electronictransfer fullcolor
image 1
36 Years in Business

Shopify vs WooCommerce for Firearm Sales: What’s Best for a Gun Store?

| Posted on |

Shopify vs woocommerce for firearm sales

Selling firearms online isn’t like selling T-shirts or phone cases. You’re dealing with high-risk, heavily regulated products. That means your e-commerce platform needs more than just flashy themes and fast checkout—it has to support your business without getting you banned, blocked, or shut down. If you’re running or launching an online gun store, two of the biggest names you’ll look at are Shopify and WooCommerce. But which is better for firearm sales?

Here’s a clear, no-nonsense breakdown to help you decide.

1.) Compliance and Terms of Service: The Dealbreaker

Shopify’s Policy on Firearms
Shopify is a hosted e-commerce platform with strict terms of service. And firearms? They’re on thin ice.

Shopify does not allow the sale of:

  • Functional firearms
  • Ammunition
  • Certain firearm parts (like magazines over a certain capacity)
  • Accessories considered restricted

You can sell some accessories (think: gun safes, cleaning kits, non-restricted scopes), but as of their latest policy updates, you cannot sell guns or ammo directly on Shopify. Many gun stores have had their accounts frozen or deleted with little warning.

WooCommerce’s Policy on Firearms
WooCommerce is an open-source plugin for WordPress. It’s self-hosted, meaning you control the server, the data, and the rules—within the bounds of the law, of course.

There’s no built-in restriction against firearms or ammo. As long as you’re compliant with local, state, and federal laws, you can sell guns using WooCommerce. You’ll also be able to install third-party plugins that support FFL transfers, age verification, ID checks, and other compliance needs.

Verdict: WooCommerce wins. Shopify simply isn’t an option if you plan to sell firearms or ammo directly. While there seem to be some exceptions to the rule with Shopify, it isn’t clear what they are or how long they’ll last.

2.) Ease of Use

Let’s say you’re a small shop without a dedicated IT person. You want to spend time selling guns, not managing software.

Shopify’s Strength: Simplicity
Shopify is famous for its ease of use. It’s all-in-one: hosting, security, updates, payment processing—it’s all baked in. The dashboard is clean, the themes are polished, and customer support is always available.

WooCommerce’s Curve: More Control, More Responsibility
WooCommerce gives you a lot of flexibility, but that means more setup:

  • You’ll need to manage your own web hosting.
  • You’re responsible for backups, security, and updates.
  • There’s a learning curve if you’re not already familiar with WordPress.

That said, once it’s set up properly (especially with a good host like Nexcess, SiteGround, or WP Engine), WooCommerce can run smoothly with minimal maintenance.

Verdict: Shopify is easier, but ease doesn’t matter if you can’t legally sell your product on the platform.

3.) Payment Processing and High-Risk Business

Firearm sales are categorized as high-risk transactions by most payment processors. That affects your options for checkout, merchant accounts, and chargeback protection.

Shopify Payments? Forget It.
Shopify uses its own built-in processor, Shopify Payments, which does not allow firearm or ammo sales. Even if you use a third-party processor like Authorize.net or NMI, Shopify can still suspend your account if your products violate their policies.

WooCommerce Supports High-Risk Gateways
Because WooCommerce is open, you can use any payment gateway that supports firearms. Popular choices include:

  • Authorize.Net
  • NMI
  • FastCharge
  • eProcessing Network
  • Fidelipay
  • Sezzle (for compliant financing options)

You can also integrate firearms-specific processors like Fortis, Blue Dog, or TSYS, which specialize in high-risk transactions.

Verdict: WooCommerce is the only viable option if you need a gun-friendly payment gateway.

4.) FFL Integration and Compliance Tools

Selling guns online means routing transactions through FFL (Federal Firearms License) dealers. That means your e-commerce platform needs to:

  • Collect and verify buyer information
  • Let customers select an FFL dealer
  • Integrate background check systems (where applicable)

Shopify Doesn’t Support This
Since Shopify doesn’t allow the sale of guns, there’s no native or approved way to handle FFL integration.

WooCommerce Has Plugins and APIs
WooCommerce can integrate with:

  • FFL API tools that let users select their preferred dealer during checkout
  • Age verification systems
  • State compliance logic, limiting purchases based on shipping location
  • e4473 integrations for background check pre-screening

These tools require setup and might cost extra, but they exist—and they work.

Verdict: WooCommerce wins with real tools made for legal firearm transactions.

5.) Design, Customization, and Scalability

Shopify Looks Slick, But Comes with Limits
Shopify themes are well-designed and mobile-friendly. You can customize them—within a sandbox. You’re stuck with Shopify’s theme editor unless you want to pay a developer who knows Liquid, Shopify’s templating language.

WooCommerce Is Wide Open
Because it’s built on WordPress, WooCommerce can be customized endlessly:

  • Any design you want
  • Any feature you need
  • Any plugin you can imagine (thousands exist)

You also have access to the codebase, so developers can build anything you can dream up—from custom quote forms to dealer pricing systems.

Verdict: WooCommerce is more flexible. Shopify is faster to start, but not built for firearm retail.

6.) Cost

Shopify

  • Basic plan: $39/month
  • Advanced features: Up to $399/month
  • Transaction fees: 2.9% + 30¢ (more with third-party gateways)
  • Limited ability to use alternate processors

WooCommerce

  • Plugin: Free
  • Hosting: $10–50/month (depending on traffic)
  • Payment processor fees: Varies, but often lower
  • Plugins and custom features: Varies ($0–$500+ depending on needs)

Verdict: WooCommerce is more affordable in the long run, especially for high-volume or niche stores like gun shops.

Final Verdict: Use WooCommerce

Let’s cut to the chase. If you’re selling actual firearms or ammunition, Shopify is off the table. Its terms of service and payment processor restrictions make it unusable for legal gun sales.

WooCommerce, on the other hand, is:

  • Compliant (as long as you follow the law)
  • Flexible
  • Customizable
  • Supported by gun-friendly payment processors
  • Built to integrate with FFL databases and compliance tools

It might take a little more effort to set up, but for a serious firearm retailer, WooCommerce is the only platform that gives you full control without legal or logistical roadblocks. If you’re serious about selling firearms online and want a platform that won’t pull the rug out from under you, go with WooCommerce. It’s not just the better option—it’s the only one built to handle the unique demands of online gun sales.