Ecommerce Stack
Budget Store (Under $50/month)
The cheapest way to run a real online store
$3/mo
Base monthly cost
$36–$600
Realistic year 1 total
6
Tools in this stack
What's in this stack
WooCommerce Store platform
Free (open source)
Free
SiteGround Hosting
StartUp ($2.99/mo year 1)
$3/mo
Stripe Payments
2.9% + 30¢ per transaction
Free
Mailchimp Email
Free (500 contacts)
Free
Canva Product images
Free
Free
Google Analytics Analytics
Free
Free
Transaction fees
Stripe only: 2.9% + 30¢. No platform fee.
Hidden costs to budget for
- ⚠Hosting renewal: $14.99/mo after year 1
- ⚠Domain: $14/year
- ⚠Your time learning WordPress/WooCommerce (10-20 hours)
- ⚠Premium theme: $0-60 one-time (free themes exist)
Strengths
- ✓Can run a store for under $5/mo in year 1
- ✓No platform transaction fees
- ✓Full ownership and control
- ✓Scales without monthly cost increasing
Weaknesses
- –Requires technical setup time
- –You handle security and updates
- –Checkout conversion lower than Shopify
- –Fewer one-click integrations
Who this stack is for
Best for: Side hustlers, students, or anyone testing an idea who cannot justify $39/mo before making their first sale.
Not ideal for: Anyone who values time over money. Shopify saves 10-20 hours of setup time.
Considering the alternative?
Compare with: Shopify Full Stack →Sources: www.siteground.com, stripe.com
Last updated: 2026-05-26. Prices may change — always verify on official sites before purchasing.