If you're an Australian business looking to sell products online, you've probably come across both options: build on Shopify, or get a custom website built from scratch. Both have their place — but choosing the wrong one can cost you time, money, and growth. Here's a plain-English breakdown.

What Is Shopify?

Shopify is a subscription-based e-commerce platform. You pay a monthly fee (from around $39 AUD/month), and in return you get a hosted store with built-in payment processing, inventory management, and hundreds of app integrations. You're essentially renting a sophisticated, ready-built e-commerce system.

What Is a Custom Website?

A custom website is built specifically for your business — no platform fees, no templates, no limitations. It can be built on WordPress with WooCommerce for e-commerce, or as a fully bespoke HTML/CSS/JS site. You own it outright and it's tailored exactly to your needs.

When Shopify Makes Sense

  • You're selling physical products and need a full store with inventory management
  • You want to start selling quickly and don't need a highly customised design
  • You plan to scale and want access to Shopify's ecosystem of apps and integrations
  • You're comfortable paying an ongoing monthly fee for platform maintenance

When a Custom Website Makes More Sense

  • You're a service-based business (tradie, health professional, consultant)
  • You want to own your site outright with no ongoing platform fees
  • Your design and functionality needs are specific or brand-critical
  • You want faster load times and better SEO control
  • You need a landing page or lead-generation site rather than a full store

The Cost Comparison

A basic Shopify plan costs roughly $470 AUD/year minimum — plus apps, themes, and transaction fees. Over 5 years, that's $2,500+ before you've customised anything. A custom website from Zylo Digital starts at $1,499 one-time with no ongoing platform fees. For service businesses especially, the maths usually favours a custom build.

The Verdict

For most Australian service businesses — tradies, health professionals, local shops — a custom website is the smarter, more cost-effective choice. For product-based businesses with large catalogues, Shopify is hard to beat. At Zylo Digital, we build both — and we'll tell you honestly which one suits your goals better.