The two platforms most South African stores run on. Both work well; they suit different businesses.
E-commerce guide
E-commerce website development in South Africa: platforms, payments and costs
E-commerce website development in South Africa is less about the shop front and more about the wiring behind it: local payments, courier bookings, stock that matches the shelf, and the disclosures the law requires. Here is how to choose a platform, what to connect first, what a store costs in rand and how the build runs.
The position
Choose the platform by how you sell, not by the feature list. Shopify is the quickest way to a reliable store and suits most retailers. WooCommerce suits a business that wants its store inside a content-heavy WordPress site and full control of hosting. A custom build is worth it when the store has to follow unusual pricing, trade accounts or tight integration with stock and accounting systems.
Whichever you pick, the work that decides whether the store makes money is the same: payments South Africans actually use, delivery that books itself, and stock that stays in step across the store, the till and any marketplace. That wiring is what we build; see an example on our Work page and how we price it on pricing.
Shopify or WooCommerce?
Shopify
- What it is
- A hosted store platform: Shopify runs the servers, security and updates.
- Best for
- Retailers who want a dependable store quickly and would rather not manage hosting.
- Costs
- A monthly subscription plus app fees and payment fees. Check Shopify's current plans before you budget.
- Watch out for
- Apps add up, and some local payment and courier connections rely on third-party apps.
WooCommerce
- What it is
- A store added to a WordPress site, running on hosting you choose.
- Best for
- Businesses that publish a lot of content or want full control of the site and its data.
- Costs
- No platform subscription, but you pay for hosting, some extensions and upkeep.
- Watch out for
- Updates, security and speed are your responsibility, or your developer's.
When a custom e-commerce build makes sense
A custom store costs more up front and is only worth it when the platforms get in the way. The common reasons are trade and wholesale selling with customer-specific pricing and credit accounts, products that are configured or quoted rather than picked off a shelf, stock that must sync with a supplier's feed or several warehouses, and stores that sit inside a larger system such as a booking or membership platform.
If none of those apply, a well-built Shopify or WooCommerce store with the right integrations will serve you better and cost less to run.
What to connect first
The integrations that decide whether a South African store makes money or makes admin.
01
Payments
Card and instant EFT through a local gateway such as Payfast, Yoco, Ozow or Peach Payments. Many South African shoppers prefer instant EFT, and buy-now-pay-later options can lift basket sizes.
Checkout
02
Delivery
Courier bookings and labels created from the order, with a choice of door delivery or pick-up points such as Pargo or PAXI, and tracking sent to the customer automatically.
Fulfilment
03
Stock
One stock count across the store, the till and any marketplace, so you never sell what is already gone.
Inventory
04
Accounting
Orders, fees and refunds posted to your accounting package, so month-end is not a reconciliation project.
Finance
05
Marketplaces
Listings on Takealot or Amazon.co.za kept in step with your own store, from the same product data.
Channels
06
Customer messages
Order confirmations, delivery updates and abandoned-cart reminders by email and WhatsApp.
Retention
What the law asks of an online store
The Electronic Communications and Transactions Act (section 43) requires a business selling online to show buyers, on the website, its full name and legal status, a physical address and telephone number, its email address, a description of what it sells, the full price including delivery costs and taxes, how payment works, and the terms that apply, including any guarantees. Companies must also show their registration number.
Prices should include VAT at 15% if you are VAT-registered, the Consumer Protection Act covers returns and quality, and POPIA governs how you collect and store customer details. We build the disclosure pages, the privacy notice and a clear returns page into every store, because a checkout that looks trustworthy also converts better.
What e-commerce website development costs
Indicative ranges in rand for the South African market. A fixed quote replaces them once the scope is written down.
E-commerce store
~R45,000 to R120,000
A designed store on Shopify or WooCommerce with payment, courier, stock and accounting connections, marketplace sync and the legal pages.
Custom platform
R120,000 and up
Trade accounts, custom pricing, configurators, multi-warehouse stock or deep system integration.
What sets the exact price
Scoped, fixed
The number of products and variants, the integrations, how clean your product data is, and any trade or marketplace selling.
Running costs
Monthly, by provider
Platform or hosting fees, app or extension fees, and payment fees per transaction. Check each provider's current pricing.
Indicative ranges, not a quote.
How a store build runs
- 01
Scope
We agree the platform, products, payment and delivery options, and the systems the store must connect to, and write down what done means.
- 02
Fixed quote in rand
One fixed price for the defined outcome. No hourly meter.
- 03
Products and structure
Product data cleaned and structured so search engines and AI shopping answers can read it, with categories built around how customers search.
- 04
Build and connect
Store, payments, couriers, stock and accounting wired together and tested with real orders, refunds and returns.
- 05
Launch and hand over
The store goes live on your own accounts, with a short operating note, and you take the keys or keep our team on.
Paying for a store from its sales
For a new store where cash is tight, ask about paying from results: a setup fee, then a share of the sales the store makes for a fixed term, instead of the full build price up front. The details are on our pricing page. For AI inside an online store, see AI for e-commerce.
E-commerce website development: common questions
How much does an e-commerce website cost in South Africa?
Roughly R45,000 to R120,000 for a full store with payment, courier, stock and accounting connections, and R120,000 and up for a custom platform. Monthly platform, app and payment fees come on top.
Is Shopify or WooCommerce better for a South African store?
Shopify suits most retailers who want a dependable store without managing hosting. WooCommerce suits businesses with content-heavy WordPress sites or those who want full control. Both work with South African payment gateways and couriers.
Which payment methods should a South African store offer?
At least card and instant EFT, through a local gateway such as Payfast, Yoco, Ozow or Peach Payments. Buy-now-pay-later options can help higher-value baskets. Compare each provider's current fees before choosing.
Can my store sync with Takealot or Amazon?
Yes. Listings, prices and stock can be kept in step between your own store and marketplaces such as Takealot and Amazon.co.za, from the same product data, so you do not oversell.
What must an online store show legally?
Under section 43 of the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act, your full name and legal status, physical address, phone number, email, a description of the goods, the full price including delivery and taxes, payment methods and your terms. POPIA and the Consumer Protection Act also apply.
Tell us what you sell and how.
Products, channels and the systems you already run: describe them and we will scope the store and quote one fixed price in rand, or tell you if paying from results fits better.
Start the build→