Shopify (hosted SaaS)
Catalogues that fit Shopify’s model, teams that want less server ops, and roadmaps driven by apps + theme work.
Shopify vs Custom Ecommerce: Cost, Speed and Fit (New South Wales)
Web Business €990–€1690 and Shopify from €1490 remain strong anchors after AUD conversion when comparing agency vs freelancer quotes from Sydney. Shopify wins for most growing brands that need a reliable storefront quickly. Custom commerce wins when unique business logic or deep integrations exceed what apps should carry. WooCommerce sits between for WordPress-centric teams.
Best use case
When each option fits
Custom ecommerce
Unusual pricing rules, heavy ERP coupling, or product experiences that fight Shopify’s grain.
Cost & speed
What it costs and how fast it moves
Shopify (hosted SaaS) — Cost
Duyuz Shopify Starter from €1,490; Business from €2,490 (campaign) plus Shopify subscription, apps and payments.
Speed
Usually faster to a usable checkout.
Custom ecommerce — Cost
Custom builds often from €3,990+ and require ongoing engineering ownership.
Speed
Longer discovery and build; more control later.
Total cost of ownership includes apps, theme debt and ops — not only the build invoice.
Advantages and limitations
Both sides have trade-offs — we recommend based on fit.
Shopify (hosted SaaS) — Advantages
- Mature checkout and app ecosystem✓
- Less hosting burden✓
- Faster iteration for standard retail✓
Limitations
- App sprawl and theme fragility✓
- Platform fees forever✓
- Harder when logic is deeply custom✓
Custom ecommerce — Advantages
- Full control of UX and data model✓
- No SaaS ceiling on unique workflows✓
Limitations
- Higher build and maintenance cost✓
- You own security and uptime discipline✓
When to combine
Using both — deliberately
Start on Shopify to validate demand; migrate components to custom only when constraints are proven — not speculative.
How to decide
Default to Shopify (or Woo when WordPress is strategic). Choose custom when the product truly cannot live in a SaaS storefront without painful workarounds.
Remote delivery across Europe, the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia. Published floors are in EUR; quotes clarify local tax and currency expectations. No fabricated local offices.
Local decision factors in New South Wales
- Sydney agency premiums inflate statewide expectations✓
- Coastal vs regional Maps competition differs sharply✓
- Ecommerce and Shopify adoption is strong for catalogue brands✓
- Ads CPCs in Sydney home services punish weak landing pages✓
Related services & cost guides
Request an ecommerce scope
Tell us your market, timeline and constraints — we recommend a mix based on fit for your market and constraints.
FAQ
Is Shopify cheaper than custom?
Usually for standard stores. Custom can cost less long-term only if SaaS workarounds would be endless — rare for first stores.
What about WooCommerce?
Strong when content and store live together on WordPress. Still not “fully custom platform” complexity.
Will you push custom to raise the fee?
No. We recommend the smallest stack that sells.
Do you migrate Shopify later?
Yes when justified — migration is scoped explicitly.
Statewide SEO for NSW?
Scope by real service area. Sydney-only vs regional is a different Local SEO job.
Shopify for NSW retail?
Usually yes at launch — custom when logistics/workflows outgrow themes.
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