Shopify vs Dukaan for an Indian D2C store

Head-to-head — the case and the catch for each.

Source-backed facts only; no invented ratings. Each side shows the verified numbers, what earns it, and what to watch for.

E-commerce and online storefront builders

Shopify

A hosted ecommerce platform for building a branded online store and selling across web, social, marketplaces, and in person.

Starts at

₹399/mo

India price

₹399/mo

Free plan

Not listed

India fit

INR pricing

The case for

• Fast setup with hosted infrastructure, security, and conversion-optimized checkout handled for you
• Large ecosystem of apps and themes to extend functionality without custom code
• True multichannel selling across web, social, marketplaces, and in-person POS
• Strong reliability and scalability from solo sellers up to enterprise (Plus)

The catch

• Shopify Payments unavailable in India, forcing third-party gateways and stacked transaction fees
• Per-transaction fee (0.2%-2%) on top of gateway fees unless using Shopify Payments (not an option in India)
• Subscription cost is high vs local alternatives, plus 18% GST for registered businesses
• App costs add up quickly and can significantly raise effective monthly cost

Source trail

Shopify India official pricing pageShopify pricingShopify India trial offer (3 days free, then INR 20/mo for 3 months)

Read the recordVisit Shopify

E-commerce and online storefront builders✓ The pick

Dukaan

India-first ecommerce storefront builder that lets small businesses launch a branded online store with UPI, COD, and pan-India shipping built in.

Starts at

₹299/mo

India price

₹299/mo

Free plan

Yes

India fit

INR pricing

The case for

• India-native: UPI, COD, and GST handling built in
• Integrated pan-India shipping via Dukaan Delivery
• Low entry price and a free plan, payable in INR
• Easy, mobile-first setup with no coding required

The catch

• Pricing and per-transaction service fees have changed often and are hard to confirm
• Per-order service fee adds variable cost on top of subscription and gateway charges
• Smaller third-party app/integration ecosystem than Shopify
• Primarily India-focused, with weaker tooling for cross-border/global selling

Source trail

Dukaan Help Center: plan terms and fee update (per-plan service fees)Dukaan Help Center: service fee and payment gateway chargesDukaan official pricing page (plans, annual discount, free plan/trial)

Read the recordVisit Dukaan

Is Shopify or Dukaan cheaper in India?

Dukaan starts cheaper for an Indian buyer — about ₹299/month versus Shopify at ₹399/month (GST-registered business, card forex included).

Who should choose Dukaan?

India-based small and medium businesses launching their first branded online store

Does Shopify or Dukaan have a free plan?

Dukaan offers a free plan; Shopify does not list one but has a free trial. For a zero-commitment start, Dukaan is the lower-risk option.

What should Indian businesses check before choosing a E-commerce Storefront tool?

For E-commerce and online storefront builders, check the real INR cost (with GST), free-plan limits, per-seat versus flat pricing, India-specific support and integrations, setup effort, and the vendor's pricing page directly before committing.