Best online selling platforms for South African sellers
There's no single "best" platform — there's the best one for what you're actually trying to do. Here's an honest look at the main options a South African seller realistically considers, including where ShopFront doesn't win.
Shopify
Best for: Sellers planning to scale internationally or needing a huge app ecosystem
- ✓The deepest feature set and app marketplace of any option here
- ✓Mature, well-documented, widely supported
- –Shopify Payments isn't available in SA — a third-party gateway is required
- –Entry plan bills in USD and adds its own ~2% fee on top of that gateway
WooCommerce
Best for: Technical sellers who want zero ongoing platform fees and full control
- ✓The plugin itself is free, no monthly platform fee
- ✓Runs on WordPress, so it's fully customisable if you can build it
- –Requires your own hosting, security updates, and technical setup
- –No built-in local payment gateway — PayFast/PayGate support comes via separate plugins you configure yourself
Wix
Best for: Sellers who want strong visual design tools and don't need SA-specific payment methods front and centre
- ✓No extra transaction fee stacked on top of your payment gateway
- ✓Large template and design library
- –Not built specifically for South African sellers — local payment methods and couriers aren't its focus
- –Pricing and support aren't SA-focused
Shopstar
Best for: Sellers who want an established, well-reviewed South African platform
- ✓SA-native, with a 100% South African customer support team
- ✓Strong customer reviews and a mature drag-and-drop builder
- –Main plans have no free tier (a 14-day free trial instead)
- –Charges a monthly transaction fee on order volume on top of the plan price
Netcash Shop
Best for: Sellers who want the fastest possible SA-native launch
- ✓SA-native, no cart fees, generally fast to get live
- ✓Built around the Netcash payment gateway
- –Smaller feature set and ecosystem than Shopify or WooCommerce
- –Built around Netcash's own payment gateway
ShopFront SA
Best for: Sellers who want Rand pricing and no fee stacked on top, starting free
- ✓No transaction fee of its own on top of PayFast, Ozow, Yoco or SnapScan — ever
- ✓Free plan from R0/month with bank EFT, no card required to start
- ✓Paid plans add card and instant payments, live shipping rates from Bob Go and The Courier Guy, and VAT-ready invoices; POPIA tooling on every plan
- –Smaller feature set and app ecosystem than a 15-year-old platform like Shopify
- –Free plan is limited to 5 products, 10 orders a month and bank EFT
- –No one-click migration importer yet
The short version
Need the biggest app ecosystem or plan to sell internationally? Shopify. Comfortable setting up hosting yourself and want zero platform fees, ever? WooCommerce. Want strong design tools and don't need SA-specific payment methods? Wix. Want an established South African platform with strong reviews? Shopstar or Netcash Shop. Want to start free, in Rands, with no fee stacked on top of your gateway — and add card payments and local courier rates when you upgrade? That's what ShopFront is built for.
Common questions
What's the best online selling platform in South Africa?
It depends what you're optimising for. Shopify has the most features but stacks its own fee on top of a South African payment gateway and bills in USD. WooCommerce is free but technical. Shopstar and Netcash Shop are established SA-native options. ShopFront SA is built specifically for a South African seller who wants Rand pricing and no fee stacking — free to start with bank EFT, with local payment gateways and couriers on the paid plans.
Is there a free online selling platform in South Africa?
ShopFront SA has an ongoing R0/month plan, not a time-limited trial, with no credit card required to start (up to 5 products and 10 orders a month, paid by bank EFT). WooCommerce's plugin is free but you pay for your own hosting, and Netcash Shop also lets you start for free; other platforms on this list charge from the first month or offer a free trial.
Which online selling platform has the lowest fees for a South African seller?
Whichever platform doesn't add its own fee on top of your payment gateway's standard rate. Shopify's Basic plan adds about 2% on top of a third-party gateway like PayFast, since Shopify Payments isn't available in SA, and Shopstar charges its own fee on monthly order volume. ShopFront, Wix and WooCommerce don't charge that second fee — your gateway's own transaction fee is the only per-sale cost.
Can I sell on Shopify in South Africa without Shopify Payments?
Yes — you connect a third-party gateway like PayFast instead, since Shopify Payments isn't available in South Africa. The trade-off is that Shopify's entry-level plan charges its own additional transaction fee for using any gateway other than its own.
Feature sets and pricing change over time — confirm current details directly with each platform before deciding. Accurate as of mid-2026.