Shopware vs WooCommerce
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted e-commerce platforms options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Shopware
Flexible open-source commerce for growing brands
VS
WooCommerce
Open-source e-commerce plugin for WordPress
| Feature | Shopware | WooCommerce |
|---|---|---|
| Category | E-commerce Platforms | E-commerce Platforms |
| License | MIT | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | PHP | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 2,048 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,400 | ★ 10,451 |
| First released | 2010 | 2011 |
| Replaces | Shopify, Magento | Shopify, BigCommerce |
Why pick each one
Choose WooCommerce if…
- Massive plugin and theme library
- Large community and documentation
Frequently asked questions
Is Shopware or WooCommerce better?
WooCommerce is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider Shopware if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Shopware and WooCommerce free and open-source?
Yes. Shopware is licensed under MIT and WooCommerce under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Shopware and WooCommerce with Docker?
Shopware: yes. WooCommerce: yes.