Thinking about Shopify for your online store? This guide compares Shopify and Make Local for Global so you can choose the right ecommerce website option.
Shopify and Make Local for Global can both help small businesses sell online, but they work in very different ways.
Shopify is a hosted ecommerce platform. It gives you tools to create an online store, add products, take payments, manage orders, use apps and sell across different channels.
Make Local for Global is a done-for-you ecommerce website service for hobbyists, artists, startups and small businesses. It helps people launch online stores using WordPress and WooCommerce.
If you are comparing Shopify and Make Local for Global, the main question is not “which one is more popular?” The better question is: “Do I want a hosted ecommerce platform I manage myself, or a WooCommerce store built for me?”
This guide compares Shopify and Make Local for Global across pricing, setup, ecommerce features, design, apps, payments, ownership, support, training and best use cases.
Make Local for Global helps hobbyists, artists, startups and small businesses launch a WordPress and WooCommerce online store without needing technical skills.
Plans start from £99/year. Your website can be ready in 5 days.
Choose Shopify if you want a hosted ecommerce platform with its own admin, themes, apps, payments, sales channels, POS options and a platform made for online stores at different stages.
Choose Make Local for Global if you want an ecommerce website built for you using WordPress and WooCommerce, with domain, hosting, Stripe and PayPal setup, product listings, training and support included.
If you enjoy setting up and managing your own ecommerce platform, Shopify is worth comparing. If you want a lower annual starting price and help getting your WooCommerce store ready, Make Local for Global may be the better fit.
| Feature | Shopify | Make Local for Global |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Businesses that want a hosted ecommerce platform | Small businesses launching an ecommerce website |
| Main focus | Online stores, sales channels, payments, apps and retail tools | Online store setup and product selling |
| Website type | Hosted Shopify store | WordPress and WooCommerce website |
| Done-for-you setup | Not by default. You build it yourself or hire a Shopify Partner | Yes, included as the main service |
| Domain | Buy through Shopify or connect your own domain | Included in all plans |
| Hosting | Included with Shopify plans | Included in all plans |
| Payments | Shopify Payments and third-party payment providers | Stripe and PayPal setup included |
| Transaction fees | Third-party transaction fees can apply if not using Shopify Payments | No commission on sales |
| Apps and extensions | Large Shopify App Store | WooCommerce and WordPress plugin ecosystem |
| Training | Help docs and platform guidance | Training included |
| Starting price | Depends on Shopify plan, apps and payment setup | From £99/year |
| Setup time | Depends on your own setup speed or hired expert | Website ready in 5 days |
Shopify is a hosted ecommerce platform for starting, running and growing an online business. It lets you create an online store, add products, manage orders, take payments, use themes, add apps and sell through different channels.
Shopify can suit solo sellers, retail brands, growing ecommerce businesses and larger merchants that want one platform for products, inventory, checkout, marketing, payments and sales channels.
The main point to understand is this: Shopify gives you the platform, but you still need to set up the store, design it, add products, write content, configure payments, sort policies and manage day-to-day changes. You can do that yourself, ask an employee to do it, or hire a Shopify Partner.
Make Local for Global is a done-for-you ecommerce website service for hobbyists, artists, startups and small businesses. It helps people launch online stores using WordPress and WooCommerce.
The service is made for people who want to sell products online but do not want to deal with the technical setup themselves.
Make Local for Global includes website setup, domain, hosting, ecommerce setup, Stripe and PayPal integration, product listings, support and training. The Local Plan starts from £99/year and websites can be ready in 5 days.
The main difference is the type of solution.
Shopify is a hosted ecommerce platform. You choose a plan, create your store, use Shopify themes, set up products, configure payments, install apps and manage the store from Shopify’s admin.
Make Local for Global is a done-for-you ecommerce service. It helps you launch a WordPress and WooCommerce website with setup, hosting, payment setup, product listings, support and training included.
