The build bands, side by side
Both platforms build excellent Indian stores; they cost differently to build and differently to run. From the calculator's bands:
| Shopify (INR) | WooCommerce (INR) | |
|---|---|---|
| Build, ~50 products, tuned theme | ₹2,15,000 – ₹11,00,000 | ₹1,80,000 – ₹9,60,000 |
| Platform fees (yearly) | ₹28,000 – ₹1,13,000+ (plan + apps) | ₹5,000 – ₹20,000 (hosting + plugins) |
| Payment gateway effective cost | Plan-dependent; third-party gateways add fees | Gateway fees only (Razorpay/Cashfree ~2%) |
| Customization ceiling | Theme + apps, Liquid for deeper work | Full PHP control |
The real monthly math for an Indian store
Shopify's plan fee looks small until apps accumulate: ₹2,000–₹8,000/month across subscriptions is normal for a serious store, plus gateway fees on every order. WooCommerce moves that spend to hosting (₹8,000–₹25,000/year for managed) and one-time development instead of subscriptions. At low volumes Shopify's simplicity wins; from roughly ₹5,00,000+/year revenue, WooCommerce's math starts winning for hands-on owners.
India-specific differences that matter
- COD: both support it; WooCommerce's COD logic is more customizable (pincode rules, extra fees).
- GST invoicing: both need plugins/apps; WooCommerce options are cheaper and deeper.
- Marketplace integrations (Amazon/Flipkart sync): ecosystems exist for both; WooCommerce integrations cost less yearly.
- Who maintains it: Shopify outsources updates to Shopify; WooCommerce needs a care plan (₹12,500–₹42,000/month senior-level). This is the honest trade: fees versus care.
Decision, compressed
- Want the store to run itself, apps for everything, no server worries: Shopify, and budget the subscriptions.
- Want full control, lower yearly burn, India-first payment and tax logic, and a developer on call: WooCommerce.
- Either way: run your configuration in the cost calculator, compare the bands, and read the ecommerce cost guide for the full cost anatomy.