Best eCommerce Hosting 2026: Shopify vs WooCommerce (Honest)

Choosing the wrong ecommerce platform costs you more than monthly fees. It affects your transaction costs on every sale, limits how you can customize your store, and determines whether you can scale when your business takes off. We have seen store owners lose thousands in unnecessary transaction fees or spend weeks rebuilding on a new platform after outgrowing their original choice.

The ecommerce hosting landscape in 2026 breaks down into two camps: hosted platforms like Shopify where everything is managed for you, and self-hosted solutions like WooCommerce where you control every aspect but handle your own hosting. Neither approach is universally better. The right choice depends on your technical comfort, budget structure, and growth plans.

We analyzed seven leading ecommerce platforms across pricing, transaction fees, payment integrations, scalability, and ease of use. Here is what we found.

Quick Comparison: Best eCommerce Hosting 2026

Hosted vs Self-Hosted: The Fundamental Choice

Before comparing individual platforms, you need to understand the two fundamentally different approaches to ecommerce hosting.

Hosted Platforms (Shopify, BigCommerce, Squarespace, Wix)

Hosted platforms handle everything technical: servers, security, updates, PCI compliance, and uptime. You sign up, choose a template, add products, and start selling.

Advantages:

• Launch in hours, not weeks
• No technical knowledge required
• Security and PCI compliance handled automatically
• Automatic updates and maintenance
• Reliable uptime with enterprise infrastructure
• Integrated payment processing

Disadvantages:

• Monthly fees regardless of sales
• Transaction fees on some plans (unless using native payments)
• Limited customization compared to self-hosted
• Platform lock-in makes migration difficult
• Feature limitations on lower-tier plans

Best for: Merchants who want to focus on selling, not technology. Ideal for those without technical skills or dedicated IT resources.

Self-Hosted (WooCommerce on SiteGround, Bluehost, Cloudways)

Self-hosted means you install ecommerce software on hosting you control. WooCommerce, a free WordPress plugin, powers over 28% of all online stores. You are responsible for hosting, security, updates, and maintenance.

Advantages:

• Complete control over design and functionality
• No platform transaction fees (only payment processor fees)
• Thousands of extensions and integrations
• Full data ownership and portability
• Lower long-term costs at scale
• Customize any aspect of checkout and user experience

Disadvantages:

• Requires hosting setup and management
• You handle security, updates, and PCI compliance
• Steeper learning curve for non-technical users
• Performance depends on your hosting quality
• Plugin conflicts can break functionality

Best for: WordPress users, developers, stores needing extensive customization, and businesses wanting maximum control and ownership.

Detailed Platform Reviews

Shopify - Best All-Around Ecommerce Platform

Shopify dominates ecommerce hosting for good reason. It balances power with simplicity better than any competitor. Over 2 million businesses in 175 countries use Shopify, processing billions in annual sales.

Pricing Structure:

Shopify restructured its plans in 2025. The current tiers:

Plan	Monthly	Annual (per month)	Staff Accounts
Basic	$39	$29	2
Grow	$105	$79	5
Advanced	$399	$299	15
Plus	$2,300+	Negotiated	Unlimited

Transaction Fees:

This is where Shopify pricing gets strategic. If you use Shopify Payments (available in most countries), you pay only the credit card processing rate: 2.9% + 30 cents (Basic), 2.6% + 30 cents (Grow), or 2.4% + 30 cents (Advanced).

Use a third-party payment gateway like PayPal or Stripe, and Shopify adds a transaction fee on top: 2% (Basic), 1% (Grow), or 0.6% (Advanced). This fee structure strongly incentivizes using Shopify Payments.

Performance and Reliability:

Shopify infrastructure handles traffic spikes seamlessly. Their global CDN delivers fast load times worldwide, and they guarantee 99.99% uptime. During high-traffic events like Black Friday, Shopify routinely processes over $1 billion in sales without significant issues.

App Ecosystem:

The Shopify App Store contains over 8,000 apps for everything from email marketing to subscription billing to inventory management. Popular apps include Klaviyo (email), ReCharge (subscriptions), and Oberlo (dropshipping). Many essential apps cost $20-100/month, which adds to your total platform cost.

Who Should Choose Shopify:

Shopify is the safest choice for most online stores. Choose it if you want to focus on products and marketing rather than technology, need reliable performance for growing traffic, and are willing to use Shopify Payments to avoid transaction fees.

---

BigCommerce - Best for High-Volume Stores

BigCommerce positions itself as the enterprise-friendly alternative to Shopify. Its key differentiator: zero transaction fees regardless of payment gateway. For high-volume stores, this saves thousands annually.

