Shopify pricing looks simple in public: a monthly plan and that is it. In practice the annual figure includes at least three more lines that are not in the price list, and for a Lithuanian business a fourth appears — translations and local integrations. Here is the full calculation, compared with WooCommerce over three years, because that is the horizon where the difference shows.
For a small store Shopify realistically costs about €800 per year: a ~€400 subscription plus three essential apps at ~€400. For a mid-sized store at €50,000 turnover it is about €1,500, once extra payment fees are added. WooCommerce works out at about €950 in the same case, but with a higher initial build cost.
The basic Shopify plan for a small business runs roughly €30–40 per month, slightly less paid annually. That is about €350–430 per year and the only line most people budget for. It covers the platform, hosting, SSL, updates and support, which is real value since none of that needs separate handling. But it is roughly half the final figure.
Shopify's base feature set is deliberately simple, and what is missing gets added through App Store apps. A Lithuanian store practically always needs at least three: parcel locker shipping, a VAT and invoicing solution, and Lithuanian translation. Each runs €10–30 per month. Realistically another €250–700 per year, growing as the store expands, since filters, reviews and email automation are all separate apps.
This is the detail that is easiest to miss. If you use a local payment provider rather than Shopify Payments, Shopify adds its own extra percentage per transaction on top of the provider's fee. The numbers look small until turnover is not: at €50,000 annual turnover that extra percentage already means several hundred euros a year. It is the only line that grows directly with your success, so it must be calculated on planned turnover, not current.
The Shopify interface is translated, but not everywhere and not always well. English phrases sometimes remain in checkout, and some apps are not translated at all. Solvable, but it costs time or money. The second issue is accounting: integrations with Lithuanian accounting systems exist but usually through intermediaries rather than natively, meaning another subscription. WooCommerce has a real advantage here, because its Lithuanian plugins were built for this market.
A small store with modest turnover: €400 subscription + €400 apps = about €800 per year, plus payment fees. A mid-sized store at €50,000 turnover: €400 + €700 apps + €300–500 extra fees = about €1,500 per year. WooCommerce in the same case: €250 hosting + €300 licences + €400 maintenance = about €950 per year, but with a higher initial build cost and your own responsibility for updates.
Price is not the only criterion, and Shopify often pays off. It fits when you want to launch fast without worrying about servers, when you plan to sell across several countries, or when nobody on the team is technical. You pay more, but you never have to work out why the store broke after an update. WooCommerce is worth choosing when ownership, Lithuanian integrations and a lower annual cost matter, and someone takes on the technical maintenance.
We calculate your specific case: planned turnover, the apps you actually need and payment fees. Then we say honestly which platform works out cheaper over three years.
If the numbers point towards WooCommerce, take a look at e-commerce development from €1,500.
The basic small-business plan is roughly €30–40 per month, or about €350–430 per year paid annually. That covers the platform, hosting, SSL, updates and support, but it is only about half the final annual figure.
Practically always three: parcel locker shipping, a VAT and invoicing solution, and Lithuanian translation. Each runs €10–30 per month, adding €250–700 per year.
On pure numbers, almost never — WooCommerce usually has a lower annual cost. Shopify pays off when you value a fast launch, cross-border selling, and never having to work out why the store broke after an update.