How Much Does a Shopify Website Cost in the UK? (2026 Guide)
Introduction
If you’re considering Shopify for your ecommerce business, one of the first questions you’ll ask is:
“How much does a Shopify website actually cost in the UK?”
The honest answer is: it depends.
Shopify websites can cost anywhere from under £500 to £50,000+, depending on how you build it, who builds it, and what your business needs to achieve.
In this guide, we break down real UK Shopify website costs, explain what you get at each price point, and help you decide when it makes sense to hire a Shopify expert.
Shopify Pricing (The Starting Point)
Before design or development, you’ll need a Shopify plan:
Shopify Basic: £25/month
Shopify (Standard): £65/month
Advanced Shopify: £344/month
Shopify Plus: From ~$2,300/month
These plans cover hosting, security, checkout, and core ecommerce features — but they do not include design, setup, or optimisation.
Option 1: DIY Shopify Website (Approx. £300 – £2,000)
You could start with a DIY Shopify build.
Typical DIY costs:
Paid theme: £150 – £350
Apps: £20 – £100/month
Logo & branding (optional): £100 – £500
Pros:
Lowest upfront cost
Fast to launch
Good for testing an idea
Cons:
Limited customisation
Easy to make costly UX and SEO mistakes
Time-intensive for non-technical users
Best for: startups, side projects, or early validation.
Option 2: Freelance Shopify Developer (Approx. £2,500 – £6,000)
Hiring a UK-based Shopify freelancer gives you more flexibility and expertise.
What’s usually included:
Theme setup and customisation, look and feel
Payment & shipping setup
SEO configuration
Connection with fulfilment, marketing and social channels
Training on platforms so you can manage your website
Best for: small but established businesses that need help launching properly.
Option 3: Shopify Agency (Approx. £5,000 – £25,000+)
What you typically get:
UX and conversion-led design
Custom theme development
SEO-ready structure
App integration & automation
Testing across devices
Shopify Plus Builds (£20,000 – £50,000+)
Shopify Plus is designed for high-growth and enterprise brands.
Costs rise due to:
Custom checkout experiences
Advanced automation
ERP / CRM integrations
Bespoke workflows
Best for: businesses turning over £1m+ annually or scaling fast.
When Hiring a Shopify Expert Actually Saves Money
Hiring a Shopify consultant or agency often reduces long-term costs by:
Avoiding rebuilds
Increasing conversion rates
Reducing app dependency
Improving organic traffic
If your store is already getting traffic but not converting, professional input usually pays for itself.
If you are using another Ecommerce platform you may wish to use Shopify Migration Services
How Much Should You Budget?
Here’s a simple rule of thumb:
Testing an idea: £500 – £1,500
Growing brand: £3,000 – £8,000
Scaling ecommerce business: £10,000+
The key is aligning spend with business goals, not just aesthetics.
Get a Realistic Shopify Cost Breakdown
At Maxim Consulting Services, we help UK businesses build Shopify websites that:
Improve customer experience
Focus on conversion
Scale without rebuilds
Request a FREE Shopify Website Review and we’ll give you an honest cost breakdown based on your goals — no sales pressure, no jargon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Shopify cheaper than WooCommerce?
Often yes long-term, due to lower maintenance and hosting costs.
Can I start cheap and upgrade later?
Yes — but only if the initial build is structured correctly.
How long does a Shopify build take?
Professional build: 4–8 weeks
Last updated: 2026
Planning a Move to Shopify?
Speak to Maxim Consulting Services before you migrate.
Shopify Migration Services for UK Businesses
Maxim Consulting Services provides end-to-end Shopify migration support for UK ecommerce businesses. From SEO-safe migrations to post-launch optimisation, we ensure your move to Shopify supports growth — not disruption.
