£50-£150 per month sounds cheap. But over three years, that's £1,800-£7,400 - and you own the software but not the hosting. Here's how my e-commerce options compare.
Important: I build Shopify, not Magento. So the comparison below shows Magento's costs vs my e-commerce options. If you need a store, I'll build you a Shopify site. Only Simple Payments (Stripe) is something you own after the build; full stores run on Shopify.
3-year cost comparison
| Option | 3-year total | Ownership |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Payments | £299 | Yes |
| Starter Store | £2,683-£3,763 | No |
| Standard Store | £4,183-£5,263 | No |
| Advanced Store | £6,683-£7,763 | No |
| Magento | £1,800-£7,400 | Yes |
Magento pricing: Open Source free; hosting £50-£150/month. Adobe Commerce is enterprise-level.
Best for
Magento: Large stores, complex catalogues, enterprise needs. You own the software.
Bespoke: Custom Shopify builds or Simple Payments (Stripe). Quality, accessibility and performance built in. See e-commerce and online payments for options.
When Magento is not ideal
Small stores, tight budgets. Hosting and maintenance are significant.
Common pain points
- Complex; needs skilled developers
- Hosting and maintenance costs are high
- Adobe Commerce is enterprise-priced
Year 4 and beyond
With Simple Payments, you own the integration; no platform fee. With custom Shopify builds, you pay Shopify forever - it is a hosted service you never own. With Magento DIY, you also pay forever. The difference: a custom build gets you a store that works for you from day one.
Already on Magento?
Considering a move to Shopify? E-commerce and online payments covers the options.
FAQs
How much does Magento cost over 3 years?
£1,800-£7,400 for Open Source with hosting. Adobe Commerce is enterprise-priced.
Do you build Magento stores?
No. I build Shopify stores. If you need e-commerce, I'll build you a Shopify site. See the options above.
Can I migrate from Magento to Shopify?
Yes. Products and content can be moved. See the migration section on this page.
Related reading
- Custom build vs template: what you really get
- Themes vs bespoke: where accessibility breaks first
- When to leave your site builder
- Website rescue: when to fix vs rebuild
- Budgeting for website projects
Next steps
See e-commerce and online payments for bespoke store options, or get in touch to discuss your project. See the full website costs comparison for all platforms.