If we focus on how easy it is to create a fully-functioning store ready to accept orders, Shopify is the clear winner. With WooCommerce, you’ll need to build a WordPress website if you don’t already have one. You’ll also have to provide web hosting and a domain name.
If you don’t have these elements in place, your WooCommerce setup time can quickly grow. You may also incur additional costs, including purchasing a hosting package and a domain name.
The good news is that WooCommerce has a handy setup wizard that guides you through much of the initial setup. This process includes adding a payment gateway, choosing your currency, and selecting your shipping methods.
There are also plenty of blogs, tutorials, and instructional videos that show you how to set up your WooCommerce store. However, it’s impossible to deny the existence of a steep learning curve, especially if this is your first WordPress website.
As a hosted ecommerce platform, Shopify handles much of the technical heavy lifting required to launch an online store. That includes providing a domain name, hosting, and a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificate.
Essentially, you can create a Shopify account, choose your theme, and then either purchase a domain or sync an existing domain name. Assuming that you’re using the company’s own Shopify Payments gateway, you can start accepting credit card payments from day one.