Comparison · 2026
Shopify vs WooCommerce vs Custom
Three options for Indian D2C in 2026. Each wins at a different revenue stage and SKU count. Here's the framework.
By revenue / SKU stage
| Stage | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-launch / <₹3L/mo | Shopify Basic OR WooCommerce | Speed to launch wins. ~₹40-80K to live. |
| ₹3-50L/mo, <500 SKUs | Shopify (most-picked) | Ecosystem (apps, conversion, reliability) is worth the platform fee |
| ₹3-30L/mo, <100 SKUs, budget-tight | WooCommerce | Lower platform cost; trade-off in maintenance burden |
| ₹50L+/mo OR multi-vendor OR custom workflow | Custom (Next.js + Razorpay) | Skip platform tax. Own everything. ₹2.5L+ build pays back in 8-14 months. |
| ₹50L+/mo, brand-led D2C | Headless Shopify | Shopify backend (reliability) + custom frontend (UX). 2× build cost; brand differentiation. |
Real cost (₹5L/month D2C)
| Item | Shopify Basic | WooCommerce | Custom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build / setup | ₹40K-1.2L | ₹50K-1.5L | ₹2.5-4L |
| Platform fee (yr) | ₹30K | — | — |
| Apps (yr) | ₹40K | ₹15K | — |
| Hosting (yr) | — | ₹15-50K | ₹20-60K |
| Maintenance (yr) | ₹15K | ₹40K | ₹15-60K |
| Total Y1 | ~₹1.6L | ~₹1.5L | ~₹3.2L |
| Total Y2+ | ~₹85K/yr | ~₹70K/yr | ~₹35-1.2L/yr |
Pick the right stack for your D2C
30-min call. Tell us revenue + SKUs; we'll tell you which fits.