WooCommerce vs Shopify: Which Ecommerce Platform Wins in 2025

Both Shopify and WooCommerce power millions of online stores worldwide, making the WooCommerce vs Shopify choice one of the most critical decisions business owners face in 2025.

Here’s the fundamental trade-off. Shopify offers an all-in-one hosted solution with built-in features, while WooCommerce provides complete flexibility through WordPress. The decision becomes even more complex for B2B ecommerce businesses, where standard ecommerce features often fall short of wholesale requirements. 

In this comprehensive WooCommerce vs Shopify comparison, we’ll cut through the marketing claims and examine the real differences that matter for your business, from customization and costs to B2B capabilities and long-term scalability.

What is WooCommerce?

WooCommerce is a free, open-source plugin designed for existing WordPress users. It transforms a standard WordPress website into a functional online store. While the core plugin is free to use, additional costs can arise from purchasing essential components of the website, like a domain, hosting, premium themes, and extensions. 

For instance, to access core B2B functionalities like pricing management or catalog management, you need to purchase a dedicated B2B plugin.

Key features of WooCommerce

• Product visibility by user roles: It lets you control which products and categories are visible to specific user roles or guest users. You can hide content from non-logged-in users or certain roles and even display custom messages when access is restricted.
• Request a quote & hide prices: It allows you to hide product prices for specific user roles and replace the “Add to Cart” button with an “Add to Quote” button. This feature also lets your customers request quotes for products and receive custom pricing.
• Order amount & quantity restrictions by user roles: It lets you set minimum or maximum purchase limits based on user roles or individual customers. You can control order quantity and enforce restrictions on cart subtotal or total order value. This ensures that your buyers meet your volume requirements.
• Tax control: It allows you to show prices inclusive or exclusive of tax based on user roles. The plugin also supports tax exemption for specific users or roles. You have the option to automatically remove tax or let customers toggle exemption at checkout.
• Tiered quantity-based pricing: It lets you assign different price points based on purchase quantity for specific user roles or customers. It is ideal for managing wholesale discounts.

Related read: Top questions to ask before choosing WooCommerce for B2B business

What is Shopify?

Shopify is a cloud-based ecommerce solution that helps you manage the whole lifecycle of ecommerce, including setting up an online store, managing inventory, processing Shopify payments, and handling shipping. The platform offers several B2B commerce features through its Shopify Plus module, which needs to be purchased separately. 

For instance, it allows you to assign payment terms or send invoices automatically when a pre-set rule is met. Shopify Plus is also designed to help sales representatives manage their daily tasks in a better way. 

Key features of Shopify

• Company profiles: You can manage multiple buyers and locations under a single account. You can also set custom permission levels, payment terms, tax exemptions, and preferred payment methods for each buyer or location. 
• Customer-specific catalogs: You can assign unique product catalogs to individual buyers or locations. This ensures that the buyers see only the products relevant to them in your Shopify store.
• Quantity rules: You can set conditional rules for products and variants. For instance, you can decide minimum and maximum order quantities, case pack sizes, ordering increments, etc.
• Volume pricing: You can encourage larger orders by setting up quantity-based price breaks. This allows your B2B buyers to unlock better pricing as they buy more.
• Company account requests: You can let your prospective buyers request a company account through a form on your store. Once approved, their details are automatically saved as a company profile, allowing them to start purchasing immediately.

Related read: Is Shopify Good for Wholesale? Here’s What You Need to Know

WooCommerce vs Shopify: Key differences in capabilities

Here is a head-to-head comparison of WooCommerce vs Shopify in different areas so that you can make a more informed decision on which is right for your B2B store:

WooCommerce vs Shopify: Feature comparison table

Customization

WooCommerce

When comparing WooCommerce vs Shopify for customization, WooCommerce is built on a modular architecture that leverages plugins to extend functionality. This means you can customize every component of your wholesale store and tailor every individual workflow to suit your precise needs. This is provided you have the required technical expertise. 

From defining custom user roles to assigning role-based pricing, setting catalog visibility to configuring preferred payment methods for different user roles, you can tailor everything. The platform also supports custom registration workflows adaptable to varied wholesale needs.

Shopify

Shopify is not behind WooCommerce when it comes to customization. Developers can work on both the front and back ends simultaneously using headless commerce and any programming language. On the other hand, non-technical users can easily tailor their online store and checkout experience using an intuitive editor. 

There are several sandbox and development environments that allow your teams to test and refine features you have customized before going live.

WooCommerce vs Shopify winner: WooCommerce was built keeping deep customization in mind. It is the clear winner when it comes to customization.

