Which Shop System Is Right for You?
WooCommerce is ideal for smaller shops and when WordPress is already in use. Affordable, flexible, huge plugin ecosystem. For larger shops, performance may suffer.
Shopware is the German market leader for medium and large shops. Modern architecture, many B2B features, good extensibility. Higher entry costs, but a solid foundation for growth.
Custom development makes sense for very specific requirements or when no standard system fits. Maximum flexibility, but also highest costs and longer development time.
Don't Forget Ongoing Costs
In addition to one-time development, monthly costs apply:
- Hosting: €50–500/month excl. VAT depending on traffic and performance requirements
- Maintenance: €200–800/month excl. VAT for updates, security, minor adjustments
- Payment providers: 1.5–3% per transaction + possible base fees
- Marketing: SEO, SEA, newsletter – budget depends on ambitions
What Drives Costs Up?
The most expensive items are often integrations (ERP, PIM, shipping) and custom features (configurators, B2B workflows, marketplace features).
Also, design effort and data migration from an existing shop can significantly impact the budget. Define early which features are truly necessary.
