Best E-commerce Platforms in Kenya: Shopify vs WooCommerce vs Magento
Best E-commerce Platforms in Kenya
Kenya’s e-commerce sector is growing fast. From fashion brands to electronics, more and more businesses are launching online stores to reach customers across the country. But before you jump into selling online, there’s one important decision you need to make — which e-commerce platform should you choose?
In this article, we compare Shopify, WooCommerce, and Magento — three of the most popular e-commerce platforms in Kenya — to help you pick the one that suits your business needs, technical ability, and budget.
What to Consider When Choosing an E-commerce Platform in Kenya
Before comparing the platforms, here are key factors you should keep in mind:
✅ MPesa Integration – Most Kenyans use mobile money. A good platform should support MPesa, Airtel Money, or integrations like Pesapal and intasend. To use Mpesa however, you know to know how to integrate MPesa into your e-commerce website/online store.
✅ Mobile-friendliness – Over 80% of internet users in Kenya access the web via smartphones. Your platform must deliver a great mobile experience.
✅ Ease of Use – Can a beginner set it up, or will you need a developer?
✅ Customization – Do you want a simple store or one with advanced features?
✅ Cost – Consider both setup costs and monthly or yearly expenses.
✅ Scalability – Will the platform still work for you as your business grows?
✅ Local Support – Are there developers in Kenya who can help you manage or scale your store?
Shopify: Simple & User-Friendly
Shopify is a hosted platform that allows you to create an online store without any coding knowledge. It handles hosting, security, and updates for you.
Pros:
Very easy to use — no technical experience needed
Beautiful templates that work well on mobile
Secure and reliable hosting included
MPesa integration possible via third-party apps (e.g., DPO, Flutterwave, Cellulant)
Fast setup — you can be live in a day
Cons:
Monthly fees starting from about $25 (plus payment transaction charges)
Limited customization unless you upgrade or use custom code
Relies on apps for many advanced features
Best for: Startups, solo entrepreneurs, and businesses that want a professional online store quickly.
WooCommerce: Flexible & Affordable
WooCommerce is a free plugin for WordPress that turns your website into a fully functional e-commerce store. It offers more control and flexibility compared to Shopify.
Pros:
Free plugin — just pay for hosting and domain
Highly customizable with thousands of plugins and themes
Supports MPesa, Pesapal, PayPal, and other Kenyan gateways
Ideal for SEO if set up properly
A large community of WooCommerce developers in Kenya available for support.
Cons:
Requires hosting and domain setup
Needs some technical knowledge or a developer
You’re responsible for updates, security, and backups
Best for: SMEs, bloggers turning into e-commerce, and businesses needing flexibility on a budget.
Magento: Powerful & Enterprise-Ready
Magento (now Adobe Commerce) is a robust platform built for large and complex e-commerce operations. It offers advanced features and deep customization — but comes with complexity and cost.
Pros:
Extremely powerful and scalable
Handles large inventories with ease
Deep customization for unique workflows and features
Internationally trusted by big brands
Cons:
Requires experienced developers (few in Kenya)
High development and maintenance costs
Hosting and server resources can be expensive
Best for: Large businesses, corporates, or enterprises with big budgets and advanced needs.
Feature Comparison Table
Feature | Shopify | WooCommerce | Magento |
|---|---|---|---|
Cost | Paid (Monthly) | Free Plugin + Hosting | High (Custom Dev) |
Ease of Use | Beginner-riendly | Moderate | Difficult |
MPesa Integration | Via Apps | Via Plugins | Custom Dev |
Hosting | Included | You Provide | You Provide |
Our Recommendation
Still unsure? Here’s a quick breakdown:
Choose Shopify if you want a quick, reliable, and easy-to-manage online store with MPesa.
Go with WooCommerce if you already have a WordPress site or want full control with flexibility at a lower cost.
Select Magento if you’re running a large-scale business and need complex functionality, with budget for a full development team.
Need Help Choosing or Building the Right Platform?
At Finytab Solutions, we specialize in developing e-commerce websites in Kenya that are fast, mobile-friendly, and fully integrated with payment gateways like MPesa. Whether you need a Shopify setup, WooCommerce development, or even a custom Magento solution — we’ve got you covered.
Contact Us Now for a free consultation or visit our main service page: E-commerce Website Developers in Kenya.