How Much Does an E-commerce Website Cost in 2026?

Launching an online store is one of the most common digital investments for businesses in 2026. But prices range from €0 (Shopify's 3-month free trial) to €50,000+ for a custom e-commerce platform. How do you choose, and what budget should you plan for?

The 3 main types of e-commerce solutions

• All-in-one SaaS (Shopify, Wix Commerce, Squarespace): monthly subscription, everything managed by the platform. Ideal for fast launches, but you depend on the platform and transaction fees.
• Open source CMS (WooCommerce, PrestaShop): more flexible but requires hosting, manual updates and security management.
• Custom development (Next.js, React + Stripe): most expensive but unconstrained, high-performance, 100% tailored to your brand and processes.

Price ranges by solution

Here are realistic costs for a 2026 launch:

• Shopify with premium theme (5-20 products, simple catalogue): €1,500 — €4,000 setup + €29 to €79/month subscription
• Custom WooCommerce (extensive catalogue, advanced filters, multi-currency): €3,000 — €10,000
• Custom Next.js + Stripe e-commerce (premium experience, scalable): €8,000 — €25,000
• Marketplace or complex e-commerce (multi-vendor, ERP, logistics): €25,000+

Hidden costs to anticipate

Beyond development, an e-commerce site involves ongoing expenses:

• Platform subscription or hosting: €30 to €200/month
• Transaction fees: 0.5 to 2% depending on the solution
• Payment gateway (Stripe, PayPal): 1.4 to 2.9% + €0.25 per transaction
• Professional product photography: €200 to €800 for 50-100 products
• Maintenance and security updates: €50 to €200/month

When to choose custom development

Shopify and WooCommerce cover 80% of needs. Custom development becomes necessary when:

• Your catalogue exceeds 1,000 SKUs with complex attributes.
• You need a highly distinctive user experience (animations, 3D product customisation, etc.).
• You must integrate an ERP, CRM or proprietary inventory system.
• Performance is critical: every second of loading time saved can increase conversion rates by 2-3%.

Start simple, scale up

Most e-commerce stores don't need a custom solution to start. Beginning on Shopify lets you validate the market, build a customer base and generate revenue — then migrate to a more powerful solution when growth justifies it.

Based near Nice (Sophia Antipolis, French Riviera) and available fully remote, I help merchants launch or redesign their online stores. Get in touch for a free quote tailored to your business.