Shopify or WooCommerce: which should a Canadian business choose?

ByStandpoint
THE SHORT ANSWER

For most small Canadian businesses selling physical products, Shopify is the simpler start: hosting, security and checkout are looked after for you. WooCommerce is the better choice when you already have a WordPress site with real traffic, when content drives your sales, or when you need unusual features and full control, and you have someone to maintain it.

Want the full comparison and the decision chart?

Shopify or WooCommerce: which is better for a Canadian business?

Five differences matter more than any feature list.

  1. 1Who looks after it. Shopify handles hosting, security and updates. With WooCommerce, you or someone you pay does.
  2. 2How the costs are charged. Shopify charges through its plan and apps. WooCommerce moves the cost to hosting, extensions and maintenance.
  3. 3Content. WordPress is a publishing tool first. Shopify’s blog is basic.
  4. 4Control. WooCommerce can be changed in any way. Shopify works within its own rules.
  5. 5Selling in other places. Shopify has more built in: in-person sales, social and Google channels.

Plans, fees and features change; check current details with each platform. Standpoint is not affiliated with Shopify or WooCommerce.

FREE PDF · 11 PAGES

What’s inside the full guide

How each platform works, how the costs behave, and a six-question chart that gives you an answer.

  1. 01How each platform works, and who looks after what
  2. 02How the costs work on each
  3. 03Running it day to day, scored
  4. 04Growth, and where each one hits its limits
  5. 05Eight points for selling in Canada
  6. 06Amazon, social, Google and in-person sales
  7. 07Switching platforms later
  8. 08A six-question decision chart
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Common questions

Is Shopify or WooCommerce cheaper?

Neither is free. Shopify charges mostly through its plan and apps; WooCommerce moves the cost to hosting, extensions and maintenance. Compare the total over a year, not the headline price.

Can I switch from WooCommerce to Shopify later?

Yes, in either direction, but it is a project. Products and customers move well; the design and apps do not. Redirect every old link to protect your search traffic.

Do Shopify and WooCommerce handle Canadian sales tax?

Yes. Both can charge GST, HST and the provincial taxes by province. Confirm your setup with an accountant.

Should I start on Amazon instead of my own store?

If you have not sold a unit yet and have no audience, testing on a marketplace first can make sense. Your own store is where you build the customer relationship.

Choosing the platform and building the store is part of how we help businesses take their business online.

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