Shopify vs WooCommerce for Clothing Stores

Shopify is the simpler choice if you want a hosted store that works out of the box, and WooCommerce is the better fit if you already use WordPress and want control over hosting and code. Both can run a clothing store well. The right one depends on your skills, your budget and how much you want to manage yourself.

This comparison is written for store owners and developers. It covers cost, setup, apparel features such as size variants, and what each platform means for fit tools like virtual try-on for WooCommerce. Platform details below were checked in November 2026 against each company's own site, and they change, so confirm on the live pages before you decide.

What is the main difference between Shopify and WooCommerce?

Shopify is a hosted platform: Shopify runs the servers, the checkout and the security updates, and you pay a subscription. WooCommerce describes itself as "the Open Source commerce platform for WordPress" (WooCommerce, checked November 2026). You can download it free and choose your own host.

In practice:

• Shopify is one account with hosting, checkout and a theme store.
• WooCommerce is software you add to a WordPress site, so you or your developer manage hosting, updates and backups.

How do the costs compare?

Shopify lists these plan prices on its US pricing page (checked November 2026, Shopify pricing):

Plan	Monthly billing	Yearly billing (per month)
Basic	$39	$29
Grow	$105	$79
Advanced	$399	$299

The same Shopify pricing page lists card rates for Shopify Payments, for example 2.9% + 30¢ for standard online cards on Basic. It also lists a third-party transaction fee of 2% on Basic if you use another payment gateway.

WooCommerce's home page links to a free download and says you can choose any payments, features and host (WooCommerce). Its payment product, WooPayments, says you can install it with no setup costs or monthly fees on pay-as-you-go pricing (WooPayments). The page lists no specific rates, and says availability is limited to certain countries.

The software may be free, but hosting, themes, extensions and developer time are costs you plan for. Get quotes for your real setup rather than comparing sticker prices.

Which is easier to set up for a clothing store?

Shopify usually takes less technical work to launch. You choose a theme, add products with size and color options, and connect payments in one admin.

WooCommerce needs a few more decisions: hosting, a theme, a payment provider and the extensions you want. That gives flexibility, and a developer or a confident WordPress user can shape it closely. If that is you, WooCommerce is a reasonable choice.

How do they handle sizes and color variants?

Both support products with variants, which is what clothing needs for sizes and colors. The difference is in how much you configure.

• On Shopify, size and color are options on the product. See how to set up size variants for the setup.
• On WooCommerce, variable products offer the same idea, and what you add on top depends on the extensions you choose.

Whatever the platform, the size guide is what shoppers lean on. A clear chart in body measurements is the base for any size recommendation tool.

How do they handle virtual try-on and size recommendation?

ZeDaq.ai works on both, in different ways.

	Shopify	WooCommerce
How it installs	App from the Shopify App Store	Script-tag widget pasted into the product template
Try-on button	Yes	Yes ("Try it on")
Find my size	Yes	Yes ("Find my size")
Your own size chart	Entered in the app	Entered in Dashboard → Size charts

On Shopify, install ZeDaq.ai from the Shopify App Store and switch on the app embed. On WooCommerce or any custom site, you paste one script tag into the product template, with a key locked to your domain. Setup details are in the widget documentation.

If you are building something custom, ZeDaq.ai also offers a REST API at POST /api/v1/tryon with an x-api-key header. The API reference has the details.

What are the hidden costs of each?

Neither platform is only the price you see first. Make a list for each before you compare.

Shopify costs to plan for:

• The monthly plan, which rises with the tier you need.
• Payment fees, which depend on whether you use Shopify Payments or another gateway.
• Paid apps. Some features, such as reviews or upsells, come from apps with their own subscriptions.
• A paid theme, if the free ones don't fit your brand.

WooCommerce costs to plan for:

• Hosting, which you choose and pay for yourself.
• A domain and an SSL certificate, if your host doesn't include them.
• Paid extensions for features your theme lacks.
• Developer or agency time for setup, updates and fixes.
• Backups and security, which you or your host handle.

Add the figures for your own choices to a simple sheet. The cheaper option in year one may not be the cheaper option in year three.

Who maintains the store day to day?

On Shopify, the platform handles server upkeep and core updates. You manage products, apps and the theme.

On WooCommerce, you also manage WordPress updates, plugin updates and hosting. A missed update can break a page or open a security hole, so assign an owner for this. If nobody on your team enjoys technical upkeep, that is a point in Shopify's favor. If you have a developer you trust, it matters less.

How do you handle taxes, shipping and local payments?

These depend on your country, and both platforms support many setups. Check your own requirements rather than assuming.

Before you choose, confirm:

• Which payment providers work in the countries you sell from and to.
• How each platform calculates shipping rates for the carriers you use.
• How each handles sales tax or VAT for your markets, and whether you need an extension.

Official tax rules come from your government, not from a platform. Ask an accountant for anything specific. This article is general information, not legal or tax advice.

Which platform fits which kind of seller?

Use this as a rough guide, not a rule:

• Choose Shopify if you want a managed store, or your team is non-technical.
• Choose WooCommerce if you already run a WordPress site, want to control hosting, or need custom behavior that a developer will build.
• Think twice about switching if your current store works. Migrating products, customers and URLs is real work.

If you run a small brand and want to compare more options, see Shopify vs Wix for fashion brands and Shopify vs Squarespace for clothing brands.

How do you plan a move between the two?

Switching later is possible, so don't let fear of lock-in stall your decision. Plan it in stages.

1. Export your products, customers and order history from the old store.
2. Map your old page addresses to the new ones, so search traffic and old links still work.
3. Rebuild your size charts and variants, and test a few products end to end.
4. Reinstall your fit tools and check that the buttons show on mobile.
5. Run a test order before you point your domain at the new store.

Allow extra time for photos and descriptions, because those are the slowest part for a clothing catalog.

What does a worked example look like?

Imagine two sellers. This is an illustration, not a case study.

Ama runs a small label from her phone, with 40 products and no developer. She wants to launch in a week and hand over fit questions to a tool. Shopify's hosted setup matches how she works.

Daniel already runs a WordPress blog with a loyal readership and has a developer friend. He wants the shop inside his existing site, and to choose his own host. WooCommerce fits how he works.

Both can add the same try-on and size recommendation. Ama installs the app from the Shopify App Store. Daniel pastes the script tag into his product template.

What checklist should you run before you choose?

1. List what you must have: size variants, discount codes, local payment methods, shipping rules.
2. Price the full setup, including hosting or subscription, payments and extensions.
3. Decide who will maintain it in a year.
4. Test checkout on a phone.
5. Ask how you will add fit tools, such as a size recommendation on product pages.
6. Check that your chosen payment provider supports your country.

Growth tools can come later. For example, a wishlist can bring shoppers back, and our guide to the best Shopify wishlist apps shows what to look for.

FAQs

Is WooCommerce really free?

The WooCommerce software can be downloaded free, according to its site. You still pay for hosting, a domain and any paid extensions or themes you choose.

Is Shopify better for beginners?

For most beginners, yes, because hosting, checkout and updates are included. WooCommerce suits people comfortable with WordPress.

Can I use virtual try-on on both platforms?

Yes. ZeDaq.ai is available as a Shopify app and as a script-tag widget for WooCommerce and other sites.

Can I move from WooCommerce to Shopify later?

Yes, but plan time to move products, customers and redirects. Test the new store before you switch your domain.