How Much Does an Ecommerce Website Cost in 2025?

Quick answer: An ecommerce website can cost anywhere from $100 for a basic DIY setup to over $50,000 for a custom-built store, depending on the platform, design, features, and whether you hire a developer or use a website builder.

If you’re planning to launch an online store, one of the first questions you’ll ask is: how much does an ecommerce website cost? The truth is, there’s no single answer. Depending on your needs, it could cost as little as $100 or more than $50,000.

You might be comparing website builders like Shopify or Wix, or wondering if hiring a freelance developer or agency is worth the investment. Costs vary depending on your site’s size, complexity, design, and whether you’re using any automation or AI tools.

To help you make sense of everything, we’ve broken down the full costs of building and running an ecommerce website, along with pros and cons of each route, hidden fees to look out for, and which options are best depending on your budget.

Ecommerce Website Costs at a Glance

As you plan and build your online store, there are a number of essential costs to consider. From getting your domain name to choosing a builder or paying for custom features, every piece contributes to your total investment. Here’s a clear breakdown of the key ecommerce website costs and how much you can expect to pay:

Cost Category	What Is It?	Average Price Range
Domain Name	Your store’s unique web address (e.g. yourbrand.com)	$10–$20/year
Web Hosting	Storage space for your website's files, images, and content	$2.95–$230/month
Website Builder	A tool like Shopify or Wix to design, build, and manage your online store	$29–$299/month
Templates/Themes	Design layout and styling for your website’s appearance	Free–$500 (one-time purchase)
Apps/Plugins	Add-ons that increase functionality, like email marketing or product reviews	$0–$20/month per app
Payment Processing	Fees charged for accepting payments from customers via credit/debit cards	2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
SEO/Marketing Tools	Tools to grow your traffic, visibility, and email list	$0–$150/month
Custom Development	Hiring freelancers or agencies to build unique features or a fully custom site	$1,000–$50,000+ (one-time)
Ongoing Maintenance	Updates, backups, bug fixes, and technical support	$50–$500/month

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What These Costs Actually Mean For You

While the table provides a quick overview, it’s important to understand how these pieces come together in real scenarios:

• Domain Name: Most platforms offer a free domain for the first year, but you’ll typically pay $10–$20 annually after that. Domains with premium keywords or shorter names may cost more.
• Web Hosting: With platforms like Shopify and BigCommerce, hosting is included in your monthly plan. If you use WordPress with WooCommerce, you’ll need to pay separately. Prices range from $3/month for shared hosting to $200+ for high-performance options.
• Website Builder: Shopify starts at $39/month, but costs can rise if you add apps or need advanced reporting tools. Wix, Squarespace, and GoDaddy also offer ecommerce plans starting from around $16–$27/month.
• Templates/Themes: Many website builders include free themes, but premium templates with better design or customisation cost anywhere from $100 to $500.
• Apps/Plugins: Some features (like live chat, reviews, or subscriptions) require third-party apps. Even though some are free, most charge monthly — and fees can quickly add up if you install several.
• Payment Processing: This is an unavoidable fee. Whether you use Stripe, PayPal, or Shopify Payments, expect to pay around 2.9% + $0.30 for each sale in the US.
• SEO and Marketing Tools: Shopify and Wix include basic SEO tools, but advanced software like Ahrefs or Klaviyo can cost $50–$150/month. Email automation, SMS marketing, and social media tools often come with recurring charges.
• Custom Development: Hiring a freelancer for small edits might cost $500, but a full custom ecommerce site built by an agency can easily reach $20,000 or more. Magento builds often exceed $50,000 due to complexity.
• Ongoing Maintenance: If you’re running a WordPress site, you’ll likely need regular updates and security patches. Agencies or freelancers often offer monthly plans for $50–$500, depending on your needs.

