Cheap Hosting vs Shopify: Save Money on Monthly Fees in 2026

Starting an online business in South Africa is more affordable than ever, but choosing the wrong platform can quickly increase your monthly expenses. Many entrepreneurs begin with excitement, only to realise later that platform fees are eating into their profits.

One of the most common questions we see is whether Shopify or local WordPress hosting is the better option for South African businesses. This comparison is often described as Cheap Hosting vs Shopify, but the real issue is not just price.

It is about long-term value, flexibility, and sustainability.

In this article, we compare Shopify with locally hosted WordPress websites using real data from Shopify, Truehost South Africa, xneelo, Afrihost, and Axxess. We focus on monthly costs, features, and real-world use cases for South Africans.

By the end, you will clearly understand which option helps you save money without sacrificing quality.

What Is Shopify and How Does It Work?

Shopify is an all-in-one eCommerce platform that allows users to create and manage online stores without worrying about hosting or server maintenance. Everything is included in one monthly subscription, including hosting, security, and basic store features.

Shopify is popular because it is easy to use and quick to set up. Even users with no technical skills can launch an online store in a short time.

This convenience makes Shopify attractive, especially to beginners.

However, this convenience comes at a cost. Shopify pricing is charged in US dollars, which can be expensive for South Africans due to exchange rate fluctuations. Businesses must also pay monthly fees regardless of whether they make sales.

Shopify Pricing in South Africa

According to Shopify’s official pricing page, Shopify offers three main plans. These prices are charged in USD and converted by your bank.

These prices are estimates and can increase when the rand weakens. This means your monthly website cost can change without notice, making budgeting difficult for South African businesses.

Additional Shopify Costs

Beyond the subscription fee, Shopify users often pay additional costs, including transaction fees on sales, paid apps for extra features, and premium themes. If you do not use Shopify Payments, extra transaction fees apply on every sale.

Over time, these costs can significantly increase your monthly expenses.

What Is WordPress Hosting?

WordPress is free, open-source software that allows you to build websites and online stores. Unlike Shopify, WordPress does not include hosting. You choose a hosting provider and install WordPress on that server.

This setup gives you full control over your website and costs. You only pay for hosting, your domain, and any optional plugins or themes you choose. This flexibility makes WordPress hosting a popular option in South Africa.

With WordPress, you can build anything from a simple website to a full online store using WooCommerce. Many South African payment gateways integrate easily with WordPress, making local selling simple.

Why Local Hosting Is Important for South Africans

Local hosting means your website is hosted on servers close to your customers. This improves website speed and reliability for South African visitors. It also means pricing is set in South African rand, which avoids currency conversion fees and exchange rate risks.

Local hosting providers also understand the South African market better. Support teams operate in the same time zone and are familiar with local payment systems and business needs.

At Truehost South Africa, we focus on providing affordable, reliable local hosting designed specifically for South African businesses.

Truehost WordPress Hosting in South Africa

At Truehost, we believe every business should be able to afford a professional online presence. We provide WordPress hosting that is fast, secure, and priced in rands to help businesses manage costs effectively.

Our WordPress hosting plans start from as low as R33 per month when billed annually. These plans include essential features that many international platforms charge extra for.

What We Include at Truehost

When you host with us, you receive free WordPress installation, a free SSL certificate for security, daily backups, email hosting, and access to our local support team. We also offer scalable plans, allowing your website to grow as your business grows.

Start your WordPress website with Truehost today

Other Local WordPress Hosting Providers

xneelo

xneelo is a well-established South African hosting provider offering shared hosting plans starting at around R99 per month. Their packages include SSD storage, free SSL certificates, and daily backups. xneelo is known for reliability, but entry-level pricing is higher compared to Truehost.

Afrihost

Afrihost offers hosting plans from approximately R59 per month. Some packages include a free website builder, making it easy for beginners. While Afrihost provides decent value, advanced features and upgrades can increase costs over time.

Axxess

Axxess provides affordable hosting plans starting from around R25 to R59 per month. These plans are suitable for small websites and basic WordPress installations, but growing online stores may need higher-tier plans.

Cheap Hosting vs Shopify: Monthly Cost Comparison

The main difference between Shopify and WordPress hosting is how costs are structured.

This comparison shows that WordPress hosting with Truehost is significantly more affordable for South African businesses, especially those just starting out.

Real Example: Small Online Business

A small South African online store using WordPress on Truehost might pay around R59 per month for hosting and approximately R100 per year for a domain. This results in a total monthly cost of roughly R67.

A similar store using Shopify Basic could pay over R400 per month before adding apps or transaction fees. Over one year, this difference can exceed R6 000, which could be invested in marketing or stock instead.

Pros and Cons of Shopify

a) Advantages of Shopify

Shopify is easy to use and quick to set up. It includes hosting, security, and store tools in one package, which reduces technical work.

b) Disadvantages of Shopify

Shopify is expensive for South Africans due to USD pricing. Additional transaction fees and paid apps further increase monthly costs. Users also have limited control over hosting and backend functionality.

Pros and Cons of WordPress Hosting

a) Advantages of WordPress Hosting

WordPress hosting is affordable, flexible, and scalable. You control your website, data, and costs. Local payment gateways integrate easily, and hosting providers like Truehost simplify technical management.

b) Disadvantages of WordPress Hosting

WordPress requires basic learning and ongoing updates. However, many hosting providers handle much of this automatically.

Which Option Is Best for South Africans?

If your goal is to minimise monthly expenses and maintain control, WordPress hosting is the better option. For startups, small businesses, and side hustles, the savings are significant.

At Truehost, we help South Africans launch WordPress websites affordably while providing reliable local support.

Launch your website with Truehost and start saving today:

Final Thoughts

The Cheap Hosting vs Shopify debate comes down to long-term affordability and control. Shopify offers convenience but at a high monthly cost. WordPress hosting, especially with a local provider like Truehost, offers flexibility, lower costs, and better value for South African businesses.

If saving money matters to your business, WordPress hosting is the smarter choice.

Choose Truehost South Africa for affordable WordPress hosting

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)