Having a webshop built: what does it cost in 2026?
Having a webshop built via Shopify, WooCommerce or custom code: costs range from around €29 per month for a SaaS subscription to €25,000+ for a fully custom platform. An honest overview per platform and per cost item.
- Shopify (SaaS): around €29/mo subscription; have an agency handle setup for €2,000–€5,000 one-off.
- WooCommerce (open-source): no monthly fee for the plugin; a freelancer charges €1,500–€3,500 setup, an agency €3,000–€8,000+.
- Lightspeed eCom: suited for retailers with a point-of-sale system; subscription indicatively from around €69/mo.
- Custom webshop (custom code): indicatively from €5,000; choose this if you need a B2B portal, unique UX or tight ERP/CRM integrations.
What determines the cost of a webshop?
The cost of a webshop depends on four factors: the platform (SaaS subscription or self-hosted open-source software), the complexity of the design (standard theme versus fully custom), the number of integrations (payment provider, ERP, delivery service) and the ongoing costs after launch. A simple Shopify webshop with a standard theme can be up and running for around €29 per month and a day's work. A custom platform for hundreds of B2B clients requires an initial investment of €10,000 to €25,000 and a monthly maintenance contract. Most SME webshops fall somewhere in between: platform software with an agency setup of €2,000 to €8,000 one-off.
The four platforms compared
Shopify: fast launch, SaaS subscription
Shopify is a fully hosted platform with a monthly subscription (Basic around €29/mo, indicative: check shopify.com). No hosting setup needed and security updates are automatic. The Shopify App Store offers over 8,000 apps for email, loyalty, upsell and delivery. Downside: transaction fees with an external payment provider (0.5–2%) and less freedom for complex custom functionality. If you have an agency handle the setup, budget €2,000–€5,000 one-off.
WooCommerce: flexible, but more maintenance
WooCommerce is a free open-source plugin for WordPress. The plugin itself is free; you do pay for hosting (€5–25/mo), a premium theme (€0–100 one-off) and paid extensions. A freelancer charges indicatively €1,500–€3,500 one-off for a full WooCommerce setup; an agency with a custom theme €3,000–€8,000+. WooCommerce offers more flexibility than Shopify, but requires regular plugin and core software updates to prevent security issues.
Lightspeed eCom: for retailers with a till
Lightspeed eCom is a SaaS platform aimed at retailers with a physical store. It integrates directly with the Lightspeed point-of-sale system, so inventory syncs automatically between the shop floor and the webshop. Subscriptions start indicatively from around €69/mo (check lightspeedhq.com). Lightspeed is less suitable if you only sell online without a point-of-sale system. Setup costs are limited as the platform is configurable via wizards.
Custom webshop: maximum control
A custom webshop (Next.js, Laravel or Magento) is the best choice if you need a B2B ordering portal, customer-specific pricing, complex ERP integrations or a unique customer experience. The initial investment starts indicatively at €5,000 for a simple custom solution and goes up to €25,000+ for a fully custom platform. Custom is cheaper to maintain long-term: no mandatory app subscriptions and the architecture is built to the exact requirements of the business.
Fixed costs after launch: factor these in
Hosting and infrastructure
With Shopify and Lightspeed, hosting is included in the subscription. With WooCommerce or a custom solution, you pay separately: a shared server costs indicatively €5–25/mo, a VPS (faster performance, dedicated environment) €30–100/mo. For webshops with high traffic or strict GDPR requirements, a managed hosting provider is recommended.
Payment provider: transaction fees
iDEAL is the standard payment method in the Netherlands; virtually every webshop needs an integration with Mollie or Stripe. Transaction costs vary per provider and payment method: check mollie.com or stripe.com for current rates. With 100 transactions per month, expect roughly €15–50/mo in transaction costs, depending on payment mix and order value.
Plugins, apps and extensions
WooCommerce extensions for email marketing, loyalty programmes or advanced search cost €0–200+/year each. Shopify apps range from free to €50+/mo per app. Once you add several apps, monthly subscription costs quickly add up to €50–200/mo extra. When choosing a platform, factor in the total app stack you expect to need.
Maintenance and updates
With Shopify and Lightspeed SaaS, platform updates are automatic. With WooCommerce or a custom solution, manual updates are needed: plugins, WordPress core and PHP version. Many agencies offer a maintenance contract of indicatively €50–200/mo covering updates, backups and security monitoring. Not updating increases the risk of security issues and downtime.
When is a custom webshop the better investment?
A custom webshop makes sense if you need one or more of the following: a login-gated B2B environment with customer-specific pricing or catalogues, tight integrations with an ERP system (Exact, SAP, Microsoft Dynamics), a booking or reservation module, strict GDPR data storage on European servers, or scalability in functionality without a tangle of plugins. The initial investment is higher than a SaaS platform, but you pay no mandatory monthly app subscriptions and are not dependent on a third party's platform roadmap.
Webshop costs overview by type
The amounts below are indicative market prices excluding VAT. Ongoing costs (hosting, payment provider, maintenance) come on top.
| Webshop type | Indicative one-off | Indicative per month |
|---|---|---|
| Shopify (self-configure) | €0–500 setup | €29+ subscription |
| Shopify via agency | €2,000–€5,000 | €29+ subscription |
| WooCommerce (freelancer) | €1,500–€3,500 | €5–25 hosting |
| WooCommerce (agency, custom) | €3,000–€8,000+ | €5–25 hosting |
| Lightspeed eCom | limited | €69+ subscription |
| Custom webshop (custom code) | €5,000–€25,000+ | €30–100 hosting + maintenance |
Indicative market prices, excl. VAT. Payment provider costs (Mollie/Stripe) are transaction-based and come on top. Check current subscription prices on provider websites.
Frequently asked questions about webshop costs
What does a simple webshop cost?
Shopify or WooCommerce: which is cheaper?
What does a payment provider like Mollie cost?
Does Delahaye Solutions build webshops?
How high are the monthly costs after launch?
A webshop that fits your business?
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