£19-£259 per month sounds cheap. But over three years, that's £684-£9,324 - and you still don't own anything. Here's how my e-commerce options compare.
Important: I build Shopify stores. For proper e-commerce, I always opt for Shopify. So the comparison below is DIY Shopify vs having me build your Shopify store. Only Simple Payments (Stripe) is something you own after the build; full stores run on Shopify and you pay the subscription.
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 |
| Shopify | £684-£9,324 | No |
Shopify pricing: Basic £19, Shopify £49, Advanced £259/month; Plus £1,800+/month for enterprise.
Best for
Shopify: Quick store launch, built-in payments, app ecosystem. Good for small to mid-size stores.
Bespoke: Custom Shopify builds or Simple Payments (Stripe). Quality, accessibility and performance built in. See e-commerce and online payments for options.
When Shopify is not ideal
Ownership, long-term cost, custom design. You rent forever.
Common pain points
- No ownership; subscription forever
- Transaction fees on non-Shopify Payments
- Theme and app costs add up
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 Shopify DIY, you also pay forever. The difference: a custom build gets you a store that works for you from day one.
Already on Shopify?
Already have a store? See Shopify support for performance, accessibility, and UX improvements.
FAQs
How much does Shopify cost over 3 years?
£684-£9,324+ depending on plan. Plus plans are £1,800+/month. You own nothing.
Do you build Shopify stores?
Yes. I always opt for Shopify for proper e-commerce. The options above include custom Shopify builds.
What do I own after the build?
With Simple Payments (Stripe), you own the integration. With Shopify stores, you pay Shopify forever; you own the custom theme and setup, but the platform is a subscription.
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.