Shopify may suit you if you want a dedicated ecommerce platform and are comfortable setting things up or paying a Shopify expert. Make Local for Global may suit you if you want a WooCommerce store built for you at a low annual starting price.
| Question | Better fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| I want a well-known ecommerce platform | Shopify | Shopify is built around hosted ecommerce and selling tools. |
| I want a store built for me | Make Local for Global | Done-for-you ecommerce setup is included. |
| I want WordPress and WooCommerce | Make Local for Global | Make Local for Global uses WordPress and WooCommerce. |
| I want Shopify apps and Shopify POS | Shopify | Shopify has its own app ecosystem and POS options. |
| I want a low annual starting price | Make Local for Global | Plans start from £99/year. |
| I want a 5-day ecommerce setup | Make Local for Global | Make Local for Global says websites can be ready in 5 days. |
| I want to manage everything inside Shopify | Shopify | Shopify has its own admin, themes, checkout and sales tools. |
Shopify and Make Local for Global price their services in different ways.
Shopify pricing depends on the plan you choose, whether you pay monthly or yearly, which apps you install, whether you buy a paid theme, whether you use Shopify Payments or a third-party payment provider, and whether you hire a Shopify Partner to build or customise your store.
Make Local for Global has annual plans. The Local Plan starts from £99/year and is aimed at people who want a low-cost ecommerce starting point.
For a fair comparison, check the full first-year cost. Include platform fees, domain, hosting, app costs, paid themes, payment fees, setup help, product upload help, support and training.
| Pricing point | Shopify | Make Local for Global |
|---|---|---|
| Starting cost | Depends on plan, apps, theme and setup route | From £99/year |
| Payment style | Monthly or yearly plan options | Annual plans |
| Domain | Buy through Shopify or connect your own | Included in plans |
| Hosting | Included with Shopify plans | Included in plans |
| Store setup | DIY unless you hire help | Included as the main service |
| Apps and add-ons | Free and paid apps may be used | Plan features and add-ons depend on package |
| Payment fees | Card and third-party payment fees may apply | Payment provider fees still apply, but no MLFG commission on sales |
| Best buyer habit | Check total monthly cost after apps and payment setup | Compare Local, Global and Universe plan features |
Tip: do not compare Shopify and Make Local for Global by one headline price. Shopify may involve monthly plan fees, apps, themes, payment fees and setup help. Make Local for Global includes setup, domain, hosting, payment setup, training and support within its plan structure.
Shopify can be quick to start, but the setup work still needs doing. You need to pick a theme, set up pages, add products, set delivery rules, configure payment options, add legal pages, adjust settings and test checkout.
Make Local for Global is more guided. The service is made for small businesses that want the ecommerce setup handled for them.
With either option, your launch speed depends on how quickly you provide business details, product names, product images, prices, delivery information, policies and payment account details.
| Setup point | Shopify | Make Local for Global |
|---|---|---|
| Initial account setup | You create and configure your own account | Guided through service setup |
| Theme/design | Choose and customise a theme yourself or hire help | Website setup included |
| Product setup | You add products or import them | Product listings included |
| Payment setup | You configure Shopify Payments or another provider | Stripe and PayPal setup included |
| Training | Help docs and platform learning resources | Training included |
| Best for | People happy to set up the store or hire a Shopify expert | People who want the setup done for them |
Shopify is built for ecommerce. Its platform covers products, inventory, orders, checkout, payments, discount codes, apps, themes and sales channels.
Make Local for Global is built around WooCommerce ecommerce setup. It includes WordPress and WooCommerce, product listings, Stripe and PayPal, no commission on sales, domain, hosting, support and training.
Shopify is usually stronger if you want a larger ecommerce platform with many ready-made selling tools and app options. Make Local for Global is usually stronger if you want a simpler starting path and a WooCommerce store built for you.
| Ecommerce feature | Shopify | Make Local for Global |
|---|---|---|
| Product selling | Core platform feature | Core service focus |
| Checkout | Shopify checkout | WooCommerce checkout |
| Payment options | Shopify Payments and third-party providers | Stripe and PayPal setup included |
| Product listings | Add products through Shopify admin | Unlimited product listings |
| Apps/plugins | Shopify App Store | WordPress and WooCommerce plugins |
| In-person selling | Shopify POS available | Not the main focus |
| Best for | Stores needing a dedicated hosted ecommerce platform | Beginners launching a WooCommerce store |
Make Local for Global can build your ecommerce website using WordPress and WooCommerce, with payment setup and training included.
This is one of the biggest choices.
Shopify is hosted. Your store runs inside Shopify’s platform. This can make setup, hosting, checkout and platform management simpler, but your store relies on Shopify’s system, pricing, app rules and platform structure.
