Hostinger vs Shopify (2026): Which Is Better for an Online Store?
Short answer: Pick Shopify if selling online is your main business and you want the easiest store to run: Basic costs $29 a month on a yearly plan. Pick Hostinger if you're starting small or want to keep costs low: a Hostinger plan with WooCommerce or Hostinger's builder costs about $96 for four years, but you handle more of the setup yourself.
See Hostinger's current priceShopify is a store builder. It hosts your store, runs the checkout and gives you selling tools in one monthly plan. Hostinger is a web host. You can build a store on it with Hostinger’s website builder or with WooCommerce, a free store add-on for WordPress.
Prices were checked on both companies’ own sites on November 8, 2026. Check the price at checkout.
Hostinger vs Shopify at a glance
| Hostinger Premium | Shopify Basic | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1.99/mo (48 months) | $29/mo yearly, $39/mo monthly |
| Renews at | $10.99/mo | Same |
| Cost over 4 years | $95.52 | $1,392 (yearly) |
| Card fees | Set by your payment company | From 2.9% + 30¢ online |
| Extra fee per sale | None from Hostinger | 2% if you don’t use Shopify Payments |
| Store tools | Builder store or WooCommerce | Full store, built in |
| Sell in person | Needs add-ons | Yes, with a phone or card reader |
| Support | 24/7 chat | 24/7 chat |
| Trial | 30-day money-back | 3 days free, then $1/mo for 3 months |
What each one costs over time
Shopify costs more every month, but it includes more selling tools. On Hostinger, the hosting is cheap, but you may pay for store add-ons you choose, like shipping or tax plugins.
| First 4 years | Each year after | |
|---|---|---|
| Hostinger Premium | $95.52 | $131.88 |
| Hostinger Unlimited | $133.92 | $203.88 |
| Shopify Basic (yearly) | $1,392 | $348 |
| Shopify Grow (yearly) | $4,272 | $1,068 |
Both have card fees on every sale. A card fee is what the payment company keeps when a customer pays you.
Where Shopify is better
- Easiest store to run. Products, checkout, taxes and shipping work out of the box.
- Selling everywhere. Shopify connects your store to social media, marketplaces, AI chats and in-person sales.
- Shipping discounts. Shopify lists shipping label discounts of up to 87%.
- Fewer things to break. Shopify keeps the store updated and secure for you.
Where Hostinger is better
- Price. About $1,300 less than Shopify Basic over four years.
- No platform fee on sales. Shopify adds 2% if you use another payment company. Hostinger never takes a cut.
- Your own website. A WooCommerce store on Hostinger can move to any host. You own all of it.
- More than a store. Run a blog, a store and a portfolio on one plan, with up to 3 sites on Premium.
Which one should a new store pick?
Use these rules:
- Selling is your main income, or you’ll have more than about 50 products: pick Shopify. The time you save is worth the monthly bill.
- You sell a few items next to a blog or business site: pick Hostinger. Its plans include ecommerce, or you can add WooCommerce.
- You want to test an idea for almost no money: start on Hostinger. You can move to Shopify later if sales grow.
Is WooCommerce on Hostinger hard?
A little harder than Shopify. You install WordPress (one click on Hostinger), add the free WooCommerce plugin, then set up payments, shipping and taxes. Expect an afternoon of setup. Hostinger’s support can help through chat.
FAQ
Is Hostinger cheaper than Shopify? Yes, by a lot. Hostinger Premium costs about $96 for four years. Shopify Basic costs $1,392 on a yearly plan.
Can Hostinger host a Shopify store? No. Shopify stores live on Shopify. You can point a domain you bought anywhere to a Shopify store.
Does Shopify charge per sale? Shopify charges card fees from 2.9% + 30¢ online. If you use a payment company other than Shopify Payments, it adds a 2% fee.
Sources
- Shopify pricing, Shopify, checked Nov 8, 2026
- Hostinger web hosting plans, Hostinger, checked Nov 8, 2026 with our referral link