Shopify vs WooCommerce
Shopify vs WooCommerce: Which Is Best for UK Small Businesses?
Shopify and WooCommerce dominate UK ecommerce, but they're built for very different shops. Here's how they actually compare in 2026.
Shopify
Hosted ecommerce platform — fast to launch, monthly fee.
Best for:
Shops that want to start selling fast without a developer.
Pricing:
From £25/month + transaction fees
Pros
- + Live in days, not weeks
- + World-class checkout
- + No hosting headaches
- + Huge app ecosystem
Cons
- − Monthly fees from £25
- − Transaction fees unless you use Shopify Payments
- − Limited content/SEO flexibility
WooCommerce
WordPress plugin — fully customisable, you own everything.
Best for:
Content-led brands and shops that want long-term flexibility.
Pricing:
Free plugin + ~£15-50/mo hosting
Pros
- + No monthly platform fees
- + Total design + content control
- + Strong SEO
- + Own your data
Cons
- − You manage hosting + security
- − Slower to set up
- − Plugin sprawl can break things
The verdict
Pick Shopify if you want speed and simplicity. Pick WooCommerce if SEO, content marketing or full customisation matter more than launch speed.
RIOT's take
We build on both. For most UK SMBs under 200 SKUs, Shopify wins on time-to-revenue. For content-heavy brands or anyone wanting deep editorial control, WooCommerce is still the smarter long-term play.
FAQs
Which is cheaper long term?
WooCommerce is cheaper on paper but only if you (or someone you trust) maintain it. Shopify's monthly fee buys you peace of mind.
Which is better for SEO?
WooCommerce — because it sits on WordPress, you have unlimited control over URLs, schema, content types and page speed.
Can you migrate between them?
Yes. We've done it both directions. Budget 2-4 weeks for a 100-product migration with redirects done properly.
Need help choosing?
We've built on every platform here. 15-minute call, no sales pitch.
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