How Your Total Cost Depends on the Path You Choose

Your final budget depends heavily on how you decide to build and manage your ecommerce site. Here’s a look at how pricing varies depending on your setup:

Build Method	Total Cost Estimate	Includes
Website Builder	$2.99–$299/month	Hosting, templates, SEO tools, security, ecommerce features
WordPress + WooCommerce	$11–$1,000+ upfront, + ongoing fees	Hosting, plugins, customisation, domain, templates, dev time
Hiring a Web Designer	$1,000–$5,000+ upfront	Full build, design, branding, ongoing maintenance not always included

Recommendations: Which Option is Best for You?

I recommend using a website builder if:

• You’re launching a small to mid-sized store
• You want a simple way to build and manage your store without coding
• You prefer having everything bundled into one monthly fee
• You’re starting with a limited budget

I recommend using WordPress + WooCommerce if:

• You want full control over your site’s design and functionality
• You’re comfortable with plugins, updates, and ongoing technical tasks
• You plan to scale or add custom features in the future

I recommend hiring a designer or agency if:

• You have a larger budget and want a completely custom store
• You’re short on time or want someone to handle everything for you
• Your business has specific technical requirements or integrations

How Much Does an Ecommerce Website Cost?

The cost of an ecommerce website varies based on how you build it. The three most common approaches are:

• Using a website builder (like Shopify or Wix)
• Building with WordPress + WooCommerce
• Hiring a professional designer or developer

Let’s break down the options:

Option 1: Using a Website Builder

This is the most popular option for small businesses. Website builders like Shopify, Squarespace, Wix, and BigCommerce offer monthly plans that include hosting, security, templates, and ecommerce features.

Estimated cost: $29–$299/month

Great for:

• Beginners or non-technical users
• Small product catalogs
• Quick setup

Limitations:

• Less flexibility for customisation
• Costs add up with premium apps or themes

Examples:

• Shopify Basic: $39/month
• Wix Business Unlimited: $32/month
• BigCommerce Standard: $39/month

Builder platforms bundle everything you need into a single monthly fee. But while the entry-level plans are affordable, the total cost can climb if you start adding apps or premium design themes.

Some businesses find that a few essential apps — like email marketing, customer reviews, or upsell tools — quickly push their total monthly cost closer to $100–$150. So it's worth factoring in those add-ons from the start.

Option 2: Using WordPress + WooCommerce

If you want more control, WordPress combined with WooCommerce is a powerful route. You’ll need to purchase hosting, a domain, a theme, and potentially some plugins.

Estimated cost: $200–$2,000 upfront + $20–$100/month ongoing

Great for:

• Developers or users with WordPress experience
• Larger, custom ecommerce stores
• Better SEO control

Limitations:

• More setup and maintenance involved
• No customer support unless you hire help

Typical expenses:

• Hosting: $10–$40/month
• Premium theme: $50–$100 (one-time)
• Plugins: $0–$300/year
• Maintenance: Optional $50–$150/month

WordPress gives you full flexibility, but it comes with more responsibility. You'll need to handle updates, backups, and security — or pay someone to do it for you.

Over time, plugin and hosting costs can match or exceed the price of an all-in-one builder. The trade-off is greater customisation and control over site performance and SEO structure.

Option 3: Hiring a Designer or Agency

This option gives you the most flexibility but comes with a much higher price tag. Agencies or freelancers can build a store from scratch or customise a platform like Shopify or Magento.

Estimated cost: $3,000–$50,000+

Great for:

• Established businesses scaling operations
• Unique requirements (custom backend, complex logistics)
• Full-service builds including SEO and CRO

Limitations:

• Higher upfront cost
• Longer timelines (4–12 weeks)

Hiring a professional team ensures your store is tailored to your brand, UX goals, and growth plans. But it’s a larger investment — both in terms of money and time.

You’ll need to budget not only for the initial design but also for any ongoing support, changes, or marketing services. A solid agency may also offer conversion rate optimisation (CRO), custom analytics, and SEO setup — which adds value, but also cost.

