Quick Summary
- 1Shopify is fastest to launch; total cost surprises come from apps and Plus pricing
- 2Custom builds are justified at INR 5 Cr+ GMV or unusual product/checkout logic
- 3Headless (Shopify + Next.js) lands between INR 18–60 L and helps with SEO and CRO
- 4Plan for monthly run-rate: apps, search, reviews, support — usually INR 25–80 K/month
The 2026 e-commerce decision in India still rhymes with 2022 — but the cost curves have shifted. Shopify Plus pricing climbed, headless tooling matured, and Indian payment integrations finally caught up. Here is what each option really costs end-to-end.
Shopify (standard plans)
Best for: most D2C brands under INR 5 Cr GMV. Launch in 4–8 weeks, theme customisation, Razorpay / Cashfree apps, decent admin. Real cost surprises come from the app stack — reviews, subscriptions, bundling, loyalty, post-purchase, Klaviyo. Monthly app spend of INR 15–40 K is normal and rarely included in launch quotes.
WooCommerce
Still relevant for content-led brands already on WordPress, or stores that need bespoke India payment and shipping edge cases without app limits. Cheaper to host, but you own the stack — security patches, performance tuning, payment plugin maintenance. Budget for an ongoing maintenance retainer or expect breakage.
Headless (Shopify backend + Next.js storefront)
The sweet spot for SEO-led brands in 2026. Shopify keeps the admin, products, inventory, and checkout. Next.js (or Remix) handles the storefront with ISR, image optimisation, custom PDPs, and content. Result: 90+ Lighthouse scores, faster Core Web Vitals, full creative control. Cost: INR 18–60 L for a serious build, plus a Hydrogen / Vercel / Cloudflare run-rate of INR 25–60 K/month at modest traffic.
Indicative e-commerce build cost in India (2026)
| Website Type | Price Range | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Shopify standard theme | INR 1.5–6 L build · INR 10–25 K/mo | 0–5 Cr GMV, fast launch, simple catalog |
| WooCommerce custom | INR 3–10 L build · INR 8–20 K/mo | Content-heavy stores, India payment edge cases |
| Headless Shopify + Next.js | INR 18–60 L build · INR 30–80 K/mo | SEO-led brands, high CRO bar, content + commerce |
| Fully custom commerce | INR 60 L–2.5 Cr build | Marketplaces, B2B catalogs, unique pricing/checkout logic |
Planning a Website? Don't Overpay or Underbuild
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Fully custom commerce
Justified when: B2B catalogs with role-based pricing, marketplaces, configure-to-order products, complex tax or compliance logic, or GMV at a scale where 2% Shopify Plus fees are bigger than your engineering team. Below INR 5 Cr GMV, this is almost always premature.
What founders forget in the budget
- Product photography and lifestyle shoots.
- Copy and category page content (the SEO oxygen).
- Klaviyo / Wigzo / WebEngage and email design.
- Site search (Algolia, Searchspring) once SKUs cross ~500.
- Reviews, UGC, loyalty, referral apps.
- Returns and warehouse software once orders cross 50/day.
- Performance marketing creative production — a continuous cost, not a one-off.
Migration cost reality
Moving from Magento to Shopify, or Shopify to headless, lands at INR 6–25 L depending on SKU count, redirect map size, and how much custom logic must be re-implemented. Plan for a careful 301 redirect map and a 4–8 week SEO recovery window after relaunch.
How we approach it
We are pragmatic: most clients go Shopify with a high-craft theme and an honest app stack. Brands with strong content and SEO ambitions go headless with our web development and digital marketing teams working together. contact us if you want a frank build vs buy review for your category.
Pro Insight
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