Analytics & reporting

WooCommerce

WooCommerce’s analytics capabilities are powered by a free official plugin from WooCommerce itself. It provides key insights into order attribution and includes five detailed reports that track the last touchpoint in a shopper’s journey. It covers orders by channel, source, device, campaign, and a combined view of channel and source. 

These reports help you understand which marketing efforts and platforms are driving conversions. If you need deeper insights, you need to rely on paid plugins or tools like Google Analytics.

Shopify

Unlike WooCommerce, Shopify provides built‑in analytics tools that cover everything from session data to conversion rates. All users get a clean dashboard with customizable data cards and visualizations. If required, you can dive deeper with a suite of pre‑built reports for areas like acquisition, behavior, inventory, marketing, finance, and profits. 

Shopify also offers a query‑language interface (ShopifyQL) that enables custom reporting. You can tailor metrics, dimensions, visualizations, and filters, then save these explorations for ongoing use. 

WooCommerce vs Shopify winner: Shopify, mainly because of the ease of gathering insights and advanced features like ShopifyQL.

While both platforms offer analytics, many B2B businesses find they need more specialized reporting for wholesale operations, something platforms like WizCommerce address with purpose-built B2B dashboards.

Order management capabilities

WooCommerce

Through dedicated B2B and wholesale plugins, you can manage bulk orders with customizable pricing. Features like quick order forms, reordering options, and the ability to hide retail-only elements are available to you, which can help streamline the buying process for your buyers. 

Additionally, you can apply purchase restrictions and automate approvals, enabling better handling of complex B2B transactions.

Shopify

Shopify simplifies order management with all the usual features found in an ecommerce platform. For instance, buyers can place bulk orders by viewing all product variants, such as sizes and colors, directly on product pages or through a dedicated order form. The platform also supports easy reordering, allowing customers to repeat past purchases directly from their account.

WooCommerce vs Shopify winner: It’s a close competition between both platforms, and there are no clear winners. While WooCommerce excels in offering fully customizable order management features, Shopify scores in ease of use.

For B2B businesses specifically, this often means choosing between functionality and simplicity, unless you consider platforms like WizCommerce that offer both advanced B2B features and intuitive interfaces.

Integrations

WooCommerce

WooCommerce supports over 6000 plugins, out of which 4600 are free apps and 1400 are paid ones. While the number of plugins for B2B might be a fraction of that, they are sufficient to customize and extend the functionality of your wholesale business. 

From SEO plugins to email marketing tools and inventory management solutions, you have apps that help in executing a variety of B2B workflows.

Shopify

There are over 10,000 apps in Shopify’s App Store. There are also 300+ dedicated Shopify Plus Partners and 80+ Plus Certified Apps that are tailored for B2B stores only. The platform also provides APIs and SDKs, making it simple to connect with essential systems like ERP, 3PL, OMS, PIM, and IMS.

WooCommerce vs Shopify winner: Shopify, purely because of the higher number of plugins or apps supported through the Shopify App Store.

That said, having more apps doesn’t always mean better integration. Many B2B businesses still struggle with connecting their ERP systems seamlessly, a challenge that purpose-built platforms like WizCommerce solve with native integrations.

Security and compliance

WooCommerce

For securing your WooCommerce store fully, you need to again rely on the official WooCommerce security plugin. It offers real-time backups to ensure you never lose critical data. The plugin also scans for malware and vulnerabilities, allowing you to fix threats.

Through its downtime monitoring capability, you’ll be alerted the moment your site is compromised. Plus, features like spam protection, brute force attack prevention, firewalls, two-factor authentication, and activity logs provide more layers of defense. 

Shopify

Shopify also offers all the key security measures to protect your customer and payment data. Unlike WooCommerce, you need not rely on a separate plugin for this. The platform offers end-to-end encryption for all your transactions and includes features like fraud analysis, risk analysis, bot protection, 3D secure checkout, etc., to prevent unauthorized access. 

It is also compliant with Level 1 PCI DSS standards and SOC 2 Type II, ensuring strong controls are in place for data handling and privacy. 

WooCommerce vs Shopify winner: Shopify has an edge over WooCommerce. Without a reliable security plugin, your WooCommerce store remains vulnerable to threats.

This plugin dependency is one reason some businesses explore alternatives like WizCommerce.

Support

WooCommerce

Being an open-source platform, WooCommerce offers only basic support to ensure users find help when they need it. It has an extensive knowledge base that covers everything from getting started to advanced and new features. 

There is also a community forum that allows you to get your queries answered and also gain access to valuable insights and best practices. For more specific concerns, contact forms are available to assist with both general inquiries and account-related issues. 

