When launching an online store for your business, one of the biggest decisions you’ll make is choosing the right website platform. Two of the most popular options out there are Shopify and WordPress (which uses a plugin called WooCommerce to give it eCommerce functionality).
While both platforms power millions of online businesses, I believe Shopify stands out as the better solution for most store owners due to its simplicity, security, scalability, and overall ease of use.
In this blog post, I’ll break down why Shopify is my preferred choice over a self-hosted WordPress / WooCommerce website.
1. Ease of use & setup
Shopify and simplicity
Shopify is a fully hosted eCommerce platform focused on creating a simple and intuitive experience for store owners. Fully hosted means that everything from hosting and software maintenance to website security and performance is handled for you by Shopify.
This means that:
- No coding required – Shopify’s intuitive website editor makes designing and editing a store much simpler than WordPress.
- Automatic updates – No need for you to manually update plugins or software; Shopify takes care of it all.
- Your website doesn’t break – One of the biggest issues with WordPress is that plugin / theme conflicts can cause a website to break. With Shopify this doesn’t happen.
WordPress requires technical setup & maintenance
WordPress is free, open source software that needs to be installed on a web host’s server. This makes it a self-hosted eCommerce solution, which means you’ll need to set up web hosting, install all required software, maintain it all on an ongoing basis and ensure a robust online security system.
If something goes wrong, you’ll likely need to hire a developer because troubleshooting and fixing your website isn’t something your web host is responsible for.
For those without a strong technical background, WordPress and WooCommerce (the plugin that gives your WordPress website its eCommerce functionality) can feel overwhelming compared to Shopify’s out-of-the-box simplicity.
2. Security & Reliability
Shopify is secure & hassle-free
Shopify is a fully hosted platform that takes care of all website security aspects, including:
- SSL certificate included (ensuring your store is HTTPS secure).
- PCI compliance (important for processing credit card payments securely).
- Automatic security updates to protect against vulnerabilities.
- Fraud analysis tools to help prevent fraudulent transactions.
With Shopify, you don’t have to worry about data breaches or security risks because everything is handled behind the scenes.
With WordPress, you’re responsible for online security
Since WordPress is self-hosted, security is entirely the website owner’s responsibility. This includes:
- Purchasing your website’s SSL certificate (not always included with your web hosting plan).
- Installing WordPress security plugins like Wordfence or Sucuri.
- Manually updating WordPress, WooCommerce, and plugin software to patch vulnerabilities.
- Setting up PCI compliance if you’re handling credit card transactions.
For beginners, managing security on a WordPress website can be complex and puts your store at risk if not done correctly.
3. Performance & Speed
Shopify is optimised for speed & stability
Shopify’s cloud-based infrastructure ensures fast page load times, resulting in a better user experience and search engine ranking. Because Shopify hosts and manages everything related to your eCommerce website, stores experience:
- Fast website loading on mobile & desktop (no need for speed optimisation plugins).
- Built-in CDN (Content Delivery Network) to load images quickly worldwide.
- 99.99% uptime guarantee, so your store stays online without issues.
WordPress is dependent on hosting quality, plugins and ongoing optimisation
With WordPress, your store’s performance is your responsibility and depends on a variety of factors, including your web hosting plan, installing premium performance plugins and ongoing optimisation. This makes it complex to manage if you’re not technically minded.
To improve your WordPress website’s performance, you will need:
- A premium hosting plan Cheap (shared) hosting plans don’t deliver optimal performance because so many websites are sharing the same web server resources (a web server is a computer with limited resources). For a fast website, you’ll need to invest in a premium plan ($28–$100/month) for fast, performance focused WordPress hosting.
- Premium speed optimisation plugins – You’ll also need to invest in a premium WordPress performance plugin such as WP Rocket, which costs $59 per year.
- For international websites, you’ll need to set up a content delivery network for faster global loading.
For non-technical users, Shopify offers a smoother and faster experience right out of the box without the need for complicated optimisation work.
4. Cost & Pricing
Shopify offers more transparent, all-In-one pricing
Shopify offers clear pricing plans that include fast web hosting, security, and all the essential features needed for selling online including email marketing tools and subscription products:
- Basic Shopify: $39/month ($25/month for South African businesses)
- Shopify: $105/month ($65/month for South African businesses)
- Advanced Shopify: $399/month
There are no hidden costs for security, hosting, or website maintenance.
WordPress offers a lower initial cost but hidden expenses can add up
WordPress itself is free, open source software that you install on your web host’s server, but running a secure, high-performance store comes with additional costs:
- Web Hosting: $10–$50/month (or more for fast, managed WordPress hosting).
- SSL Certificate: $0–$100/year.
- Premium themes & plugins: $50–$300 (usually yearly costs).
- Security & backups: $10–$50/month.
- Developer costs (if you need customisations or troubleshooting).
While WordPress can seem cheaper at first, once you factor in hosting, security, plugin and developer costs, Shopify cab end up being the more cost-effective option in the long run.
5. Why store owners switch to Shopify
One of the biggest reasons businesses move from WordPress to Shopify is to improve efficiency. Running an eCommerce business involves many moving parts, and Shopify helps store owners:
- Save time on website management – No need to deal with stressful technical maintenance, plugin updates, or hosting issues because this is all taken care of as part of your Shopify plan.
- Streamline operations – Shopify integrates seamlessly with inventory management, order fulfillment, and marketing tools from one user-friendly dashboard.
- Focus on brand development – Instead of troubleshooting tech problems, business owners can spend time refining their brand identity, messaging, and customer experience.
- Prioritise marketing & sales – Shopify makes it easier to launch promotions, run ads, and analyze performance so businesses can scale faster.
With Shopify handling the backend, store owners can dedicate more time to marketing, customer engagement, and product innovation, leading to higher profitability and long-term success.
6. Support & Customer Service
Shopify includes 24/7 dedicated support
Shopify offers 24/7 customer support via live chat, phone, and email, meaning you can get help when you need it directly from Shopify.
WordPress only has community-based support
Since WordPress is open-source, there’s no dedicated customer support team. You’ll need to:
- Rely on WordPress forums and documentation.
- Hire a developer if you need advanced troubleshooting.
- Wait for responses on community forums.
For business owners who want quick support, Shopify’s support system is a huge advantage.
For store owners who want a stress-free, scalable, and efficient eCommerce platform, Shopify is my preferred choice.
While WordPress gives advanced users complete flexibility, Shopify is the better all-in-one solution for most owner-managed eCommerce businesses.
Here’s why:
Easier to set up & use – No coding or hosting setup required.
Built-in security & reliability – No worries about security breaches or downtime.
Faster & optimised performance – Shopify ensures quick load times.
Transparent pricing – No hidden costs for hosting, security, or plugins.
Seamless integrations & support – Shopify’s app ecosystem works smoothly, with 24/7 assistance.
More time to focus on brand growth & marketing – Shopify lets store owners scale without the tech headaches.
Want to learn more about switching to Shopify?
Are you a Wix or WordPress website owner who’s curious about switching to Shopify? I have worked extensively with these platforms and am happy to answer any questions you may have about switching to Shopify. Complete my studio’s online enquiry form here and I’ll be in touch to arrange a no-obligation discovery call so we can talk about whether moving to Shopify is the right solution for your business.
