It's the most common question I get from business owners planning a new website: WordPress or Shopify? Both are solid platforms. The answer depends entirely on what your business actually does — and what you need your site to do for you.
The short version
If your primary goal is selling products online, start with Shopify. If you're a service business, content publisher, or you need serious flexibility, WordPress is the better fit. That said, the devil is in the details.
Where Shopify wins
- Out-of-the-box e-commerce: inventory, checkout, shipping, tax — all handled
- Faster time to launch for product-based businesses
- Fewer moving parts to maintain — hosting, security, and updates are managed
- POS integration if you also sell in a physical location
- Better native analytics for sales and conversion tracking
Shopify's monthly fee (from $56 AUD/month at the time of writing) is what you pay for that simplicity. You're renting, not owning. If you ever want to move platforms, exporting your data is possible but not seamless.
Where WordPress wins
- Total control over design, functionality, and data — it's yours
- Better for content-heavy sites, blogs, service businesses, and lead generation
- WooCommerce handles e-commerce well for smaller catalogues
- Stronger SEO customisation via plugins like Rank Math
- No mandatory monthly platform fee (you pay for hosting separately)
The decision framework
Ask yourself three questions:
- Am I primarily selling physical products online? → Shopify
- Do I need a content strategy, service pages, or a blog? → WordPress
- Do I want to own my platform outright with no monthly fee? → WordPress
Most service businesses — tradies, consultants, hospitality — are better served by WordPress. Most product-focused businesses with 20+ SKUs should start on Shopify and stay there.
What we build at Via Nova
We specialise in custom WordPress themes and Shopify builds — both from scratch, no bloated page builders. If you're unsure which direction fits your business, book a free call. We'll tell you straight.
Want advice for your business?
Twenty minutes, specific to you, no pitch deck.