Shopify vs WooCommerce vs Wix: which e-commerce platform to choose?

Shopify, WooCommerce, or Wix: it's the question that comes up on every e-commerce project. The honest answer depends on your catalog, budget, and especially your tolerance for tech. Here are the three platforms laid out, with strengths, limits, and real Quebec costs in 2026.

Quick comparison table

Criterion	Shopify	WooCommerce	Wix
Base monthly cost	$39 USD (Basic)	~$10 (hosting)	$32 (Business)
Transaction fees	0% (Stripe Shopify) / 2% (other)	0%	0%
Technical skills	Low	Medium	Low
Design customization	Good	Excellent	Medium
Ideal catalog	10–10,000+	Unlimited	1–100
SEO	Good	Excellent	Decent
Native multilingual	Yes (limited)	Yes (WPML/Polylang)	Yes

Shopify: speed

For whom: entrepreneurs who want to sell fast without touching code. Catalog of 10 to 10,000 products. Growth planned internationally.

Strengths: configuration in 1–2 days, managed security, huge app ecosystem, 24/7 support, scaling without worry.
Limits: 2% fees on sales if you don't use Shopify Payments. Heavy customization = pay a Shopify dev (Liquid). High monthly cost if you add apps (bill can double).
Real cost: $39 USD/month Basic + $50–$150 in apps on average = ~$250 CAD/month in practice.

WooCommerce: flexibility

For whom: those who already have WordPress, want total control, or a very specific catalog (configurable products, subscriptions, B2B).

Strengths: free software, WordPress ecosystem, infinite customization, powerful multilingual, unbeatable SEO with Yoast/RankMath.
Limits: you're responsible for hosting, updates, security. Bad config = slow or hacked site. Real learning curve.
Real cost: $10–$30/month good hosting + $100–$300/year theme and plugins = ~$250 CAD/year if well managed.

Wix: maximum simplicity

For whom: small catalogs (1–100 products), entrepreneurs who want zero technical management, sites where e-commerce is secondary.

Strengths: simple drag-and-drop, all-included (hosting, SSL, backups), pretty templates, minimal learning curve.
Limits: hard to migrate (you're locked at Wix), decent but not excellent SEO, fewer apps than Shopify, less suited for large catalogs, deep customization limited.
Real cost: $32/month Business + domain name = ~$450 CAD/year.

How to choose in 3 questions

How many products will you have in 12 months? <30 = Wix possible. 30–500 = Shopify. 500+ or complex products = WooCommerce.
Do you have a team or technical provider? No = Shopify or Wix. Yes = WooCommerce becomes relevant.
What percentage of margin will you lose in fees? Calculate 2% of your forecasted revenue on Shopify (without Shopify Payments). If big, WooCommerce pays its difference in a few months.

Quebec-specific traps

Shopify Payments accepts CAD natively. For Interac e-Transfer, you need an external plugin.
WooCommerce + Stripe handles CAD + GST/QST well via free plugins (TaxJar free in North America).
Wix miscalculates provincial taxes — verify or configure manually.

For the global budget by choice, see online store cost. For essential features: the truly useful features. Pillar: building an e-commerce website.

Frequently asked questions

Can you migrate from Wix to Shopify or WooCommerce easily?

No. Wix locks your data tightly. Count $1,500 minimum for manual migration if you leave Wix with 50+ products.

Is WooCommerce really free?

The software yes. But hosting, theme, some paid plugins, and configuration time push to $500–$2,000 the first year.

Which platform has the best SEO?

WooCommerce with Yoast or RankMath. Shopify is decent but limits URL and schema customization. Wix is improving but lags behind.

Does Shopify offer a trial?

Yes, 3 days then $1/month for 3 months. Enough to test in depth before committing.

Still hesitating? Let's talk for free — we'll orient you toward the platform suited to your catalog and budget.