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Great question people ask me: “Which is better for us—WooCommerce using CMS like WordPress or Shopify?”My answer is that both are good, depending on your budget and needs. Each platform is best suited for its purpose. But what works best for beginners or experienced individuals? Let’s discuss.
Introduction
Shopify—Shopify is also a CMS platform where you can build a website. It's very easy—you don’t need to hire a developer if you are just setting up themes. If you want customization, then you need a developer who will charge a handsome amount. Shopify is made just for e-commerce websites and works on its servers for good performance. But it’s expensive for a beginner.
WooCommerce—WooCommerce is very popular because it’s older and feature-rich. You can build scalable e-commerce platforms using WordPress, Wix, and other platforms, but WordPress is free. With WordPress, you can make an e-commerce site, though you can’t build an app like Shopify directly. It’s a bit more complex, but still free, and it works on your hosting. You can use it without a developer by learning through YouTube tutorials. But to start better, a developer is recommended. WooCommerce has a large community. Shopify came later, so its community is smaller. But if you’re a startup or beginner, WooCommerce with WordPress may suit you better.
Growth of eCommerce in India
Growth of eCommerce in India
E-commerce sped up when Amazon and Flipkart came—they started selling online around 2012–14. After that, in 2016, India’s e-commerce market picked up speed. Indian entrepreneurs started selling on Amazon, Flipkart, etc., but faced many charges and restrictions. So they started building their online platforms using WordPress and WooCommerce.
Later, Shopify entered the e-commerce era, and users started migrating there—but still, many stick with CMS platforms like WordPress. E-commerce is only growing every day in India.
Why Platform Choice Matters for Indian Entrepreneurs
Shopify is easier to set up—no need to manage external hosting.
WooCommerce using WordPress is a bit more complex.
Shopify is currently trending because it's easier to use and keeps updating frequently.
Shopify has many features and easy theme customization.
Countries like the USA, UK, etc., are widely using Shopify.
Overview of Both Platforms
Shopify WooCommerce
Fast and reliable Fast but less reliable at a large scale
Costly but easy to set up, Free with WordPress, but more complex
Growing community Large existing community
Developer-specific themes (Liquid) can be built with any language
What is Shopify?
Shopify is a marketplace where you can create your store and start selling your products easily—just set up and start earning. It’s best for vendors who don’t want to rely on developers. With theme setup and a few plugins, you can go live within 1–2 days.
Hosted Solution—Shopify provides its hosting, so there is no need to set up DNS or separate servers.
Subscription Model—Try it for 3 months at ₹20. After that, monthly charges apply.
Check the latest Indian pricing here.
Pre-built Features—Themes, plugins, order management, emails, payment systems, chatbot—all pre-integrated. No need to build from scratch.
What is WooCommerce?
WooCommerce is an online selling platform built using WordPress, which is free. It’s slightly more complex than Shopify but offers more flexibility. You can design your store with plugins like Elementor, Gutenberg, and more.
Open-source Plugin—Download for free from WordPress.org.
Requires Own Hosting—Hosting is not included; use platforms like
WordPress is more flexible than Shopify, with complete control and customization. Best for startups and beginners with low budgets.
Setup & Ease of Use
Shopify—Very easy to set up
WooCommerce—Slightly complex, but manageable with tutorials
Shopify has easy-to-use customization.
WooCommerce is flexible, but some features require paid plugins.
Both support UPI, Razorpay, Stripe, etc.
Shopify offers easier integration.
Shipping & GST Support
Shopify has built-in support and easy setup.
WooCommerce also supports it, but the setup is more manual.
SEO & Blogging Capabilities
WordPress is better for SEO and blogging.
Shopify is limited to advanced blogging features.
Support & Community
WooCommerce has a larger community.
Shopify provides more structured, faster support.
Cost Comparison
WooCommerce—Free plugin, but hosting is paid
Shopify—paid monthly, but includes hosting.
Pros & Cons of Shopify (India Focus)
Pros
Easy to set up
Theme customization is user-friendly.
Many plugins are available.
GST & shipping setup is easy.
Hosting is included.
Cons
Monthly charges after 3 months
Some themes/plugins are paid.
Liquid coding requires Shopify-specific developers.
Pros & Cons of WooCommerce (India Focus)
Pros
Free and open-source
Huge community
Plugin support for design (Elementor, etc.)
Built on PHP—easy for developers
Cons
No included hosting
Hosting/server costs apply.
Plugin limitations in the free version
The more technical setup for themes, GST, and shipping
Final Thoughts
If you are a startup or beginner with a low budget, go with WordPress + WooCommerce.
If you don't want to handle technical things and have a favorable budget, Shopify is your go-to.
Thanks for reading!
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Q1: Which is cheaper for Indian sellers?
✔ WordPress + WooCommerce is cheaper if you're on a low budget.
Q2: Is Shopify better for beginners?
✔ Yes—especially for non-tech users. Start with the ₹20 trial plan.