WooCommerce supports Ajax add to cart on archive pages by default. Go to WooCommerce → Settings → Products and enable “Redirect to the cart page after successful addition” OFF. Then enable “Enable AJAX add to cart buttons on archives” ON. Your theme must support it, so use a WooCommerce-ready theme and avoid disabling WooCommerce scripts. For single product pages, Ajax is not default for variable products. Use a plugin like “WooCommerce Ajax Add To Cart” or a custom script to submit the form via Ajax. Finally, test cart updates, mini cart refresh, and caching exclusions.

WooCommerce itself is free to install and use on WordPress. Your overall cost depends on what your store needs. You’ll usually pay for web hosting and a domain name, plus an SSL certificate (often included with hosting). Many themes and plugins are free, but premium themes, paid extensions, and some payment gateways can add monthly or yearly fees. You may also spend on email, backups, security, and developer help. Small stores can start low-cost, while growing stores often invest more.

Choose Shopify if you want quick setup, fewer technical tasks, centralized support, and built-in infrastructure that includes SSL and PCI compliance handled by the platform. It’s often a strong fit for small teams without a developer, stores that value predictable operations, and merchants who prefer an all-in-one dashboard for products, orders, and payments. The trade-off is less backend control than a self-hosted WooCommerce setup.

To set up payments in WooCommerce, go to WordPress Dashboard → WooCommerce → Settings → Payments. Enable the payment methods you want, like WooCommerce Payments, PayPal, Stripe, or bank transfer. Click each method to enter required details, such as API keys or account login. Set your currency in WooCommerce → Settings → General. Then place a test order in sandbox/test mode to confirm checkout works, emails are sent, and the order status updates correctly.