Total Price of a WordPress.org Blog Site vs Shopify (2026 Guide)

Choosing between WordPress.org and Shopify can dramatically impact your long term costs SEO potential and website growth. This complete comparison breaks down every cost hosting domains themes plugins/apps and long term expenses to help you pick the most cost effective and scalable platform for your blog or online business.

WordPress.org vs Shopify Pricing: Complete Cost Breakdown (2026)

When comparing WordPress.org and Shopify the biggest difference lies in pricing structure:

• org is cheaper long term (especially for blogs and SEO sites).
• Shopify is more expensive but offers extremely easy e commerce tools.

Below is the full long term cost comparison to guide your decision.

What You’re Paying for With Each Platform

WordPress.org (Self Hosted)

You pay for:

• Hosting
• Domain
• Theme (optional)
• Plugins (mostly free)
• Maintenance (optional)

Shopify

You pay for:

• Monthly subscription
• Domain
• Theme
• Apps (mostly paid)
• Transaction fees (if using external gateways)

WordPress.org Cost Breakdown

WordPress.org itself is free but running a site involves a few costs.

1. Domain Name Cost

• Typical price: $10–$20 per year
  Identical for both platforms.

2. Web Hosting Cost

Your hosting determines site speed uptime and SEO performance.

Hosting Options

Hosting Type	Best For	Price
Shared hosting	New bloggers	$2.95–$7/mo
Managed WordPress hosting	Growing blogs	$12–$30/mo
Cloud/VPS hosting	High traffic sites	$30–$100/mo

For most blogs:
👉 $40–$120 per year total

3. WordPress Theme Cost

• Free themes available
• Premium themes: $30–$100 one time

Most bloggers can stay with free themes until they grow.

4. Plugin Costs

You only pay for advanced features.

• Free plugins: SEO backups security contact forms
• Premium plugins: $10–$200/year (optional)

Most blogs: $0 cost for plugins.

5. Optional Maintenance

If you handle updates yourself → $0/month
If you hire someone → $20–$100/month

⭐ Total Annual WordPress.org Cost

Simple Blog:

➡️ $50–$100/year

Professional Blog (with premium tools):

➡️ $150–$400/year

Large Website (managed hosting + premium features):

➡️ $400–$800/year

Shopify Cost Breakdown

Shopify is a hosted all in one solution—simple but more expensive.

1. Shopify Subscription Plans

Plan	Price (Annual Billing)
Basic	$29/mo
Shopify	$79/mo
Advanced	$299/mo

Even the cheapest plan costs:
➡️ $348/year

2. Domain Name

• $14–$20/year

3. Shopify Theme Cost

• Free themes available
• Premium themes: $170–$350 one time

Themes on Shopify are pricier because they’re optimized for e commerce.

4. Shopify App Costs

This is where most people overspend.

Many brands use 3–10 paid apps:

• $5–$80/month each
• Apps for SEO reviews SMS popups upsells email marketing etc.

Average businesses spend:
➡️ $30–$200/month on apps

5. Transaction Fees

If not using Shopify Payments:
➡️ 2% per transaction

For stores with high order volume this adds up quickly.

⭐ Total Annual Shopify Cost

Light Store (few apps):

➡️ $450–$600/year

Growing Store (multiple apps + features):

➡️ $800–$1800/year

High Volume E commerce Brand:

➡️ $2000–$5000+/year

WordPress.org vs Shopify: Which Is Cheaper Overall?

For Blogging & SEO → WordPress Wins

Why WordPress is better long term:

• Lower cost
• Full technical and SEO control
• Better for long form articles
• No monthly subscription
• Flexible for any type of content

For E Commerce → Shopify Wins

Why Shopify is worth it for stores:

• Built in checkout
• Inventory management
• Beginner friendly
• Secure hosting included
• Faster e commerce setup

Comparison Table: WordPress.org vs Shopify (2026)

Feature	WordPress.org	Shopify
Software Cost	Free	$29–$299/month
Hosting	$3–$30/month	Included
Domain	$10–$20/year	$14–$20/year
Themes	$30–$100	$170–$350
Plugins/Apps	Mostly free	Mostly paid
Long Term Cost	Cheap	Expensive
Best For	Blogs & SEO sites	Online stores

 

Final Verdict: Which Should You Choose?

👉 Choose WordPress.org if:

• You’re building a blog
• SEO matters
• You want the lowest cost
• You want full customization
• You want full ownership

👉 Choose Shopify if:

• You’re building an online store
• You want a beginner friendly platform
• You need built in checkout
• You’re okay with higher monthly fees

Call to Action

If you need help choosing the best platform for your blog online store or business website feel free to contact us for a personalized recommendation. We can help you estimate your exact costs and build the perfect setup based on your goals.

FAQ Section

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is WordPress.org cheaper than Shopify long term?

Yes. WordPress.org is significantly cheaper for blogs and content sites because it has no monthly platform fees.

2. Are Shopify apps expensive?

Yes. While themes are optional Shopify apps often cost monthly fees that increase your total cost over time.

3. Do I own my site on WordPress.org?

Yes. With WordPress.org you fully own your website and data.

4. Is Shopify better for blogging?

No. Shopify is e commerce focused. WordPress.org is much stronger for blogging and SEO.