Shopify vs Custom Ecommerce Website in India: Which Should You Choose?

Almost every product brand in India asks the same question before going online: should we build on Shopify, or get a custom ecommerce website? Both are good choices, for different businesses. This guide compares them on the things that actually affect your margin and growth, so you can decide in one read.

What is the difference between Shopify and a custom ecommerce website?

Shopify is a hosted ecommerce platform: you rent the software, pick a theme, and add features with apps. A custom ecommerce website is built for your business, usually with a modern stack such as Next.js and Node.js, and you own the code and decide how every part of it works.

How much does Shopify really cost in India?

The plan price is only part of it. Budget for three things: the monthly plan, paid apps (reviews, subscriptions, product options, shipping rules), and transaction fees. According to Shopify's pricing page, stores that use a third-party payment provider pay an extra 2% per order on Basic, 1% on Grow and 0.6% on Advanced, on top of the gateway's own charges. Most Indian stores use gateways such as Razorpay, so this fee applies to every sale.

For a store doing ₹5,00,000 a month on the Basic plan, a 2% platform fee is ₹10,000 a month before apps. That is when a custom build often starts to pay for itself.

When should you choose Shopify?

• You are testing a new product and need to launch quickly.
• Your catalogue is standard: fixed products, sizes and prices.
• You don't have a developer and want the platform to handle updates and security.
• Your monthly sales are still small enough that fees stay minor.

When should you choose a custom ecommerce website?

• Customers configure products, for example uploading artwork and choosing print areas, like our Thread Up Co platform.
• Pricing depends on rules: quantity tiers, options, B2B rates.
• You need tight integration with inventory, ERP, CRM or WhatsApp.
• Speed and search visibility are a core growth channel.
• Transaction and app fees have become a noticeable monthly cost.

See how we approached a product-led storefront in the Nyrez case study.

How do you decide in 5 minutes?

1. List the three features your store cannot work without.
2. Check whether Shopify or an app supports each one cleanly.
3. Estimate 12 months of plan, app and transaction fees at your expected sales.
4. Compare that with a one-time custom build plus hosting.
5. If two or more features need workarounds, a custom build is usually the better long-term choice.

Not sure which side you fall on? Share your catalogue and must-have features through our project form and we'll recommend one honestly, even if it's Shopify.