Last updated: November 2026.
WooCommerce itself is free, but a working online store in Nigeria is not. For most small businesses, a professionally built WooCommerce store falls in the ₦450,000 to ₦2,000,000+ range (the e-commerce range in our website cost guide), plus yearly running costs for hosting, your domain, paid extensions and maintenance, plus payment fees on every sale. The plugin costs ₦0. Everything around it is where the money goes. We break it down below so your quote does not surprise you.
Quick answer: what a WooCommerce store costs
| Cost item | What you pay | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| WooCommerce plugin | ₦0 | WooCommerce.com describes the core platform as free and open source |
| Store build (design, setup, products, payments) | ₦450,000 to ₦2,000,000+ | Cterling e-commerce range, 4 to 10 weeks. A market range, not a fixed price list |
| Hosting | Quoted by your host | WooCommerce.com says most stores spend about US$25 to US$350 a month on hosting worldwide. Nigerian hosts can be cheaper, so get a current quote |
| Domain name | Paid yearly | Ask your registrar for the renewal price before you buy |
| Paid extensions | US$29 to US$299 a year each | Per WooCommerce.com, for each extension you choose to buy |
| Payment fees | 1.5% + ₦100 per local Paystack payment | ₦100 is waived under ₦2,500. Capped at ₦2,000. See the table below |
| Maintenance | Monthly or yearly plan | Updates, backups, security. See our maintenance cost guide |
Table of Contents
- Quick answer: what a WooCommerce store costs
- What you are actually paying for
- DIY, freelancer or agency: how the cost changes
- Payment fees: what Paystack takes from each sale
- WooCommerce vs Shopify: the cost difference
- Checklist: 8 questions to ask before you accept a quote
- Real WooCommerce stores we have built
- Frequently asked questions
What you are actually paying for
People hear ‘WooCommerce is free’ and budget ₦0. Then the quotes arrive and they feel cheated. Nobody is cheating you. The plugin is free, the work is not. Here is what a build normally includes:
- Store design that matches your brand and works on a phone
- Product setup: categories, variations (sizes, colours), images
- Payment setup (Paystack, bank transfer, or both) and delivery options
- Speed work, especially for large catalogues
- Security, backups and basic SEO
- Training so you can add products without calling anyone at 11pm
The biggest cost drivers are how many products you have, how custom the design is, and how many extra features you want (bookings, memberships, multi-vendor, wholesale pricing). A 20 product store and a 1,000 product store are different jobs.
DIY, freelancer or agency: how the cost changes
| Option | Typical cost pattern | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| DIY | Lowest cash cost: hosting, domain, a theme | Your time, a slow store, and checkout mistakes that cost sales |
| Freelancer | Often the middle of the range | Check who maintains the store when they are busy or gone |
| Agency | Upper part of the range, with a team and a process | Ask what is included after launch (support, fixes, updates) |
None of these is automatically right. A tight budget and a simple catalogue can work well with a careful freelancer. A large catalogue or a brand that depends on the store may justify an agency. Our full pricing guide compares all three.
Payment fees: what Paystack takes from each sale
The website bill is only part of it. Every online payment has a fee. Paystack’s support page lists 1.5% + ₦100 for local payments, with the ₦100 waived on transactions under ₦2,500 and total local fees capped at ₦2,000 (checked on 30 October 2026). Other gateways have their own rates, so check before you choose.
| Sale amount | Fee at 1.5% + ₦100 | What you keep before other costs |
|---|---|---|
| ₦2,000 | ₦30 (flat fee waived) | ₦1,970 |
| ₦5,000 | ₦175 | ₦4,825 |
| ₦20,000 | ₦400 | ₦19,600 |
| ₦100,000 | ₦1,600 | ₦98,400 |
| ₦200,000 | ₦2,000 (cap applies, not ₦3,100) | ₦198,000 |
These are our calculations from the published rate. Your real statement may differ if your gateway terms change.
WooCommerce vs Shopify: the cost difference
| Cost | WooCommerce | Shopify |
|---|---|---|
| Software | ₦0 for the plugin | From US$19 a month on Basic (billed yearly, as listed in October 2026) |
| Hosting | You pay a host | Included in the plan |
| Extra fee per sale | None from WooCommerce itself, only your payment gateway | 1% to 2% on Basic and Grow when using a third-party gateway, as in our Shopify cost guide |
| Maintenance | You or your developer | Mostly handled by Shopify |
If you are still choosing, read WooCommerce vs Shopify in Nigeria. Short version: WooCommerce gives you control and lower platform fees. Shopify gives you less to look after.
Checklist: 8 questions to ask before you accept a quote
- How many products are included in the price, and what does each extra product cost?
- Is hosting included, and for how long?
- Which payment gateways are set up and tested with a real payment?
- Which paid extensions do I need, and who pays the yearly renewals?
- Who owns the domain, hosting account and store files?
- What happens after launch: fixes, updates, backups?
- How long will the build take, and what do you need from me to keep it on time?
- Can I add products and edit pages myself after training?
Real WooCommerce stores we have built
These are examples of store types, not price quotes or sales results. They show how different businesses use WooCommerce.
| Business | Type | What was built | Why it matters for cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dashel Stores | Retail e-commerce | A fast WooCommerce store for a catalogue of 1,000+ products | Large catalogues need speed planning, which adds work |
| Modebola Foods | Grocery | A launch-ready store for fast, simple grocery shopping | A focused catalogue keeps scope manageable |
| Pearls Organic | Skincare | Clear product pages and a streamlined checkout | Product pages and checkout are where stores win or lose sales |
| Sparkle by Sarabell | Fashion | A mobile-first store with lookbook-style galleries | Moving beyond Instagram needs good visuals and a simple checkout |
Want to see more? Browse our work or read about our WooCommerce website development service.
Frequently asked questions
Is WooCommerce really free?
The core plugin is free and open source. You still pay for hosting, a domain, any paid extensions, payment fees, and the work of building and maintaining the store.
Is WooCommerce cheaper than Shopify in Nigeria?
It can be, because there is no monthly platform fee and no extra per-sale fee from WooCommerce itself. But you carry hosting and maintenance, so compare the full first-year cost, not just the sticker price.
How long does it take to build a WooCommerce store?
Our e-commerce range is 4 to 10 weeks, depending on the catalogue size, design and features. Having your product photos and descriptions ready speeds things up.
Can I start small and add features later?
Yes. Start with products, checkout and delivery. Add extras like wholesale pricing or loyalty rewards once the basics are selling.
Do I have to pay every year?
Usually yes, for the domain and hosting, and for any paid extensions that renew yearly. Ask for a list of every recurring cost before you sign.
Want a clear WooCommerce quote?
Tell us what you sell and how many products you have. We will map your costs line by line, with no surprises.