CAT-03B
Website Builders & Store Platforms
Shopify or WooCommerce, the two real options for actually building the store, not just hosting it. Pick based on whether you want everything handled for you or want to own the platform outright.
ShopifyBest for: Getting a store live fast without touching code
A fully hosted store platform, Basic plan runs $39/month with a customizable storefront, 24/7 support, abandoned cart recovery, and POS Lite included. A new $0/month Agentic plan sells through AI assistants with no storefront at all, charging per completed sale instead.
Pros
- Hosting, security, and updates are handled for you, nothing to maintain
- Basic plan covers what most new stores actually need out of the box
- Transaction fees drop as you move up tiers, Advanced tier is 0.5%
Cons
- You are renting the platform, migrating off Shopify later means rebuilding the store
- Advanced tier is $399/month, real money before most stores need it
WooCommerceBest for: People who already run WordPress and want to own the platform
A free, open-source WordPress plugin, no licensing fee to install it. The plugin being free is misleading though, a real production store runs $1,800 to $15,000+/year once hosting, premium extensions, and a theme are added.
Pros
- The plugin itself is free, no licensing cost
- You own the store outright, not renting a platform you could get locked out of
- Unlimited flexibility, it is WordPress plus whatever plugins you need
Cons
- "Free" plugin, but hosting plus the extensions most real stores need run $1,800 to $15,000+/year
- You are responsible for security, backups, and updates unless you pay for managed hosting
Before you pick a platform
Frequently asked questions
Shopify if you want to launch fast and not think about hosting. WooCommerce if you already run WordPress and want to own the platform long-term.
The plugin is free. The store is not, once you add hosting, a theme, and the extensions most real stores need, budget real money.
Yes, but it is real migration work. Product data, themes, and payment history do not move over cleanly.
Compare the rest of the shortlist.
Hosting, payments, and more, all tested the same way.