Pricing Structure:

Plan	Monthly	Annual (per month)	Annual Sales Limit
Standard	$39	$29	$50,000
Plus	$105	$79	$180,000
Pro	$399	$299	$400,000
Enterprise	Custom	Custom	Unlimited

The catch: BigCommerce enforces annual sales limits. Hit $50,000 in trailing 12-month sales on Standard, and you are automatically upgraded to Plus. Exceed $180,000, and you move to Pro. Above $400,000 on Pro triggers a $150/month charge per additional $200,000 in sales.

Payment Processing:

BigCommerce integrates with over 55 payment gateways with no additional transaction fees. Their recommended processor, PayPal powered by Braintree, offers rates starting at 2.89% + 29 cents, decreasing on higher plans. You can use any payment gateway without penalty.

Built-In Features:

Where Shopify requires apps, BigCommerce includes features natively: product ratings and reviews, real-time shipping quotes, gift cards, customer segmentation, and multi-currency support. This reduces app dependency and monthly costs.

Who Should Choose BigCommerce:

BigCommerce excels for stores with high transaction volumes where the zero transaction fee policy saves significant money. It is also strong for B2B selling with features like customer-specific pricing and quote management.

---

WooCommerce + SiteGround - Best Budget Self-Hosted Option

WooCommerce powers 28% of online stores, making it the most popular ecommerce platform globally. It is a free WordPress plugin, so your main cost is hosting. SiteGround offers WordPress and WooCommerce-specific hosting that simplifies setup.

SiteGround WooCommerce Hosting Pricing:

Plan	Intro Price	Renewal Price	Visits/Month
StartUp	$2.99/mo	$17.99/mo	~10,000
GrowBig	$4.99/mo	$34.99/mo	~100,000
GoGeek	$7.99/mo	$49.99/mo	~400,000

SiteGround includes free SSL, daily backups, CDN, and WordPress/WooCommerce auto-installation. The GrowBig plan adds staging environments and on-demand backups essential for ecommerce.

Total Cost Calculation:

Beyond hosting, budget for:

• Domain name: $12-15/year
• Premium theme: $50-150 one-time
• Payment gateway fees: 2.9% + 30 cents typical (Stripe/PayPal)
• Essential plugins: $100-500/year

First-year costs on SiteGround GrowBig with essential plugins: approximately $300-600. Renewal years: $500-900. Compare this to Shopify $468-1,260 annual cost (Basic plan), and WooCommerce becomes more economical as you scale.

Who Should Choose WooCommerce + SiteGround:

This combination works for WordPress-comfortable users who want low monthly costs, full customization, and complete data ownership. It requires more hands-on management but offers flexibility no hosted platform can match.

---

WooCommerce + Cloudways - Best for Scaling Stores

Cloudways bridges the gap between shared hosting and dedicated infrastructure. You get managed cloud hosting on providers like DigitalOcean, Vultr, AWS, or Google Cloud without managing servers directly. For WooCommerce stores expecting growth, this scalability is invaluable.

Cloudways WooCommerce Pricing:

For ecommerce, Cloudways recommends at least 2GB RAM servers:

Provider	2GB Plan	4GB Plan	8GB Plan
DigitalOcean	$22/mo	$46/mo	$88/mo
Vultr	$23/mo	$44/mo	$84/mo
AWS	$37/mo	$73/mo	$139/mo
Google Cloud	$38/mo	$75/mo	$142/mo

The 4GB plans include free Object Cache Pro (normally $95/month), which dramatically improves WooCommerce performance by caching database queries.

Performance Advantage:

Unlike shared hosting where other sites affect your performance, Cloudways provides dedicated resources. During traffic spikes, you can upgrade your server in minutes without migration. This flexibility is crucial for stores running flash sales or seasonal promotions.

Who Should Choose Cloudways:

Cloudways makes sense for WooCommerce stores outgrowing shared hosting, developers wanting cloud infrastructure without DevOps overhead, and stores with variable traffic needing on-demand scaling.

---

WooCommerce + Bluehost - Best for WooCommerce Beginners

Bluehost offers dedicated WooCommerce hosting plans that simplify the setup process for beginners. WordPress and WooCommerce come pre-installed with a setup wizard that walks you through configuration.

Bluehost WooCommerce Pricing:

Plan	Intro Price	Features
eCommerce Essentials	$6.95/mo	Basic store features
eCommerce Premium	$9.95/mo	Enhanced marketing tools, 1-click checkout

These plans include WooCommerce-specific optimizations and access to support staff trained on ecommerce issues.

Who Should Choose Bluehost:

Bluehost works well for WooCommerce beginners who want hand-holding through setup. The pre-configured installation removes technical barriers. Plan to upgrade to SiteGround or Cloudways as your store grows beyond 25,000 monthly visitors.

