Are you launching a new online store and unsure which platform to build it on? Or are you thinking about moving away from your current e-commerce platform because it no longer meets your business needs? If so, you are probably comparing Shopify vs WordPress but aren’t sure which one is the better choice.
That’s exactly what this blog post sorts out. You will learn what Shopify and WordPress actually offer, how their real costs compare in AUD, and which platform ranks better for SEO, then use that to work out the right fit based on your business type and stage.
Key takeaways
- Shopify and WordPress both support Australian payment methods like Afterpay and GST-compliant checkout, but are set up differently.
- Shopify offers a fully managed setup, while WordPress gives you more control and lower long-term costs.
- The right platform depends on your product range, budget, and how hands-on you want to be.
- Switching platforms later is possible, but it takes planning to avoid losing your Google rankings.
- Choosing the right platform from the start saves time, money, and rework down the line.
Shopify vs WordPress: Quick comparison table for Australian e-commerce businesses
An easy way to compare Shopify and WordPress is to see them side by side. The table below highlights the key differences in features, flexibility, ease of use, and support to help Australian e-commerce businesses choose the right platform.
| Shopify vs WordPress at a glance for Australian businesses | ||
|---|---|---|
| Feature | Shopify | WordPress (WooCommerce) |
| Ease of setup | Fully hosted with a guided setup process | Requires hosting, WooCommerce setup, and configuration |
| GST handling | Built-in GST settings for Australian stores | Supports Australian GST through WooCommerce tax settings |
| Payment gateways | Supports Shopify Payments, Afterpay, Stripe and other gateways | Supports Stripe, Square, Afterpay and many other gateways |
| Shipping integrations | Integrates with Australia Post, Sendle and other carriers through built-in apps | Integrates with Australia Post, Sendle, StarTrack and other couriers through plugins |
| Hosting | Fully managed hosting included | Choose your own hosting provider, including Australian-based servers |
| Design flexibility | Customisable using Shopify themes and apps | Complete control over design, functionality and checkout experience |
| Data ownership | Store operates on Shopify’s hosted platform | Full ownership of your website, files and database |
| Scalability | Built to scale with minimal technical management | Highly scalable with the right hosting and development support |
| Ease of management | Platform updates and maintenance handled by Shopify | Requires ongoing updates and maintenance |
| Multi-channel selling | Built-in support for selling on social media and marketplaces | Available through plugins and integrations |
| Best suited for | Businesses wanting a simple, managed e-commerce solution | Businesses needing maximum flexibility and custom functionality |
What is Shopify?
Shopify is an all-in-one platform used to build and run an online store. It works on a monthly subscription model and includes hosting, security, and payment processing as part of the platform. Store setup is done through a dashboard, using a drag-and-drop editor to design pages and add products.
You can explore the official Shopify platform overview to see everything included in the platform.
Pros of Shopify
- No technical or development skills required to get started
- Predictable monthly pricing, easier to budget for
- One platform to manage, instead of separate hosting and security providers
Cons of Shopify
- Ongoing subscription cost, even for a basic store
- Less flexibility to fully customise design and functionality
- Your store runs on Shopify’s system, which can make switching platforms harder later
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7 key Shopify features for Australian businesses
Shopify gives Australian businesses everything needed to build, manage, and grow an online store from one platform. Here are the key features that matter most:
- AI-powered store builder: Design a store in minutes using AI to generate themes and layouts, or choose from hundreds of ready-made, mobile-friendly templates
- High-converting checkout: Shopify’s checkout is built for speed and security, and features like Shop Pay let customers complete orders in a single tap
- Local payment support: Accept Afterpay, Shopify Payments, and other methods Australian shoppers already trust
- Built-in shipping tools: Print labels, offer tracking, and access discounted shipping rates without needing a separate courier setup
- Sell across multiple channels: List and sell on social platforms like Instagram and TikTok, plus marketplaces such as Amazon and eBay, all from the same store
- 8,000+ app integrations: Add tools for marketing, accounting, and customer support as your business grows
- Business finance tools: Manage sales tax, cash flow, and access funding through Shopify Capital, all within the platform
What is WordPress (WooCommerce)?
WordPress is an open-source platform used to build and manage websites, from blogs to full online stores. On its own, it does not include e-commerce features. To sell online, you add a plugin called WooCommerce. It works inside WordPress and adds the tools needed to sell products, manage orders, and accept payments. Learn more about the WordPress (WooCommerce) CMS platform on its official website.
Are you finding it difficult to set up your WordPress site the right way? Our team at Sitora Solutions builds custom WordPress solutions for growing businesses in Australia.
Pros of WordPress
- No licensing fee, since WordPress and WooCommerce are both free to use
- Handles Australian GST automatically through built-in tax settings
- Works with 100+ payment gateways, including Stripe, Square, and Afterpay
- Full data ownership, so you can export or migrate your site anytime
Cons of WordPress
- You or your developer is responsible for updates and security
- Setup takes longer than a fully hosted platform
- Requires more technical knowledge or ongoing developer support
Over 60,000 free and paid plugins exist for WordPress, meaning almost any feature your store needs, from GST settings to Afterpay, already has a plugin built for it.
