After building 200+ eCommerce stores on both platforms, our honest answer is: neither is objectively better. The right platform depends entirely on your business model, technical appetite, budget and growth stage.

The one-line verdict

Choose Shopify if you want something that works out of the box, is easy to manage, and you’re happy paying a monthly subscription. Choose WooCommerce if you want total control, lower long-term cost, and you’re comfortable with (or have access to) technical maintenance.

The primary drivers aren’t just cost savings (though those are significant — typically 60–70% compared to UK agency rates). The real advantage is access to deep specialisation, faster turnaround times, and agencies that have built entire teams around specific platforms like WordPress and Shopify.