---

Squarespace - Best for Design-Focused Brands

Squarespace rebranded its plans in 2025. For ecommerce, you need the Core plan or higher to avoid transaction fees.

Squarespace Commerce Pricing:

Plan	Monthly	Transaction Fee	Key Commerce Features
Basic	$16/mo	2%	Limited commerce
Core	$27/mo	0%	Full commerce, no fees
Plus	$33/mo	0%	Advanced features
Advanced	$65/mo	0%	Commerce API, lowest processing

Payment processing rates range from 2.9% + 30 cents (Basic) to 2.5% + 30 cents (Advanced) through Squarespace Payments.

Who Should Choose Squarespace:

Squarespace excels for creative professionals, artists, photographers, and fashion brands where visual presentation matters most. If your products sell through imagery and you want a stunning website without technical complexity, Squarespace delivers.

---

Wix - Best for Simple Stores

Wix simplified its pricing in 2025. Ecommerce requires the Core plan at minimum.

Wix eCommerce Pricing:

Plan	Monthly	Storage	Key Features
Core	$29/mo	50GB	Full ecommerce, 50,000 products
Business	$39/mo	100GB	Automated sales tax, reviews
Business Elite	$159/mo	Unlimited	Advanced analytics, 10 locations

Wix charges no transaction fees. Payment processing through Wix Payments or third-party gateways runs approximately 2.9% + 30 cents.

Who Should Choose Wix:

Wix works for small stores with straightforward needs, especially service businesses combining appointments with product sales. For serious ecommerce growth, Shopify or WooCommerce offer more power.

Best Platform by Store Size

Starting Out (Under $50K/year)

Best Choice: Shopify Basic or WooCommerce + SiteGround

At this stage, minimize fixed costs while validating your business model. Shopify Basic ($39/month) provides everything you need with minimal setup. If you are WordPress-comfortable, WooCommerce on SiteGround costs less than $10/month initially.

Avoid: BigCommerce forces upgrade at $50K annual sales. Squarespace and Wix lack features you will need when scaling.

Growing ($50K-$250K/year)

Best Choice: Shopify Grow or BigCommerce Plus

Revenue justifies platform investment. Shopify Grow ($105/month) reduces transaction fees and adds more staff accounts. BigCommerce Plus ($79/month annual) offers zero transaction fees with more built-in features.

For WooCommerce: Consider upgrading to Cloudways for better performance as traffic increases.

Scaling ($250K+/year)

Best Choice: Shopify Advanced, BigCommerce Pro, or WooCommerce + Cloudways

At this volume, transaction fees significantly impact profitability. Shopify Advanced reduces rates to 2.4% + 30 cents with only 0.6% third-party gateway fees. BigCommerce Pro at $299/month has no transaction fees up to $400K.

WooCommerce on Cloudways (4GB+ servers) handles high traffic while eliminating platform transaction fees entirely.

Enterprise ($1M+/year)

Best Choice: Shopify Plus or BigCommerce Enterprise

Shopify Plus (starting $2,300/month) provides dedicated support, custom checkout, and priority infrastructure. BigCommerce Enterprise offers similar enterprise features with negotiated pricing.

Consider: Headless commerce implementations using either platform APIs with custom frontends for maximum performance and flexibility.

Payment Processing Deep Dive

Understanding payment fees is critical for profitability. Here is how each platform handles payments:

Shopify Payments

Available in most countries. Rates decrease with higher plans:

• Basic: 2.9% + 30 cents online, 2.7% in-person
• Grow: 2.6% + 30 cents online, 2.5% in-person
• Advanced: 2.4% + 30 cents online, 2.4% in-person

Using Shopify Payments eliminates additional transaction fees. Third-party gateways incur 0.6-2% extra.

BigCommerce

No platform transaction fees regardless of gateway. PayPal/Braintree rates:

• Standard: 2.89% + 49 cents
• Plus: 2.59% + 49 cents
• Pro: 2.59% + 49 cents

You can use any of 55+ payment gateways at their standard rates.

WooCommerce

No platform fees. You choose your gateway:

• Stripe: 2.9% + 30 cents
• PayPal: 2.99% + 49 cents (standard), negotiable for volume
• Square: 2.6% + 10 cents

High-volume stores can negotiate rates directly with processors.

Squarespace and Wix

Both platforms offer their own payment systems with standard 2.9% + 30 cent rates, reducing on higher Squarespace plans. Limited third-party gateway options compared to Shopify or WooCommerce.

