Shop Simply vs Shopify: which is right for your South African business?
Both can power an online shop. Here's how they compare on ZAR pricing, local payments, setup time and support for South African small businesses.
At a glance
A feature-for-feature comparison focused on what matters most to South African businesses.
| Feature | Shop Simply | Shopify |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & billing | Flat R99/month, billed in South African Rand — one all-inclusive plan. | Plans are billed in USD (or other major currencies), so your ZAR cost moves with the exchange rate — often on top of separate app and transaction costs. |
| Local payment gateway | Payfast is built in from the start — accept EFT, cards and more from South African shoppers. | Local gateways like Payfast are available through third-party apps that need to be found, installed and configured separately. |
| Setup time | Create an account, add your products, and your shop is live — often the same day. | Powerful and flexible, but that flexibility means more up-front decisions — themes, apps and settings to configure before launch. |
| Target business size | Built specifically for South African solo traders and small businesses getting online for the first time. | Scales from small stores to large enterprise retailers, with a feature set — and price — to match. |
| Support | Local email support from a South African team that understands Payfast, local shipping and small-business needs. | Global support team serving an international merchant base. |
Why South African businesses choose Shop Simply
Built from the ground up for the local market.
ZAR pricing, no forex surprises
One flat price, R99/month, billed in Rand. No watching the exchange rate move your subscription cost.
Payfast built in
The payment gateway South African shoppers already trust, ready from day one — no app store hunting required.
Faster setup for small businesses
No theme library or app marketplace to navigate — add your products and you're ready to sell.
Local support
Reach a support team in South Africa that understands local payments, shipping and compliance.
Built and supported locally
Shop Simply is built and operated by Tech Mage (Pty) Ltd, based in South Africa — so when you need help, you're talking to a team that understands the local market, not a distant call centre.
Ready to launch your shop?
Get a payment-ready online shop live in minutes — priced in Rand, from R99/month.