Shopify vs HTML Templates for E-Commerce – Honest Comparison

Shopify is the default for e-commerce, but its $39+/month subscription and 0.6–2% transaction fees add up. HTML templates with Stripe offer a powerful alternative.

Shopify Pricing Reality

Basic Shopify: $39/mo. Apps and themes: $50–$200/mo more. Transaction fees: 0.6–2% on every sale. A $100k/year store loses $2,000–$5,000 to platform fees.

HTML Templates + Stripe Approach

One-time template cost ($199–$399), Stripe charges 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction (no extra platform fees), full control over checkout UX.

What You Trade

Shopify gives you inventory management, multi-warehouse, and an app ecosystem. HTML + Stripe means simpler stores with less moving parts.

Best Fit for HTML E-Commerce

Single-product brands, digital products, services, courses, and curated catalogs (under 100 SKUs). Browse our e-commerce templates built for Stripe.

When Shopify Wins

500+ SKUs, complex inventory, multi-channel selling (Amazon, Etsy, in-person POS). For everything else, premium HTML templates win on cost and performance. Compare with our GoDaddy alternative guide.