WooCommerce vs Shopify in Nigeria: Which Should You Choose? (2026)

Last updated: October 2026.

For most Nigerian small businesses, WooCommerce is the better value starting point: the software is free, an official Paystack plugin handles Nigerian payments, and your running costs stay in naira. Shopify is simpler to run and can be the better pick if you want a fully managed platform and are comfortable with dollar pricing. Neither is best for everyone. Here is how to choose, including the costs and catches that matter in Nigeria.

Prices checked October 2026 on each company’s own site. They change and can vary by region and promotion, so confirm before you buy.

What Are WooCommerce and Shopify?

WooCommerce is a free plugin that turns a WordPress website into an online store. You own the site, choose your hosting, and add features as you need them.

Shopify is a hosted platform. You rent a store, and Shopify runs the servers, security, and core software for a monthly fee. It is quick to start, and your store lives inside Shopify’s system.

We build on WordPress, WooCommerce, and Shopify, so this is not a sales pitch for one side. The right answer depends on your budget, your payments, and how much you want to manage yourself.

What Each One Really Costs

WooCommerce costs

• Software: free. WooCommerce’s own site calls it free with no monthly subscription and no revenue share.
• Hosting: not free. WooCommerce’s pricing page lists $25 to $350 per month for hosting for most stores, which is managed hosting priced in dollars. Ordinary shared hosting in Nigeria costs far less (about ₦7,000 to ₦40,000 per year, most plans ₦14,000 to ₦24,000), but a busy store may need to upgrade.
• Domain: about ₦6,500 to ₦9,000 per year for a .com.ng, or about ₦16,000 to ₦18,000 for a .ng.
• Extensions: optional. WooCommerce lists $29 to $299 per year per paid extension.
• Maintenance: updates, backups, and fixes. Read our guide to website maintenance costs in Nigeria.

Shopify costs

• Plan: Shopify’s pricing page lists Basic at $27 per month ($19 billed yearly), Grow at $72 ($54 yearly), and Advanced at $399 ($299 yearly). Some third-party sites list higher numbers, so check Shopify’s page for your region.
• Currency: prices are shown in US dollars, so check how your card or bank handles dollar payments and the exchange rate.
• Payment fees: because Shopify Payments is not supported in Nigeria, you use a third-party gateway and Shopify lists an extra fee on top of the gateway’s own charges.
• Apps: many useful features are paid apps on top of your plan.

Payments in Nigeria: The Deciding Factor

This is where Nigerian stores feel the biggest difference. If customers cannot pay easily, nothing else matters.

• WooCommerce: Paystack has an official plugin for merchants in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa. Its WordPress.org page lists 20,000+ active installs and support for cards, bank transfer, USSD, and mobile money. Version 5.8.5 is listed as current at the time of writing.
• Shopify: Nigeria is not on Shopify’s list of Shopify Payments countries, and Shopify tells merchants in unlisted countries to use a third-party provider. Before you commit, open a Shopify account and check that your preferred Nigerian gateway appears under Settings, then Payments.

Fees from Paystack and other gateways change, so always check the gateway’s own pricing page.

Which Is Easier to Run?

Shopify is easier for non-technical owners, because the hosting, security, and core updates are handled for you. WooCommerce gives you more control but also more responsibility. Updates, backups, and security checks need someone’s attention, whether that is you or a developer on a plan.

If you hate admin, lean Shopify. If you want control and do not mind having a developer on call, lean WooCommerce.

Control, Growth, and Content

WooCommerce sits inside WordPress, which is built for content as well as selling. That makes it easy to add a blog, landing pages, and local SEO pages next to your shop. Shopify also has a blog and apps, but your store stays inside Shopify’s system and its checkout rules.

If you plan to grow through content like guides and how-tos, WordPress and WooCommerce give you more room. We cover that approach in our local SEO and website optimization service.

So Which Should You Choose?

Choose WooCommerce if:

• You want to keep costs in naira and avoid a monthly dollar subscription.
• You want the official Paystack plugin and a flexible checkout.
• You plan to grow with content and SEO.
• You are happy to have a developer or maintenance plan.

Choose Shopify if:

• You want the fastest, most hands off launch.
• You are comfortable paying in dollars and confirming your payment gateway works first.
• You sell a simple product range and do not need heavy customization.
• You do not want to think about hosting and updates at all.

8 Questions to Answer Before You Pick

1. What is my total first year budget, including hosting, domain, apps, and fees?
2. Which payment methods will my customers use?
3. Can I pay a dollar subscription reliably every month?
4. Who will handle updates and backups?
5. How many products will I sell, and will that grow?
6. Do I need custom features, like bulk ordering or bookings?
7. Do I want a blog and SEO pages next to the shop?
8. What does it cost to switch later if I choose wrong?

Real Cterling E-commerce Examples

Here are a few online stores we built. We list them as examples of what is possible, not as a comparison of platforms.

See more on our Our Work page, or read about our e-commerce website development service. Our e-commerce package starts at ₦500,000 for up to 100 products.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is WooCommerce really free?

The plugin is free, and WooCommerce lists no subscription or revenue share. You still pay for hosting, a domain, and any paid extensions, plus your payment gateway’s fees.

Can I use Paystack with Shopify?

It depends on what Shopify offers for your account. Shopify Payments is not available in Nigeria, so you need a third-party provider. Check Settings, then Payments in your Shopify admin before you commit.

Which is cheaper in the first year?

It depends on your hosting, apps, and extensions. WooCommerce usually has no software fee but needs hosting and upkeep. Shopify has a monthly plan in dollars plus fees. Add up your real numbers using the 8 questions above.

Can I switch from one to the other later?

Yes, but it takes work. Products, customers, and pages need to move, and redirects must be set up to protect your Google rankings. Choosing carefully now saves money later.

Do I need a developer to set up either one?

Not strictly, but a good setup saves time. Payment gateways, shipping, speed, and SEO are where most mistakes happen.