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How much does an ecommerce website cost?
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5 minutes 11 seconds
Starting an ecommerce business can seem simple: you decide to create a website, upload your products, and start online sales. But the reality is often more complicated. The cost of an ecommerce website can vary widely depending on your goals, the ecommerce functionality you need, and the platform you choose.
Whether you want a small ecommerce site to test your idea or a fully custom ecommerce store, understanding the overall cost is essential before starting.
Why the Cost of an Ecommerce Website Varies
The development cost of an ecommerce website depends on multiple factors:
Choosing an Ecommerce Platform
Your choice of ecommerce platform significantly affects the cost of an ecommerce site:
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SaaS website builders like WebWave include hosting, security, and updates, offering predictable pricing.
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Open source platforms (WooCommerce, PrestaShop) are free to use, but website development costs for custom features and website design can add up.
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Custom web development offers full flexibility but costs can range from a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands depending on complexity.
Your cost depends on whether you need advanced ecommerce functionality, integrations with shipping providers, payment systems, or ERP tools.
Design, UX, and Functionality
A good website design improves conversions and reduces marketing costs. For a starting ecommerce venture:
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Pre-made website templates: minimal cost.
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Custom website design and UX: cost anywhere from $500 to $5,000+.
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Ecommerce functionality like product filters, multi-step checkout, or automated emails can increase development costs.
Even with a website builder, planning your ecommerce site layout carefully saves money in the long term.
Hosting, SSL, and Technical Costs
Web hosting is mandatory for any online store, and the cost of an ecommerce website is affected by your hosting choice:
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Shared hosting: $5–$15/month
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VPS or cloud hosting for larger traffic: $100+/month
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SaaS builders like WebWave include web hosting in their pricing, reducing hidden website development costs.
SSL certificates and security measures are also essential to protect your online business.
Marketing, Sales, and Customer Acquisition
Once your ecommerce website is live, online shopping doesn’t happen by itself. Marketing is key:
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Google Ads: $50–$500/month
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Social media campaigns: $30–$300/month
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SEO and content marketing: $50–$300/month
Platforms like WebWave include some ecommerce functionality tools like SEO analyzers or AI content creation to reduce costs and simplify online sales.
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How Much an Online Store Costs in the U.S. (2025) – Platform-by-Platform Breakdown
The cost of building an online store in 2025 in the U.S. depends heavily on the ecommerce platform you choose. Each solution uses a different pricing model. Some charge a monthly subscription, others rely on paid plugins and developer work, and some mix all of these approaches.Instead of a table, below you’ll find a practical, descriptive overview that helps you understand how the ecommerce website cost changes depending on the technology.
WebWave: lowest entry cost, predictable long-term pricing
WebWave is one of the most affordable SaaS website builders available, especially when considering multi-year costs.
Setup cost: basically $0 if you build it yourself using the drag-and-drop editor and built-in ecommerce functionality.
Annual cost: typically around $180–$230 per year.
Hosting, SSL, updates, AI builder, SEO features, and ecommerce tools are included.
As a result, WebWave offers one of the lowest real long-term costs of running an ecommerce store on the U.S. market.
Shopify: global, convenient, but more expensive long-term
Shopify is great if you want to sell fast and internationally,but costs rise as your store grows.
Setup cost: $0 if you build it yourself, $500–$2,000+ with a developer.
Annual cost: from $468 to $2,400+, depending on your plan and the number of paid apps.
Plus transaction fees (1.5–2.9% + fixed fee), unless you use Shopify Payments.
For stores with high order volume, Shopify often becomes one of the most expensive solutions.
WooCommerce: low entry cost, high technical maintenance
WooCommerce itself is free, but the ecosystem is not.
Setup cost: $300–$3,000+, depending on design and custom features.
Annual cost: typically $300–$1,500+, depending on hosting quality, paid extensions and developer hours.
A great option for full control – but not the cheapest over time.
PrestaShop: strong option for mid-size and large stores, if you have the budget
PrestaShop is powerful but requires an experienced developer.
