Two platforms. One choice that shapes your first year online.
Shopify and WooCommerce are the two paths most Vietnamese sellers weigh once they’re ready to build a real website instead of relying only on Shopee, Lazada, or TikTok Shop. One handles everything for a monthly fee. The other is free, but you build it yourself.
This comparison breaks down both platforms specifically for Vietnamese sellers: real costs converted to VND, support for local payment methods like MoMo and VNPay, and an honest recommendation based on your situation.
Quick Comparison: Shopify vs WooCommerce for Vietnamese Sellers
| Platform | Monthly Cost (VND) | Ease of Use | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shopify Basic | ~495,000 VND/month (US$19) | Beginner-friendly | Solo sellers who want everything managed |
| Shopify Grow | ~1,280,000 VND/month (US$49) | Very easy | Small teams needing more staff accounts |
| Shopify Advanced | ~7,800,000 VND/month (US$299) | Very easy | Higher-volume stores wanting lower fees |
| WooCommerce + hosting | ~650,000-9,100,000 VND/month | Intermediate | Sellers comfortable with WordPress, or willing to learn |
Shopify figures are converted from its published US dollar pricing at approximately 26,000 VND per US$1 and will shift with the exchange rate (Shopify, 2026). WooCommerce hosting costs come from WooCommerce’s own published range for stores of all sizes (WooCommerce, 2026); most small Vietnamese stores land toward the lower end.
If you’re still deciding between a marketplace and your own website, read our best ecommerce platforms for Vietnamese sellers guide first. It covers Shopee, Lazada, TikTok Shop, and local builders like Haravan and Sapo alongside Shopify and WooCommerce.
How Much Does Shopify Cost for Vietnamese Sellers?
Shopify’s Basic plan costs US$19/month (about 495,000 VND), Grow costs US$49/month (about 1,280,000 VND), and Advanced costs US$299/month (about 7,800,000 VND), per Shopify’s published pricing. Vietnamese sellers also pay an extra 2 percent (Basic), 1 percent (Grow), or 0.6 percent (Advanced) fee on every sale routed through a payment gateway other than Shopify Payments.
Shopify is a hosted ecommerce platform: you pay a monthly fee and Shopify manages your hosting, security, and checkout for you. As of 2026, its three main plans are:
Shopify Basic, about 495,000 VND/month (US$19). The most common starting plan for a first store. Includes your full website, unlimited products, and basic reporting.
Shopify Grow, about 1,280,000 VND/month (US$49). Adds up to five staff accounts and a lower third-party payment fee. Worth it once you have a small team helping run the store.
Shopify Advanced, about 7,800,000 VND/month (US$299). Built for higher-volume stores that want the lowest per-transaction fee and live third-party shipping rates.
The fee Vietnamese sellers should plan for: Shopify Payments does not cover Vietnam’s most-used checkout methods (bank transfer, MoMo, VNPay, ZaloPay, and cash on delivery). That means most Vietnamese Shopify stores connect a separate payment gateway, which triggers the extra 2, 1, or 0.6 percent fee noted above, on top of whatever fee that gateway charges. Budget for this before you pick a plan.
For a deeper look at running Shopify specifically in Vietnam, see our Shopify review for Vietnamese sellers.
How Much Does WooCommerce Cost to Run in Vietnam?
WooCommerce itself is free. WooCommerce’s own published pricing puts hosting at US$25-US$350/month (about 650,000-9,100,000 VND) depending on your provider and traffic, plus US$29-US$299/year (about 756,000-7,800,000 VND) per premium extension you choose to add (WooCommerce, 2026). A small Vietnamese store on basic shared hosting typically lands near the lower end.
WooCommerce is a free plugin that turns a WordPress website into an online store. There is no monthly platform fee and no revenue share, but you are responsible for putting the pieces together yourself:
Web hosting. WooCommerce’s published range is US$25-US$350/month, and a small first store on basic shared hosting usually sits toward the low end of that range. Vietnamese sellers can host with an international provider or a Vietnam-based host; either works, as long as the server is fast enough for your traffic.
Domain name. A standard .com domain typically runs a modest annual fee through any registrar. A .vn domain requires Vietnamese business registration documents.
WooCommerce plugin. Free, downloaded from WordPress.org.
Payment gateway plugin. Cost varies by provider; several Vietnam-specific gateway plugins are free to install, with per-transaction fees charged by the gateway itself rather than by WooCommerce.
Premium extensions. US$29-US$299/year each, for add-ons like advanced SEO tools, subscription billing, or shipping calculators. Free themes and free core features are enough for a first store.
The trade-off is clear: WooCommerce has no monthly platform fee, but you own the responsibility for hosting performance, security updates, and plugin maintenance that Shopify handles for you automatically.
Which Platform Handles Vietnamese Payment Methods Better?