Other Factors to Consider:

• Your time availability — DIY platforms save money but take more effort
• Scalability — will your current setup still work as you grow?
• The total cost of ownership, including support, tools, and upgrades

Each option has trade-offs. The best choice depends on your budget, experience, and how hands-on you want to be.

What Affects the Cost of an Ecommerce Website?

The price tag on your store depends on several major variables. Understanding these can help you build a realistic budget:

1. Platform Type

The platform you choose forms the base of your site and determines many of your other costs. For example:

Platform	Starting Monthly Cost	Notes
Shopify	$29	Includes hosting + store tools
Wix	$27	Beginner-friendly, less flexible
WooCommerce	$0 (plugin only)	Pay for hosting, dev, plugins
Magento	Free (Open Source)	Dev costs $10,000+ typical

2. Theme and Design

You can choose a free template, buy a premium one, or pay for custom design.

• Free themes: Included with most platforms, but generic
• Premium themes: $100–$500 (Shopify, WooCommerce, Webflow)
• Custom UI/UX design: $1,000–$5,000+ (freelancer or agency)

3. Functionality and Features

The more features your site needs, the more it will cost. Examples:

• Product filters and categories
• Subscription billing
• Reviews and ratings
• Multi-language or multi-currency support
• CRM and inventory integration

Custom features = higher dev time = higher cost

What Does a $500 Store vs a $5,000+ Store Get You?

Feature	$500 Build (DIY)	$5,000+ Build (Agency/Custom)
Design	Free template	Fully custom, responsive
Platform	Wix or Shopify Basic	Shopify Advanced, WooCommerce Pro
Functionality	Basic cart, checkout, PayPal	Advanced filters, bulk discounts
SEO	Minimal	SEO-ready structure + on-page setup
Speed Optimization	Basic	Image compression, lazy loading
Conversion Optimization	Not included	A/B testing, heatmaps, tracking
Maintenance	DIY	Optional support or SLA

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What Ongoing Costs Should You Expect?

Launching your site is only the beginning. Running it day-to-day includes the following ongoing expenses:

• Hosting: $10–$40/month (if not using a builder)
• Apps and plugins: $5–$50/month per tool
• Email marketing software: $20–$150/month (Klaviyo, Mailchimp)
• SEO tools: $50–$150/month (SEMRush, Ahrefs)
• Backups & security: $5–$30/month
• Support/maintenance: $50–$300/month (if outsourced)

Don’t forget processing fees for each sale. Shopify, Stripe, and PayPal charge around 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction in the U.S.

Can AI Reduce Ecommerce Website Costs?

AI tools are changing how ecommerce sites are built. You can now generate product descriptions, auto-design templates, and even create logos and imagery without hiring anyone.

Examples of AI Tools for Ecommerce:

• Wix ADI: Auto-generates a website with content
• Shopify Magic: Writes product copy automatically
• 10Web & Durable: Build websites from a prompt
• ChatGPT: Write landing pages, emails, FAQs
• Midjourney / DALL·E: Create branded images or mockups

Benefits of AI:

• Faster setup (can build in under 1 hour)
• Great for MVPs or testing a new niche
• Cuts down copywriter and designer costs

Limitations of AI:

• SEO quality is often poor
• Lack of strategic UX decisions
• Not suitable for scaling stores or custom features

For lean startups, using AI in the early stages can reduce costs. But scaling stores will still need real devs, designers, and SEO experts to compete.

Final Thoughts: What’s the Right Cost for You?

The best ecommerce website isn’t always the most expensive — it’s the one that gives you everything you need without paying for extras you won’t use.

If you’re launching your first store, start lean. Website builders offer great value and can scale with you. If you’re already scaling, a custom site might help you avoid limitations in performance or design.

Here’s a quick summary:

Best Option For…	Use This
Beginners	Shopify, Wix, Squarespace
Mid-size brands	WooCommerce + freelancer
Scaling stores	Custom build via agency
Fast, cheap MVPs	AI builders + Shopify Basic