WordPress
Open-source CMS running 43%+ of all websites.
Best for
Blogs, custom content platforms, bilingual businesses needing Georgian payments.
Compare
WordPress vs Shopify
WordPress is more flexible for Georgian small businesses thanks to payment support. Shopify is faster for international dropshipping.
Shopify
SaaS e-commerce platform for fast launches.
Best for
Dropshipping, international brands, fast launches, minimal dev work.
| Feature | WordPress | Shopify |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | ~$15 (hosting) | $39-$399 |
| Setup | 1-2 days (with a dev) | 2-4 hours |
| Customisation | Full (open source) | Limited (Liquid theme) |
| Georgian payment | BoG, TBC, Credo (plugin) | Stripe/PayPal only |
| Maintenance | Your responsibility | Handled by Shopify |
| Scalability | High (server-dependent) | Consistent (SaaS) |
Verdict
WordPress is more flexible for Georgian small businesses thanks to payment support. Shopify is faster for international dropshipping.
In depth
WordPress vs Shopify is fundamentally a philosophical choice between open vs SaaS platforms. WordPress (with WooCommerce plugin) — open-source, self-managed, your responsibility for hosting + maintenance + security. Shopify — managed SaaS, app-like, no thinking about infrastructure.
Full price reality: WordPress year-1 cost ~$200-$500 (hosting $15/mo + theme $50 + plugins $50-$200) vs Shopify Basic $29 × 12 = $348 + transaction fees. Three-year totals: WordPress ~$700-$1,500 (hosting + plugin renewals), Shopify ~$1,500-$5,000 (subscription + apps + transaction fees). Bottom line — Shopify TCO is 2-3× WordPress, especially if you have high sales volume and transaction fees stack up.
Quality and customisation reality: WordPress + Elementor lets you build any UI — design-pixel-perfect, custom checkout flow, custom product types, headless setup possible. Shopify is constrained to Liquid template language + checkout-level customisation is restricted (except Shopify Plus tier at $2,000+/mo). If brand uniqueness matters → WordPress; if a standard e-commerce flow is enough → Shopify.
Georgian context: there's no official Shopify integration for BoG iPay or TBC E-Commerce as of Q1 2026. Shopify forces you through Stripe/PayPal — meaning a US/EU entity setup + transaction fees climb. WordPress + WooCommerce ships Georgian bank gateway plugins for free + recurring billing native. This single yet decisive factor matters for 80%+ of Georgian businesses.
Craftwebstudio recommendation: 80% of the Georgian market → WordPress + WooCommerce. International dropshipping or US/EU-funded brand → Shopify. Hybrid case (Georgian + international audience) → Shopify Plus + custom payment integration, or WooCommerce + a Stripe Atlas Delaware setup.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a WordPress to Shopify migration cost?▾
Standard: $1,500-$5,000 (small store) or $5,000-$15,000 (mid). Includes product import, customer data migration, 301 redirects, theme rebuild. Timeline 4-8 weeks.
Can I run WordPress + WooCommerce + BoG/TBC Georgian payment integration?▾
Yes — community and commercial WooCommerce gateway plugins exist for both banks. Setup is 4-8 hours with a developer. Recurring billing is supported.
Is Shopify Lite ($9/mo) a good choice for small business?▾
Shopify Lite is essentially the Shopify Buy Button on any site — not a full store. WooCommerce free + WordPress hosting $15/mo is better value-for-money.
What are Shopify's actual transaction fees?▾
Using Shopify Payments: 2.9% + $0.30 (Basic). Using a third-party gateway: extra 2% transaction fee + Shopify subscription. Effective total cost ~5%.
Which platform is better for SEO?▾
WordPress — full control (Yoast, Rank Math, custom schema). Shopify — good built-in SEO but URL structure is restricted (/products/, /collections/), schema customisation limited. Long-form content + blog SEO → WordPress wins.
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