The verdict in three sentences
A SaaS platform like Shopify costs little upfront but accumulates subscriptions, apps and transaction fees that inflate the 3-year cost. A custom build demands a higher initial investment but eliminates platform commissions and integrates Wave and Orange Money natively. The 2026 tipping point is around 2,000,000 to 3,000,000 FCFA in monthly sales: beyond that, custom generally becomes cheaper.
Upfront cost and recurring charges
The two models have different cost structures. Here is the 2026 comparison of the main line items.
| Line item | Shopify (SaaS) | WooCommerce | Custom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial cost (FCFA) | 150,000-500,000 | 300,000-800,000 | 1,000,000-4,000,000 |
| Monthly subscription | 25,000-90,000 | 0 (hosting) | 0 |
| Hosting/month | Included | 15,000-60,000 | 15,000-60,000 |
| Apps & plugins/month | 15,000-80,000 | 5,000-40,000 | 0 |
| Transaction fees | 0.5-2 % extra | 0 | 0 |
| Local mobile money | Limited/worked around | Third-party plugin | Native |
The sensitive point in West Africa is mobile money: Shopify handles Wave and Orange Money poorly natively, forcing workarounds. WooCommerce relies on third-party plugins, while custom integrates them directly with tested webhooks.
The 3-year TCO: the real judge
Total cost of ownership (TCO) over 3 years reveals the real economics. Here is a simulation for a store at 2,000,000 FCFA in monthly sales.
| 3-year line item | Shopify | WooCommerce | Custom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial cost | 350,000 | 550,000 | 2,500,000 |
| Subscriptions (36 mo) | 2,160,000 | 0 | 0 |
| Hosting (36 mo) | 0 | 1,350,000 | 1,350,000 |
| Apps/plugins (36 mo) | 1,800,000 | 720,000 | 0 |
| Transaction fees (1 %) | 720,000 | 0 | 0 |
| Maintenance (36 mo) | 0 | 1,800,000 | 2,160,000 |
| 3-year TCO | 5,030,000 | 4,420,000 | 6,010,000 |
At this volume, Shopify and WooCommerce stay competitive. But as soon as sales double, Shopify's transaction and app fees explode while the custom TCO stays stable: that is where custom takes the lead, on top of full control and no dependency.
Recommendation by profile
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For a fast launch with a small catalogue and low volume, Shopify or WooCommerce make sense. For a merchant targeting high volume, specific business rules (local delivery, complex promotions) or a flawless Wave/Orange Money experience, custom pays back quickly and protects margin.
Mini case study
Mariama, who runs an online grocery in Dakar, is undecided. On Shopify, at 3,000,000 FCFA in monthly sales, she pays 60,000 FCFA subscription, 50,000 FCFA apps and 1 % transaction fees (30,000 FCFA), or 140,000 FCFA/month of platform charges, excluding poorly handled mobile money. Custom at 2,500,000 FCFA initial, her charges drop to 15,000 FCFA hosting + 80,000 FCFA maintenance = 95,000 FCFA/month, with native Wave and Orange Money. The 45,000 FCFA/month gap pays back the custom premium in about 40 months, but if her volume doubles, payback drops below 20 months.
FAQ
Does Shopify handle Wave and Orange Money? Not natively in a smooth way. You must go through gateways or workarounds, which adds friction to mobile checkout, precisely where conversion is won in West Africa.
What are Shopify's hidden fees? Transaction fees if you do not use Shopify Payments (0.5 to 2 %), the cumulative cost of paid apps, and the subscription that climbs with features. Over 3 years, these often exceed 4,000,000 FCFA.
Is custom always more expensive? In the short term yes, on initial cost. But its TCO stabilizes while SaaS climbs with volume, so beyond a certain threshold it becomes cheaper.
Is WooCommerce a good compromise? Often yes: no subscription, mobile money plugins, controlled cost. It does require serious maintenance and good optimization to stay fast on 3G.
At what volume should I switch to custom? As a 2026 order of magnitude, from 2,000,000 to 3,000,000 FCFA in monthly sales with specific needs, custom becomes economically and strategically relevant.
Let's talk about your project. We compare your SaaS vs custom TCO over 3 years with your real volumes before deciding. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
