We build on both, so we don’t have a horse in this race. The right platform depends on what your team can maintain, how custom your catalog and checkout need to be, and a few India-specific details that most global comparisons skip.
The short answer
- Choose Shopify if you want to launch fast, don’t want to manage hosting or security, and your catalog fits a standard product/variant model.
- Choose WooCommerce if you already run a content-heavy WordPress site, need deep customisation of products or checkout, or want to avoid platform transaction fees — and you have a developer (or a partner) to keep it maintained.
Side by side
| Shopify | WooCommerce | |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting & security | Included and managed by Shopify | Your responsibility — hosting, updates, backups, security |
| Payments in India | Shopify Payments isn’t available in India, so you use a third-party gateway (Razorpay, PayU, Cashfree) — and Shopify adds its own transaction fee on top, highest on the Basic plan | No platform transaction fee — you pay your gateway’s fees only |
| Customisation | Themes and apps cover most needs; deep checkout changes are limited below Shopify Plus | Almost anything is possible with code and plugins |
| Content & SEO | Solid basics; the built-in blog is simple | WordPress is one of the strongest content platforms there is |
| Speed | Fast by default; slowed mainly by too many apps | Depends entirely on hosting, theme, and plugin discipline |
| Running cost | Monthly plan + apps + transaction fees | Hosting + premium plugins + developer time |
The India-specific details
Payment fees add up on Shopify
Because every Indian Shopify store uses a third-party gateway, you pay the gateway’s fee and Shopify’s third-party transaction fee. At low volumes it’s a rounding error; at scale it’s a reason to move up a plan or reconsider the platform. Run the numbers on your actual monthly revenue before deciding.
COD needs rules, not just a toggle
Both platforms support cash on delivery, but the controls Indian sellers need — COD limits by order value or pincode, COD fees, partial prepayment — usually come from an app or plugin, or from your gateway’s checkout. Budget for it either way.
GST invoices aren’t automatic on either
Both can calculate GST at checkout, but a GST-compliant invoice — with HSN codes, place of supply, and the right tax split — typically needs an app, a plugin, or an external billing system. If you sell B2B, plan for e-invoicing too.
Mobile data is the real speed test
Whichever platform you pick, test your product pages on a mid-range Android phone on mobile data. A store that flies on office Wi-Fi can feel broken on a 4G connection in a smaller city.
A quick decision checklist
- Do you have someone who can maintain a WordPress site every month? If not, lean Shopify.
- Is your catalog standard products with sizes and colours? Shopify handles it well.
- Do you need custom pricing, bundles, or B2B logic in checkout? WooCommerce gives more room.
- Is content a major acquisition channel for you? WooCommerce’s WordPress base is a real advantage.
- What will platform and gateway fees cost at your expected revenue in 12 months, not today?
Already on one and unhappy?
Migrations in either direction are routine: products, customers, and order history move over, and 301 redirects protect the search rankings you’ve built. The mistake is migrating to escape problems that are really about theme bloat or too many apps — fix those first.
We run Shopify builds and migrations and custom and WooCommerce storefronts. If you’re unsure which fits, that’s exactly what the free audit is for.