Netcash Shop vs WooCommerce: Total cost of ownership in SA

At first glance, WooCommerce might look like the cheaper way to build an online store. It’s free to install, widely used, and customisable. But in South Africa, once you add up hosting, plugins, developer time, and ongoing maintenance, the total cost often tells a very different story.

When you start selling online, you may be more concerned about choosing the right payment gateway and the types of payment options, but running the shop is more complicated than that.

This guide breaks down the total cost of ownership (TCO) for WooCommerce versus Netcash Shop. It looks at the real costs behind setup, hosting, updates, and support so you can make a smarter long-term decision for your business, not just the quickest way to get up and running.

TCO Model: A worked example

To keep it simple, let’s suppose we have two SMEs in South Africa that want to run an online store with 50 products. One chooses WooCommerce, the other chooses Netcash Shop.

Here’s an estimation of pricing in year one:

*Please note the amounts with asterisks are estimates as exact prices vary.

**Please note the Netcash Shop Free  Plan requires activation of the Netcash eCommerce Payment Gateway for R59 ex VAT p/m = R708 annually.

Note: Paid plans include Netcash Shop and Netcash eCommerce Payment Gateway fees, but exclude transaction fees.

Verdict:

Netcash Shop uses a fixed subscription model that includes many features such as hosting, security, and support. You don’t need to buy plugins or hire developers to keep things running.

On the other hand, the cost of WooCommerce in South Africa keeps growing. Plugin licences need to be renewed annually, while hosting and maintenance remain as ongoing annual costs. And if something breaks, you pay a developer to fix it.

Feature parity: What’s included

The cost of operation isn’t only about the Rand value. It’s also about what’s covered in your plan. WooCommerce gives you control, but you need to piece everything together. But with Netcash Shop, you get a plug-and-play eCommerce platform built for South African businesses.

Verdict:

The table above shows a clear difference. With WooCommerce, you get a handy toolkit but must maintain it yourself. With Netcash Shop, most of the heavy lifting is already done.

Maintenance and risk

The hidden cost of WooCommerce is the ongoing work needed to keep the site secure and working correctly. Plugins need updating regularly. Sometimes these updates cause conflicts that break parts of the site. If you’re not a developer, you’ll need to pay someone to fix it.

You’re also responsible for security. If the site gets hacked or goes down, the hosting company and WordPress community may not offer direct support. This can lead to unscheduled downtime, lost sales, and reputational damage. Small businesses without resident developers will have to outsource. That adds an extra expense, which further contributes to the overall cost.

Netcash Shop removes this layer of risk. Hosting, security, backups, and updates are managed for you. Your store stays online without you having to write any code or troubleshoot errors. This is a big advantage for small teams that don’t have an internal tech department or trained staff.

Decision guide

Both eCommerce platforms have their strengths. Here’s a simple way to decide which suits your business:

Choose WooCommerce if:

• You have in-house developers or a budget for outsourced tech support.
• You want complete control over every detail.
• You don’t mind managing hosting, updates, and security yourself.

Choose Netcash Shop if:

• You want a reliable eCommerce store without the technical headaches.
• You prefer a single, predictable monthly cost.
• You need local support and a fast setup.
• Your focus is on selling, not maintaining a website.

For most small and medium-sized businesses in South Africa, Netcash Shop is the simpler and more cost-effective option both initially and over time. And as your business grows, you can simply upgrade between plans to get more resources, from marketing tools to mobile apps.

Frequently asked questions

Which eCommerce platform is cheaper long-term?

WooCommerce looks cheaper at the start as it’s free. But once you add hosting, plugins, and developer support, the costs add up fast. Over a few years, many businesses spend more on maintaining WooCommerce than they would with a fixed-rate Netcash Shop subscription.

What hidden costs exist?

With WooCommerce, the main hidden costs are plugin renewals, developer fees, security, marketing, ongoing maintenance, and customer support. You also need to budget for hosting upgrades as your online store grows. Netcash Shop includes most of these in one plan.

Who should choose what?

WooCommerce is great for larger businesses with strong technical skills and time to manage their site. Netcash Shop suits small to medium-sized companies that want to launch quickly and focus on selling. If you prefer hands-off eCommerce hosting and support, Netcash Shop is the better choice.

Think Beyond the Sticker Price

When choosing an eCommerce platform, don’t look only at the setup cost. Look at the total cost of ownership over several years. WooCommerce can work well for businesses with in-house expertise. But if you’re just starting your business or running an SME in South Africa without a development team, Netcash Shop gives you lower overall costs, less risk, and more support.