Choosing between WordPress and Shopify is one of the most common questions we get from NZ businesses starting out online. Both are excellent platforms — but they’re designed for different purposes, and choosing the wrong one can cost you significantly in time and money down the track.
The Core Difference
Shopify is a dedicated eCommerce platform. It’s built from the ground up for selling products online — and it does that exceptionally well. Everything from checkout to inventory to payment processing is handled natively.
WordPress is a content management system (CMS) first. It powers over 43% of all websites on the internet — including blogs, news sites, corporate websites, portfolios, and with WooCommerce added, online stores too.
When WordPress Wins
- Content is central to your strategy — if you rely on blogging, resources, or SEO content to drive traffic, WordPress gives you a far superior CMS
- You need a business website AND a store — WordPress handles both seamlessly on one platform
- Complex product requirements — custom pricing, variable subscriptions, or unusual product types that don’t fit Shopify’s model
- You want total control — WordPress is open source. You own everything. No monthly platform fees.
- Service businesses — if you’re not selling physical products, WordPress is almost always the better choice
When Shopify Wins
- You want to focus on selling, not managing technology — Shopify handles hosting, security, updates, and payments automatically
- You’re launching fast — a basic Shopify store can go live in days, not weeks
- High-volume eCommerce — Shopify handles millions of orders without infrastructure concerns
- You need POS integration — Shopify’s point of sale is best-in-class
- No in-house developer — Shopify’s no-code tools are genuinely powerful for non-technical users
"We build both. The question we always ask first is: what does success look like in 3 years? That usually makes the platform choice obvious."
Cost Comparison for NZ (Annual)
WordPress + WooCommerce: $500–$2,000/year for hosting + plugins. Higher setup cost (developer fees) but lower ongoing SaaS fees.
Shopify: $600–$2,400/year in platform fees + transaction fees if not using Shopify Payments. Lower setup cost, predictable monthly pricing.
For most NZ businesses, the total cost of ownership over 3 years is similar. The decision should be based on fit, not cost alone.
Not sure which to choose?
We’ve built dozens of stores on both platforms for NZ and Australian clients. Tell us about your business and we’ll give you our honest recommendation — get in touch.