Both are strong platforms. The right choice depends on what you're actually building, not which one is objectively "better."
Pros: Maximum flexibility, huge plugin ecosystem, strong for content + commerce combined, full code ownership.
Cons: Requires ongoing maintenance, security is your responsibility, steeper learning curve.
Pros: Fast to launch, security and updates handled for you, purpose-built for selling products.
Cons: Less flexible outside ecommerce, ongoing subscription cost, customization can require app fees.
WordPress itself is free and open-source, but real costs come from hosting, premium themes/plugins if needed, and either your own time or a maintenance plan to keep it updated and secure. Development cost varies with customization — see our Website Cost Calculator for an estimate specific to your project.
Shopify charges a recurring monthly subscription that scales with plan tier, plus transaction fees unless you use Shopify Payments, plus any paid apps you add. The predictability is a real advantage for budgeting, even though the total can end up comparable to or higher than a well-maintained WordPress site over time.
Choose Shopify if: you're primarily selling products, want the fastest path to a working store, and would rather pay a predictable subscription than manage technical maintenance yourself.
Choose WordPress if: you need to combine a store with substantial content (a blog, resource library, service pages), need customization beyond what Shopify's apps support, or want full ownership of your codebase without an ongoing platform fee.
Still not sure? Map out exactly what your site needs to do in the first year, then match the platform to that list rather than the other way around. We're happy to walk through it with you directly.
Tell us what you're building and we'll recommend the platform that actually fits, not the one that's easiest for us to sell.