Most Indian businesses don't choose between two store platforms — they choose between a business website that also sells (WordPress + WooCommerce) and a store-first subscription (Shopify). The right answer depends on content, products and who runs the site day to day.
Short answer
- Choose WordPress + WooCommerce if you need service pages, blogs, landing pages and a store in one place, want full data control, and prefer one-time build cost plus hosting over forever-rent.
- Choose Shopify if you want the fastest launch for a pure product catalogue, hate touching technical settings, and accept monthly fees plus transaction costs.
Cost reality in India
WordPress itself is free; you pay for build, hosting (₹5,000–₹25,000/year typically), optional premium plugins and maintenance. Shopify charges monthly plans plus payment-gateway fees on every order — cheap to start, expensive forever. Over three years a mid-size catalogue usually costs less on WooCommerce, while a tiny 20-product store can be cheaper on Shopify's basic plan.
Payments, COD and GST
Both handle UPI, cards and netbanking via Razorpay, Cashfree or PhonePe integrations. COD workflows and GST invoicing need explicit setup on either platform — WooCommerce gives you code-level control over invoice formats, rounding and HSN handling; Shopify handles it through apps with their own fees. If COD is half your orders, test that flow — not the homepage demo — before deciding.
Content and SEO control
WordPress wins for content: landing pages, guides, comparisons and city pages live naturally beside the store with full URL, schema and speed control. Shopify's blog and CMS are workable but constrained, and advanced SEO needs paid apps. If search traffic is your acquisition plan, that gap matters.
Who runs it
Shopify is easier for a non-technical owner week to week. WooCommerce needs a care plan (updates, backups, security) — ours starts at ₹2,500/month — but gives your team full editing control without app-store tolls. Either way, insist on documented handover.
CBWS recommendation
Service business with a catalogue: WordPress + WooCommerce. Pure D2C brand testing fast with under 50 SKUs: Shopify is fine to start, migrate when content marketing begins. Want numbers for your case? See pricing and the ecommerce platforms guide.
FAQs
Can I migrate from Shopify to WooCommerce later?
Yes. Products, customers and order history export cleanly; URLs need a redirect map so rankings survive. Plan the migration, don't improvise it.
Which is faster?
Either can be fast or slow. Shopify's hosting is managed for you; WooCommerce speed depends on hosting, theme and plugin discipline — all fixable with proper optimisation.
What does CBWS build?
Both strategies: WooCommerce stores on WordPress, and custom storefronts. We recommend after reviewing your products, content plans and team — not before.
Need help with this? Talk to CBWS.
Call +91-9456315289 or WhatsApp us — share your URL or idea and get a clear next step.