WooCommerce vs Shopify for Canadian Stores
The fees in Canadian dollars, card and Interac rates, how GST/HST is set up on each, and who looks after the store. With examples from stores we have built on both.
Quick Answer
- Shopify costs a monthly subscription (Basic is $49 CAD billed monthly) but includes hosting, security and platform updates.
- WooCommerce is free, but you pay for hosting and need someone to keep WordPress and its plugins updated.
- Card fees are close: 2.8% + 30¢ on Shopify Payments Basic, 2.9% + 30¢ on WooPayments or Stripe.
- Choose WooCommerce for custom ordering or an existing WordPress site; choose Shopify for the least upkeep.
The Real Difference
Before fees, decide who you want to be responsible for the store.
Shopify is a hosted service. You pay a monthly subscription, and Shopify runs the servers, security and platform updates. You customize the store with a theme and apps, within the limits Shopify sets.
WooCommerce is a free plugin for WordPress. You choose the host, own the whole site and its database, and can change anything. In exchange, you (or your developer) are responsible for hosting, updates, backups and security.
Neither is better in general. Shopify trades flexibility for less upkeep. WooCommerce trades upkeep for control. The fees below are mostly a consequence of that choice.
Fees in Canadian Dollars
What each platform charges, from their own Canadian pricing pages.
| Cost | Shopify | WooCommerce |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | Basic $49/month billed monthly ($37 billed yearly). Grow $132 ($99), Advanced $517 ($389). | Free plugin. No platform subscription. |
| Hosting | Included | Paid separately to your host |
| Online card rate, domestic | Shopify Payments: 2.8% + 30¢ on Basic, down to 2.4% + 30¢ on Advanced | WooPayments: 2.9% + 30¢. Stripe: 2.9% + 30¢ |
| International cards | Shopify Payments: 3.5% + 30¢ on Basic | WooPayments: +1%. Stripe: +0.8% |
| Currency conversion | Not listed on the pricing page | WooPayments: +2%. Stripe: +2% |
| Using another payment provider | Shopify adds 2% (Basic), 1% (Grow), 0.6% (Advanced) | No platform fee |
| In-person Interac | 15¢ per transaction (Basic, Grow, Advanced) | WooPayments: $0.15 |
| Extra features | Apps, often monthly | Extensions and plugins, free, one-time or yearly |
The fee that catches Shopify owners
Shopify's extra fee for third-party payment providers is charged on top of what that provider already takes. If you plan to use a specific gateway, for example one your bank provides, include that fee in your comparison. With Shopify Payments it does not apply.
For a full Shopify budget, including themes, apps and the cost of a build, see how much a Shopify store costs in Canada.
GST/HST: Same Rules, Different Setup
Your tax obligations do not change with the platform. How you configure them does.
- Once your taxable sales go over $30,000 in a calendar quarter or across four consecutive quarters, you must register for GST/HST (CRA RC4022).
- For goods shipped within Canada, the rate generally follows the province of delivery. An order delivered in Ontario is charged 13% HST (CRA: which rate to charge).
- Shopify calculates tax at checkout once you enter your registrations in its tax settings.
- WooCommerce uses tax rate tables by location, which you or your developer set up, or an extension that automates the calculation.
General information, not tax advice
Provinces with PST have their own rules for out-of-province sellers. Confirm your obligations with an accountant.
Ownership, Data and Upkeep
| Shopify | WooCommerce | |
|---|---|---|
| Where the store lives | On Shopify's platform | On a host you choose, in your account |
| Platform updates and security | Handled by Shopify | Your responsibility, or your developer's |
| Customizing checkout and ordering | Within what Shopify and its apps allow | Anything the developer can build |
| Leaving | Export your data and rebuild elsewhere | Move the whole site to another host |
| Typical upkeep | Themes, apps and content | WordPress, WooCommerce and plugin updates, tested before going live, plus backups |
Which We Chose for Real Stores, and Why
From our own portfolio.
WooCommerce: Coins For Anything
Over 700 products, including 300+ coin and award samples, with filtering so shoppers can narrow down by type and style. The store was already on WordPress, and after its plugin updates proved too fragile to run we rebuilt it there on a clean foundation.
WooCommerce: Ultimate Party Services
Event rentals are quoted, not bought at a fixed price. The site uses a quote cart built on WooCommerce, so customers build a quote request from the catalogue before confirming a booking.
Shopify: Far Beyond Miniatures
An artist selling miniatures wanted a custom-looking store he could manage and update on his own. We built a custom Shopify theme and launched in 14 days.
Shopify: Dealzeez
A family business selling used goods across dozens of categories, on a custom Shopify store launched in 21 days.
How to Decide
Choose Shopify if
- You want to run the store yourself without managing hosting or updates
- You sell products with a standard add-to-cart checkout
- You are happy to use Shopify Payments
Choose WooCommerce if
- Your site already runs on WordPress, or content and SEO matter as much as the store
- You need ordering that is not a standard checkout, such as quotes, bookings or custom pricing
- You want no platform subscription and full control of your site and data
- You have someone to keep it updated, or budget for a maintenance plan
We build on both. See Shopify development, WooCommerce development or WooCommerce development in Mississauga.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is WooCommerce cheaper than Shopify in Canada?
WooCommerce has no platform subscription, while Shopify starts at $49 CAD a month on Basic billed monthly. But a WooCommerce store needs hosting and someone to keep it updated, which Shopify's subscription includes. Card processing rates are similar: WooPayments and Stripe charge 2.9% + 30¢ CAD for domestic cards, and Shopify Payments charges 2.8% + 30¢ on Basic. Which is cheaper depends on your hosting, apps or extensions, and who maintains the store.
Can both platforms charge the right GST/HST for each province?
Yes. Both can calculate tax based on where an order is delivered, which is how GST/HST generally works for goods shipped within Canada. You still have to enter your registrations and check the settings. Ask your accountant to confirm what you need to charge.
Can I take Interac payments?
For in-person sales, both list Interac rates in Canada: Shopify Payments charges 15¢ per in-person Interac transaction on Basic, Grow and Advanced, and WooPayments lists $0.15 for in-person Interac. For online checkout, check each provider's current options.
Which is better for a large catalogue?
Both can handle large catalogues. WooCommerce gives you more control over how products are structured and filtered, which is why we rebuilt Coins For Anything's 700+ product store on it. Shopify handles hosting and performance for you, which matters if nobody on your team wants to manage a server.
Can I switch platforms later?
Yes. Products, customers and orders can be moved, and old URLs should be redirected to the new ones so you keep your search rankings. Custom features usually have to be rebuilt. It is easier to pick the right platform from the start.
Sources
Fees, rules and dates on this page come from these official pages. They change, so check the source before you rely on a number.
Still Not Sure Which Platform?
Tell us what you sell and how customers order. We will recommend the platform that fits, even if it is the one with less work for us.
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