Quick answer
Shopify is the quickest way to launch a straightforward online store. WooCommerce suits businesses that already run WordPress and want flexibility. A custom ecommerce build makes sense when you have complex pricing, B2B accounts, unusual workflows or integrations that platforms handle badly, and you want full ownership.
The three options
Shopify is a hosted platform: you pay a subscription, it handles hosting and security, and you extend it with apps and themes. WooCommerce is a plugin that turns a WordPress site into a store: you host it yourself and have more control, with more to maintain. A custom store is built to your requirements on a stack you own.
Shopify: speed to launch
Shopify is a strong choice for standard catalogues and teams that want to launch quickly with minimal technical work. Trade-offs are subscription and transaction costs, limits on deep customisation, and reliance on third-party apps for extra functionality.
WooCommerce: flexibility on WordPress
WooCommerce suits businesses that already use WordPress and want control over content and hosting. It is flexible and has a large plugin ecosystem, but performance, security and updates are your responsibility, so it needs ongoing maintenance and careful hosting.
Custom: when platforms get in the way
A custom store is worth considering when you need customer-specific pricing, quotes, subscriptions with unusual rules, complex bundling, integrations with an ERP or stock system, or a high-performance catalogue. It costs more upfront and you own the result, with no platform limits. Our ecommerce development service covers all three routes and we recommend whichever fits.
How to decide
Start with the simplest option that meets today’s needs and a realistic view of the next two years. If you sell standard products to consumers, a platform is usually right. If your pricing, workflow or B2B requirements are unusual, or platform fees and app costs are mounting, custom becomes attractive.
Whichever you choose, insist on good performance, structured product data for search and a clear migration path. For costs across options, read how much a website costs in the UK.
Frequently asked questions
Is Shopify better than WooCommerce?
Neither is universally better. Shopify is simpler and hosted; WooCommerce is more flexible but needs more upkeep. The right choice depends on your team, catalogue and budget.
When should I build a custom ecommerce site?
When you have complex pricing, B2B needs, unusual workflows or deep integrations, or when platform fees and limits are holding the business back.
Can you migrate me between platforms?
Yes. We migrate products, customers and orders and set up redirects to protect your rankings.
Which is best for SEO?
All three can rank well when built properly. What matters is speed, clean structure, product schema and good content.
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Get an instant quoteWritten by the LOLCorp engineering team from our experience delivering custom software for UK businesses. This is general guidance, not legal or financial advice.