If you're looking for ecommerce web design in Swindon, you've got three main options: Shopify, WooCommerce (WordPress), or a custom-built online shop. Each has genuine strengths and real weaknesses. The right choice depends on what you're selling, how many products you have, and how much control you want over the experience.
Here's an honest comparison from a Swindon-based web developer who has built all three — so you can make the right decision for your business.
Shopify: The Easy Option (With Strings Attached)
Shopify is the most popular ecommerce platform for a reason. It's easy to set up, handles payment processing, and has a huge app ecosystem. For many businesses, it's the fastest route to selling online.
Shopify Strengths
- Quick setup — You can have a basic shop live within a day
- Payment processing built in — Shopify Payments handles everything
- Managed hosting — No worrying about servers, security updates, or uptime
- App ecosystem — Thousands of add-ons for shipping, reviews, marketing, and more
- 24/7 support — Chat and email support available around the clock
Shopify Weaknesses
- Monthly costs add up — Basic plan starts at ~£25/month, but most businesses need Advanced (~£259/month) plus paid apps (£10–£100+/month each)
- Transaction fees — 2% on Basic plan if not using Shopify Payments, plus credit card processing fees
- Limited customisation — You're working within Shopify's Liquid templating system, which restricts design and functionality
- SEO limitations — URL structures are rigid (you can't remove /products/ or /collections/ from URLs), and page speed suffers from app bloat
- Platform lock-in — If you leave Shopify, you lose your theme, apps, and design. You're rebuilding from scratch
3-year cost estimate: £900–£12,000+ (depending on plan and apps)
WooCommerce: Flexible but Fragile
WooCommerce is a free plugin that turns WordPress into an online shop. It's technically free, but as with WordPress itself, the real costs are hidden. For more on WordPress costs generally, see our WordPress vs custom-built comparison.
WooCommerce Strengths
- Full ownership — Self-hosted, so you control the code and data
- Highly extensible — Hundreds of extensions for every conceivable feature
- No transaction fees from WooCommerce itself (only payment gateway fees)
- WordPress familiarity — If your team already knows WordPress, the learning curve is minimal
WooCommerce Weaknesses
- Plugin dependency — Every feature needs a plugin. Plugins conflict, break on updates, and create security vulnerabilities
- Performance issues — WooCommerce sites are notoriously slow, especially with 100+ products and multiple plugins
- Maintenance burden — WordPress core, WooCommerce plugin, theme, and every extension needs regular updating
- Security risks — WordPress + WooCommerce is a prime target for hackers. An ecommerce site handling payment data needs robust security
- Hosting costs — You need quality managed hosting (£20–£50/month) to run WooCommerce reliably
3-year cost estimate: £3,000–£15,000+ (hosting, plugins, maintenance, developer fees)
Custom-Built Ecommerce: Maximum Performance, Full Control
A custom ecommerce site is built from the ground up using modern frameworks like Next.js paired with a headless CMS or custom product management system. It's the premium option, and it delivers premium results.
Custom Ecommerce Strengths
- Blazing fast performance — No platform bloat. Pages load in under a second
- Superior SEO — Full control over URLs, schema markup, page structure, and Core Web Vitals
- Unique design — Not constrained by template limitations or platform restrictions
- Custom integrations — Connect to any payment provider, delivery service, or inventory system natively
- No platform fees — Just hosting costs, typically under £20/month
- Full ownership — You own every line of code
Custom Ecommerce Weaknesses
- Higher upfront cost — Custom development costs more initially than a Shopify subscription
- Requires a developer — Adding new features or making structural changes needs a developer, not a drag-and-drop interface
- Longer initial build time — Typically 1–3 weeks vs a few days for Shopify
Real Example: Radford Mill Farm Shop
We built the website for Radford Mill Farm Shop — a local Swindon-area business that needed to sell produce online. The site integrates with Oooby, a specialist local food delivery platform, giving them a seamless ordering experience that Shopify or WooCommerce couldn't provide out of the box.
This is where custom ecommerce shines: when your business has specific requirements that platforms can't meet without expensive workarounds or compromises. Browse more examples on our portfolio page.
Which Option Wins? It Depends on Your Business
- Choose Shopify if: You're starting out, have a straightforward product catalogue, want to be selling within days, and don't mind ongoing monthly costs
- Choose WooCommerce if: You already have a WordPress site, your team knows WordPress, and you have a reliable developer for ongoing maintenance
- Choose custom-built if: Performance and SEO are critical, you need specific integrations, you want to own the code, and you're thinking about the 3-year cost, not just the first month
For more on total costs, see our UK website pricing guide.
Why Swindon Businesses Choose Local Ecommerce Developers
Working with a Swindon-based ecommerce developer means:
- Face-to-face meetings when you need them — no timezone issues, no email chains
- Understanding of the local market — we know Swindon, Wiltshire, and the surrounding area
- Local SEO expertise — targeting “near me” searches and Google Business Profile optimisation for Swindon and surrounding areas
- Faster turnaround — no lengthy agency processes or offshore development delays
Learn more about our local approach on the web design Swindon page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an ecommerce website cost in 2026?
It varies hugely depending on the approach. Shopify starts at ~£25/month but typically costs £900–£12,000+ over 3 years with apps and transaction fees. WooCommerce costs £3,000–£15,000+ over 3 years. Custom-built ecommerce has a higher upfront cost but lower ongoing expenses. The best way to get a clear figure is to get a free quote.
Is Shopify or a custom shop better for SEO?
Custom-built has a significant SEO advantage. You get full control over URL structures, page speed, schema markup, and heading hierarchy. Shopify restricts URL patterns and loads slower due to app overhead. For businesses that depend on organic search traffic, custom development delivers measurably better results.
What payment providers can I use with a custom ecommerce site?
Any of them. Stripe is the most common (low fees, excellent developer tools, supports Apple Pay and Google Pay). But a custom build can integrate with PayPal, SumUp, Square, GoCardless, or any provider with an API. You're not limited to the platform's approved list.
Get Expert Ecommerce Advice for Your Business
Not sure which approach is right for your Swindon business? Take our 60-second quiz and we'll give you a straight, honest recommendation — even if the answer is Shopify. We'd rather you make the right choice than the expensive one.
