Quick Summary
When hiring Shopify developers, cost is among the most important factors to consider. Because it will affect your business’s ROI. And the cost will vary significantly depending on the location, the developer’s expertise and experience, hiring model, and project scope. So, estimating the cost to hire a Shopify developer is difficult.
In this blog, we will help you find an estimated project cost. We will also cover factors that can increase the cost, potential hidden costs, and negotiation strategies. So, let’s get started!
As said earlier, you can set up and manage a store on Shopify on your own. But scaling it will be hard, so you will need a professional’s help.
Here are some top reasons to hire a Shopify developer:
Choosing the right time to hire a Shopify developer will help you maximize the impact. While you can get started with a basic DIY Shopify setup, here are some common scenarios where you will need expert help:
You might think, “What is the need for hiring a Shopify expert?” While any front-end developer can customize your store using the Liquid templating language, a Shopify expert will be familiar with the platform.
A professional Shopify developer can develop headless Shopify stores, integrate third-party apps, and build a user-centric checkout flow.
Before hiring a Shopify professional, you must understand your needs to determine which developer is best suited for your project. Here are different types of Shopify developers to look for:
The cost of hiring a Shopify developer varies significantly. It mainly depends on whether you are working with a freelancer or an agency.
Freelance Shopify developers charge based on their industry experience and the number of projects completed. Here is what you can expect:
If you have a large project, working with a Shopify eCommerce development company is often helpful. They offer a whole team of experts: a back-end developer, a front-end developer, a tester, and a project manager.
Here are standard agency hourly rates:
The hourly rates will also vary by region. The following are hourly rates charged by Shopify professionals in different regions:
| Region | Entry-Level | Mid-Level | Senior-Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| North America (USA, Canada) | $50 – $75 | $80 – $120 | $120 – $150 |
| Western Europe (UK, Germany, France) | $40 – $65 | $70 – $110 | $110 – $140 |
| Australia & New Zealand | $35 – $60 | $65 – $110 | $110 – $135 |
| Eastern Europe (Poland, Ukraine, Romania) | $20 – $35 | $40 – $65 | $65 – $95 |
| South Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh) | $15 – $30 | $35 – $55 | $55 – $90 |
| Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, Argentina) | $25 – $40 | $45 – $70 | $70 – $100 |
If your project has a fixed or limited scope, a project-based collaboration is the best model to choose. Here, the price, project scope, and delivery date will be determined before the project starts.
Both freelancers and agencies will agree to work on a project-based model. However, the cost will vary here as well. Here are the estimated project costs you can expect:
Freelancers:
Agencies:
A project-based deal is best when you just need to get a store ready and don’t require upgrades for a long time. However, you should get your Shopify store audited every 3 or 6 months to prevent technical issues.
The above are some standard rates freelancers and agencies charge for Shopify development. There are numerous other factors that can affect your project’s final cost. Here are some of the major ones:
The Shopify developer’s level of experience and expertise will determine the final output. Look for developers who stay up to date with the latest trends and advancements. Their experience can help you avoid costly development mistakes and improve store performance.
While senior developers charge higher, hiring them will help avoid costly mistakes in the long run. You can rest assured that your project is in safe hands.
A basic Shopify store will cost you less than a custom build or a headless setup. The more complex the project, the more costs are involved.
A complex project will require you to hire a senior developer, and it will take more time and effort as well. If you want a headless setup or third-party integrations, it can increase the costs.
If you are migrating your store to Shopify and need data transfer for products, customer accounts, and order history, this will add to the total cost.
Ongoing maintenance and support can seem like an additional cost initially, but they will pay you off in the long run. Your developer will keep the store up to date with the latest software versions, fix bugs before they become major issues, and ensure security.
The development costs we discussed will help you build a store, but they don’t include hosting, domains, etc.
There are many other costs you should consider along with development:
Additionally, version updates, app maintenance, and security audits can require you to purchase more dev hours.
There can be some hidden costs that you won’t see coming. Here are tips to ensure you don’t end up overpaying:
1. Apps for Every Task:
Many Shopify store owners get multiple apps installed for different tasks. The subscription cost of these apps adds up, and there might also be app conflicts. In that case, you might need to hire a developer to solve the issues.
2. Unoptimized Code:
A wrong hire can cost you a lot. Suppose the developer/agency you hired didn’t optimize the code. Then, there are chances of your store getting crashed during high-traffic times like Black Friday sales.
If you paid the developer/agency for this kind of mess, you might need to hire someone else to solve the problem. This way, you will end up paying more than what you initially planned.
3. Delay Fees:
The longer you take to provide feedback or deliver content copy, the more cost you incur. It’s simple: Time is money. The freelancer/agency might move to another project while you are away, resulting in delays in project delivery.
Partnering with the right Shopify developer is crucial for project success. A skilled partner can help you with timely project completion and optimized store, but a wrong hire will result in a waste of time and money.
Keep these tips in mind while evaluating different partners:
Here are some additional tips to reduce the overall costs and save money:
Both freelancers and agencies bring their own benefits. Your choice should depend on the desired output, project scope, and most importantly, your budget.
Let’s go through a quick comparison of freelancers and agencies:
| Aspect | Freelancers | Agencies |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Low, flexible | High, premium |
| Best For | Startups, quick fixes | Enterprises, complex projects |
| Team Size | Individuals | Multiple Experts Working in Sync |
| Communication | Direct | Through a Project Manager |
| Skill Set | Specializes in 1-2 Areas | Diverse Range of Skills |
Now, here is a detailed comparison:
Two major advantages of working with freelancers are cost-effectiveness and flexibility. You can hire freelancers as per your needs. Plus, you will deal directly with the person working on the project, not any middleman. So, there will be no communication gap or unnecessary meeting loops.
However, freelancers can sometimes be a headache. Some will be unable to complete the project, yet will take it on. Some will work on many projects simultaneously, slowing the project down.
Working with an agency is best when you have a large project that requires diverse expertise. Agencies have a team of developers, designers, testers, and project managers. So you get a strong team with access to advanced systems.
On the other side, agencies usually have a higher overall cost, both in terms of money and time. They have multiple layers of communication and project completion, which can slow down the project.
Hiring a Shopify developer is an investment in your store’s success, not just an expense. The cost varies widely, from budget-friendly freelancers to premium agencies. The final cost depends on your project’s complexity, location, and the expertise you require.
While freelancers offer flexibility and lower rates, agencies bring a full team and robust processes. Always define your project scope, prioritize must-have features, and communicate your budget upfront to avoid hidden costs and delays.
If you want the right balance between cost, quality, and long-term value, BrainSpate is the right choice for your project. We have a large team of developers, specializing in different aspects of the Shopify platform. When you hire Shopify developers from our team at rates starting from $15 per hour, you get an expert team working on your project.
At BrainSpate, we offer Shopify developers for hire at rates ranging from $15 to $30 per hour. The final cost will depend on your project’s complexity and long-term commitment.
We offer various hiring models for Shopify developers:
Our team can also help you create a customized plan with affordable rates.
Our Shopify experts can handle any task from design & development to testing. Here are some top things we excel at:
The choice of hiring model depends on your business requirements. If you need flexibility and the need may arise in the future, choose hourly rates. And if the budget is limited and you need a fixed set of features, choose a project-based contract.