Online shops on Shopify, WooCommerce, Shopware & Magento
The shop platform is the most expensive decision in your e-commerce project – choose wrongly and it will cost you a migration later. Here is an honest comparison of the four platforms that matter and, if you like, our recommendation for your specific case.
Free & non-binding · Reply within 24 hours
The four platforms in plain English
Every platform has its sweet spot – and its cost traps. Both belong on the table.
WooCommerce (WordPress)
The standard for shops you really want to own: no revenue fees, full control over hosting and data, strong when combined with content & SEO. Needs maintenance (updates) – which we take care of under a maintenance contract. Our most frequent recommendation for small and medium-sized shops.
Shopify
The fastest way to a running shop: hosted, stable, with a huge app ecosystem. In return, monthly fees plus transaction costs and less control – you rent instead of own. A good fit when time to market matters more than independence.
Shopware
German shop platform for more demanding projects: strong on B2B features, variants and the German-speaking legal framework. Higher entry effort than WooCommerce – worthwhile once your shop reaches a certain size.
Magento (Adobe Commerce)
Enterprise class for large product ranges, multiple countries and complex pricing logic. Powerful, but expensive to build and run – oversized for most SMEs. We’ll tell you honestly when something smaller will do.
Head-to-head comparison
The criteria that really count day to day.
| WooCommerce | Shopify | Shopware / Magento | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ownership & control | Full – your hosting, your data | Rented – platform rules | Full (self-hosted) or depending on edition |
| Ongoing platform costs | Hosting from ~€10/month | from ~€36/month + transaction fees | Significantly higher – enterprise segment |
| Time to launch | Medium | Fast | Slower, more planning effort |
| Content & SEO | Very strong (WordPress) | Solid | Solid to strong |
| Extensibility | Huge plugin ecosystem | App Store (often subscription costs) | Very high, with development effort |
| Typical shop size | Small to medium | Small to medium | Medium to enterprise |
As of July 2026, typical set-ups. We’ll lay out the exact figures for your case transparently in our quote.
Related pages
Frequently asked questions about choosing a platform
Which is the best e-commerce platform?
None – there’s only the right one for your case. Rules of thumb: WooCommerce for ownership, content and fair costs; Shopify for a fast start without tech; Shopware for more demanding German B2B/B2C shops; Magento for enterprise. You get an honest recommendation once we’ve looked at your range, budget and plans.
Free platform consultationHow much does a shop cost on the different platforms?
With us, shops start from €2,990 – on WooCommerce as well as on Shopify. The differences lie in the ongoing costs: WooCommerce costs hosting and maintenance, Shopify monthly fees plus transaction costs, Shopware and Magento more setup and running effort. We show the full calculation transparently in our quote.
Online shop costs in detailCan you migrate our existing shop to a different platform?
Yes – products, customers and orders can be migrated, and rankings are preserved through correct redirects. What matters is a clean migration plan before you start: what gets moved, what gets cleaned up, when the switch happens. That’s exactly where we begin.
Request a migrationWe already have a WooCommerce shop – can you take over maintenance and further development?
Yes. We take over existing shops after a technical check: updates, security, performance and further development under a maintenance contract – even if another provider built it.
More about our WordPress agencyShopify vs WooCommerce – the classic question: which do you recommend?
If you think long term, plan content marketing or don’t want ongoing platform fees: WooCommerce. If you want to launch as quickly as possible with minimal tech and accept the monthly costs: Shopify. We build both professionally – the answer depends on you, not on us.
Request adviceWhich platform is right for you?
Briefly describe your product range and plans – within 24 hours you’ll receive an honest platform recommendation with reasons. Free, no sales pressure.
