The scope of this comparison
Shopify is a hosted commerce platform. WooCommerce is open-source commerce software for WordPress. They distribute operational responsibilities differently. This article does not claim to have run a controlled conversion or performance benchmark.
Evaluate the team
A team with limited technical capacity can examine whether a hosted platform covers its workflow. A team seeking deeper control can assess the cost of hosting, security and customization. Both routes require payment, shipping, backup and permission tests.
Use an identical task sheet
Import equivalent test products and variants. Complete a mobile purchase, a partial refund and an order export. Record required apps, themes, hosting and support. Comparing only a subscription with an open-source license price misses much of the decision.
Choose an operable fit
Favor a system your team can maintain, whose important workflows you can verify, and from which you can export data. Consult the official Shopify and WooCommerce sites for current plans and integration details. There is no single winner for every business.
