If you're getting a custom website, the platform question comes up early. WordPress, Webflow and Shopify are the three most small businesses end up choosing between. We build on all three, so we don't have a favourite to sell you. Each one is the right answer for a different kind of business.
Here's the short version, then the detail.
- WordPress suits service businesses that want lots of pages, a blog, or full ownership of their site.
- Shopify suits businesses whose main job online is selling products.
- Webflow suits design-led brands with a modest number of pages that want to edit them visually.
And if you only need a few pages and don't want to log in to anything, you might not need any of them. More on that at the end.
WordPress
WordPress is open-source software that runs a large share of the world's websites. You (or your designer) install it on a hosting account, then add a theme for the look and plugins for extra features.
Where it's strong
- You own everything. The software is free and you can move your site to any host. Nobody can lock you into their platform.
- It grows with you. Ten pages or a thousand, a blog, case studies, suburb pages: WordPress handles them all the same way.
- SEO control. Plugins like Yoast and Rank Math let you set titles, descriptions and redirects for every page.
- Stores too. WooCommerce is a free plugin that turns WordPress into an online store, and it works with Australian payment options such as Stripe, Square and Afterpay.
Where it's weaker
- It needs looking after. WordPress, its theme and every plugin need regular updates. A site that's left alone for a year or two is an easy target for hackers.
- Hosting matters. Cheap shared hosting can make a WordPress site slow. Good hosting costs more each month.
- Plugins pile up. It's easy to add a plugin for every small problem, and each one is something else to update and something else that can break.
Shopify
Shopify is a hosted platform built for selling online. You pay a monthly plan and Shopify runs the servers, security and checkout.
Where it's strong
- Selling is built in. Products, stock, shipping rules, GST, discount codes and customer accounts all come in the box.
- Payments are easy. Shopify Payments works in Australia, and you can add options like Afterpay, PayPal, Apple Pay and Google Pay from the admin.
- Little maintenance. There's nothing to update. Shopify handles security and hosting.
- Easy to run. Adding a product or checking an order is simple enough that most owners pick it up in an afternoon.
Where it's weaker
- Monthly costs add up. On top of the plan, most stores install a few paid apps for reviews, email or bundles. Check the total before you commit.
- Fees if you don't use Shopify Payments. Using a different payment provider adds a transaction fee on each sale.
- Content is basic. Shopify has a blog, but it's limited. If articles and guides are how you plan to win customers, it can feel cramped.
Webflow
Webflow is a hosted platform aimed at designers. It lets you build and edit pages visually with a lot of control over layout and animation.
Where it's strong
- Design freedom. What the designer draws is what gets built, without fighting a theme.
- Visual editing. You can change text and images on the page itself, and the layout stays intact.
- Low maintenance. Like Shopify, there are no plugins to update. Webflow runs the hosting.
Where it's weaker
- Tied to Webflow hosting. You can export the design, but the content editor only works on Webflow's own hosting.
- Check the currency. Webflow has long priced its plans in US dollars, so your cost can move with the exchange rate.
- Lighter for stores. Webflow can sell online, but for most product businesses Shopify or WooCommerce does more.
- Fewer people know it. If you ever change designers, there are far more WordPress and Shopify developers around.
Side by side
| WordPress | Shopify | Webflow | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Service businesses, blogs, larger sites | Online stores | Design-led brand sites |
| Who runs the hosting | You choose a host | Shopify | Webflow |
| Upkeep | Regular updates needed | Very little | Very little |
| Selling online | Yes, with WooCommerce | Its main job | Possible, more limited |
| Blog and content | Excellent | Basic | Good |
| Moving away later | Easy | Harder | Harder |
How to decide
Answer these in order and stop at the first yes.
- Is selling products your main reason for having a website? Choose Shopify. If you'd rather own everything and avoid monthly app costs, WooCommerce is the alternative.
- Will you publish articles or add pages regularly? Choose WordPress.
- Is the look of your brand central to how you sell, with a fairly small site? Choose Webflow.
- None of the above? WordPress is the safe default, because it's the easiest to move away from if your needs change.
When you don't need any of them
A lot of small businesses don't need to log into a website at all. A tradie, a clinic or a café usually needs three to five good pages, a fast phone layout and a Google Business Profile that's set up properly. Once the site is live, changes are rare: a new photo, a price update, holiday hours.
For that kind of business, a managed site often makes more sense. You don't have a platform to learn or plugins to update, and you send changes by email instead. That's how our AI websites work, and they cost far less than a custom build.
If you do need a store, a big site or something you edit yourself, have a look at our custom websites. We'll recommend a platform on the first call and tell you why. You might also find our guide on choosing a web designer useful before you start collecting quotes.
Common questions
Which is cheapest?
It depends on what you count. WordPress software is free, but you pay for hosting and upkeep. Shopify and Webflow charge a monthly plan, and Shopify stores often add paid apps. Compare the cost over three years, not just the build.
Can WooCommerce do everything Shopify does?
For most small stores, yes. Shopify is easier to run day to day, and WooCommerce gives you more control and no platform fees. The bigger your catalogue and the less time you have, the more Shopify makes sense.
Can I switch platforms later?
Yes, but it's a rebuild, not a button. Pages, products and customer records all have to move, and old links need redirects so you don't lose your Google rankings. It's cheaper to choose well at the start.