Shopify

Shopify offers 24/7 support through its AI-powered Help Center Assistant for all plans. You can access help articles, step-by-step guidance, and live advisor support when needed. The assistant is the fastest way to get help and is available directly via the Shopify Help Center. 

Shopify Plus users get additional options, including phone and email support, and direct access to Plus Support Advisors. Most issues can be resolved by first interacting with the assistant, which routes queries based on user input.

WooCommerce vs Shopify winner: Shopify is the clear winner owing to the larger number of support channels available. 

While Shopify may have come out on top in the above comparison, it’s not an apples-to-apples evaluation. WooCommerce is ultimately a free platform, and its capabilities and limitations reflect that positioning. Having said that, the winning tool, Shopifty, caters primarily to DTC brands, and many B2B needs are still left unaddressed. 

While both platforms have strengths, B2B businesses often find themselves choosing between ease-of-use and functionality. This is where purpose-built B2B solutions like WizCommerce bridge the gap, offering the best of both worlds. This is where exploring alternatives becomes valuable. 

Why is WizCommerce a better choice than WooCommerce and Shopify?

WizCommerce is an all-in-one B2B commerce solution that is custom-made for today’s wholesalers, distributors, and manufacturers. It is the key to digitize your B2B operations, right from pricing to order management. Through its flagship B2B ecommerce platform – Wizshop, and a B2B order taking app – WizOrder, the platform supports omnichannel selling. Whether retailers are ordering online or reps are taking orders at trade shows, WizCommerce is the only tool they need.

WizCommerce offers the flexibility of WooCommerce minus the over-reliance on plugins. Similarly, it offers the scalability of Shopify minus the limitations of a closed ecosystem. 

Here are the core capabilities of WizCommerce that make it the right platform for today’s B2B ecommerce businesses:

1. Seamless integration with your existing tools

WizCommerce effortlessly connects with your existing tech stack; No complex codes or wasting hundreds of developer hours connecting systems. Here are some of the native integrations supported by WizCommerce:

• ERP tools: Microsoft Dynamics 365, Business Central, Netsuite, Sage, Epicor Prophet 21, SAP Business One, SAP S/4HANA, and IBM AS400
• Accounting tools: Quickbooks Desktop, Quickbooks Online, Xero, and ZOHO Books
• Inventory software: Fishbowl and SOS Inventory
• Payment solution providers: Worldpay, Finix, Cybersource, PCI Vault, SensePass,  PayFabric, Fortis, and Versapay
• Ecommerce solutions: Shopify and Magento
• Logistics providers: FedEx and UPS

Thanks to these deep integrations, you can experience real-time syncing of product data, inventory, pricing, and orders, so that your B2B store functions like a well-oiled machine. 

And in case one of your tools is missing from our list, all you need to do is request it, and we will respond in 48 hours.

2. Flexible B2B checkout flow

When it comes to flexibility, particularly in checkout, WizCommerce marches ahead of competitors like WooCommerce or Shopify. Your reps and your buyers have endless payment and delivery options to complete an order. Here are some key components of WizCommerce’s flexible checkout flow:

• Delivery instructions: Buyers can share special instructions related to an order. 
• Payment method: Buyers can choose their preferred payment method, such as card-on-file, payment links, credit cards, refund credits, etc through WizPay. 
• Payment terms: You can set custom terms for each buyer, such as upfront payments, deposits, or custom net terms.
• Workflows: You can also include options for your buyers to pick preferred shipping dates, and billing & shipping options.

3. Streamline order creation via multiple price lists

This is an intuitive feature of WizCommerce that lets your reps switch between multiple price lists effortlessly. Price lists can be created for different buyer personas, such as:

• Wholesalers 
• Retailers
• Corporate Buyers
• Exporters, etc.

This enables your reps to sell in accordance with the buying capacity and business model of the buyer. They can quickly switch between different price lists from the main product page or from the product details page so that there is no time wasted catering to different types of buyers.

4. Manage multiple carts for simultaneous order creation

Not just prices, your reps can create multiple carts at the same time, giving them the freedom to handle several orders simultaneously. This feature becomes particularly valuable when your reps are taking orders in trade shows or creating them for different business units of the same retailer.

They can quickly switch between carts in a couple of clicks and submit them individually when the buyer is ready to proceed with the order.