WordPress and WooCommerce are different. WordPress is the website system, and WooCommerce adds ecommerce features. This route can offer more control over website structure, content and plugins, but it needs the right setup, hosting, maintenance and support.
Make Local for Global uses WordPress and WooCommerce, so the platform route is clear from the beginning.
| Platform point | Shopify | Make Local for Global |
|---|---|---|
| Core platform | Shopify | WordPress and WooCommerce |
| Hosting | Included by Shopify | Included in plan |
| Website control | Controlled through Shopify admin, themes and apps | Controlled through WordPress and WooCommerce |
| Content and blogging | Blogging available | WordPress blogging available |
| Add-ons | Shopify apps | WordPress and WooCommerce plugins |
| Best if | You want an ecommerce-first hosted platform | You want WooCommerce built for you |
Shopify offers themes and a theme editor. This is useful if you want to choose a design and adjust the store yourself. Paid themes and custom work can increase the total cost.
Make Local for Global handles the ecommerce website setup for you. It is better suited to people who do not want to spend time choosing, editing and testing theme settings themselves.
If you enjoy design control and want to learn the platform, Shopify may suit you. If you want the store prepared for you, Make Local for Global may feel easier.
Shopify has a large app ecosystem. Apps can add features such as reviews, subscriptions, upsells, delivery tools, email marketing, product options, search, chat, bundles and more.
WooCommerce and WordPress also have a large plugin ecosystem. Plugins can add store features, SEO tools, product options, shipping rules, analytics, automation, reviews and marketing tools.
The main thing to check is cost. Free apps and plugins can help, but paid tools can increase monthly or annual spend. Too many apps or plugins can also make the store harder to manage.
| Extra feature point | Shopify | Make Local for Global |
|---|---|---|
| Add-on ecosystem | Shopify App Store | WordPress and WooCommerce plugins |
| Common extra costs | Paid apps, paid themes, expert help | Plan upgrades, add-ons or extra work |
| Setup work | Merchant or hired expert usually handles setup | Setup included within service scope |
| Best approach | Choose only apps you need | Start with the plan features you need |
Payments are a key part of the decision.
Shopify supports Shopify Payments and third-party payment providers. If you use a third-party payment provider, Shopify may charge third-party transaction fees depending on your plan. Card processing fees can also apply.
Make Local for Global includes Stripe and PayPal setup and does not charge commission on sales. Payment providers may still charge their normal processing fees.
Before choosing either option, compare the payment methods your customers use, transaction fees, settlement times, refund handling, PayPal needs, card fees and whether extra fees apply for third-party payment gateways.
Shopify provides help resources and platform support. If you need design, setup or store configuration help, you may need to do it yourself, use Shopify documentation or hire a Shopify Partner.
Make Local for Global includes training and support so customers can manage their ecommerce website after launch. Support levels vary by plan, with priority and dedicated support on higher plans.
If you want to learn and manage Shopify yourself, Shopify may suit you. If you want help getting the store ready and learning how to manage it, Make Local for Global may be more suitable.
Shopify includes store pages, product pages, a blog, apps and marketing tools. Many sellers use Shopify with email marketing apps, review apps, SEO apps, social selling and ad platforms.
Make Local for Global includes marketing and SEO tools depending on the plan. The Global Plan includes social media setup, SEO tools, analytics and priority support. The Universe Plan includes more advanced support and automation features.
Neither option guarantees sales or search rankings. Your results depend on product demand, pricing, images, product descriptions, customer trust, reviews, delivery options, SEO, ads, social media and ongoing effort.
| Marketing point | Shopify | Make Local for Global |
|---|---|---|
| SEO basics | Available through platform features and apps | SEO tools included on higher plans |
| Blogging | Available | Available through WordPress |
| Analytics | Available depending on plan and setup | Included on higher plans |
| Social media setup | Can be connected through sales channels and apps | Included on higher plans |
| Best for | Merchants managing their own ecommerce marketing stack | Sellers who want store setup with guided tools |
Shopify may be the better choice if:
Examples include retail brands, fashion stores, beauty brands, product businesses with growth plans, merchants wanting POS, and sellers who already know they want Shopify.