7 key WordPress features for Australian businesses
The following are the key features that make WordPress a popular choice for Australian businesses:
- Full design control: Customise every part of your website’s layout, style, and branding, with no restrictions on how it looks or functions
- 50,000+ plugins available: Add features like SEO tools, social media integration, booking systems, and more without writing code
- WooCommerce integration: Turn your website into a fully functional online store by adding the WooCommerce plugin
- Thousands of themes: Choose from free and premium themes to match your brand, or build a fully custom design
- Open-source and free to use: WordPress itself has no licensing cost, giving you more control over your budget
- Large developer community: Access an extensive global network of developers, tutorials, and resources, making support easy to find
- Regularly updated: Continual updates keep the platform current with the latest web standards and security practices
Shopify costs vs WordPress costs in Australia
The following table shows the platforms’ monthly cost estimate for a store, based on common hosting, app, and payment processing needs.
| Shopify costs vs WordPress costs in Australia | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cost item | Shopify | WordPress (WooCommerce) |
| Platform / plan | About A$56/month for Basic plan | Free software, but setup and maintenance usually paid |
| Hosting | Included | About A$20–A$50/month, sometimes more for better performance |
| Reviews app | About A$15/month | Often a free plugin is available, but many stores upgrade to paid tools |
| Email marketing | About A$30/month | Free basic plugins exist, but paid tools are common |
| Shipping tools | About A$20/month | Free basic plugins exist, but advanced features may cost extra |
| SEO tools | About A$30/month | Free basic plugins exist, but premium SEO tools often add cost |
| Payment processing | Gateway fee plus platform fee, depending on plan and provider | Gateway fee only, often around 1.7% + 30¢ plus card processor fees |
| Maintenance / backups / security | Mostly included or simplified | Usually extra, often ignored in “free” comparisons |
| Typical monthly total | A$151+ (approx.) depending on apps and transaction setup | A$100–A$400+ (approx.) for a realistic store |
Which platform ranks better on Google, Shopify or WordPress?
Neither platform automatically ranks better than the other. According to Google Search ranking factors, the search engine evaluates content quality, page experience, and relevance rather than the platform itself. Rankings come down to site speed, content quality, mobile usability, and backlinks, so a well-built site on either one can rank well.
Where Shopify has an edge:
- Faster load times out of the box, since hosting and server performance are managed for you
- Automatic SSL and strong site security, which are both ranking factors
Where WordPress has an edge:
- Full control over URL structure, so you can keep URLs short and keyword-focused
- Advanced SEO plugins such as the Yoast SEO plugin and Rank Math SEO features provide greater control over metadata, schema, and XML sitemaps
Struggling to turn platform traffic into top Google rankings? Platforms don’t rank. Strategy does. Our SEO-optimised content service builds authority, boosts visibility, and drives organic traffic over time, whether your store is powered by Shopify or WordPress.
Which is the best e-commerce platform, WordPress or Shopify?
According to the Australia Country Commercial Guide, e-commerce made up 18% of Australian retail spending in 2022, with 82% of households shopping online that year. Businesses combining physical and online stores tend to benefit the most, making this decision just as important for existing retailers as for online-only startups.
The following covers exactly what you need to know to choose the right platform between Shopify and WordPress for your business.
Choose Shopify if:
- You are selling a smaller catalogue of physical products and want to launch within days, not weeks
- You plan to sell across Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook Shop alongside your website
- You want Afterpay and Shopify Payments running from day one without setting up a separate gateway
- You don’t have an in-house developer and want direct access to Shopify’s support team
Choose WordPress if:
- Your business relies on content marketing or blogging to drive traffic, not just product listings
- You are selling 100+ products and want to avoid rising monthly app costs as you scale
- You need your checkout, shipping rules, or product pages built a specific way that off-the-shelf templates can’t do
- You want your site hosted on Australian servers, for either speed or data residency reasons
Need help building the right e-commerce platform? Whether you decide on Shopify or WordPress, our team can design a custom online store that matches your business goals and supports long-term growth. Contact us today.
FAQs on Shopify vs WordPress for Australian businesses
Yes. You can migrate products, customers, and order data from Shopify to WordPress, but it should be treated as a planned migration. Setting up 301 redirects is essential to preserve your Google rankings, and some app data, reviews, or custom features may need to be transferred manually or with migration tools.
Yes. Shopify includes built-in GST settings that make it easy to calculate and apply the Australian Goods and Services Tax (GST). WooCommerce also supports GST, but you will need to configure your tax settings manually before your store is ready to process orders correctly.
Shopify manages hosting, Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificates, security updates, and Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) compliance for you. With WordPress, security depends on your hosting provider, plugins, backups, and ongoing maintenance, giving you greater control but also more responsibility.
Yes. Both Shopify and WordPress support .com.au domain names. Whether you register a new domain or connect an existing one, you’ll need an active Australian Business Number (ABN) or Australian business registration to meet the eligibility requirements for a .com.au domain.
Yes. Both platforms let you sell across marketplaces such as Amazon and eBay. Shopify provides built-in integrations for a simpler setup, while WooCommerce connects through third-party plugins, making it suitable for businesses that need greater flexibility and customisation.
Final thoughts on Shopify vs WordPress for Australian businesses
Shopify and WordPress can both run a successful online store, but they suit different businesses. Shopify gets you selling faster with predictable monthly costs, and WordPress offers full control and lower long-term costs. The right choice depends on your product range, technical comfort, and how much control you want.
Still unsure which platform is right for your business, or need help with custom Shopify or WordPress (WooCommerce) development in Australia?
At Sitora Solutions, we help Australian businesses build and manage stores on both platforms, including:
- Platform-specific features development
- Payment and CRM integration
- Launch with ongoing support
- Strategic project discovery planning
- Custom cross-device responsive design
Book a free consultation with our team to get a clear recommendation on which e-commerce platform fits your Australian business, budget, and goals.