Neither Shopify Payments nor WooCommerce’s native payment processor covers Vietnam’s most-used checkout methods (cash on delivery, bank transfer, MoMo, VNPay, and ZaloPay). Most Vietnamese sellers on both platforms connect a local or regional gateway instead. WooCommerce has an edge here: WordPress.org lists multiple community-built plugins made specifically for VNPay, MoMo, ViettelPay, and VietQR bank-transfer checkout.
Cash on delivery remains one of the most requested payment methods among Vietnamese online shoppers, alongside bank transfer and mobile e-wallets like MoMo, VNPay, and ZaloPay. Both platforms can accept COD out of the box: WooCommerce includes a “Cash on delivery” option in its core payment settings, and Shopify supports manual payment methods through its standard checkout.
For digital payments, the search results on WordPress.org’s plugin directory show several actively maintained plugins built specifically to connect WooCommerce checkout to MoMo, VNPay, ViettelPay, and QR-code bank transfers across major Vietnamese banks. This is a direct result of WooCommerce’s open plugin ecosystem: any developer can build and publish a gateway integration.
Shopify does not lack these options, but you’ll typically find them as apps in the Shopify App Store rather than free community plugins, and coverage for smaller or newer Vietnamese gateways can lag behind what’s available for WooCommerce.
Which Platform Is Easier to Set Up for a First-Time Vietnamese Seller?
Shopify is faster to launch. Sign up, pick a theme, add products, and connect a payment gateway, often in a single afternoon. WooCommerce takes longer because you set up hosting, install WordPress, install the WooCommerce plugin, and configure a theme and payment gateway yourself, which usually takes a full weekend for someone new to WordPress.
Setting up Shopify:
- Sign up at Shopify.com (free trial, no credit card required to start)
- Choose a free theme from the Shopify Theme Store
- Add your products with photos and descriptions
- Connect a Vietnam-compatible payment gateway for MoMo, VNPay, or COD
- Set up shipping rates with a local courier
- Add your domain and go live
Setting up WooCommerce:
- Buy hosting from a provider that serves Vietnamese traffic well
- Install WordPress (usually a one-click option in your hosting control panel)
- Install the WooCommerce plugin from the WordPress admin dashboard
- Install a WooCommerce-compatible theme
- Install and configure a Vietnamese payment gateway plugin (VNPay, MoMo, or COD)
- Set up shipping zones and rates
- Add your products
- Connect your domain
Shopify manages your hosting, software updates, and security patches automatically after launch. With WooCommerce, you are responsible for keeping WordPress, WooCommerce, and every plugin updated. Skipping updates is one of the most common ways a WooCommerce store gets compromised.
Who Should Choose Shopify and Who Should Choose WooCommerce in Vietnam?
Choose Shopify if:
- You want your store live within a day or two, without troubleshooting hosting or plugins
- You have a monthly budget of roughly 500,000-1,300,000 VND and prefer a fully managed solution
- You are not comfortable with WordPress administration
- You want built-in support when something breaks
- You run paid ads and need a store that stays fast and online without your attention
Choose WooCommerce if:
- You are comfortable with WordPress, or willing to learn it over a weekend
- You want to minimize monthly platform costs as your catalog and traffic grow
- You want the widest choice of Vietnam-specific payment gateway plugins
- You need deep customization that Shopify’s theme editor does not offer
- You already run a WordPress site and want to add a store to it
The honest middle ground: Many Vietnamese sellers start on Shopify to launch quickly, then evaluate WooCommerce once they have consistent sales and want to cut monthly costs. Moving platforms later is possible, but it takes real work, so weigh your choice with at least a one- to two-year horizon in mind.
If you haven’t decided whether to build your own store at all yet, our how to start an online business in Vietnam guide covers that decision, including when it makes more sense to stay on Shopee or Lazada first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Shopify or WooCommerce better for beginners in Vietnam?
For a first store with no technical background, Shopify is easier to launch: pick a plan, choose a theme, and go live in a few hours. Shopify Basic costs about US$19/month (roughly 495,000 VND). WooCommerce is cheaper long-term but requires you to set up hosting, WordPress, and a payment gateway yourself first.
Does WooCommerce support MoMo and VNPay in Vietnam?
Yes. WordPress.org lists several community-built plugins that connect WooCommerce checkout to MoMo, VNPay, ViettelPay, and VietQR bank transfers. Shopify does not include these natively either, so Shopify sellers typically add a similar local payment app from the Shopify App Store to accept the same methods.
Can I accept cash on delivery (COD) on Shopify or WooCommerce in Vietnam?
Yes, both platforms support cash on delivery. WooCommerce has a built-in “Cash on delivery” payment option in its core settings, and Shopify supports manual/COD payments through its standard checkout settings. COD remains one of the most requested checkout options among Vietnamese online shoppers.
How much does it cost to run a WooCommerce store in Vietnam?
WooCommerce itself is free. Real costs are hosting (US$25-US$350/month, roughly 650,000-9,100,000 VND, per WooCommerce’s published pricing) plus any premium extensions you add, typically US$29-US$299/year each. Most small Vietnamese stores on basic shared hosting spend near the lower end of that range.