Choose Shopify if you want a store that is quick to launch and easy to run, and you accept a monthly fee plus a transaction fee on each order. Choose WooCommerce if you want full control and no platform transaction fee, and you are ready to manage hosting, updates and security or pay someone to do it.
For Malaysian stores, one detail tips the sums more than in many other countries: Shopify’s own payment system is not available here, so every order paid through a third-party gateway carries Shopify’s extra fee. Manual methods such as bank transfer and cash on delivery do not.
The quick comparison
| Shopify | WooCommerce | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Hosted e-commerce platform | Free plugin that adds a store to WordPress |
| Platform cost | From US$19/month (yearly) or US$25 (monthly) | Plugin is free, no monthly platform fee |
| Transaction fee from the platform in Malaysia | 2% / 1% / 0.6% by plan | None |
| Hosting and security | Included | You arrange and pay for it |
| Updates | Handled by Shopify | You update WordPress, WooCommerce and plugins |
| Design freedom | Good, within theme limits | Very high |
| Ownership of site and data | Store runs on Shopify | You own the site, code and data |
| Best for | Owners who want less technical work | Owners who want control and lower fees at volume |
Shopify figures are from Shopify’s Malaysian pricing page, read in September 2026. WooCommerce describes itself as having no monthly platform fees and says you fully own your site, code and data (WooCommerce).
Cost: where the money actually goes
Shopify’s costs are predictable: plan fee, apps, and fees on each order. Because Shopify Payments is not offered in Malaysia, you pay Shopify’s third-party fee on top of your gateway’s charges. We work through a full example in our guide to how much Shopify really costs in Malaysia.
WooCommerce’s costs are spread differently: hosting, a domain, an SSL certificate, paid extensions if you need them, and the time or fee for maintenance. There is no platform cut from each sale.
A simple way to decide on cost: add Shopify’s monthly plan fee, your paid apps, and your expected monthly sales multiplied by Shopify’s transaction fee. If that total is larger than what you would pay for good WooCommerce hosting, extensions and maintenance, WooCommerce may cost less over time.
Payments: FPX, cards and e-wallets
Both platforms work with payment gateways that serve Malaysian buyers. Stripe, for example, lists FPX and cards at 3% + RM1.00 per transaction on its Malaysian pricing page. Local gateways offer FPX, DuitNow and e-wallets, often through a WooCommerce plugin or a Shopify app.
Before you choose a platform, check that your preferred gateway has an official plugin or app for it, and compare the gateway fees, not just the platform fees.
Ease of use
Shopify is easier for most owners. You sign up, choose a theme, add products and connect a gateway. Updates, hosting and security are handled for you.
WooCommerce takes more setup. You need WordPress hosting, the WooCommerce plugin, a theme and extensions. After launch, someone must keep WordPress, WooCommerce and plugins updated, take backups and watch for security problems. Many store owners hand this to a website maintenance provider.
Control and flexibility
WooCommerce runs on WordPress, so you can change almost anything, move to a different host and keep full copies of your site and data. It also sits naturally with a content-heavy website or blog.
Shopify gives you less control over the underlying code and checkout on lower plans. Its pricing page lists checkout customisation as “Limited” on Basic, Grow and Advanced, and “Full” on Plus.
Which one should you pick?
Pick Shopify if:
- You want to launch within weeks with little technical help
- Your team has no one to manage hosting or updates
- Your order volume is modest, so the transaction fee stays small
Pick WooCommerce if:
- You already have a WordPress website
- You want to avoid a platform fee on every order
- You need custom features or full control over design and data
- You have a developer or maintenance provider
Switching later
Both platforms can export products and customers, and moving is possible. It still takes planning: URLs change, redirects must be set up, and reviews or custom features may not move cleanly. It is cheaper to choose carefully at the start.
For the setup side of WooCommerce, see our WooCommerce Malaysia guide. If you want help deciding or building either type of store, our e-commerce website design team works with both.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is WooCommerce free?
The WooCommerce plugin is free. You still pay for hosting, a domain, any paid extensions and maintenance.
Which is cheaper in Malaysia, Shopify or WooCommerce?
It depends on sales volume. Shopify adds a 2%, 1% or 0.6% fee on third-party payments in Malaysia. At higher volumes, that fee can cost more than WooCommerce hosting and maintenance.
Can I accept FPX on both Shopify and WooCommerce?
Yes, through payment gateways that support FPX. Check that your chosen gateway offers an official plugin or app for your platform.
Which is better for SEO?
Both can rank well. WooCommerce gives more control over site structure and content because it runs on WordPress. Shopify covers the technical basics but has some fixed URL patterns.
Can I move from Shopify to WooCommerce later?
Yes. Products and customers can be exported, but you need to plan redirects and check that features and reviews move across correctly.
