You can build a dropshipping store in hours, but app subscriptions can quietly snowball into a big monthly bill. According to MobiLoud’s Shopify data, the average merchant spends about $120 per month on Shopify apps and uses roughly six apps to run their store. The PageFly roundup adds that Shopify states an average of six apps per merchant, underscoring how common app stacking has become. When you model those recurring costs against a one-time tool like the $89 lifetime WooDropship dropshipping plugin, the break-even point for beginners is surprisingly fast.

What subscription app stacks really cost

The platform fee is only the start. Shopify’s pricing page shows the Basic plan starting at 29 dollars per month billed yearly, plus processing fees that vary by plan. As Shopify explains on its pricing page, the Basic plan lists card rates starting at 2.9 percent plus 30 cents online. Most new stores also add apps for reviews, email, upsells, SEO, landing pages, bundles, and product sourcing or fulfillment.

• The MobiLoud analysis reports an average of 120 dollars per month in Shopify app spend, with an average app cost of 19.14 dollars and 87 percent of merchants using apps. See the MobiLoud summary of Shopify statistics for context.
• Uptek’s App Store analysis notes that the average monthly cost of a paid Shopify app across plans clocks in at 58.49 dollars, citing industry lists and App Store data. That means a six app stack can reach 300 dollars per month for premium tiers. Uptek’s Shopify App Store statistics detail this variance.

Payment processing is a constant no matter the platform. Stripe’s standard online pricing is 2.9 percent plus 30 cents per successful domestic card transaction as documented in Stripe’s pricing. If you use PayPal, cards via Expanded Checkout list at 2.89 percent plus 29 cents while PayPal and Venmo wallets list at 3.49 percent plus 49 cents according to PayPal’s business pricing. These fees hit both WooCommerce and Shopify, so they are not the deciding factor in the app stack question.

The WooCommerce path with a one-time tool

WooCommerce is free to install, and its official TCO guide says quality hosting typically starts around 250 dollars per year, roughly 20 dollars per month, with domains starting near 15 dollars per year. You can confirm these ranges in WooCommerce’s 2025 article on WooCommerce pricing. With that foundation in place, a one-time plugin can replace multiple recurring subscriptions.

That is exactly why WooDropship’s lifetime dropshipping plugin was designed for WordPress and WooCommerce. You can import AliExpress products in one click, optimize titles and descriptions with AI, sync and fulfill orders with a Chrome extension, bulk edit pricing, and streamline operations that usually require multiple apps. If you are new to AliExpress, the AliExpress wiki guide explains how the marketplace works for dropshippers.

Prefer Shopify for hosting simplicity but still want a one-time cost for setup and conversion features? WooDropship also offers prebuilt Shopify dropshipping stores for a one-time 49 dollars, delivered in 7 days, including 30 vetted products, a premium theme, essential legal pages, SEO, and conversion boosters like bundles, popups, countdowns, bought together, and quick view. If you want to try Shopify first, you can start a trial via this Shopify free trial link and pair it with a prebuilt store for speed.

Lifetime cost modeling and break-even scenarios

Numbers make the decision clearer. Below are conservative, apples to apples scenarios based on public pricing. Platform card fees are excluded because they apply across both stacks.

1. Six-month test store for beginners

• Subscription stack: Shopify Basic billed yearly is 29 dollars per month. Six months is 174 dollars. MobiLoud’s 120 dollars per month average app spend puts apps at 720 dollars over six months. Estimated total is 894 dollars.
• One-time path: WooCommerce hosting at roughly 20 dollars per month for six months is 120 dollars, plus a 15 dollar yearly domain pro-rated to 7.50 dollars, plus the 89 dollar lifetime WooDropship plugin. Estimated total is 216.50 dollars. Break-even: The one-time approach saves about 677 dollars in the first six months. The break-even happens in month one compared to a recurring app stack.

2. Year one small store

• Subscription stack: Shopify Basic yearly is 348 dollars. Apps at 120 dollars per month sum to 1,440 dollars per year. Estimated total is 1,788 dollars.
• One-time path: Hosting 240 dollars per year, domain 15 dollars, WooDropship plugin 89 dollars one-time. Estimated first-year total is 344 dollars. Break-even: About 1,444 dollars saved in year one, with savings compounding in year two because the plugin fee is already paid.

3. Premium app creep scenario

• If your six app toolkit lands closer to Uptek’s 58.49 dollar average per paid app, your app spend is about 351 dollars per month. That is 4,212 dollars per year just in apps. Uptek breaks down these averages in its Shopify App Store analysis.
• Against a one-time 89 dollar plugin plus modest hosting, the gap grows to thousands per year.

The lesson for beginners: locking in the core dropshipping functionality with a one-time license reduces monthly burn. It improves cash flow predictability and shortens the runway to profitability. If you need a refresher on the math that matters, the wiki entries for cost of goods sold and conversion rate are a good starting point.

Why WooDropship’s pricing wins for beginners

• One-time simplicity lowers risk. A single 89 dollar payment secures product import, AI copy optimization, bulk pricing edits, and AliExpress order sync with the Chrome extension. That replaces multiple paid apps and helps you avoid subscription creep. Order sync and fulfillment efficiencies line up with best practices in automated order processing.
• Faster launch and iteration. You can go from niche idea to a live WooCommerce store quickly, then iterate titles, descriptions, and pricing with AI. If you choose the prebuilt route, the 49 dollar Shopify store package gets you live in 7 days with conversion boosters that support conversion optimization from day one.
• App bloat avoidance. Every new subscription adds another learning curve, another dashboard, and another failure point. With WooDropship handling import and fulfillment, you keep your stack lean and your site fast, which supports a higher conversion rate and fewer abandoned carts.
• Payment flexibility. Whether you use Stripe or PayPal, you are operating near the 2.9 percent plus 30 cents range documented in Stripe’s pricing and the 2.89 percent plus 29 cents to 3.49 percent plus 49 cents range explained on PayPal’s business fees page. WooCommerce and Shopify both accept major payment gateways, so the real lever you control is your fixed monthly software cost.

When Shopify still makes sense

Some entrepreneurs value fully hosted convenience and an integrated checkout. If that is you, start with a trial using this Shopify offer and let our one-time prebuilt Shopify store handle niche selection, vetted products, a premium theme, legal pages, SEO, and conversion features. You can be live in a week without juggling 6 to 10 paid apps. If you have questions or want guidance on the best path for your niche, our team is a click away on the contact page.

Whether you choose WooCommerce with our lifetime plugin or Shopify with a prebuilt storefront, the secret for beginners is tightening your tool belt so your ad budget and product margin can carry you to traction. Keep recurring expenses low, track your numbers, and optimize the experience step by step.

Happy WooDropshipping!