/ Format vs format
RIOT vs Shopify vs WooCommerce
The two heavyweights of e-commerce. Shopify is faster to launch and easier to run; WooCommerce is cheaper at scale and gives you full control. Pick wrong and you'll regret it in year two.
Shopify vs WooCommerce is best for
Shopify: brands that want to sell, not maintain. WooCommerce: businesses with content, custom logic or tight budgets.
Where it falls down
Shopify: monthly fees scale with you, customisation hits limits. WooCommerce: maintenance, hosting, security all yours.
Side by side
| Feature | Shopify vs WooCommerce | RIOT |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | £25–£300/mo + apps | £15–£60/mo hosting |
| Transaction fees | 0–2% (unless using Shopify Payments) | 0% (your gateway only) |
| Time to launch | 1–3 weeks | 3–6 weeks |
| Design freedom | Theme-based, app-driven | Fully custom — anything goes |
| Best for product range | 10–10,000 SKUs | 1–unlimited SKUs |
| Maintenance | Shopify handles it | You / your dev handles it |
| Subscriptions / memberships | Strong via apps | Strong via plugins, more flexible |
The verdict
If you want to sell things and not think about the platform, Shopify. If you want full control, no monthly platform fees and the ability to bend it to anything, WooCommerce. We build on both. The right choice is whichever one matches how you actually run the business.
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Format vs format
RIOT vs Custom Build vs Template
Format vs format
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