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E-commerce · Buyer's guide

Shopify vs WooCommerce vs BigCommerce vs Wix: which should you pick?

A side-by-side look at price, features, quality and value across the leading e-commerce options — so you can choose the right one in minutes.

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The verdict
Editor's pick
Shopify

Massive app ecosystem

Best value
WooCommerce

Free core · hosting $5–$30/mo + plugins $0–$300/mo — lowest sticker price in this comparison.

Best for power users
WooCommerce

Transaction fees

Feature & price comparison
Feature
Shopifyfeatured
E-commerce
WooCommerce
Alternative
BigCommerce
Alternative
Wix
Alternative
Pricing
$39 Basic · $105 Shopify · $399 Advanced · Plus ~$2,300/mo
Free core · hosting $5–$30/mo + plugins $0–$300/mo
$39 Standard · $105 Plus · $399 Pro · Enterprise custom
$36 Core · $75 Business · $159 Business Elite (Wix)
Transaction fees
0% w/ Shopify Payments · 0.5–2% with 3rd party
0% — depends on chosen gateway
0% — no extra Shopify-style fee
0% — Wix Payments or 3rd party
App ecosystem
8,000+ apps, largest in commerce
60,000+ WP plugins (variable quality)
1,400+ vetted apps
500+ Wix apps
POS / in-person
Native Shopify POS + hardware
Via 3rd-party plugins
Square / Clover integrations
Wix POS w/ Square hardware
Best for
Scaling DTC brands $0–$50M+
Devs wanting full control
Mid-market & B2B sellers
Small stores + content sites
Why shoppers pick Shopify
  • Massive app ecosystem
  • Reliable infrastructure
  • POS + online
When to consider an alternative
  • Transaction fees
  • Theme customization limits
The short answer

Shopify is a e-commerce option built for online sellers starting at $39 Basic · $105 Shopify · $399 Advanced · Plus ~$2,300/mo. Shoppers pick it for massive app ecosystem, but it's worth comparing against WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Wix if transaction fees.

Which one should you pick?
Pick if…
Shopify

Massive app ecosystem. Pricing: $39 Basic · $105 Shopify · $399 Advanced · Plus ~$2,300/mo.

Pick if…
WooCommerce

Best when you need devs wanting full control. Pricing: Free core · hosting $5–$30/mo + plugins $0–$300/mo.

Pick if…
BigCommerce

Best when you need mid-market & b2b sellers. Pricing: $39 Standard · $105 Plus · $399 Pro · Enterprise custom.

Pick if…
Wix

Best when you need small stores + content sites. Pricing: $36 Core · $75 Business · $159 Business Elite (Wix).

How to choose
Match the tool to your scale

Shopify is positioned for dtc brands $0–$50m. If your team or volume is materially larger or smaller, one of WooCommerce / BigCommerce / Wix may be cheaper or more capable.

Use the free tier to validate

At least one option in this comparison has a free tier — run a 1–2 week pilot before paying. Confirm the must-have feature actually works on free, not just trial.

Compare total cost, not sticker price

Look past the headline price: add seats, add-ons, integration fees and transaction fees. The cheapest option rarely stays cheapest at scale.

Stress-test the weakness

Known trade-off with Shopify: Transaction fees. Confirm it isn't a deal-breaker for your specific use case before signing.

What to watch out for
  • Transaction fees
    Confirm this isn't a deal-breaker for your team before signing — it's the most common reason shoppers switch from Shopify to WooCommerce.
  • Theme customization limits
    Confirm this isn't a deal-breaker for your team before signing — it's the most common reason shoppers switch from Shopify to WooCommerce.
Frequently asked
Is Shopify worth it in 2026?

For dtc brands $0–$50m, yes — Massive app ecosystem. For very different use cases, compare against WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Wix.

How much does Shopify cost?

Shopify pricing is $39 Basic · $105 Shopify · $399 Advanced · Plus ~$2,300/mo. Competitors in this comparison range from Free core · hosting $5–$30/mo + plugins $0–$300/mo / $39 Standard · $105 Plus · $399 Pro · Enterprise custom / $36 Core · $75 Business · $159 Business Elite (Wix).

What's the biggest downside of Shopify?

Transaction fees. Most teams work around it, but verify it isn't a deal-breaker for you first.

Shopify vs WooCommerce — which should I pick?

Pick Shopify if you want massive app ecosystem. Pick WooCommerce if you need a broader / cheaper / more established alternative — see the comparison table above for the side-by-side.

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