WordPress vs Wix vs Shopify: what each costs
Build cost and recurring costs for the open-source platform and for subscription platforms.
Costs by platform
| Platform | Build cost (EUR) | Recurring costs |
|---|---|---|
| WordPress / WooCommerce (open source) | the project price from the project-type table | hosting EUR 50 – 300/year; maintenance EUR 30 – 300/month; no platform licence; premium plugins EUR 0 – 300/year |
| Wix / Squarespace (“rented”) | 300 – 1.500 | indicative subscription EUR 15 – 50/month; limited flexibility and technical SEO; exporting the website is hard |
| Shopify (“rented”) | 800 – 4.000 | indicative subscription EUR 30 – 100/month, plus payment fees, plus apps EUR 0 – 100/month |
| Custom / headless | +30% – 100% compared to WordPress | dedicated hosting, ongoing development |
When to choose WordPress or WooCommerce
WordPress is open source: you pay no platform licence, you own the website and can move it to any hosting. Choose WordPress when you want control over technical SEO, many service or location pages, several languages, custom integrations or a low monthly cost.
When to choose Wix or Squarespace
These are “rented” platforms: you pay a subscription for as long as the website is live. They suit a small presentation website with few pages, launched quickly on a low initial budget. Flexibility and technical SEO are limited, and moving the content to another platform is cumbersome.
When to choose Shopify
Shopify is a “rented” platform for online stores. It costs EUR 800 – 4,000 to start, plus a subscription (indicatively EUR 30 – 100 per month), payment fees and apps (EUR 0 – 100 per month). It suits a standard store launched quickly with less technical administration.
3-year cost example (presentation website)
| Platform | Calculation | Indicative total (EUR) |
|---|---|---|
| WordPress | 1,500 build + 3 × (100 hosting + 600 maintenance) | 3.600 |
| WordPress, without a maintenance contract | 1,500 build + 3 × 100 hosting | 1.800 |
| Wix / Squarespace | 800 build + 36 months × 30 subscription | 1.880 |
The example is illustrative and uses values from the ranges above. For an online store, the difference depends on fees, apps and sales volume: on WooCommerce the build cost is usually higher, while on Shopify the recurring costs are higher.
All amounts are in EUR, excluding VAT, indicative (market ranges in Romania). The final quote depends on goals, number of pages, features, content and integrations.
All pricing
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is WordPress free?
The WordPress platform is free and open source, but you pay for the website build, hosting, domain and possibly premium plugins (EUR 0–300 per year).
How much does Wix cost per month?
A Wix or Squarespace subscription is indicatively EUR 15–50 per month. Check the current plan on the provider’s website.
How much does Shopify cost?
Setup of EUR 800–4,000, plus an indicative subscription of EUR 30–100 per month, payment fees and apps of EUR 0–100 per month.
Can I move a website from Wix to WordPress?
Yes, but it is a migration: the content is rebuilt on the new platform. Migration usually costs EUR 300–1,500.
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