WooCommerce is free to install but needs RM4,000 to RM6,000 a year in hosting, plugins and developer time. For most Malaysian businesses under RM50,000 monthly revenue, Shopify wins on total cost. WooCommerce has no license fee, but real 3-year cost lands between RM12,000 and RM42,000 once hosting, security patching and developer time are counted. Stores with complex catalogs or existing WordPress content usually save more on WooCommerce. Every Malaysian founder building an online store asks the same question eventually.