Choosing the right platform for your online store isn't just a technical call. It's a strategic decision that directly affects your costs, scalability and profitability.
In this article we take a deep dive into:
- Store management
- Payment integrations
- Shipping options
- Plans and transaction fees
- What works best for a wholesale business
If you're about to launch or migrate your ecommerce store, read on.
1. Store management: how flexible is each platform?
Tiendanube
- Intuitive, easy-to-use dashboard
- Great for first-time sellers
- Technical limits if you need advanced customization
- Reliance on the app ecosystem
It's a closed platform. It works well as long as your business fits within what the platform allows.
Shopify
- Very polished interface
- Excellent user experience
- Huge app marketplace
- Strong international focus
Also a closed system. Very powerful, but you rely on third-party apps for a lot of features.
WooCommerce
- WordPress plugin
- Full control over the system
- Extremely customizable
- Ideal for complex models (wholesale, memberships, role-based pricing, etc.)
It's not a turnkey solution. It takes more setup, but gives you complete freedom.
Payment methods: integrations and fees
Tiendanube
- Simple integrations with Mercado Pago, Modo, Payway and more
- No extra transaction fee on certain plans
- You're subject to each payment gateway's rules
Shopify
- Uses Shopify Payments (in some countries)
- Charges an extra fee if you use third-party gateways
- Fees vary by plan
This is key: even if you pay the monthly plan, there may be a per-transaction fee.
WooCommerce
- No transaction fees
- You only pay the payment processor's fee (Mercado Pago, Stripe, etc.)
- Freedom to integrate any gateway
Key point: For high-volume or high-ticket businesses, this changes the math completely.
Shipping integrations
Tiendanube and Shopify
- Built-in integrations with Andreani, OCA, Correo Argentino and more
- Easy setup
- Limited options if you need complex custom rules
WooCommerce
- Dedicated plugins for each carrier
- Advanced rules are possible:
- Shipping by zone
- Wholesale rates
- Conditional logic
Ideal for more complex setups.
Plans and transaction fees
This is the most important part.
Tiendanube
- Monthly plan
- May include a transaction fee depending on the plan
- Costs grow with revenue
Shopify
- Higher monthly plan
- Extra fee if you don't use its payment gateway
- Premium apps usually cost extra
WooCommerce
- No mandatory monthly plan
- No transaction fees
- You pay for hosting + development
For wholesale or high-volume projects, WooCommerce is usually more profitable in the medium and long run.
What's best for a wholesale platform?
If your model involves:
- Selling in bulk
- Customer-specific pricing
- Private catalogs
- Special trade terms
WooCommerce is the clear winner.
Why?
Because you don't pay transaction fees, and you can adapt the system to your business logic with no structural limits.
On Tiendanube or Shopify, on the other hand, fees can really add up when your average order value is high.
The bottom line
There's no such thing as “the best platform”. There's the best platform for your business model.
- If you want something quick and simple → Tiendanube
- If you're going after international markets and a strong brand → Shopify
- If you need freedom, scalability and zero transaction fees → WooCommerce
The key is to think long-term, not just about the upfront cost.
Trying to decide on a platform?
I'll look at your business model and recommend the most profitable setup for you.