Security and PCI Compliance

Ecommerce sites handle sensitive payment data, requiring PCI DSS compliance. Here is how each platform approaches security:

Hosted Platforms (Shopify, BigCommerce, Squarespace, Wix):

• PCI compliance handled automatically
• SSL certificates included
• Security updates managed by platform
• You are responsible for account security (strong passwords, 2FA)

Self-Hosted (WooCommerce):

• You are responsible for PCI compliance
• Must maintain SSL certificate
• Regular security updates required
• Use PCI-compliant payment gateways (Stripe, PayPal) that tokenize card data
• Consider security plugins (Wordfence, Sucuri)

For most merchants, hosted platforms security management justifies their fees. WooCommerce requires more vigilance but remains secure when properly configured with reputable payment gateways.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cheapest way to start an online store?

WooCommerce on shared hosting (SiteGround, Bluehost) costs under $10/month initially. However, factor in your time value. Shopify $39/month includes hosting, security, and support, letting you focus on selling rather than technical maintenance. For most beginners, Shopify simplicity justifies the premium.

Can I migrate from Shopify to WooCommerce (or vice versa)?

Yes, though it requires effort. Both platforms support product and customer data export. Tools like LitExtension and Cart2Cart automate migrations. Budget $50-300 for migration tools on large stores. The harder part is rebuilding design and functionality, which may require weeks of work.

Do I need a business license to use these platforms?

The platforms do not require business licenses to sign up. However, selling products typically requires appropriate business registration, sales tax permits, and compliance with local regulations. This varies by location and product type. Consult a local accountant or business attorney.

Which platform is best for dropshipping?

Shopify leads for dropshipping due to apps like DSers and Spocket that connect with suppliers like AliExpress. BigCommerce and WooCommerce also support dropshipping but require more setup. Key consideration: dropshipping margins are thin, so minimize transaction fees by using Shopify Payments or choosing BigCommerce.

How do transaction fees differ from payment processing fees?

Payment processing fees go to the payment processor (Stripe, PayPal, etc.) for handling credit card transactions. Everyone pays these. Transaction fees are additional charges some platforms (Shopify, Squarespace Basic) add on top when you use third-party payment gateways instead of their native payment system.

Can I sell internationally on these platforms?

All platforms support international selling, but capabilities vary:

• Shopify Markets: Automatic currency conversion, duties calculation, localized checkout
• BigCommerce: Multi-currency, multi-storefront from one account
• WooCommerce: Plugins required but highly customizable
• Squarespace/Wix: Basic multi-currency, limited international features

For serious international selling, Shopify Markets or BigCommerce provide the most integrated solutions.

What happens if my store goes down?

Hosted platforms (Shopify, BigCommerce, Squarespace, Wix) guarantee high uptime (99.9%+) with their infrastructure. Outages are rare and usually brief. Self-hosted WooCommerce uptime depends on your hosting provider. SiteGround guarantees 99.9%; Cloudways provides similar reliability on cloud infrastructure. Always maintain backups and have your hosting provider support contact handy.

Which platform has the best SEO?

All platforms support fundamental SEO (custom URLs, meta descriptions, sitemaps). Historically, WooCommerce offered the most flexibility through plugins like Yoast SEO. Shopify has improved significantly with customizable URLs and structured data. Squarespace includes built-in SEO features. For most stores, platform choice matters less than your content and link-building strategy.

Final Verdict: Which Ecommerce Platform Should You Choose?

Choose Shopify if: You want the smoothest path from idea to selling store. Shopify handles technical complexity while providing the features 90% of stores need. Use Shopify Payments to avoid transaction fees. The app ecosystem extends functionality as you grow.

Choose BigCommerce if: You are processing high volume and want zero transaction fees with any payment gateway. The forced upgrades at sales thresholds make BigCommerce cost-effective for stores between $50K-$400K annual revenue that would otherwise pay significant Shopify transaction fees.

Choose WooCommerce (SiteGround/Bluehost) if: You know WordPress and want maximum control with lowest monthly costs. Accept responsibility for updates, security, and optimization. Best for developers, agencies, and stores with unique customization needs.

Choose WooCommerce (Cloudways) if: You are running a growing WooCommerce store that needs scalable infrastructure. The cloud hosting handles traffic spikes while you maintain full WooCommerce flexibility.

Choose Squarespace if: Visual presentation defines your brand, and you are selling products that require beautiful imagery to convert. Accept the trade-off of fewer ecommerce features for stunning design.

Choose Wix if: You need a simple store with basic requirements, especially if combining products with services like appointments. For serious ecommerce scaling, plan to migrate eventually.

For most new store owners, Shopify remains the recommendation. Its balance of simplicity, features, and scalability fits the widest range of businesses. Experienced WordPress users should consider WooCommerce for the control and cost savings. High-volume stores should compare BigCommerce against Shopify Advanced for optimal transaction fee structures.

Whatever platform you choose, remember: your marketing, products, and customer experience matter more than platform choice. Pick something reasonable, start selling, and optimize from there.