Shopify vs WooCommerce: which suits a UK online store?

The biggest difference is responsibility

Shopify provides a hosted commerce service. You pay for a platform plan and configure your store around its capabilities, plus any apps, integrations or custom development you need.

WooCommerce is an open-source ecommerce platform for WordPress. You choose hosting and build the wider setup around it. A hosting or maintenance provider can manage much of that work, but you still need to agree who is responsible.

This is not a choice between “custom” and “template”. Both platforms can support bespoke development. At Reach, we build custom storefronts with Shopify powering the commerce behind them; we do not adapt an off-the-shelf Shopify theme.

A practical comparison

Which is cheaper in the UK?

There is no universal answer. WooCommerce’s core software is free, but running a store is not. Shopify has a subscription, but that subscription is not the whole cost either.

Ask for a total-cost breakdown covering the initial build, hosting, platform plan, paid apps or extensions, payment processing, integrations, backups and ongoing development. Compare the same catalogue and functionality over a realistic period.

Current platform prices and payment terms change. Check Shopify’s UK pricing and WooCommerce’s cost overview against the exact proposal you receive.

Which gives you more design freedom?

Your storefront approach matters more than the logo on the platform. A theme-led build works within a theme’s structure. A custom storefront gives the team scope to design around products, options and the decisions customers need to make, while still respecting the commerce platform’s limitations.

Macarooner is a real example of our approach: a custom build-your-own-box shopping experience integrated with Shopify. The useful question was how shoppers should choose their box, not which theme had the nicest demo homepage.

If your products need configuration, trade pricing or unusual fulfilment, map those requirements before selecting a platform. Confirm what is feasible and what needs an app, integration or separate development.

What about SEO, speed and security?

Neither platform guarantees strong search rankings or fast pages. Product information, navigation, images, code and third-party tools all matter. Shopify manages its core platform, but your business still needs appropriate account access and care for custom applications. A WooCommerce store needs an agreed maintenance approach for its hosting, WordPress and extensions.

Do not choose a supplier because they claim a platform is always faster or never goes down. Ask how the actual store will be tested, monitored and supported.

When each approach makes sense

• Consider Shopify if you want hosted commerce, a manageable product and order system, and a clear support plan for a custom storefront.
• Consider WooCommerce if WordPress is already central to your business, its publishing ecosystem is useful, and you have dependable support for the full technical setup.
• Review before migrating if your existing store already works. Better product pages or checkout information may matter more than changing platforms.

What a migration needs to protect

Inventory products, variants, customers, important URLs and integrations. Plan redirects, payment testing, shipping rules, tax settings and order notifications. Check what data can transfer and what cannot. Search visibility can change during a migration, even with careful planning.

Our ecommerce development starts by mapping your products and how you sell. We agree a fixed written scope and quote, rather than treating every store as the same project. Shopify remains a licensed platform: ownership of your custom work does not remove its subscription or third-party costs.

Your next step: Bring three representative products, your current store address and the biggest ordering or admin problem. Our team can assess whether a custom Shopify storefront is a sensible fit, or whether keeping your existing setup is the better decision.