Tanja Šincek is an eCommerce consultant and the founder of Webroom Agency, specializing in launching online businesses, developing eCommerce solutions, and optimizing sales. With over 300 completed webshop and digital projects, she has helped numerous brands build, grow, and scale their online presence. As a mentor and educator, she supports companies and entrepreneurs in growth through sales strategies, digital marketing, and AI tools.
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If you’ve decided to launch a webshop, one of the first decisions you’ll face is: which platform should you choose? Everyone praises Shopify, WooCommerce is “free,” Wix seems simple, Magento is seen as something “for the big players,” and agencies often recommend fully custom CMS solutions. But which option do you really need as someone just entering the world of eCommerce?
Before we dive into a comparison, let’s pause for a moment to focus on something even more important.
Before choosing a platform, define your webshop. How?
Ask yourself some key questions:
- What are you selling? Physical products, digital goods, services, or a combination?
● How large will your product range be? 5, 50, or 500+ items?
● Who are you selling to? Croatia, the region, the EU, or beyond?
● Who will maintain the webshop? You, an employee, or an agency?
● What is your budget? Do you have €0, €500, or €5,000 for development?
● Do you already have a physical store and want to connect your POS system to your webshop?
The answers to these questions are the filter through which you should evaluate every platform, because none of them is perfect for everyone. Once you clearly define your answers, the choice of platform becomes a logical next step.
And you know what? There’s no such thing as a perfect platform — but there is one that’s perfect for you.
How much does It cost to build a Webshop?
For reference, here’s an overview of average costs:
- DIY solutions (e.g., Wix, Shopify Basic): €0 – €500
(plus monthly costs of €25 – €60 for hosting, templates, and apps)
- WooCommerce on WordPress with basic features: €1,500 – €5,000
(depends on design, plugins, and additional functionality)
- Shopify with customizations and advanced options: €1,500 – €4,000
(plus monthly subscription from €39 to €399)
- Magento or enterprise-level solutions: €100,000 and up
(suitable for complex or scalable stores)
- Custom CMS (fully tailored solution): €30,000 – €60,000+
(plus monthly maintenance of €100 – €1,000, often includes technical support, security updates, and upgrades)
Note: These prices are approximate and based on current market rates in Croatia. Costs may vary depending on specific project requirements, design, product volume, additional features, and the providers you choose. We recommend requesting a tailored quote based on your actual needs to get a personalized price for your online business.
Comparison of popular Platforms for online business
No matter which platform you choose, your payment system must be reliable, secure, and easy for users to use.
That’s where Monri Payments comes in — compatible with nearly all the mentioned platforms, including Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, Wix, and custom solutions.
Monri supports:
- Card payments
- Google Pay / Apple Pay
- Wallet solutions
- Security in compliance with PCI DSS standards
- Local support and integration
Choosing the right platform is just the first step, but selecting the right payment provider can make the difference between a lost order and a successfully completed one.
Don’t Forget About Your Domain and Hosting
Besides the platform itself, to launch a webshop you’ll also need:
- A domain – the name of your web store (e.g. mycompany.hr). If you’re a registered legal entity in Croatia, you can get a free .hr domain via domene.hr. If you prefer a different extension (.com, .store, .eu, etc.), the annual registration fee typically ranges from €10 to €20.
- Hosting – the space where your webshop will live. Hosting costs depend on type and quality: simple webshop hosting starts at around €60 per year, while higher-quality hosting for larger stores may cost €100 or more annually.
Tip: Did you know?
Most hosting plans allow you to create business email addresses on your domain, like [email protected], support@, or orders@.
These look more professional and build trust with customers and reduce the chance your emails end up in the spam folder. Don’t leave an amateur impression — a Gmail address simply doesn’t cut it for a serious online store.
And Finally – Choose based on your needs, not trends
Don’t stress about what your competitors are using or what’s currently “trendy.”
Choose a platform based on your real needs, available resources, and growth plans.
If you’re unsure, seek expert advice. It’s far cheaper to make the right decision at the beginning than to replace your entire system later.
>> Also read: “I’m launching a web shop – what do I need to know?”
Discover more about Monri’s online payments and click the link.
