For Shopify vs WooCommerce in Pakistan, choose Shopify if you want a low-maintenance store and most orders are cash on delivery, since COD carries no Shopify fee. Choose WooCommerce if many customers pay online, because Shopify adds 2% to gateway payments on Basic. Shopify Basic costs $29 a month billed yearly; WooCommerce itself is free.
Key Takeaways
- Shopify charges a monthly dollar fee but handles hosting, security and updates for you.
- WooCommerce is a free WordPress plugin, but you pay for hosting, paid extensions and upkeep.
- Shopify Payments is not available in Pakistan, so Shopify adds 2%, 1% or 0.6% to third-party gateway payments by plan.
- Both platforms support cash on delivery; local wallet and courier support depends on third-party apps and plugins.
- A COD-heavy store with little technical help often suits Shopify; a store with many online payments often suits WooCommerce.
Shopify vs WooCommerce in Pakistan: Which Is Better?
Neither platform wins for every store. The answer depends on two questions: how your customers pay, and who will look after the store. Shopify is a hosted service. You pay a monthly fee in dollars and Shopify keeps the store online, secure and updated. WooCommerce is a free plugin that turns a WordPress website into a store. You rent the hosting and someone has to keep WordPress, the theme and the plugins updated.
In Pakistan, the payment question is sharper than in most countries, because Shopify's own payment service is not available here. That changes the maths.
How Do Shopify and WooCommerce Compare Side by Side?
| Feature | Shopify | WooCommerce |
|---|---|---|
| Software cost | $29 a month yearly on Basic ($39 monthly); $79 on Grow | Free plugin; paid extensions often $49 to $279 a year each |
| Hosting | Included | Rented separately; shared plans roughly Rs 5,500 to 15,000 a year |
| Cash on delivery | Supported as a manual payment method; no Shopify fee | Built-in COD payment option |
| Card and wallet payments | Third-party gateways only; Shopify adds 2%, 1% or 0.6% by plan | Gateway plugins; only the gateway's own charge |
| Courier booking | Through apps, where a courier offers one | Through plugins or custom code, where a courier offers an API |
| Upkeep | Low; Shopify updates the platform | Regular updates, backups and security checks |
| Content and blog | Basic blog | Full WordPress publishing |
Shopify prices are from Shopify's pricing page, checked 29 October 2026. WooCommerce extension prices are examples from the official WooCommerce marketplace on the same date.
Which Handles COD, JazzCash and Easypaisa Better?
Cash on delivery still drives a large share of Pakistani online orders, and both platforms handle it. On Shopify, COD is set up as a manual payment method, and those orders carry no Shopify transaction fee. WooCommerce includes a cash on delivery option in its core settings.
Online payments are where they differ. Because Shopify Payments does not support Pakistan, a Shopify store here must use a third-party gateway for cards and wallets. Shopify then charges its own fee on every such payment: 2% on Basic, 1% on Grow and 0.6% on Advanced. That is on top of whatever the gateway charges. On WooCommerce, you pay only the gateway's charge.
For JazzCash, Easypaisa, PayFast and bank gateways, check what each provider currently offers for Shopify and for WooCommerce before you choose a platform. Integrations and merchant requirements change, so ask the gateway directly. Our payment gateway comparison for Pakistan covers the main providers.
What Do They Cost Over Three Years?
Example figures for an illustrative store, not a real client. It assumes Rs 300,000 of card and wallet payments a month on top of COD orders. The gateway's own charge is the same on both platforms, so it is left out.
| Three-year cost item | Shopify Basic | WooCommerce |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | $29 x 36 = $1,044 | Free |
| Hosting | Included | Rs 16,500 to 45,000 on shared hosting |
| Two paid apps or extensions | Varies by app; many are monthly | About $100 to $300 a year |
| Shopify fee on online payments | 2% x Rs 300,000 x 36 = Rs 216,000 | None |
| Upkeep | Low | Maintenance time or a plan |
In this example, the Shopify transaction fee costs more than everything else combined. If the same store took almost all orders by COD, that line would be close to zero and Shopify's low upkeep would look better. Moving to Shopify Grow cuts the fee to 1% but raises the plan to $79 a month. Run your own numbers with your real payment mix.
When Does Each Platform Win?
Shopify wins when
- most orders are COD and you want to avoid server work
- you have no developer on call for updates and security
- you need to launch quickly with a clean, tested checkout
- you would rather pay a fixed monthly fee than manage hosting renewals
WooCommerce wins when
- a large share of customers pay online by card or wallet
- you publish lots of articles, recipes or guides alongside products
- you want full control of checkout fields, such as alternate phone numbers or landmark addresses
- you already have a WordPress site and a developer you trust
For most Pakistani stores, the platform matters less than delivery speed, honest photos and quick WhatsApp replies. Do not switch platforms to fix a sales problem that is really about product pages or trust.
What About Courier Integration?
Pakistani couriers such as TCS, Leopards, PostEx and Trax offer cash on delivery services and merchant portals. Booking parcels directly from your store depends on whether the courier offers an app, plugin or API, and these change often. On Shopify, check the app store and ask the courier. On WooCommerce, a developer can usually connect any courier that offers an API. Our courier integration guide explains what to ask each courier.
What We Would Build for You
We build online stores on both platforms from Rs 157,500. The package includes product set-up, COD checkout, a gateway connection where available, delivery charges by city, WhatsApp order buttons and order notifications. We recommend the platform after looking at your payment mix and who will run the store day to day. See our online store development service for what is included. Optional maintenance starts at Rs 7,200 a month, mainly useful for WooCommerce stores.
Questions to Ask Before You Choose
- What share of my orders will be COD, and what share paid online?
- Which gateway will I use, and does it support my chosen platform today?
- Which courier will I use, and does it offer an app, plugin or API?
- Who will install updates and take backups if I choose WooCommerce?
- How much content, such as blogs or guides, will I publish?
For the wider choice, including custom builds, see our WordPress vs Shopify vs custom guide. For what a store build costs, read the e-commerce website price guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How We Researched This Guide
Shopify plan prices and transaction fees come from Shopify's pricing page and Help Center, and WooCommerce extension prices from the official marketplace, all checked 29 October 2026. Hosting ranges come from our published hosting guide. Store prices are our own packages. The three-year cost table is illustrative, not a real client.
Sources
- Shopify — Pricing (plans and third-party transaction fees)
- Shopify Help Center — Third-party payment providers
- Shopify Help Center — Shopify Payments supported countries and regions
- WooCommerce — Extensions marketplace (prices of paid extensions)
- WordPress.org — Server requirements
- PostEx — Courier and COD services for online sellers
- Leopards Courier — COD solutions and e-commerce logistics
Disclosure: Kamboh Associates sells the web development services discussed here. Other providers' prices are quoted from their own public pages on the dates shown and may have changed. We correct errors as soon as they are reported. First published ; last reviewed .
Keep Reading
Choosing between Shopify and WooCommerce?
Send us a short description of your project and we'll reply within one business day with a written scope, fixed price and timeline.