5. Use WizStudio for creating lifestyle images

If you are tired of traditional product photoshoots for your listings or find the costs prohibitive, this soon-to-be-launched feature of WizCommerce can come to your aid. In this, all you need to do is: 

• Submit your raw product photos along with a short creative brief. 
• The design experts at WizCommerce will use WizStudio to transform your simple product shots into stunning, brand-aligned lifestyle visuals. 
• You will receive multiple variants to choose from.
• You can also request tweaks if you need to customize the images further.

It is an ideal feature for those B2B businesses with limited marketing resources, as they don’t need to purchase expensive design tools or hire professional photographers who charge a hefty amount for basic photoshoots. 

6. Make data-backed decisions using analytics, performance dashboard, and lead scoring tool

Make informed decisions by turning insights generated by WizCommerce into action. You can get full visibility into sales, customer behavior, product performance, and several more key areas through the following features of WizCommerce:

• Analytics dashboard: Track critical metrics like revenue, total orders, and quotes in real-time from a single, streamlined dashboard. Use smart filters to easily dig into specific segments, generate in-depth reports, and monitor quote and order activity. 
• Lead scoring system: Analyzes five years of historical behavior to categorize customers into High, Mid, or Low priority. This guides your reps to focus on high-intent prospects.
• Admin dashboard: Gain full visibility into individual rep performance and engagement. Use the derived data to coach your team in a more personalized manner.

7. Instant assistance for reps through Kai, WizCommerce’s in-house AI sales assistant

Kai by WizCommerce, is a dedicated AI sales assistant built specifically for your sales reps. It comes with ready-to-use prompts and templates to support everyday sales workflows. Your reps can ask contextual questions and get instant answers to plan and pitch better. 

For example, Kai can quickly pull up customer summaries including purchase history, top categories, and outstanding payments.

8. Round-the-clock support for all users

WizCommerce was built keeping customers at its focal point. That’s why you will find it backed by a strong support system comprising several key individual services such as:

• A dedicated support manager for every buyer to guide them through onboarding.
• 24/7 customer support for instant assistance via email, live chat, and Slack channels.
• Support in additional activities like data cleanup, product digitization, and catalog organization. 
• Ability to raise support tickets directly within the platform.
• One-on-one or group training for all new reps onboarded.

9. Sell confidently with advanced inventory intelligence

From available stock to backorders and in-transit items, your ecommerce store’s inventory is clearly displayed on the product details page. The best part – these details are updated automatically in real time. As a result, your reps can focus on pitching what’s readily available. 

They can even recommend substitutes for low-stock products. This level of inventory management speeds up the sales cycle. Your retailers benefit too: They can plan their operations better and set realistic delivery expectations related to timelines with their own customers.

And the clear winner is….

WizCommerce, of course! While WooCommerce is a free tool, it can become increasingly complex and costly to manage due to its heavy reliance on third-party plugins. On the flip side, Shopify, while simpler to use, often feels restrictive when store owners are ready to scale beyond its ecosystem. 

That’s where WizCommerce stands apart. It’s currently the best ecommerce platform built specifically for B2B online businesses, with scalability and future-ready features infused. So, if you’re looking for a platform that grows with you in the long run, without the usual trade-offs and additional fees, book a demo and see how WizCommerce can transform your wholesale operations.

Frequently asked questions(FAQs) on WizCommerce vs Shopify

1. Which is better, Shopify or WooCommerce?

This completely depends on your needs. If you need an affordable solution with free themes, have an existing WordPress site, and are looking for plenty of customization options, you can pick WooCommerce. If you want a dedicated ecommerce platform that is scalable, offers additional features without installing too many plugins, and is also beginner-friendly, then go ahead with Shopify. If you want the combination of both, your best option is WizCommerce.

2. What are the disadvantages of WooCommerce?

The biggest disadvantage of WooCommerce is that it is fully plugin dependent. For access to all the essential features, including basic ecommerce features, B2B specific features, or even advanced security features, you need to rely on WooCommerce plugins. Managing numerous plugins can slow down your site’s performance and require ongoing technical oversight.

3. Is WooCommerce free or paid?

WooCommerce is a free platform. However, if you want to convert it into a B2B store catering to your specific needs and technical aspects, you need to purchase an additional WordPress plugin that can increase the total cost of ownership.

4. Why choose WooCommerce over Shopify?

The biggest reason to choose WooCommerce over Shopify is the cost factor. While WooCommerce is a free platform, you need to pay for even the basic plan of Shopify. All Shopify’s plans have a free trial except the Plus plan.

5. Which is faster, Shopify or WooCommerce?

There is no definitive answer to this question. It completely depends on the theme used, number of plugins or apps integrated, and how well you maintain your B2B ecommerce website. We have seen performance issues cropping up for both WooCommerce users and Shopify users.