The verdict in three sentences
Shopify launches fast but charges a fee if you use an external gateway and handles M-Pesa only through plugins. WooCommerce is free to license but you pay hosting and maintenance, with more flexibility. The custom build costs more upfront (KES 100,000 to 260,000) but integrates African mobile money natively — decisive in Nairobi in 2026.
Comparing the three platforms
Key costs and constraints for a Kenyan merchant (2026 order of magnitude).
| Criterion | Shopify | WooCommerce | Custom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry cost | ~USD 29/month | Free (license) | KES 100k-260k |
| Hosting | Included | KES 3,200/month | KES 3,200/month |
| Native M-Pesa | Plugin only | Via plugin | Native (Daraja) |
| Fee if external gateway | Yes (2 %) | No | No |
| Maintenance | Low | KES 6,000-15,000/month | KES 6,000-19,000/month |
| Customization | Medium | High | Full |
| Time to launch | 3-7 days | 10-15 days | 20-35 days |
If local mobile money is vital, custom or a well-configured WooCommerce beat Shopify.
12-month cost by volume
The ranking shifts with revenue. Year-one TCO estimate in Nairobi.
| Monthly volume | Shopify (yr-1 TCO) | WooCommerce (yr-1 TCO) | Custom (yr-1 TCO) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low (< 30 orders) | ~KES 78,000 | ~KES 90,000 | ~KES 170,000 |
| Medium (30-100 orders) | ~KES 118,000 | ~KES 140,000 | ~KES 210,000 |
| High (> 100 orders) | ~KES 180,000 | ~KES 195,000 | ~KES 260,000 |
| Mobile money fees | Partial | Plugin-dependent | Optimized |
At high volume the gap narrows and custom becomes competitive thanks to optimized payment fees.
Mini case study
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Brian opens a sneaker store in Nairobi. On Shopify at USD 29 (~KES 3,800)/month plus 2 % external-gateway fee on KES 155,000 revenue, he pays KES 3,800 + 3,100 = 6,900/month. On a custom build with native M-Pesa (1.5 % fee), he pays hosting 3,200 + maintenance 9,000 + M-Pesa 2,325 = KES 14,525/month but saves the 2 % gateway and controls everything. Payback on a KES 120,000 setup: roughly 12 to 14 months thanks to lower fees and better mobile-money conversion.
FAQ
Does Shopify handle M-Pesa in Nairobi?
Only via third-party Daraja plugins, which often add around 2 % in fees. For a smooth mobile-money checkout, a well-configured WooCommerce or a custom build is more reliable in 2026.
Is WooCommerce really free?
The license, yes, but not the rest: budget KES 3,200/month hosting and KES 6,000 to 15,000/month maintenance, plus possible paid plugins.
When should you choose custom?
When native mobile money, 3G performance and a specific experience are strategic, or beyond 100 orders/month where gateway fees weigh heavily.
What about Cotonou with MoMo?
In Cotonou, MTN MoMo and Moov Money are handled best in a custom build or well-configured WooCommerce; Shopify tends to add external-gateway fees.
Let's talk about your project. We pick the platform to match your volume and payment methods. 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.
