Shopify, WooCommerce and a fully custom build all solve the same core problem in very different ways, and the right pick depends on how much control you need versus how quickly you want to launch.

Shopify is the fastest path to a polished, reliable store with predictable monthly costs and minimal maintenance. WooCommerce trades some of that simplicity for more flexibility and lower ongoing platform fees, at the cost of needing more hands-on maintenance. A custom build makes sense once your business has requirements neither platform handles well — unusual pricing logic, deep ERP integration, or a checkout flow that off-the-shelf platforms simply weren't built for.

Most businesses should start with Shopify or WooCommerce and only move to custom once they've outgrown what those platforms can flexibly support.