What is the difference between Shopify, WooCommerce and custom ecommerce?
Shopify is a SaaS platform where everything – hosting, security, updates and payment solutions – is included in the monthly cost. WooCommerce is a free open-source plugin for WordPress where you yourself are responsible for hosting and operation. Tailor-made e-commerce means that a webshop is built from scratch with a framework such as Next.js or a headless architecture, completely adapted to your specific requirements.
When should you choose Shopify?
Shopify is right when you want to get started quickly and don't want to deal with technical operations. The platform handles Black Friday traffic without you having to do anything, has built-in payment solutions including Klarna, and offers an App Store with thousands of integrations.
Shopify charges a 0.5-2 percent transaction fee if you don't use their own payment solution Shopify Payments. It is a cost that escalates with high turnover. The monthly price goes from SEK 239 (Basic) to SEK 2,400 (Advanced) plus extra for themes and apps.
When should you choose WooCommerce?
WooCommerce is right when you want total control over the platform, don't pay transaction fees, and you have access to WordPress expertise on your team or at an agency. It's also the best choice if you're running an existing WordPress site and want to add e-commerce capabilities.
Warunna on WooCommerce: total cost of ownership is often higher than it seems. Hosting, security certificates, plugin licenses, maintenance and someone to handle updates – count all of this when comparing to Shopify.
When should you choose customized e-commerce?
Customized e-commerce is right when standard platforms are not enough: complex order management, industry-specific flows, integration with ERP systems, or extreme performance and personalization. Initial cost depends on scope and complexity —Calculate how much your solution costs in our quote calculator— but it is the long-term right choice for companies with specific requirements that no standard platform can solve.
How much does each option cost?
Shopify: SEK 239-2,400/month for the platform, plus 0-2 percent transaction fee, plus apps and theme.
WooCommerce: Free plugin, but add hosting (cost depends on traffic and provider), premium theme and plugin licenses, and possible developer time. Total cost of ownership varies greatly depending on the choice of stack and supplier.
Bespoke: The initial cost varies with the scope and complexity of the project —use our quote calculator for an estimate— plus ongoing maintenance.
What do Swedish companies choose?
From our experience, most Swedish startups and small e-tailers choose Shopify when they get started. It is the lowest risk decision. Medium-sized e-tailers with an existing WordPress presence and technical resources often choose WooCommerce. Companies with annual turnover over SEK 50 million or complex B2B flows should evaluate tailor-made alternatives.
