Starting cost
One Payload
From ₹25,000
Shopify
Developer setup from ₹10,000
Shopify is rent. A custom store is an asset. Here is when each option actually makes sense.
Choose Shopify if you want a hosted platform tomorrow and you are fine paying every month. Choose custom if you want to own the site, control the design, and stop paying a platform cut.
• You need an app ecosystem on day one
• Your team already knows Shopify admin
• You are testing a product with a tiny budget
• You do not want to think about hosting
• Brand and design actually matter
• Monthly fees and ~2% extras add up
• You want the code and data to be yours
• You are tired of theme and app limits
| Point | One Payload | Shopify |
|---|---|---|
| Starting cost | From ₹25,000 | Developer setup from ₹10,000 |
| Platform fee | ₹0 | ₹1,499 to ₹1,75,000/mo (Basic to Plus) + GST |
| Hosting | 1st Year Included Then Pay as You Grow | Included in plan (₹1,499+/mo) |
| Selling / transaction fee | None | ~2% — e.g. ₹2,000 on ₹1,00,000 sales |
| Payment gateway | 1-2% | 1-2% |
| Domain | 1,000/year | 1,000/year |
| Maintenance | Clear monthly care plan | Paid apps often ₹500–5,000+/mo + custom work |
| Customization | Fully custom (built into project) | Themes & paid apps (extra monthly cost) |
| Design flexibility | Fully custom UI/UX | Template-based (deep custom costs more) |
| Ownership & control | You own the site | Rent the platform (leave = migrate) |
| Long-term costs | Higher upfront, then care only — no platform % | Plan forever + ~2% on sales (₹2,000 per ₹1,00,000) + apps |
The same core you would expect from a serious Shopify build — without the monthly rent. Details on e-commerce website development.
• Custom homepage, collections, and product pages
• Cart, checkout, and Indian payment gateways
• Admin for products, orders, and inventory
• Mobile-first performance
• Typical launch in 2–4 weeks
Upfront, Shopify can look cheaper. Over a year, plan fees, apps, and transaction extras often cost more than a one-time custom build from ₹25,000.
Yes. We can rebuild the store and migrate catalogue content. You stop paying Shopify once the new site is live.
You will not get the Shopify app store. We implement the features you actually use — filters, payments, WhatsApp — as part of the build.
Send your catalogue size and current setup — we will give you a straight recommendation.