Make Local for Global may be the better choice if:
Examples include candle sellers, jewellery makers, artists, handmade sellers, clothing startups, print-on-demand sellers, dropshipping stores, digital product sellers, single-product businesses and product-based side hustles.
| Buyer question | Choose Shopify if… | Choose Make Local for Global if… |
|---|---|---|
| What do I mainly need? | A hosted ecommerce platform | An ecommerce website built for me |
| What platform do I want? | You want Shopify | You want WordPress and WooCommerce |
| How fast do I need it? | You can set it up quickly yourself or hire help | You want a 5-day ecommerce setup |
| How do I want to pay? | You are comfortable with monthly or yearly platform fees | You want annual plans from £99/year |
| What do I sell? | Products online, retail products or multi-channel ecommerce | Physical products, digital products, POD or dropshipping products |
| What should I check before buying? | Plan cost, app costs, payment fees, theme costs and expert costs | Plan features, support level, renewal terms and any add-ons |
Shopify is beginner-friendly as a platform, but beginners still need to build and configure the store.
Make Local for Global may be easier for beginners who want someone else to handle the setup and then teach them how to manage the store after launch.
If you enjoy learning tools and want to control the store setup yourself, Shopify may suit you. If you want help getting online without technical stress, Make Local for Global may be better.
Shopify is often a strong choice for businesses planning to scale ecommerce, use apps, sell through multiple channels, add retail POS, or build a larger ecommerce operation.
Make Local for Global is better suited to early-stage sellers who need a practical start: a WooCommerce store, product listings, payments, support and training.
The best choice depends on your stage. A new seller may need setup help more than advanced features. A growing brand may need the app ecosystem, POS and sales channels that Shopify offers.
Make Local for Global can help you launch your online store using WordPress and WooCommerce.
Plans start from £99/year. Website ready in 5 days.
Before paying for either option, ask these questions:
These questions matter as the right ecommerce option is not only about features. It is about cost, control, support, setup time and how much work you are ready to do yourself.
Shopify and Make Local for Global are both useful, but they suit different buyers.
Shopify is a strong choice if you want a hosted ecommerce platform with themes, apps, sales channels, checkout, payments and growth tools.
Make Local for Global is a stronger choice if you want a focused ecommerce website service for selling products online using WordPress and WooCommerce.
If your business wants Shopify, plans to use Shopify apps, needs retail POS or wants a dedicated hosted ecommerce platform, Shopify is worth comparing.
If your business needs a low-cost online store with payment setup, product listings, training and support, Make Local for Global is likely the better fit.
Book a strategy session with Make Local for Global and get clear guidance before choosing your website setup.
Yes. Make Local for Global can be considered an alternative to Shopify for people who want an ecommerce website built for them. The main difference is that Make Local for Global uses WordPress and WooCommerce, while Shopify is a hosted ecommerce platform.
Shopify may be better if you want a hosted ecommerce platform, Shopify apps, Shopify POS and multi-channel selling tools. Make Local for Global may be better if you want a WooCommerce website built for you with payment setup, product listings, support and training.
Make Local for Global starts from £99/year. Shopify costs depend on your plan, apps, theme, payment setup and whether you hire someone to build or customise the store. Compare the full first-year cost before choosing.
Shopify gives you the platform and tools, but the store setup is usually done by you or by someone you hire. You can hire a Shopify Partner if you want professional help.
No. Make Local for Global builds ecommerce websites using WordPress and WooCommerce.
Yes. Make Local for Global builds ecommerce websites using WordPress and WooCommerce.
Shopify can be good for beginners who want to learn and manage a hosted ecommerce platform. Make Local for Global can be better for beginners who want the store built for them and want training after launch.
Both can work. Shopify may suit sellers who want a larger ecommerce platform and are comfortable managing setup. Make Local for Global may suit handmade sellers who want a WooCommerce store built for them at a lower annual starting price.
Yes. Shopify is made for ecommerce. Make Local for Global builds ecommerce websites using WordPress and WooCommerce.
Editorial note: This comparison is based on publicly available information from Shopify and Make Local for Global at the time of review. Prices, features, package limits, setup times, payment fees and terms can change, so always check each provider’s own website, checkout page, quote and terms before buying. This article is written to help small business owners compare options fairly and does not claim that one provider is right for every business.
