Key takeaways
- WooCommerce is flexible but requires maintenance, hosting and separate plug-ins.
- Microcart is all-in-one and maintenance-free, with a fixed price.
- Woo suits those who want technical control; Microcart for those who want convenience.
- With Woo, include the hidden costs of plug-ins and hosting.
WooCommerce and Microcart represent two philosophies. WooCommerce is a free plugin for WordPress that allows you to create and manage your own webshop. Microcart is a ready-made all-in-one platform where everything is already arranged for you. The difference revolves around one question: how much technology do you want to do yourself? This comparison will help you choose.
At a glance
| Topic | Microcart | WooCommerce |
|---|---|---|
| Type | ready-made all-in-one | free plugin for WordPress |
| Pricing model | build for free; Growth €39.95 per shop | “free”, but hosting + plugins + maintenance cost money |
| Maintenance | arranged (updates, security, hosting) | do it yourself (or hire someone) |
| iDEAL, VAT | iDEAL via your payment provider; set VAT yourself | via plugins and a payment provider |
| Technical knowledge | not necessary | some knowledge needed (or a builder) |
| Support | Dutch-speaking, one point of contact | community + individual plugin makers |
“Free” is not free
WooCommerce itself is free, and that sounds attractive. But you need hosting, a theme, and soon a range of paid plugins (for payments, shipping, backups, security, speed). Plus the time — or a builder's expense — to install, connect and maintain all that. If you add that up, the actual price is rarely zero. It is exactly the kind of sum of the hidden costs of webshop platforms.
At Microcart you build for free and sell live with Growth for €39.95 per shop. Hosting and the webshop editor are part of the platform. Microcart charges 0% of its own transaction costs; your payment provider applies its own rates.
Maintenance and technology
This is the core difference. With WooCommerce you are responsible for updates, security, backups and resolving conflicts between plugins. That gives you maximum freedom and control — great if you are technical or have a developer. But it's work, and if something breaks, it's your turn.
Microcart takes care of that: updates, security and hosting are taken care of, so you focus on sales instead of maintenance.
Flexibility versus convenience
WooCommerce is highly customizable: with the right knowledge and extensions you can make a lot of customizations. Microcart brings the webshop editor, products and orders together in one environment. You connect a payment provider such as Mollie, Stripe or Adyen. Compare which features you need and how much management you want to do yourself.
Who is WooCommerce the better choice for?
- You have technical knowledge or a developer.
- You want complete control and customization over every detail.
- You already use WordPress and want to stay within it.
For whom is Microcart the better choice?
- You want to sell without technical hassle, without tinkering.
- You want to build for free and then pay a fixed Growth price per shop.
- You want to arrange hosting, updates and your webshop management from one platform.
Frequently asked questions
Is WooCommerce really free?
The plugin is, but you pay for hosting, a theme, plugins and maintenance. The actual costs are rarely zero.
Do I need technical knowledge for WooCommerce?
Either way, or you hire someone. You manage updates, security and plugin links yourself.
What does Microcart handle that WooCommerce doesn't do by default?
At Microcart, hosting, security and updates are part of the platform. You connect payments via Mollie, Stripe or Adyen. With WooCommerce you choose and manage your hosting, settings and extensions yourself.
Which one is cheaper?
Depending on your situation. WooCommerce can be cheaper if you build and maintain it yourself; otherwise, include hosting, plugins and your time.
Can I switch from WooCommerce to Microcart?
Yes, you can take your products and data with you. Plan the switch calmly and test everything before you go live.
Conclusion
If you want complete control and you have the technical knowledge (or a builder), WooCommerce offers unparalleled freedom. If you want to sell without maintenance and with predictable costs - iDEAL and VAT ready-made - then Microcart is a better fit. Calculate your options with what a webshop costs, or start with the step-by-step plan to start a webshop.
