Basic costs $39/mo plus 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction. For a store doing $5,000/mo in sales, the true monthly cost is around $240 (4.8% of revenue). For a store doing $25,000/mo on the Grow plan, it's around $940/mo (3.8% of revenue). Transaction fees are the cost most people underestimate.

At what revenue level do Shopify and WooCommerce cost the same?

Total costs between Shopify and WooCommerce tend to even out around $20,000 in monthly GMV. Below that, WooCommerce is usually cheaper. Above that, Shopify's percentage-based transaction fees grow while WooCommerce's costs stay relatively flat — but WooCommerce requires more technical management.

Does Shopify charge extra for third-party payment gateways?

Yes. If you don't use Shopify Payments, Shopify charges an additional surcharge on every transaction: 2.0% on Basic, 1.0% on Grow, and 0.6% on Advanced. This is on top of whatever your payment processor charges, making third-party gateways significantly more expensive on Shopify.

Which platform is cheaper for a small ecommerce store?

For a small store doing under $10,000/mo in revenue, WooCommerce is typically cheaper at $75-$920/yr compared to Shopify's roughly $2,880/yr (Basic plan plus transaction fees). But WooCommerce requires more technical knowledge for setup, security, and maintenance. If you value simplicity over savings, Shopify's all-in-one approach may be worth the premium.