Key takeaways
- Shopify is hosted for you: quicker to run, with a monthly subscription and paid apps for extras.
- WooCommerce runs on WordPress: more control over content and ownership, with hosting and upkeep to manage.
- Both handle cards and local payment methods through payment providers. The deciding factors are usually content, control and who runs the store day to day.
Shopify and WooCommerce power a huge share of online stores, and both can run a successful Singapore business. They make different trade-offs, though, and the wrong choice shows up later as fees you did not expect or limits you keep working around. Here is how they compare.
Side by side
| Shopify | WooCommerce | |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting | Included, managed by Shopify | Your own hosting, managed by you or a partner |
| Running costs | Monthly plan, plus paid apps and theme | Hosting, plus paid extensions as needed |
| Setup speed | Fast: themes and apps plug in | Flexible, needs more setup |
| Content and blogging | Good | Excellent: it is WordPress |
| Customisation | Within Shopify’s rules | Almost anything, with code |
| Maintenance | Handled by the platform | Updates, security and backups are on you |
Choose Shopify if…
- You want to launch quickly and spend your time selling, not maintaining.
- Your catalogue and checkout are fairly standard.
- You expect to sell on several channels (social, marketplaces, in person) from one place.
- You prefer one predictable subscription over managing hosting.
Choose WooCommerce if…
- Content matters as much as products: guides, a blog, rich landing pages.
- You need custom checkout rules, bookings, memberships or unusual product types.
- You already run a WordPress site and want the store in the same place.
- You want full ownership of the code and data, and have a care plan for updates.
Payments, shipping and GST
Both platforms accept cards and popular local methods such as PayNow through payment providers and plugins, and both can show GST-inclusive prices. Shipping rules, local couriers and self-collection options are supported on both, either built in or through apps. Before choosing, list the payment methods, couriers and invoicing your customers expect, then check each one on both platforms.
“Pick the platform your team can run on a Tuesday afternoon, not the one with the longest feature list.”
The Pineapple · e-commerce team
When neither fits
If your checkout is unusual, such as bookings with deposits, memberships or multi-vendor sales, a custom checkout on top of either platform, or a fully custom store, can be worth it. Our e-commerce stores typically go live in 6–10 weeks.
Quick answers
The questions we hear most on this topic are answered in the FAQ below.
Written by
The Pineapple teamAn app development and web design studio in Singapore. Since 2021 we have launched 60+ apps, platforms and websites for events, education, retail and growing businesses, and we write about what we learn along the way.