Choosing between Shopify and WordPress (WooCommerce) comes down to ownership versus convenience. Shopify is a fully hosted platform, meaning they handle security, hosting, and software updates for you out of the box. WooCommerce is an open-source WordPress plugin, offering complete creative freedom and zero monthly platform fees, but you handle your own maintenance. If you want a hands-off, fast setup, go with Shopify. If you want full data control and deep customization without monthly app fees, WooCommerce is your winner.