What an Indian D2C platform really costs: subscription, fees, GST and apps
The sticker price is only part of the bill. See how subscriptions, transaction fees, gateway fees, GST and apps add up, with a ₹10 lakh a month example.
By Orvexa TeamUpdated 3 min read
- The platform's percentage fee on sales often outweighs its subscription once you grow
- Gateway fees and GST apply on top of every platform
- Compare platforms at the sales volume you expect, not at zero
Platform pricing pages are designed to show a low number. To know what you will really pay, you have to add the parts that are not on the headline: percentage fees, payment gateway charges, tax and apps.
Which guide do you need? This guide adds up everything a store platform costs. For how Shopify's fee on each sale works on its own, see Shopify transaction fees in India explained (and when COD avoids them).
The five parts of your bill
- Subscription: the monthly or yearly plan.
- Platform transaction fee: a percentage some platforms take on every sale.
- Payment gateway fee: what Razorpay or another gateway charges to process payments. Every platform passes this on.
- GST: generally 18% on software subscriptions and many fees. See GST on e-commerce software.
- Apps and add-ons: reviews, COD verification, upsells, WhatsApp tools and more.
What the platforms charge (list prices, 7 October 2026)
These figures come from each vendor's own pricing page and are shown monthly-billed, before GST.
- Shopify (India): Basic ₹1,994, Grow ₹7,447, Advanced ₹30,164. On top, a 2%, 1% or 0.6% fee applies when you use a third-party payment provider, which includes Razorpay. The fee is not charged on cash on delivery. Read Shopify transaction fees in India explained.
- Dukaan: Free, ₹299, ₹999 and ₹5,999 a month, with a service fee on online sales of 4.99%, 3.99%, 1.99% and 0.99% by plan, capped at ₹200 per order and not charged on manual orders.
- Zoho Commerce: Standard ₹999 a month with a 0% transaction fee.
- StoreHippo: Business ₹15,000 a month with a 1% fee per order.
- Orvexa: flat monthly plans with a 0% platform fee on your sales.
A worked example
Say you sell ₹10 lakh a month, and 60% of that (₹6 lakh) is paid online while 40% is cash on delivery. Here is the platform cost per month, before GST and gateway fees:
| Platform and plan | Subscription | Fee on sales | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shopify Basic | ₹1,994 | ₹12,000 (2%) | ₹13,994 |
| Shopify Grow | ₹7,447 | ₹6,000 (1%) | ₹13,447 |
| Dukaan Growth | ₹999 | ₹11,940 (1.99%) | ₹12,939 |
| Zoho Commerce Standard | ₹999 | none | ₹999 |
| Orvexa Growth Pro | ₹3,660 | none | ₹3,660 |
At this volume, the percentage fee is the largest part of the bill for three of the five. At ₹50,000 a month the picture is very different, and a percentage fee can be cheaper. That is why you should compare at the volume you expect to reach.
Do not compare plans that are not equal
Plans differ in product limits, staff accounts, features and support. Zoho's Standard plan, for example, limits product listings, and the platforms differ in how much they include for COD, WhatsApp and SEO. Cheapest on paper is not always cheapest for your store.
Add the costs that are not on pricing pages
Include a domain, a theme if you buy one, photography, packaging, returns and customer support time. Our guide to hidden e-commerce costs lists them.
Related reading
- How Orvexa sets its prices: our method, in the open
- Flat-fee vs revenue-share e-commerce platforms: which costs less as you grow?
What to do next
Open a spreadsheet, enter your expected monthly sales and payment mix, and calculate the table above for your shortlist. Then use the cost-per-order method to see what each order really earns you.
Frequently asked questions
Are these prices before GST?
Yes. Add 18% GST to subscriptions and, where applicable, to fees. Registered businesses can usually claim input tax credit, so check with your accountant.
Why does the gateway fee not change the comparison?
Because you pay it whichever platform you use. It still reduces your margin, so include it when you calculate profit per order.
Do these prices change?
Yes, often. The figures here were read on 7 October 2026. Always check the vendor's current page.
Keep reading
Shopify transaction fees in India explained (and when COD avoids them)
How Shopify's 2%, 1% and 0.6% third-party payment fee works for Indian merchants, which orders it applies to, and how to estimate it for your sales mix.
3 min read
Flat-fee vs revenue-share e-commerce platforms: which costs less as you grow?
Flat monthly plans and percentage-of-sales models cost very differently as you grow. Learn the break-even maths and when each model suits your brand.
3 min read
GST on e-commerce software subscriptions: what store owners should know
How GST usually applies to platform subscriptions and fees, what input tax credit means for registered sellers, and what to keep on invoices. General guidance.
3 min read