WordPress vs Shopify: Which Is Right for Your Small Business?
Choosing a platform is the first big decision when you build a website. Both WordPress and Shopify are great. They're just great at different things. Here's how to pick the right one for your business in a few minutes.
Selling products? Choose Shopify. Checkout, payments, shipping and inventory are built in.
Selling a service (photography, beauty, coaching, events, wellness)? Choose WordPress. It gives you more freedom to design, blog and take enquiries or bookings.
WordPress vs Shopify at a glance
| Shopify | WordPress | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Online shops selling products | Service businesses, portfolios and blogs |
| Hosting | Included in your Shopify plan | You choose and pay for your own hosting |
| Cost | Monthly Shopify plan | WordPress is free; you pay for hosting and a domain |
| Selling online | Built in: checkout, payments, taxes, inventory | Possible with the free WooCommerce plugin, with more setup |
| Design freedom | Edit sections in the theme editor | Drag-and-drop pages with Elementor |
| Upkeep | Shopify handles updates and security | You keep WordPress and plugins updated |
When Shopify is the right choice
Shopify is made for selling. Everything a shop needs (product pages, cart, secure checkout, payments, discount codes, order emails) works the day you open. You don't have to think about hosting or updates.
- You sell physical or digital products
- You want checkout and payments to just work
- You'd rather not deal with hosting or updates
- You plan to grow your product catalogue
- It's a monthly subscription
- Some features come from paid apps
- Extra fees apply if you don't use Shopify Payments
When WordPress is the right choice
WordPress shines when your website is about you and your service. With the free Elementor page builder you can drag sections around, write blog posts, show your portfolio and collect enquiries, with complete design freedom.
- You offer a service, packages or sessions
- Blogging and Google search matter to you
- You want full control over your design
- You want to keep monthly costs low
- You need hosting and a domain
- You (or your host) handle updates and backups
- Selling lots of products takes extra setup
Pick the platform that fits how you sell, not the one everyone talks about.
Still unsure? Ask yourself three questions
- What do people pay you for? Products in a cart point to Shopify. Your time, skills or experiences point to WordPress.
- How will they pay? If customers check out online, Shopify is simpler. If they book a call, send an enquiry or pay a deposit, WordPress works beautifully.
- How hands-on do you want to be? Want everything handled for you? Shopify. Happy to manage hosting for more freedom? WordPress.
Questions we hear often
Can I sell products on WordPress?
Yes. The free WooCommerce plugin adds a shop to WordPress. It's a good fit for a small number of products alongside your services. For a product-first business, Shopify is usually easier.
Can I have a blog on Shopify?
Yes. Shopify has a built-in blog, and every Honey Bloom Shopify theme includes one.
Do I need to know how to code?
No. Our WordPress templates are edited with the free Elementor builder, and our Shopify themes are edited in Shopify's theme editor. Both are visual, with no code.
Can I switch platforms later?
You can, but it means rebuilding your site. It's worth choosing the platform that fits your business from the start.
Find your template
Pretty, ready-to-launch websites for small businesses, for WordPress and Shopify.
