The verdict in three sentences
If you sell mainly in NGN, GHS or KES with mobile money and cards, a local custom build collects payments without friction where Shopify forces you into third-party apps and extra commissions. Shopify is unbeatable for launch speed and design, but its real cost passes 40 USD/month once required apps are added. WooCommerce is free to license, yet total cost of ownership (hosting, maintenance, security) quickly matches a managed solution.
The real monthly cost of the three options
The sticker price is never the real price. Here is the 2026 order of magnitude for a 50-200 product store in West and East Africa.
| Platform | Base monthly cost | Essential apps / add-ons | Native mobile money | Realistic total/month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shopify Basic | ~32 USD | Paystack/Flutterwave + 2 apps | No (via third-party app) | ~50 USD |
| Shopify + premium theme | ~32 USD + 180 USD once | Multi-currency, reviews | No | ~55 USD |
| WooCommerce (self-hosted) | 0 license | Hosting 15-45 USD + plugins | Via plugin (manual config) | 40-140 USD |
| Local builder | One-off fee | Paystack/Flutterwave/Wave included | Yes (native) | Maintenance ~80 USD |
| WooCommerce managed | 0 license | Managed hosting | Via plugin | 100-200 USD |
Mobile money, flexibility and ownership
The decisive factor in Africa is not the theme, it's the checkout and payout. On Shopify, MoMo and bank transfer run through Paystack or Flutterwave, which add their own commission on top of gateway fees.
| Criterion | Shopify | WooCommerce | Local builder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Native MoMo / Paystack | Via app | Plugin | Yes |
| Extra commission added by platform | 0.5-2% | 0 | 0 |
| Code / data ownership | No | Yes | Yes |
| Checkout customization | Limited | High | Full |
| 3G optimization / page weight | Medium | Variable | Priority |
| Time to launch | 1-2 weeks | 3-5 weeks | 2-4 weeks |
Mini case study
Ada, who runs a cosmetics store in Lagos, ships 120 orders/month at an average of 25,000 NGN, i.e. 3,000,000 NGN in revenue. On Shopify she pays her subscription plus apps, plus a platform commission of roughly 1% on her card and transfer payments, around 30,000 NGN. Total: a meaningful monthly overhead. With a local build charging a fixed maintenance fee and zero added commission, she saves the platform cut as soon as she passes a modest revenue threshold, while keeping full ownership of her store.
FAQ
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Does Shopify really accept Paystack and Flutterwave?
Yes, indirectly through those gateways. Expect an aggregation commission of roughly 1 to 2% that stacks on top of the mobile money or card fees themselves.
Is WooCommerce really free?
The license is, but hosting (15-45 USD/month), premium plugins and above all security maintenance mean a real cost of 40 to 140 USD/month for a serious store.
When should I pick a local custom build?
When mobile money is your main channel, when you want zero platform commission and code ownership, and when 3G performance is critical for your buyers.
Can I migrate from Shopify to a local build later?
Yes. Products, customers and order history export cleanly. Plan a data migration phase and SEO redirects so you don't lose your rankings.
Which option to sell internationally as well as in Africa?
A local build can integrate mobile money for Africa and Stripe for international cards in one checkout, without depending on a third party's app catalog.
Let's talk about your project. Together we pick the platform that collects your African sales best. 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.