Shopify vs WordPress for SEO: The $100K Question Nobody Asks Right
Stop asking which platform is better for SEO. Start asking which makes you more money. Here's the truth about Shopify vs WordPress.
Table of Contents
Everyone asks "Which is better for SEO?" Wrong question. The right question: "Which platform will make me more money?" Let's settle this once and for all.
The Platform Wars Are Stupid
SEO nerds love arguing about platforms. Meanwhile, smart business owners are making bank on both. Here's what actually matters:
The Real Comparison
| Factor | Shopify | WordPress |
|---|---|---|
| Setup Time | 2 days | 5-7 days |
| Monthly Cost | $299-2000 | $50-500 |
| E-commerce Ready | Instant | Needs WooCommerce |
| SEO Control | Good | Complete |
| Speed Out-of-Box | Fast | Depends |
| Scaling Ability | Infinite | Infinite* |
When Shopify Destroys WordPress
You're Selling Products
Duh. It's an e-commerce platform. But specifically:
- 100+ SKUs
- Need inventory management
- Multiple payment options
- International shipping
- Dropshipping
You Need Speed
Need to launch yesterday? Shopify. We can have you selling in 48 hours.
You're Not Technical
Shopify just works. No updates to break. No plugins to manage. No hosting to worry about.
When WordPress Crushes Shopify
You're a Service Business
Plumbers, lawyers, dentists, consultants - WordPress all day. Why?
- Better content management
- More design flexibility
- Superior local SEO features
- Complex forms and booking systems
You Need Custom Everything
WordPress = unlimited customization. Want a quiz that recommends products? Done. Need a client portal? Easy. Complex calculators? No problem.
Content is Your Strategy
Planning to publish 100+ blog posts? WordPress. The content management is unmatched.
The SEO Truth Nobody Tells You
Both platforms can rank #1. Period. We've done it hundreds of times. The difference?
Shopify SEO Limits
- URL structure (/products/, /collections/)
- Can't edit robots.txt fully
- Limited redirect control
- Blog functionality is basic
WordPress SEO Limits
- You can break everything
- Plugins can conflict
- Updates can kill SEO
- Hosting affects speed
Real Client Results
Shopify Win: SurfGear.com
- Platform: Shopify Plus
- Products: 2,400 SKUs
- Result: $0 to $2.4M in 18 months
- Key: Product page optimization at scale
WordPress Win: ElitePlumbingLB.com
- Platform: WordPress
- Services: Residential plumbing
- Result: 20 calls/month to 400 calls/month
- Key: Neighborhood service pages
The Hybrid Approach (Secret Weapon)
Plot twist: Use both. Yeah, you heard right.
- Shopify for store (store.domain.com)
- WordPress for content (domain.com/blog)
- Best of both worlds
- Maximum SEO power
We've set this up for 50+ clients. Average revenue increase: 284%.
Migration Truths
Already on a platform? Here's the real talk on switching:
Wix/Squarespace → Shopify/WordPress
Do it. Now. You're losing money every day you wait.
WordPress → Shopify
Only if you're adding serious e-commerce. Otherwise, add WooCommerce.
Shopify → WordPress
Rarely makes sense unless you're pivoting from products to services.
The Cost Reality
Shopify True Costs
- Basic Shopify: $39/month
- Theme: $0-350 (one-time)
- Apps: $50-500/month
- Transaction fees: 2.4-2.9%
- Our build: $7,500-15,000
WordPress True Costs
- Hosting: $50-200/month
- Theme: $0-100 (one-time)
- Plugins: $0-200/month
- Maintenance: $100-500/month
- Our build: $5,000-10,000
The Decision Framework
Answer these questions:
- Selling products or services? (Products → Shopify)
- Need it this week or this month? (Week → Shopify)
- Technical team or solo? (Solo → Shopify)
- Content-heavy strategy? (Yes → WordPress)
- Budget under $5k? (WordPress)
3+ Shopify answers = Choose Shopify
3+ WordPress answers = Choose WordPress
Tied? Call us.
Stop Overthinking, Start Building
While you're reading comparison articles, your competitors are launching sites and taking your customers. The platform matters less than:
- Having a professional site (not DIY garbage)
- Optimizing for conversions (not just traffic)
- Consistent SEO effort (not one-and-done)
- Actually solving customer problems
We Build Both. We Rank Both.
Stop debating platforms. Start dominating Google. We'll build you the RIGHT site on the RIGHT platform.
Let's Build Your Money Machine →About the Author
Sarah Martinez
Head of SEO Strategy
Sarah leads our SEO strategy team and has helped over 500 businesses achieve page 1 rankings. She specializes in e-commerce SEO and content optimization.
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