Guide · E-commerce
What an online store really costs in Singapore.
Plans, fees on every order, apps and builds — where the money goes, and what it adds up to over three years.
S$25,704
over three years
Plan, apps and fees on orders, before card fees
S$13,104
of it is fees on orders
1% of sales that grow 20% a year
51%
is a share of your sales
And it grows every time you sell more
In short
An online store costs five things: the platform or build, a share of each order on some platforms, apps or extensions, payment processing, and upkeep. Hosted platforms charge a monthly plan plus apps, and some add a fee on every order when you use your own payment provider. Open-source platforms are free to download but need development, hosting and a developer. Compare the three-year total, not the monthly plan.
01Five costs
The five costs inside every online store
Whatever you build on, the bill is made of the same five parts. What differs is which of them are fixed — and which grow with your sales.
A monthly plan on a hosted platform, or a development project on open source or a tailored build.
Some platforms add a fee on every order — for example when you use a payment provider other than their own.
Reviews, loyalty, delivery slots, gift messages: on most platforms each one is an app, often with its own monthly fee.
Card and PayNow fees from your payment provider. They apply on every platform, so compare them separately.
Hosting, security updates, fixes and changes — inside a hosted plan, or billed by the hour on open source.
02Three routes
Three ways to get an online store
Every route can build a good shop. They differ in what you pay upfront, what you pay on every order, and what happens to the bill as you grow.
| Hosted platforme.g. Shopify | Open source + agencyWooCommerce · Magento 2 | Fixed-fee builde.g. HeyShop | |
|---|---|---|---|
| To get started | A monthly plan, plus a theme | Free software — then a development project | One fixed fee, agreed upfront |
| On every order | An extra fee when you use your own payment provider* | Nothing on open source; Adobe Commerce licences rise with your sales | 0% — we take nothing from your sales |
| Adding a feature | Install an app, usually another monthly fee | Buy an extension, then pay a developer to fit it | Agreed features built in — no app or module fees |
| Fit to your business | A standard store, adjusted with themes and apps | Anything — if you fund the development | Tailored to your products, pricing and workflow |
| As you grow | Bills rise with plan upgrades, apps and orders | Bills rise with extensions, hosting and developer hours | Your fee stays what we agreed |
03The maths
What a fee on every order adds up to
A percentage looks small next to a monthly plan. Over three years of growing sales it is often the biggest line on the bill. Slide the figures to the quotes in front of you.
What a rented online store costs over three years
S$25,704
over three years, before card fees
S$13,104 of it is a share of your sales — it grows every time you sell more.
Show the numbers
| Year | Fee on orders | Plan | Apps | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | S$3,600 | S$1,800 | S$2,400 | S$7,800 |
| Year 2 | S$4,320 | S$1,800 | S$2,400 | S$8,520 |
| Year 3 | S$5,184 | S$1,800 | S$2,400 | S$9,384 |
Card fees are left out on purpose: your payment provider charges them on every platform. What you're comparing is everything on top.
04Payments
Card fees, PayNow and who keeps what
Every store pays its payment provider for cards and wallets. That fee is the provider's, not the platform's, and it applies whatever you build on. The question to ask is whether the platform adds its own fee on top.
- The shopper paysBy card, wallet or PayNow QR, on a phone.
- Your payment providerTakes its card or PayNow fee — on every platform.A platform fee on top?Some platforms take a share here too. HeyShop takes 0%.
- Your business accountReceives the rest.
Singapore shoppers expect PayNow next to cards. A payment gateway can show a PayNow QR at checkout and settle the money to your business account. HeyShop's live stores take PayNow and cards through HitPay's hosted checkout, so card details never touch the store.
05Hidden costs
The costs people forget to count
The monthly plan is the number everyone compares. These are the ones that surprise people in year two:
- Moving products, customers and order history — and redirecting old URLs so search rankings carry over
- Delivery rules: time slots, cut-offs, public holidays and fees by postcode, which often need an app or custom work
- Changes after launch: who makes them, how fast, and at what rate
- Your team's time: copying orders between systems, chasing payments, fixing plugins after updates
- Leaving: whether you can export your products, customers and orders in full
06Before you sign
Questions to ask before you choose
Take this list into every sales call. Tick what you've had answered in writing.
0 of 8 checked
Sources
Checked 12 October 2026. Rules and prices change — confirm what applies to your business with the official source.
FAQ
Common questions.
How much does an e-commerce website cost in Singapore?
It depends on the route. A hosted platform charges a monthly plan, apps and, on some plans, a fee on each order; an open-source platform needs a development project, hosting and ongoing developer time; a fixed-fee build agrees one fee upfront. Payment-provider fees apply to all of them. Compare the three-year total against your own sales.
Does Shopify charge transaction fees in Singapore?
When you use a payment provider other than Shopify Payments, Shopify adds a fee on each order — 2%, 1% or 0.6% depending on the plan, per its published pricing in October 2026 — on top of the provider's own card fees. Check Shopify's current pricing for your plan.
Is WooCommerce or Magento free?
The software is free to download, but a working store needs design and development, hosting, security updates, paid extensions and a developer to keep it running. Those costs grow with every feature you add.
Should my online store accept PayNow?
Most Singapore shoppers know PayNow, and a payment gateway can show a PayNow QR at checkout that settles to your business account. Ask your provider for its PayNow and card fees — they differ.
How is HeyShop priced?
One fixed fee, agreed upfront for your shop. HeyShop takes no percentage of your sales, and there are no app or module fees. Your payment provider's fees still apply, as on every platform. Talk to HeySheep for a quote.
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