Shopify vs Hostinger
Shopify scores 9.0/10, Hostinger 7.5/10. Where each one wins, what they cost and who should pick which, side by side.
The short answer
Shopify scores 9.0/10 and Hostinger scores 7.5/10 on our rubric. Shopify is the stronger all-round pick.
Shopify leads on design, flexibility, and support. Hostinger leads on ease of use and value.
Shopify starts at $29/mo with no free plan; Hostinger starts at $2.99/mo with no free plan. Hostinger is the cheaper way in.
| Shopify | Hostinger | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 9.0 | 7.5 |
| From | $29 | $2.99 |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Sells online | Yes | Yes |
| Code export | Yes | No |
| Ease of use | 8.4 | 8.8 |
| Design | 8.2 | 7.0 |
| Flexibility | 9.2 | 6.4 |
| Value | 8.0 | 9.2 |
| Support | 9.4 | 7.4 |
What Shopify does well
- Deepest commerce feature set anywhere
- App ecosystem handles every edge case
- Scales from first sale to enterprise
What Hostinger does well
- Cheapest credible option with hosting included
- AI setup gets you live quickly
Who each one is for
Shopify. Anyone whose primary activity is selling physical or digital goods and who wants the commerce infrastructure to be someone else's problem. It is the right answer from the first sale up to very large volumes, and the point at which you outgrow it is far enough away that most merchants never reach it.
Hostinger. A first site on a tight budget, or a straightforward business presence where hosting, domain and builder in one bill is worth more than template choice. On pure cost over the first term, nothing else here competes.
Pricing side by side
Shopify
| Basic | $29/mo yearly · $39 monthly | 2% fee on third-party gateways, 10 inventory locations |
|---|---|---|
| Grow | $79/mo yearly · $105 monthly | 1% third-party fee, 5 staff accounts |
| Advanced | $299/mo yearly · $399 monthly | 0.6% third-party fee, 15 staff accounts, third-party shipping rates |
| Plus | from $2,300/mo | 0.2% third-party fee, full checkout customization, unlimited staff |
Hostinger
| Premium | $2.99/mo on a 48-month term | $143.52 up front, renews at $10.99/mo; up to 3 sites |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited | $3.99/mo on a 48-month term | $191.52 up front, renews at $16.99/mo; ecommerce, unlimited sites |
| Cloud Startup | $7.99/mo on a 48-month term | $383.52 up front, renews at $25.99/mo; more performance |
What a year costs
Shopify
The prices on the plan cards are yearly prices. Pay month to month and Basic is $39 rather than $29, Grow is $105 rather than $79 and Advanced is $399 rather than $299, so the monthly option costs about a third more. If you are confident enough to launch, the annual plan is the obvious saving.
Subscription, billed yearlyShopify's third-party transaction fee
Hostinger
Hostinger's plans are paid up front, and the low monthly figures are what you get by dividing a 48-month payment by 48. Premium is $143.52 for four years, which works out at $2.99 a month, and then renews at $10.99 a month. Unlimited is $191.52 for four years, then $16.99 a month. Cloud Startup is $383.52, then $25.99 a month.
Cost per year
Who should skip each one
Shopify
A content site with a small shop attached. If you have ten products and two hundred articles, you are paying commerce pricing for a blog. It is also the wrong pick if you need an unconventional checkout, since the checkout is the part Shopify guards most closely.
Hostinger
Anyone who expects the site to grow into something specific. The integration and template ceiling arrives sooner than with Wix or Squarespace, and the renewal price erodes the cost advantage.
The bottom line
Shopify
For most people starting a store, Shopify is the safe choice and the right one. Buy the annual plan, start on Basic, and move to Grow once you are selling more than about $5,000 a month and cannot use Shopify Payments, or once you need staff accounts.
Hostinger
Hostinger is the cheapest credible way to get a hosted site with a domain and email, especially if you are happy to prepay for four years. Choose Unlimited if you want to sell.
Questions people ask
Is Shopify better than Hostinger?
Shopify scores 9.0/10 and Hostinger scores 7.5/10 on our rubric. Shopify is the stronger all-round pick. Shopify leads on design, flexibility, and support. Hostinger leads on ease of use and value.
Which is cheaper, Shopify or Hostinger?
Shopify starts at $29/mo with no free plan; Hostinger starts at $2.99/mo with no free plan. Hostinger is the cheaper way in.
Which is easier to use, Shopify or Hostinger?
Hostinger scores 8.8/10 for ease of use against Shopify at 8.4/10.
Do Shopify and Hostinger have a free plan?
Neither Shopify nor Hostinger has a free plan.
Can you sell online with Shopify and Hostinger?
Both Shopify and Hostinger can take payments and run a store.
Can you move your site off Shopify or Hostinger?
Shopify lets you export your code; Hostinger does not export a working site.
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