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Shopify vs WooCommerce in Australia: 2026 comparison and true costs

Updated 26 September 2026 · 8 min read

Shopify and WooCommerce power most small online stores in Australia, and both can work well. The right choice depends less on features and more on who will look after the store, how you want to take payments, and what you're prepared to pay each month.

This guide compares them from an Australian point of view: AUD pricing, local payment options like Afterpay and Zip, GST, and the running costs that rarely make it into the sales pitch.

The short answer

Shopify is a hosted platform: you pay a monthly subscription and Shopify handles hosting, security and updates. WooCommerce is a free plugin for WordPress: the software costs nothing, but you pay for hosting, premium plugins and someone to keep it all updated.

  • Choose Shopify if you want predictable costs and minimal technical upkeep
  • Choose WooCommerce if you need deep customisation or already run a WordPress site
  • Either way, the build quality and ongoing care matter more than the logo on the platform

Platform and transaction fees in AUD

Shopify's plans are billed in AUD for Australian stores, and card processing through Shopify Payments is charged per transaction. Using a third-party gateway instead adds an extra Shopify transaction fee on top of the gateway's own fee.

WooCommerce has no platform fee or extra transaction fee — you pay only your gateway's processing rate. The trade-off is that hosting, security and plugin licences become your responsibility.

  • Shopify: monthly plan fee + card processing per sale (plus an extra fee if you don't use Shopify Payments)
  • WooCommerce: free plugin + hosting + gateway processing per sale
  • Both: GST applies to Australian sales once you're registered — both platforms can calculate it at checkout

Australian payment gateways: Stripe, Afterpay and Zip

Buy now, pay later is expected by many Australian shoppers, particularly in fashion, beauty and homewares. Both platforms support the main local options, but the setup differs.

  • Stripe: works with both platforms, supports cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay in AUD
  • Afterpay: available natively in Shopify Payments and via an official WooCommerce plugin
  • Zip: supported on both through apps or plugins
  • PayPal: available on both, useful as a secondary checkout option
  • Check each provider's current merchant rates before you choose — BNPL fees are noticeably higher than standard card fees

Plugin and app maintenance

This is where WooCommerce stores most often come unstuck. Each plugin — shipping, subscriptions, reviews, BNPL — is maintained by a different developer, and updates can conflict. Skipping updates leaves security holes; applying them without testing can break checkout.

Shopify apps carry their own risk: many are billed monthly in USD, and a store with eight or ten apps can quietly add hundreds of dollars a month to the running cost.

The true ongoing cost

Rough annual running costs for a small Australian store, excluding card processing and stock:

  • Shopify: plan subscription + paid apps + theme licence + occasional developer time
  • WooCommerce: quality hosting + premium plugin licences + backups + regular update and testing time
  • Hidden cost on both: the hours you spend fixing things yourself instead of running the business
  • The cheapest platform on paper is often the most expensive once maintenance is counted honestly

How we build and look after e-commerce stores

Our E-commerce Package takes the running-cost guesswork away. For $1,499 upfront we design and build your store with payments, inventory and booking options set up, then $199/month covers hosting, maintenance, updates and support — so checkout, payment gateways and products keep working as you grow.

If a professional-looking online presence matters more than selling online right now, our business website package may be the better starting point.

Frequently asked questions

Is Shopify or WooCommerce cheaper in Australia?

WooCommerce has no platform fee, but hosting, premium plugins and maintenance usually close the gap. Shopify's monthly fee is higher but more predictable. For most small stores the total yearly cost ends up similar — the difference is who does the maintenance.

Can I offer Afterpay and Zip on both platforms?

Yes. Both Shopify and WooCommerce support Afterpay and Zip through native integrations, apps or official plugins, alongside Stripe, PayPal, Apple Pay and Google Pay.

Do both platforms handle GST and AUD pricing?

Yes. Both can display prices in AUD and calculate GST at checkout once configured for an Australian store.

What does your $1,499 + $199/month e-commerce package include?

The $1,499 upfront covers the design and build of your online store with payments, inventory and booking options. The $199/month covers hosting, maintenance, updates and ongoing support so the store keeps running smoothly.

Want a store that just works?

Our E-commerce Package is $1,499 upfront + $199/month, with payments, maintenance and support covered. Tell us about your products and we'll recommend the right setup — or call 1300 131 280.

Enquire about the e-commerce package — $1,499 + $199/mo 1300 131 280

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