Shopify or WooCommerce for an Indian online store?
The short answer
Shopify is quicker to launch and easier to run, but because Shopify Payments isn't available in India, it adds a transaction fee of 2% on Basic, 1% on Grow or 0.6% on Advanced on top of your payment gateway's fee. WooCommerce has no platform fee, but needs hosting and maintenance, typically ₹18,000 to ₹60,000 a year all in.
What Shopify costs an Indian store
Shopify's India plans run roughly from ₹1,499 a month (Basic) to ₹5,599 (Grow) and ₹22,680 (Advanced), before 18% GST; prices change, so check the current page. The bigger catch for Indian sellers: since Shopify Payments isn't offered in India, every online payment through Razorpay, PayU or another gateway attracts Shopify's third-party transaction fee, on top of the gateway's own charge. Cash-on-delivery orders are exempt.
What WooCommerce costs
WooCommerce is free software for WordPress with no platform transaction fee. You pay for hosting, security, a theme and any paid plugins, which typically adds up to ₹18,000 to ₹60,000 a year, plus someone to keep it updated.
| Shopify | WooCommerce | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly platform fee | ₹1,499–₹22,680 + GST | None |
| Extra transaction fee | 0.6%–2% (not on COD) | None |
| Running costs | Apps and themes | ₹18,000–₹60,000 a year |
| Setup effort | Low | Higher |
| Maintenance | Handled by Shopify | Your job, or your developer's |
| Best for | Launching fast, smaller catalogues | Control and lower fees at volume |
How to choose
If you want to start selling this month and don't want to manage software, Shopify is the easier road. If your sales volume is growing, a percentage on every order adds up, and WooCommerce's fixed costs can work out cheaper. On Shopify itself, upgrading plans can pay for itself once sales cross a few lakh a month, purely from the lower transaction fee. Our payment gateway guide covers the other half of every order's fees.
Frequently asked questions
Does Shopify charge extra fees in India?
Yes. Because Shopify Payments isn't available in India, Shopify adds a third-party transaction fee of 2%, 1% or 0.6% depending on your plan, on top of your payment gateway's fee. Cash-on-delivery orders are exempt.
Is WooCommerce free?
The software is free, but you pay for hosting, security, a theme and paid plugins, typically ₹18,000 to ₹60,000 a year in India.
Which is better for a small Indian store?
Shopify is easier to start; WooCommerce usually costs less as sales grow because it charges no percentage per order.
Where Codemark fits
We build online stores on both platforms, and on the first call we'll work out which one costs you less at your order volume.
Sources
- Razorpay, Shopify payment gateway pricing explained (Shopify's third-party fees in India and COD exemption)
- Noir & Blanco, Shopify pricing in India (INR plan prices)
- Prateeksha, Shopify vs WooCommerce India 2026 (WooCommerce running costs)
- Shopify Help Center, Pricing plans and billing overview (how third-party transaction fees work)