Disclosure: SendSawa is our product.
If you sell to buyers in Nigeria through Instagram, TikTok or WhatsApp, SendSawa will cost you a fraction of what Shopify does. It is priced in naira, takes nothing from your orders, and needs no theme, apps or developer to get started.
Shopify is great software, but it was built for a different market. In Nigeria you pay for it in three places, and most sellers only budget for one.
The three costs of Shopify in Nigeria
The plan, in dollars. Basic is $27 a month, or $19 a month paid yearly. Shopify often offers the first three months for $1 a month, so budget for the full price after that. Your bank sets the naira rate, so the bill changes every month.
An extra fee on every order. Shopify Payments does not work in Nigeria, so you use another payment gateway, and Shopify adds 2% per order on Basic on top of that gateway's own fee.
The build. Paid themes, paid apps, and often someone you pay to set it all up.
What Shopify really costs a Nigerian seller
Take a seller doing ₦300,000 across 30 orders a month, at ₦1,600 to the dollar, with one $10 app and ₦120,000 spent on setup:
| Cost | Per month on Shopify |
|---|---|
| Basic plan, $27 | ₦43,200 |
| 2% of sales | ₦6,000 |
| One $10 app | ₦16,000 |
| Setup, spread over 12 months | ₦10,000 |
| Total | ₦75,200 |
That is about ₦2,500 an order, before the gateway's own fee.
The same seller on SendSawa's Growth plan pays ₦5,000 a month, about ₦167 an order. There is no app to buy and no setup to pay for. Put in your own numbers to see your gap.
What to look for in a Shopify alternative in Nigeria
- Priced in naira. A dollar bill goes up every time the naira falls.
- No fee per order. A percentage on top of your gateway's fee adds up fast.
- Local payments built in. Card and bank transfer, paid out to a Nigerian account.
- No build cost. You should be able to set it up yourself on your phone.
Shopify vs SendSawa at a glance
| SendSawa | Shopify | |
|---|---|---|
| Priced in naira | Yes | No, US dollars |
| Entry price | ₦0 | $27/month |
| Extra fee per order | None | 2% on Basic |
| Card and bank transfer in Nigeria | Built in | Through another gateway |
| WhatsApp button | Built in | Needs an app |
| Setup time | About 5 minutes | Days |
| Selling abroad | Limited | Yes |
| Design control and apps | Themes and colours | Full, large app store |
Shopify prices from its Nigeria pricing page, checked October 2026.
Why SendSawa fits sellers on WhatsApp and Instagram
Priced in naira. ₦5,000 a month on Growth, or ₦4,000 a month paid yearly, whatever the exchange rate does. The free plan holds 10 products with no time limit.
0% from every order. Card payments go through Korapay, and the card fee is paid by the buyer at checkout. Bank transfers go straight into your account.
Made for one link. Your store link goes in your bio and your WhatsApp status, and a Chat on WhatsApp button sits on the store, so buyers can ask before they pay.
Ready the same day. There is no domain to buy, no theme to install and no developer to pay. A store is usually live in about 5 minutes.
The tools that bring sales back. On Growth you get offers on your store, a list of buyers who left a full cart with a WhatsApp message ready to send, and sales analytics.
When Shopify is the better choice
If most of your buyers are abroad and pay in dollars or pounds, if you need full control over every part of the design, or if your business depends on a Shopify app, stay on Shopify.
Other Shopify alternatives, by what you sell
- Courses and downloads: Selar, at about 4% + ₦50 per sale. See how that compares.
- A shop with a counter and staff: Bumpa, from ₦15,000 a quarter. See how that compares.
- Just a payment link: Paystack Storefront, free with a Paystack account.
Questions sellers ask about Shopify in Nigeria
Does Shopify work in Nigeria?
Yes, but Shopify Payments does not, so you need another payment gateway, and Shopify adds 2% per order on the Basic plan. You also pay for the plan in US dollars.
How much is Shopify per month in Nigeria?
Shopify Basic is $27 a month, or $19 a month paid yearly. At ₦1,600 to the dollar that is about ₦43,200 or ₦30,400 a month, and it changes with the exchange rate.
What is the cheapest Shopify alternative in Nigeria?
SendSawa's free plan costs nothing for up to 10 products, and Growth is ₦5,000 a month for unlimited products. Neither takes a cut of your sales.
Can I move my products from Shopify to SendSawa?
You add products to SendSawa yourself from your phone or computer. Start with your ten best sellers on the free plan and run both stores for a week before you decide.
Do the sum this week
Add last month's Shopify bill, 2% of your sales and your apps, then divide by your orders. If the number hurts, put your ten best sellers on SendSawa's free plan for a week.
And run your page through the free page audit to see what to fix so more of your followers order.
