If you're setting up an online shop, the Shopify vs WordPress debate is one you'll run into early. Both platforms can power excellent eCommerce stores. But they're built for different situations — and choosing the wrong one can cause headaches down the line.
Shopify: built for selling
Shopify is a dedicated eCommerce platform. Everything about it is designed for selling products: inventory management, payment processing, shipping integrations, abandoned cart recovery, discount codes. It works out of the box and it works well.
Shopify is a good fit if you: want to get a store live quickly; are primarily focused on selling physical products; need robust stock management; don't want to deal with hosting and updates; and are willing to pay from ~£25/month plus transaction fees.
Shopify has limitations: it's a closed platform (you're renting, not owning); customisation has a ceiling without developer knowledge; SEO flexibility is more limited; and costs can add up with apps and transaction fees.
WordPress + WooCommerce: built for flexibility
WordPress powers roughly 40% of the internet. Add WooCommerce and you have a highly flexible, fully owned platform for selling online.
WordPress is a good fit if you: need a content-heavy site alongside your shop; want maximum control over design, functionality, and SEO; have specific functionality needs; or want to own your platform outright with no monthly platform fee.
WordPress has limitations: more moving parts to manage; can be slow if not optimised; plugin conflicts and maintenance overhead; and takes more initial setup time.
The short answer
If you want simplicity and speed to launch: Shopify. If you want flexibility, content marketing capability, and full ownership: WordPress. If you have complex requirements: talk to us.