Shopify vs WordPress vs Custom Sites: Security Differences

Every website platform splits security responsibility between you and the provider differently. Knowing where that line sits tells you exactly what you're on the hook for.

Shopify — most handled for you

Shopify manages servers, TLS, PCI-compliant payments, and patching. Your responsibilities are narrower but real: app permissions, theme code you customize, strong admin credentials, and security headers (which you can add through the theme or an app). Exposed files and server misconfig are largely off the table.

WordPress — maximum flexibility, maximum responsibility

WordPress gives you full control, which means you own almost all of the security surface: core/plugin/theme updates, file permissions, wp-config protection, headers, and hosting configuration. It's the most-attacked platform precisely because so much is left to the operator. Most WordPress breaches trace back to an outdated plugin.

Custom-built sites — total control

With a custom stack (Node, Rails, Django, etc.) you control everything and are responsible for everything: TLS configuration, headers, dependency CVEs, error handling, secrets management, and deployment hygiene. Powerful, but nothing is set up for you.

What this means for scanning

Whatever your platform, an external scan tests what's actually exposed to the internet. VitalSite fingerprints your stack and tailors every fix — Shopify theme edits, wp-config snippets, or nginx.conf blocks — to match. Run a scan to see your platform-specific results.