In short: In the WordPress vs Shopify debate, the right choice depends on what your website is for. If selling products online is the main job, Shopify is usually the better fit: payments, stock and checkout are built in and looked after for you. If you’re a service business, or content and enquiries matter most, WordPress gives you more flexibility and control.
I build websites on both platforms, so I don’t have a favourite to sell you. What I do have is a strong view on which one suits which kind of business, because picking the wrong one can mean paying for features you don’t need or fighting a platform that wasn’t designed for what you’re doing.
In this guide I’ll explain what each platform is, compare them side by side, and tell you what I recommend to clients in different situations.
What is WordPress?
WordPress is a content management system (CMS), which simply means software that lets you add and edit pages, text and photos without touching code. The software itself is free and open source. You pay for hosting (the server your site lives on), your domain name, and whoever designs and builds it.
Because you host it yourself, you own everything: the files, the content and the database. You can move it to a different host whenever you like. That freedom is WordPress’s biggest strength, and it’s why it’s used for everything from a sole trader’s five-page site to large news websites.
The trade-off is responsibility. Someone needs to keep WordPress, its theme and its plugins updated and secure. That’s either you, or someone like me on a hosting and care plan.
What is Shopify?
Shopify is an all-in-one e-commerce platform built specifically for selling online. You pay a monthly subscription, and Shopify handles the hosting, security, software updates and the checkout. It’s what I use for every online shop I build.
Out of the box you get product listings, stock tracking, a secure checkout, order management, discount codes and shipping settings. There’s also a large app store for extra features such as reviews, subscriptions or product bundles.
The trade-off is that you’re working inside Shopify’s system. You don’t own the platform, you pay monthly for as long as the shop runs, and some features need paid apps on top.
WordPress vs Shopify: side-by-side comparison
Here’s how the two compare on the points small business owners usually ask me about:
| WordPress | Shopify | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Service businesses, trades, content-led sites, blogs | Online shops and businesses selling products |
| Software cost | Free; you pay for hosting and domain | Monthly subscription plus any paid apps |
| Hosting | You choose and manage it (or a care plan does) | Included and managed by Shopify |
| Updates and security | Your responsibility, or your developer’s | Handled by Shopify |
| Selling online | Possible, but needs extra setup | Built in, and what it does best |
| Design flexibility | Very high; almost anything can be built | High, within Shopify’s theme system |
| Blogging and content | Excellent; this is where it started | Basic blog included, less flexible |
| SEO basics | Full control over titles, URLs and structure | Good, with a few fixed URL patterns |
| Ownership | You own the site and can move it freely | Your content is yours; the platform is Shopify’s |
| Ease of editing | Easy once set up and shown how | Easy, very guided |
When WordPress is the better choice
I recommend WordPress for most service businesses. If your website’s main job is to get people to phone, book or fill in an enquiry form, WordPress is a great fit.
WordPress tends to suit you if:
- You’re a tradesperson, consultant, local service or professional firm
- You want lots of pages: individual services, areas you cover, case studies, a blog
- You care about writing helpful content to be found on Google
- You want full ownership and the freedom to move hosts later
- You might want something custom, like a quote calculator or a directory
When I build a WordPress website, I design it custom rather than stacking up page-builder plugins. That keeps the site fast and lightweight, which matters for both visitors and search engines.
When Shopify is the better choice
If selling products online is the core of your business, I’d point you to Shopify almost every time. It’s purpose-built for this, and you don’t have to worry about the security of your checkout or keeping shop software patched.
Shopify tends to suit you if:
- You sell physical products, and online sales are the goal
- You want stock, orders and shipping managed in one place
- You’d like to sell in person too, using Shopify’s point-of-sale tools
- You don’t want to think about hosting, updates or payment security
- You plan to grow your product range over time
A question I get a lot is “can’t I just add a shop to WordPress?”. You can, but in my experience it adds more moving parts to maintain, and for a business where the shop is the main event, Shopify is simply the more reliable foundation. That’s why it’s the platform I build online shops on.
What about a business that does both?
Some businesses sell a few products but are mainly about a service. A garden designer selling gift vouchers, or a salon selling a handful of hair products, for example.
In these cases I look at which side matters most:
- If the service is the main thing, a WordPress site with a simple way to take payment (for example a Stripe payment link for vouchers or deposits) is often enough.
- If the products are growing, a Shopify shop makes more sense, and it can still have good information pages about your services.
- If both are big, it can make sense to have a WordPress site for the business and a separate Shopify shop, linked together.
The right answer depends on your plans, which is why I always start with a free chat rather than a fixed recommendation. My guide on how to choose the right website for your business goes into this in more depth.
Cost and switching: what to think about
I won’t put numbers on the platforms here, because prices change and depend on the plan, apps and hosting you choose. But the shape of the costs is different:
- WordPress: the software is free, so your ongoing costs are mainly hosting, the domain name, any premium plugins and maintenance. You can keep these low.
- Shopify: there’s a monthly subscription for as long as the shop is open, plus payment processing fees on sales and the cost of any paid apps.
For either platform, the biggest one-off cost is usually design and build. My website packages start from £400, and you can see what’s included on my pricing page. For a wider look at budgets, see how much a website costs in the UK.
Can you switch later?
Yes, but it’s work. Moving from WordPress to Shopify (or the other way round) means rebuilding the design, moving products or pages across, and setting up redirects so old links and Google rankings aren’t lost.
That’s another reason to choose carefully at the start. If you’re a service business today but have serious plans to sell online, tell your web designer early so the plan accounts for it.
Frequently asked questions
Is WordPress or Shopify better for a small business?
It depends on what the website is for. For an online shop, Shopify is usually the better choice. For a service business or a site built around content and enquiries, WordPress is usually the stronger fit.
Is Shopify better than WordPress for SEO?
Both can rank well. WordPress gives you a little more control over URLs and site structure, while Shopify covers the essentials well. What matters more is good content, a fast site and sound basics like page titles and descriptions.
Is WordPress free?
The WordPress software is free. You still pay for a domain name, hosting, any premium themes or plugins, and the time to build and maintain it.
Do I own my Shopify store?
Your content, products and customer data are yours, and you can export them. The platform itself belongs to Shopify, so you’re relying on their service and paying a monthly subscription to keep the shop running.
Which is easier to use, WordPress or Shopify?
Shopify is very guided and easy for managing products and orders. WordPress is also straightforward once it’s set up properly and you’ve been shown around, which is why I include a one-hour training session with every site.
Can I move from WordPress to Shopify later?
Yes. It involves rebuilding the design, moving your content and products, and setting up redirects to protect your search rankings. It’s very doable, but easier if planned for from the start.
Not sure which is right for you?
Tell me about your business and what you want your website to do, and I’ll give you an honest recommendation, even if that means a simpler option than you expected. You can get in touch here or read more about my e-commerce websites.
