E-commerce Website in Singapore: Shopify, WooCommerce or Custom?

The four ways to sell online in Singapore

Most businesses end up with one main channel and sometimes a second. Here is how the options compare on the points that usually decide it.

Shopify: hosted, quick to launch, monthly fee

Shopify's Singapore pricing lists the Basic plan at S$39 a month, or S$29 a month paid yearly. Online card payments through Shopify Payments cost 3.2% + S$0.50 on standard cards. If you use a different payment provider, Shopify adds a 2% third-party transaction fee on Basic. Hosting, SSL, unlimited products and abandoned checkout recovery are included, and Basic now includes Shopify B2B with up to three catalogues.

For a full breakdown of plan, apps, theme and build costs, see what a Shopify store costs in Singapore.

WooCommerce: free software, you run the hosting

WooCommerce's pricing page describes it as free, open-source e-commerce for WordPress, with no platform fees or revenue share. You pay for the rest: it estimates US$25 to US$350 a month for hosting for most stores, and US$29 to US$299 a year per paid extension.

The trade-off is responsibility. Someone has to update WordPress, WooCommerce and plugins, keep backups and deal with security. If that someone is you, budget the time. WooCommerce works well when you already have a content-heavy WordPress site, need a feature that would mean several paid Shopify apps, or want to own every part of the stack. Our Shopify vs WooCommerce comparison goes through the decision in detail.

Marketplaces: buyers included, fees and rules too

Shopee and Lazada bring buyers who are already shopping, which a new website does not. You pay for that on every order. Shopee's seller fees article lists commission and transaction fees; for a non-Mall seller in a general category, our worked example comes to about S$8.73 on a S$50 sale (17.44%) before shipping, as of October 2026.

Marketplaces also own the customer relationship: you get limited data, compete on price next to rivals and follow the platform's rules. Many brands use them to be found and their own site to keep repeat customers. Our guide to Shopee and Lazada fees vs your own store works through when each pays off.

Custom e-commerce builds: when they make sense

A custom store, built on a framework or a headless setup, is rarely the right first step. It makes sense when your selling model does not fit a platform:

• Complex B2B pricing: contract prices per customer, credit terms, approval flows
• Products configured from many options with live pricing rules
• Tight integration with an ERP, warehouse or legacy system
• Very high traffic or unusual performance needs

Expect higher upfront cost and an ongoing need for a developer. Our guide to custom software development costs in Singapore gives realistic ranges.

Which e-commerce option fits your business

Use these questions in order. The first one with a clear answer usually decides it.

1. 1

   Do you have fewer than a few hundred products and sell to consumers?

   Start with Shopify. You can be live in weeks, and the platform handles hosting and security.

2. 2

   Do you already run a WordPress site that drives your sales?

   Consider WooCommerce, but only if someone will own updates and backups every month.

3. 3

   Do you mainly need buyers, not a brand site, right now?

   List on Shopee or Lazada first, then add your own store for repeat customers.

4. 4

   Do you sell B2B with contract pricing or ERP integration?

   Check Shopify's B2B features first; go custom only if they cannot fit your workflow.

5. 5

   Who will run the store each week?

   If it is a busy owner with no technical help, pick the option with the least maintenance.

Singapore specifics: PayNow, GST, delivery and PDPA

Whichever platform you pick, these local points need planning.

• PayNow: many Singapore buyers prefer it. Shopify Payments in Singapore does not list PayNow among its payment methods, so stores usually add a gateway such as HitPay or Stripe.
• GST: if you are GST-registered, prices shown to consumers must include GST, and invoices need the right details. Our Shopify GST setup guide covers the settings.
• Delivery: set shipping rates by courier and zone, and say clearly how long delivery takes.
• PDPA: your checkout collects personal data, so you need a privacy policy, sensible retention and secure admin logins.

Do it yourself or get help?

A simple Shopify store with a handful of products is a realistic DIY project if you have time for product photos, descriptions and settings. Get help when you need a custom theme, PayNow and accounting integration, B2B features or a migration from another platform.

Our Shopify Store package (S$1,890) builds a ready-to-sell store with up to 30 products, PayNow and card payments, and shipping set up. For up to 150 products with variants, discounts, reviews and a marketplace connector, see Online Store Pro (S$3,490).