Setup cost: $2,000–$10,000+, depending on project complexity.
Annual cost: $600–$3,000+ (hosting, updates, paid modules).
Excellent for growing stores, but requires budget and technical support.
BigCommerce: U.S. SaaS alternative with strong built-in features
BigCommerce is popular among U.S. merchants who want SaaS convenience without relying heavily on apps.
Setup cost: usually $0 if you build it yourself.
Annual cost: $348–$3,588, depending on plan and sales volume.
Good for scaling, but more expensive than WebWave for basic stores.
Magento (Adobe Commerce): enterprise-level only
Magento is the most powerful – and the most expensive – ecommerce platform on the list.
Setup cost: $20,000–$150,000+ depending on scale.
Annual cost: $10,000–$60,000+ (developers, servers, licenses).
Realistically suitable only for large ecommerce companies with strong IT budgets.
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Summary: which platform is the cheapest and which the most expensive in 2025?
Cheapest and most predictable: WebWave
Most convenient globally but with high long-term cost: Shopify
Most flexible but requiring technical expertise: WooCommerce and PrestaShop
Most advanced and most expensive: Magento
If your priority is a low and stable ecommerce website cost, WebWave is the most cost-effective option. If you’re building a large, complex ecommerce website, the choice depends on your needs — but expect to invest from several thousand to tens of thousands of dollars.
The Smart Way to Build an Ecommerce Website Without Overpsending
WebWave stands out among modern ecommerce platforms because it allows you to build your online store without facing high upfront costs. If your goal is to keep your ecommerce website cost as low as possible – while still retaining strong functionality and room to grow – WebWave is one of the most cost-effective choices in 2025. It’s an intuitive website builder with a built-in ecommerce module, combining easy drag-and-drop editing with the flexibility usually reserved for more advanced systems.
One of WebWave’s biggest advantages is that your subscription includes hosting, technical support, an SSL certificate, and zero hidden fees. This makes the total cost of launching and running your ecommerce store predictable. It’s a sharp contrast to many open-source solutions, where extra plugins, updates, and hosting often multiply the final website development cost.
WebWave also includes several features that genuinely simplify launching and scaling a fully functional online store:
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AI Creator – Generate content, product descriptions, page sections, and layout elements in seconds. This saves significant time and money, especially during the initial setup of your ecommerce website.
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Built-in SEO tools – Features like SEO Analyzer and keyword monitoring help improve your site’s visibility in search engines without paid plugins or external services.
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AI-ready capabilities – WebWave is prepared for full integration with modern large language models (LLMs) and structured data formats like schema. This type of future-proof architecture is something many older ecommerce platforms lack.
This makes WebWave not only a budget-friendly solution but also one of the most future-ready tools for creating and developing ecommerce stores in 2026. If you want a quick launch and predictable costs, it’s hard to find a better option.
Ecommerce website cost. Final Conclusion
If you’re ready to start selling online but still wondering how much does it cost and which ecommerce platforms like WebWave are worth considering: the answer is simpler than it seems. With the right platform, you can launch faster, spend less, and focus on growing your business instead of battling technical issues. The key is to take action. If you want a quick, low-risk start, try WebWave and see how easily you can launch your ecommerce store today.
FAQ
How much does an ecommerce store cost?
An average store built with an ecommerce website builder can cost anywhere from $500 to $5,000 to launch, depending on hosting, design needs, and added functionality. More advanced ecommerce website development done by an agency can easily exceed $10,000–$30,000.
How much does it cost to ser up an ecommerce business?
If you’re looking to start an online business, initial costs typically range from $300 to $3,000, including your domain, platform subscription, product sourcing, and basic marketing. More complex setups may require higher investments in ecommerce website development and integrations.
Is an ecommerce store profitable?
Yes, an ecommerce store can be highly profitable, especially if you keep operating costs low, choose the right ecommerce website builder (like WebWave), and invest in marketing that brings measurable returns. Profitability grows as you scale, optimize margins, and automate processes.
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