WooCommerce: Open Source Alternative to Shopify

WooCommerce is the world's most popular open-source ecommerce plugin with 10k+ GitHub stars (monorepo) — powering millions of stores as a Shopify alternative built on WordPress.

Compare WooCommerce with BigCommerce and Magento before you choose your stack.

Key features

Commerce core

• Products, cart, checkout, orders, and customer accounts
• Physical, digital, and subscription products
• Shipping zones, tax rules, and coupon codes
• Payment gateway integrations (Stripe, PayPal, and 100+ extensions)

WordPress ecosystem

• Content + commerce in one platform — blog, pages, and store together
• Massive extension marketplace (themes, payments, shipping, marketing)
• REST API and Store API for headless setups
• Gutenberg blocks and full-site editing support

Flexibility

• Self-hosted on any WordPress host
• WooCommerce Blocks for modern checkout experiences
• HPOS (High-Performance Order Storage) for scale
• Active development by Automattic with regular releases

WooCommerce vs Shopify

	WooCommerce	Shopify
License	GPL-2.0 (open source)	Proprietary
Store ownership	Full code and data control	Platform-hosted
Customization	Unlimited themes and extensions	Theme marketplace limits
Payments	Bring your own PSP	Built-in payment stack
Cost	Free software + hosting	Monthly SaaS fees

Choose WooCommerce if you want open-source code, self-hosting options, and full control over your data and deployment.

Choose Shopify if you prefer a managed proprietary product with vendor support and minimal setup.

Browse more open-source alternatives to Shopify, or explore other tools in eCommerce.

At a glance

License	GPL-2.0
Stack	PHP, WordPress, React (Blocks)
Self-hosted	Yes — requires WordPress
Extensions	59,000+ plugins/themes ecosystem
Stores	Millions worldwide

Getting started

Install WordPress, then add WooCommerce from the plugin directory or via Composer in the monorepo. Ideal when you already run WordPress and want full control without SaaS fees.

FAQ

Is WooCommerce a free alternative to Shopify?

Yes. WooCommerce is open source under GPL-2.0. You can self-host it at no software cost — you only pay for infrastructure or optional managed services.

How does WooCommerce compare to Shopify?

WooCommerce gives you source code access, self-hosting, and data ownership. Shopify is a proprietary product focused on managed convenience. See the comparison table above for a side-by-side breakdown.

Can I self-host WooCommerce?

Yes. WooCommerce supports self-hosted deployment, which is a core reason teams choose it over Shopify. Check the Getting started or Self-hosting section for install commands.

Is WooCommerce suitable for production?

WooCommerce is actively maintained with a strong open-source community. Many teams run it in production as a eCommerce alternative to Shopify. Review the At a glance table for license and stack details.

What are alternatives to WooCommerce and Shopify?

Browse alternatives to Shopify for more open-source options, including tools compared to BigCommerce. Explore the full eCommerce category for related projects.