E-commerce in Ireland: Shopify, WooCommerce or a Custom Build?
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Choosing an e-commerce platform in Ireland comes down to three honest options: Shopify, WooCommerce, or a custom build. Each wins in a different scenario, and the market data for 2026 is clear: WordPress runs 39.5% of all websites and 58.3% of sites with a known content management system, and WooCommerce powers 19.7% of WordPress sites, according to W3Techs data from 29 October 2026. Shopify meanwhile remains the default choice for merchants who want to start selling this week.
The decision framework
Ask four questions before you compare features:
- Catalog size and shape. Under a few hundred simple products? Any platform works. Thousands of SKUs, bundles, or complex variants? WooCommerce or custom scales better.
- Who runs the store day to day? A non-technical team leans Shopify. An in-house developer or agency relationship leans WooCommerce or custom.
- What makes you different? Custom checkout flows, B2B pricing, subscriptions, or integrations with an ERP all push toward custom.
- What is the 3-year budget? Compare total cost of ownership, not first month: subscriptions, apps, hosting, maintenance, and rebuilds.
Option 1: Shopify
Shopify is the fastest route to a professional store. Its plan structure scales from a Starter tier up through core plans and enterprise, and current pricing is on shopify.com/pricing. The things Irish merchants care about are included across plans: automated sales tax calculations, VAT validation, exemptions, and invoicing, plus a checkout Shopify calls its most important asset.
The trade-off is control. Deep customization means working within Shopify’s theme and app ecosystem, and costs scale with every add-on app.
Option 2: WooCommerce
WooCommerce is free, open-source e-commerce software that runs on WordPress, which is why it powers nearly one in five WordPress sites. You own everything: the code, the data, the hosting, and the checkout. Irish merchants like it because costs are predictable, and the Trading Online Voucher applies cleanly to the build.
The trade-off is responsibility: you manage hosting, updates, security, and performance. A neglected WooCommerce store is slower and more exposed than a hosted platform.
Option 3: a custom build
When your store is the business, not a side channel, a custom storefront pays off. We build headless or fully custom stores that are engineered around your actual checkout: B2B terms, subscriptions, deposit flows, or integrations with your ERP and stock system. Our checkout rebuild case study is a good example of what custom work delivers: a checkout rebuilt around one conversion goal with measurable lift.
Irish specifics that matter
- VAT. Irish VAT rates apply, and EU distance-selling rules matter if you sell cross-border. Shopify automates much of this; on WooCommerce and custom builds it is configured explicitly.
- Payments. Stripe, Revolut, and PayPal are all standard in Ireland. Shoppers increasingly expect Revolut as an option.
- The .ie factor. Irish consumers still trust a .ie domain. Whichever platform you choose, run it on your own Irish domain.
- The voucher. E-commerce development is eligible spend for the Trading Online Voucher, and 2026 benchmark data puts e-commerce builds at $10,000 to $50,000+, so the EUR 2,500 grant takes the edge off a serious build.
What we recommend
Start with the decision framework, not the demo. Most Irish SMEs land on: Shopify for speed, WooCommerce for ownership on a budget, and custom when the checkout is the product. We build all three routes: template-based storefronts, WooCommerce and WordPress work, and fully custom e-commerce with conversion optimization built in.
Frequently asked questions
Is Shopify or WooCommerce better for an Irish SME?
Shopify if you want speed and simplicity; WooCommerce if you are already in the WordPress world and want ownership; a custom build if your catalog, pricing, or integrations do not fit a template.
How much does an e-commerce store cost in Ireland?
Typically EUR 5,000 to EUR 25,000 with an agency. 2026 benchmark data puts e-commerce builds at $10,000 to $50,000+. The Trading Online Voucher covers 50% of eligible costs up to EUR 2,500.
Is WordPress still a serious e-commerce option in 2026?
Yes. WordPress runs 39.5% of all websites and 58.3% of sites with a known CMS, and WooCommerce powers 19.7% of WordPress sites, according to W3Techs data from 29 October 2026.
Does Shopify handle Irish VAT?
Shopify includes automated sales tax calculations, VAT validation, exemptions, and invoicing across its plans. Your accountant should still review the setup.
What about payments: Stripe, Revolut, PayPal?
All three are standard in Irish stores. Shopify Payments covers cards natively; WooCommerce and custom builds typically use Stripe or PayPal, with Revolut growing for Irish consumers.
Can the Trading Online Voucher fund my store?
Yes, e-commerce development is core eligible spend. Read our Trading Online Voucher guide for the full rules.