Ecommerce Stack
WooCommerce True Cost: Year 1 Breakdown
Free software does not mean free store. Here is what you actually pay.
$3/mo
Base monthly cost
$36–$1500
Realistic year 1 total
3
Tools in this stack
What's in this stack
Transaction fees
Stripe only: 2.9% + 30¢. At $5,000/mo revenue: ~$175/mo (same as Shopify).
Hidden costs to budget for
- ⚠Hosting year 1: $36. Year 2+: $180/year
- ⚠Domain: $14/year
- ⚠Premium extensions (subscriptions, bookings): $49-199/year each
- ⚠Security plugin (Wordfence/Sucuri): $0-100/year
- ⚠Backup solution: $0-100/year
- ⚠Your time: 10-20 hours setup, 2-4 hours/month maintenance
- ⚠Total realistic year 1 at $5K/mo revenue: $200-1,500 (depending on extensions needed)
Strengths
- ✓Lowest possible cash cost
- ✓No platform fees ever
- ✓Full code ownership
Weaknesses
- –Time cost is real (your hours have value)
- –Extension costs add up for advanced features
- –Hosting renewal shock in year 2
Who this stack is for
Best for: Understanding the true cost of 'free' before choosing WooCommerce.
Not ideal for: N/A — this is an informational cost page.
Considering the alternative?
Compare with: Shopify True Cost: Year 1 Breakdown →Sources: www.siteground.com, woocommerce.com
Last updated: 2026-05-26. Prices may change — always verify on official sites before purchasing.