AppXen WordPress
WordPress + WooCommerce + Redis object cache, automatic HTTPS, MariaDB, hardened Ubuntu base. A real store in one click — skip the manual LEMP setup.
Subscribe on AWS MarketplaceWhat's included
Pricing
$0.039/hr (≈ $28/mo software), billed through AWS — you pay EC2 separately and keep full control of the instance
Recommended instance
t3.small or larger
Production stack
WooCommerce + Redis object cache auto-installed on first boot; TLS via Caddy + Let's Encrypt; MariaDB; UFW firewall and unattended security updates on a hardened Ubuntu 24.04 base
Shopify & WordPress.com vs self-hosted: the real cost
Pricing verified June 2026 against shopify.com, wordpress.com, and AWS us-east-1 rates.
Hosted store platforms take a cut of every sale and gate features behind tiers. A self-hosted WooCommerce store has no platform transaction fee — you bring any payment gateway at the same card rate everyone pays, and keep the rest.
| Option | Monthly | Per-sale fees | Store owned by | Ops burden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shopify Basic | $39 ($29 annual) | 2.9% + 30¢ card, +2% if not Shopify Payments | Shopify | None |
| WordPress.com Commerce | $70 | Card via your processor (0% platform) | WordPress.com | None |
| WP Engine (managed WP host) | ~$55+ | Your gateway (0% platform) | Your host | Low–medium |
| DIY self-host | ~$17+ | Your gateway (0% platform) | Your AWS account | High — you do everything |
| AppXen WordPress appliance | ~$46–61 all-in | Your gateway (0% platform) | Your AWS account | Low — hardened, you keep root |
Appliance all-in = $0.039/hr software (≈ $28/mo) + EC2 (t3.small ≈ $15/mo to t3.medium ≈ $30/mo) + EBS. Card processing (≈ 2.9% + 30¢) is charged by your gateway on every platform; only Shopify adds a separate platform fee on top.
The per-sale platform tax
Shopify adds 2% to every sale unless you use Shopify Payments — on top of the normal card processing everyone pays. On a store doing $20,000/mo through a third-party gateway, that's about $400/mo, or ~$4,800/yr, scaling with every dollar of sales. WooCommerce has no platform fee: bring Stripe or PayPal at the same ~2.9% + 30¢ card rate and keep the difference.
Cost scenarios
New store · low volume
Shopify Basic ($39/mo) or WordPress.com Commerce ($70/mo) are easy starting points if you want zero server management. The appliance runs ~$46/mo all-in on a t3.small with no platform cut — worth it the moment sales volume makes the 2% tax sting.
Growing store · $20,000/mo sales · third-party gateway
Shopify Basic: $39 plan + 2% platform fee (~$400) = ~$439/mo before card processing. Appliance: ~$50/mo flat + the same card processing you'd pay anywhere. The avoidable platform tax alone ≈ $4,800/yr.
Plugin & theme freedom
WordPress.com's lower plans block third-party plugins and Shopify gates features behind higher tiers. Self-hosted WooCommerce runs any of the 60,000+ WordPress plugins, with full theme and checkout control.
Ownership & portability
Your store, theme, customer list, and order history live in your AWS account — exportable and portable, never on a platform that can reprice or restrict you.
When a hosted platform is the better choice
Pick Shopify if you want zero server management, a polished checkout with built-in payments, and its app ecosystem, and don't mind the per-sale cut. WooCommerce wins when you want to own the store, avoid platform fees, and customize without limits — with the hardening, TLS, and database already handled by the appliance.
FAQ
Is WooCommerce really free?
The plugin is — unlimited products, no platform transaction fee, full checkout control. You pay for hosting and your payment processor's standard card rate.
What do I actually pay per sale?
Just your gateway's card processing (Stripe or PayPal ≈ 2.9% + 30¢) — the same rate Shopify charges. There's no extra platform fee on WooCommerce.
Can I migrate an existing store?
Yes — WooCommerce imports products, orders, and customers via CSV or migration plugins from Shopify and most other platforms.
Where does my store live?
In your AWS account, your VPC, your chosen region. AppXen has no access to your instance.
Getting started
Launch, wait ~2 min, browse https://<public-ip>/wp-admin and complete the install wizard. DB credentials are pre-wired (sudo cat /opt/appliance/credentials.txt).
Need help? Email support@appxen.ai.