WordPress vs Shopify 2026: A UK Developer’s E-commerce Guide

WordPress vs Shopify: The 2026 UK E-commerce Dilemma

Choosing your e-commerce platform is the single most important decision you'll make. It dictates your costs, your flexibility, your maintenance load, and ultimately, your potential for growth. As developers who build on both, this is our unbiased, technical breakdown for UK businesses in 2026.

The Core Difference:

• Shopify is a SaaS (Software as a Service) product. You 'rent' it. It's an all-in-one, hosted solution. It's fast to set up, secure, and simple to manage... but you play by Shopify's rules.
• WordPress (with the WooCommerce plugin) is Open-Source software. You 'own' it. You host it yourself, and you have access to every line of code. It offers unlimited flexibility... but you are responsible for everything (security, updates, performance).

This post directly compares them on the factors that matter most to UK SMEs.

Feature Comparison Table: WordPress vs. Shopify

Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) - The Hidden Numbers

This is where most people get it wrong. They compare Shopify's £25/month plan to "free" WordPress software.

Typical Shopify Costs (UK Example)

• Plan: £25/mo (Basic) to £259/mo (Advanced)
• Transaction Fees (if not using Shopify Payments): 2.0% on Basic
• Premium Theme: £200 - £300 (one-off)
• Essential Apps: £30 - £150+ per month (for reviews, subscriptions, advanced shipping)
• Developer Help: Needed for setup/customisation.

Shopify's TCO is predictable but scales with apps and sales.

Typical WordPress/WooCommerce Costs (UK Example)

• Software: Free
• UK Hosting: £15/mo (Good Shared) to £50/mo (VPS)
• Premium Theme: £50 (one-off)
• Premium Plugins: £150 - £400 per year (for shipping, payments, subscriptions)
• Maintenance Plan: £50 - £200 per month (Essential for security/updates)

WordPress's TCO is often cheaper for complex stores, but is less predictable and requires a maintenance budget. Our Shopify experts can help scope this.

The SEO & Content Marketing Battle

This is a critical differentiator. If your strategy is "content is king," WordPress is almost always the winner.

WordPress SEO

You have 100% control. With plugins like RankMath, you can implement advanced schema, modify robots.txt, and create any URL structure you want. It's built for content (blogs, guides, landing pages) which drives traffic to your products. This is its greatest strength.

Shopify SEO

Shopify SEO is good, but limiting. You're forced into URL structures like /collections/ and /products/. You can't easily create complex content hubs. While product SEO is strong, it's harder to build a surrounding content ecosystem. That said, for a simple store, its speed and simplicity are an SEO benefit.

Customisation, UX, and Brand Identity

Shopify: You are customising a "rental" property. You can paint the walls and buy new furniture (themes and apps), but you can't knock down a wall (change core functionality). Our Shopify developers are experts at pushing these limits, but limits exist.

WordPress: You own the "land" and the "house." You can build a new extension, add a basement, or change the entire floorplan. This is why for custom web applications, complex B2B portals, or unique user experiences, WordPress is the only choice.

Thinking of Switching? Your Pre-Migration Audit

Switching platforms is dangerous if unplanned. You risk losing all your SEO and breaking your customer data. Before you move, you MUST audit:

• URL Mapping: Every old URL *must* be 301 redirected to its new equivalent.
• Data Migration: How will you move customers, products, and order history?
• Feature Parity: Does the new platform support your subscription model? Your shipping rules?
• SEO Benchmark: Record your current rankings, traffic, and site speed. Measure against this after the launch.

Our Expert Verdict: Which Should You Choose?

Choose Shopify if:

• You are a beginner and/or non-technical.
• You primarily sell physical products in a straightforward retail model.
• Your #1 priority is speed-to-launch and low maintenance.

Choose WordPress + WooCommerce if:

• Content marketing and blogging are central to your strategy.
• You need highly custom functionality or unique B2B features.
• You want 100% control over your design, code, and SEO.
• You have a budget for professional ongoing maintenance.

The wrong choice is a costly mistake. Book a free, no-obligation consultation with our UK-based developers. We'll listen to your goals and help you choose the platform that's right for your business.