Shopify vs WooCommerce for Sri Lankan sellers
· 3 min read · Last checked October 2026
In short
Shopify is easier to start and needs no upkeep, but it costs a monthly fee in dollars plus an extra fee on every sale, because Shopify Payments is not offered in Sri Lanka. WooCommerce is free software but needs hosting and someone to look after it. Choose by your budget, your tech skills and your size.
Quick comparison
| Shopify | WooCommerce | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to start | From $25 a month ($19 if paid yearly) | Free software; you pay for hosting and a domain |
| Extra fee per sale | 2% on the Basic plan, because Shopify Payments is not available here | None from WooCommerce |
| Setup | Easy, no technical skills | Needs WordPress skills or a developer |
| Upkeep | Shopify handles updates and security | You handle updates, backups and security |
| Local payments | PayHere plugin | PayHere plugin |
| Cash on delivery and couriers | Through apps | Through plugins |
Shopify: easy, but you pay every month
Shopify is the quickest way to get a good-looking store online, and you never worry about servers or updates. The catch for Sri Lankan sellers is cost. Plans are charged in US dollars, and because Shopify Payments does not work in Sri Lanka, Shopify adds its own fee on each sale (2% on Basic) on top of your payment gateway's fee. Many useful apps also have their own monthly fees.
WooCommerce: flexible, but you look after it
WooCommerce is a free plugin for WordPress. You pay for hosting, a domain and often a theme and some paid plugins. It can do almost anything, but someone has to set it up, keep it updated, keep backups and fix things when a plugin update breaks something. That is often a developer you pay again and again.
Which should you choose?
- Choose Shopify if you want the easiest setup and can afford a monthly fee in dollars plus fees on each sale.
- Choose WooCommerce if you or someone you trust knows WordPress well, and you want full control.
- Small budget and no tech skills? Neither is ideal. Keep reading.
Thinking about a custom website instead? See Shopify vs WooCommerce vs a custom website.