Shopify vs Website Wannabe
Shopify runs a great store. We build the site that gets you found and books the job.
Shopify is built to run an online store, if you have the time to set it up, the apps to extend it and the fees to feed it. We build, host and run your whole site for you, with local SEO and lead capture baked in. Here is how the two stack up for a local business.
Already on Shopify? We rebuild your site and bring your products and rankings over for free.
What each one is
What Website Wannabe is
A done-for-you website and growth system. We design, build, host and maintain it, with local SEO, lead capture and AI tools built in. One monthly price, no app stack, and a store added only if you actually need to sell online.
- Designed, built and run by us
- SEO, forms and lead capture included
- No paid apps, no transaction fees
- One predictable price from $99/mo
Website Wannabe vs Shopify, feature by feature
What you actually get, and who is responsible for it.
Setup & hosting
Website Wannabe
Done for youShopify
You set it upIf setup is on you, it is your weekend. With us it is just done.
Website Wannabe
We doShopify
You doSomeone has to run it every day. The only question is whether that someone is you.
Design & build
Website Wannabe
Our teamShopify
You build itA professional build looks the part. A do-it-yourself build often looks do-it-yourself.
Website Wannabe
Custom on requestShopify
Within the themeYou want changes made, not change management. We just make them.
Website Wannabe
You own itShopify
Locked to platformOwning your site matters. Make sure you can actually take it with you.
Getting found (SEO)
Website Wannabe
Built inShopify
Weak, needs appsLooks do not bring leads. Being found does.
Website Wannabe
Fast by defaultShopify
App-dependentA slow site loses customers and rankings before they read a word.
Website Wannabe
Done with youShopify
You write itA site that never changes slowly stops ranking. Fresh content keeps it earning.
Lead capture & follow-up
Website Wannabe
Built inShopify
Add an appIf it is hard to contact you, people will not. Capture has to be built in.
Website Wannabe
Built inShopify
Add-onBolt-on AI rarely talks to the rest of your site. Built in just works.
Website Wannabe
AvailableShopify
Add an appA lead ignored is a sale lost. Fast follow-up is the difference.
Maintenance & security
Website Wannabe
YesShopify
Ongoing, on youSkip the maintenance and the site rots. Someone has to keep it current.
Website Wannabe
YesShopify
Platform handles coreOne breach can undo years of trust. This is not a place to wing it.
Website Wannabe
We doShopify
You or an expertWhen it breaks at 2am, you want a number to call, not a forum to search.
Real total cost
Website Wannabe
Low to noneShopify
Low to startA big upfront bill is real money out the door before you earn a dollar back.
Website Wannabe
From $99/moShopify
Plan plus apps plus feesCompare the real monthly total, not the teaser price.
Website Wannabe
NoneShopify
Apps and sale feesThe add-ons are where doing it yourself quietly gets expensive.
Support & speed
Website Wannabe
YesShopify
24/7 supportA real team beats a help article when it actually matters.
Website Wannabe
DaysShopify
WeeksEvery week not launched is a week not earning.
Last updated June 2026. How we compare: we score every option against the same checklist, and we say where Shopify is the better fit. The same data powers our side-by-side tool.
Why local businesses choose us over Shopify
Built for your whole presence
Shopify is built to run a store. We build your whole web presence: site, local SEO and lead capture, with selling added only if you actually need it.
No fees, no app stack
No transaction fees skimming your sales, no pile of paid apps to wire together. The SEO, forms and tools you need are part of the build, not bolt-ons.
One predictable price
Shopify looks simple until the plan, the paid apps and the transaction fees stack up. With us it is one monthly price, everything included.
Which one is right for you?
We are not the right answer for everyone, and that is the point. Here is how to tell which way to go.
Choose Website Wannabe if you
- Want customers calling, not a website to babysit.
- Would rather run your business than build and maintain a site.
- Want it designed, built, hosted and run for you, for one predictable monthly price.
- Want to show up in local search and capture leads, with a real team to call.
Shopify is the better pick if you
- Your business is mainly selling physical or digital products online, with lots of SKUs.
- You need a serious storefront, inventory and checkout first, and a marketing site second.
- Ecommerce is the whole point, and you want a platform built around it.
- You enjoy running the store yourself and adding the apps you want.
Already on Shopify? We will move you over.
Switching off Shopify sounds like a chore, so we handle the whole thing. We rebuild your site on our platform, bring your products, content and pages across, and keep your URLs and your Google rankings intact.
- We move your products, content and images
- Your URLs and rankings are preserved with proper 301 redirects
- No downtime while we make the switch
- You do nothing technical, we do all of it
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers before you make the switch.
I only sell a few products. Do I really need Shopify?
Usually not. Shopify shines for high-volume online stores that ship products all day. If you are a local service business, or a local product business selling a handful of items, a done-for-you site with simple checkout does the job without the monthly plan, the apps and the fees.
I already have a Shopify store. Can you move it?
Yes. We rebuild your site on our platform and bring your products, content and pages over, keeping your URLs and your Google rankings intact. We use proper 301 redirects so nothing gets lost, and there is no downtime during the switch.
What about transaction fees?
Shopify takes a cut of every sale unless you use Shopify Payments, and even then you pay processing on top of the monthly plan. We do not add transaction fees. If you need to sell, we set up checkout that keeps more of each sale in your pocket.
How does the real cost compare to Shopify?
Shopify looks affordable until you add it up: the monthly plan, several paid apps for SEO, forms and reviews, plus transaction fees on every order. We roll the design, hosting, maintenance, SEO and support into one price from $99 a month, with no surprise app invoices.
Can I still sell online if I go with you?
Yes. We can add a store when you actually need one, so customers can buy and pay right on your site. The difference is you are not paying for a full e-commerce platform and a stack of apps just to sell a few items.
Who maintains it after launch?
We do. There are no apps to update, no themes to patch and no plugin conflicts to chase. If anything ever needs attention, our team handles it. You are not the one juggling app subscriptions or getting the "store is down" email.
Not ready yet? Get a free site teardown
Send us your current site and we will record a short, no-pressure walkthrough of what is helping and what is quietly costing you leads. No charge, no obligation.
Ready to stop wrestling with Shopify?
Tell us about your business and we will show you exactly what your site (and your leads) could look like, built and run by one team.