WordPress vs Shopify vs Custom — Cost Comparison
Real build costs from 600+ projects. No affiliate bias — just data.
| Platform | Build Cost | Monthly Cost | Best For | Complexity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WordPress | $1,200 – $8,000 | $5 – $50 | Blogs, business sites, content-heavy | Low-Medium |
| Shopify | $2,500 – $15,000 | $39 – $399 | Small-mid ecommerce, DTC brands | Low |
| WooCommerce | $3,000 – $12,000 | $10 – $80 | Ecommerce + content hybrid | Medium |
| Magento 2 | $8,000 – $50,000 | $50 – $500+ | Enterprise ecommerce, multi-store | High |
| Custom Build | $10,000 – $60,000+ | $20 – $200+ | SaaS, web apps, unique logic | High |
When to choose a platform
- Your needs fit standard ecommerce or content patterns
- You want faster time-to-market (weeks, not months)
- You prefer lower upfront cost with managed hosting
- Your team can manage content without developers
When to go custom
- Your product has unique logic no platform supports
- You need full control over performance and scaling
- Platform licensing fees exceed custom hosting costs
- You are building a SaaS, marketplace, or data platform
How our recommendation engine works
When you use our calculator, we evaluate your project type, required features, product catalog size, and budget. We then cross-reference this against our database of 600+ real projects to suggest the platform with the best cost-to-fit ratio. The recommendation factors in both build cost and ongoing monthly expenses over 2 years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which platform is cheapest to build on?
WordPress is the most affordable for non-ecommerce sites ($1,200-$8,000). For ecommerce, Shopify has the lowest barrier to entry at $2,500-$15,000 including theme and basic customization.
When should I choose a custom build over a platform?
Custom builds make sense when your product has unique business logic that platforms cannot support — things like SaaS dashboards, marketplace matching algorithms, or complex integrations. If a platform can do 80%+ of what you need, it is usually cheaper to start there.
How does your calculator recommend a platform?
Our recommendation engine evaluates your project type, feature requirements, product count, and budget range. It cross-references these against 600+ real projects to suggest the platform with the best cost-to-fit ratio for your specific needs.