Shopify is hosted ecommerce: monthly rent for store, hosting and support in one bill. Great for fast launches and tiny catalogues; costs compound via plans, transaction fees and paid apps. Indian sellers must verify UPI/COD/GST workflows, not just themes.
Key facts
- Plans plus per-order fees plus app subscriptions.
- UPI/COD/GST need explicit setup and testing.
- Content/blog capability is basic versus WordPress.
- Migration to WooCommerce later is routine (see migration guide).
Verdict
Under ~50 SKUs testing demand: fine. Content-led growth: WooCommerce. Compare on the comparison page.
FAQs
How much monthly?
Plan + apps + transaction cut — model 3-year TCO, not month one.
Can we leave?
Yes — products/customers export; URLs need redirect maps.
UPI supported?
Via gateway integrations requiring proper setup.