WooCommerce vs Shopify
Shopify's marketing is excellent. The platform itself is capable. But for most UK SMEs, WooCommerce on managed hosting is the better long-term choice -- and the reasons are specific to the UK market.
Choose Shopify if...
Choose WooCommerce if...
Shopify's headline pricing looks lower until you include transaction fees and app subscriptions. WooCommerce's hosting cost is visible upfront -- there are no hidden platform charges on top.
| Cost Component | WooCommerce | Shopify Basic |
|---|---|---|
| Platform fee | Free (open source) | £25/mo |
| Hosting | From £25/mo (managed) | Included |
| Transaction fees (Stripe) | Stripe standard (1.5% UK cards) | 0.5% extra on top of Stripe |
| At £50k/year revenue (0.5% fee) | £0 | £250/year extra |
| At £500k/year revenue (0.5% fee) | £0 | £2,500/year extra |
| Apps (abandoned cart, reviews, etc.) | Many free; premium £0-£20/mo each | £10-£50/mo each, many essential |
| Custom development | Large UK developer pool | Smaller UK Shopify pool, higher rates |
Transaction fee applies when using external payment processors on Shopify Basic/Grow plans.
WooCommerce has mature MTD-compatible accounting integrations (Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent). MTD compliance on Shopify requires additional apps and workarounds, particularly for quarterly VAT submissions.
WooCommerce on a UK server keeps customer data in the UK by default. Shopify stores data on US/EU servers. For businesses handling sensitive customer data or subject to sector-specific regulations, this matters.
Klarna UK, Clearpay, Laybuy, PayPoint, and region-specific UK bank transfer options all have stronger WooCommerce integration than Shopify. Shopify Payments also has UK-specific limitations.
Your WooCommerce store data is yours -- orders, customers, products. You can export and migrate at any time. Shopify data export is limited and you pay Shopify for access to your own customer data in certain formats.
WooCommerce Subscriptions is more mature and flexible than Shopify's subscription options, particularly for complex subscription logic (trial periods, prorated upgrades, pause/resume).
WooCommerce handles B2B trade accounts, tiered pricing, minimum order values, and invoice payment terms far better than Shopify Basic/Grow. Shopify B2B is restricted to Shopify Plus at £2,000+/mo.
Shopify's strongest argument is infrastructure: "we handle the servers, you run the store." That argument dissolves when your WooCommerce store is on managed hosting.
This comparison isn't designed to dismiss Shopify. It's a good platform for specific use cases:
For most UK SMEs selling in the UK market with existing WordPress infrastructure or UK developer relationships, WooCommerce on managed hosting delivers more control, lower total cost, and better UK-specific integrations at equivalent reliability.
For professional websites
For growing businesses
For high-traffic or ecommerce
For mission-critical operations
Free migration on every plan. We handle the full move from any host -- no disruption to your store.
Security
Protect your checkout, customer data, and store uptime with dual-layer enterprise security on every plan.
Enterprise DDoS Protection
Dual-layer defence — our CDN absorbs volumetric attacks at the network edge; server-level protection blocks application-layer threats before they reach WordPress.
Web Application Firewall
Active WAF at both CDN and server level. Blocks SQL injection, XSS, and malicious request patterns automatically, with continuously updated rules.
Real-Time Malware Scanning
Continuous server-wide scanning detects infections the moment they occur. Automatic cleanup included — no extra charge, no waiting for a ticket.
Automated WordPress Hardening
Security settings are enforced automatically across every site: file permissions, wp-config.php lockdown, PHP execution blocked in uploads, XML-RPC disabled, and admin rate limiting — all kept in sync without manual intervention.
Login & Brute Force Protection
Server-level rate limiting on wp-login, automatic IP blocking on repeated failures, and CAPTCHA enforcement. Offending IPs are blocked before they slow your site.
Container Isolation (Enhance CP)
Every site runs in an isolated container. A compromised site cannot affect neighbouring accounts — no shared PHP processes, no shared filesystem access between customers.
IP Reputation & Country Blocking
Continuously updated threat intelligence blocks known malicious IPs at the server level. Country-level restrictions available where appropriate.
Vulnerability Scanning & Patching
Weekly scans across all WordPress installations identify vulnerable plugins, themes, and core files. Bulk update tools apply patches server-wide automatically.
Uptime & Keyword Monitoring
Real-time uptime monitoring with keyword checks — we know if your site goes down or serves unexpected content before your customers do.
All security features included on every plan — no add-ons, no upgrades required.
Full Security Overview →