HOD Media vs ShopifyBest Shopify Alternative for Indian Sellers
A side-by-side comparison of price, features, and India-specific capabilities.
Quick Answer
HOD Media is the most affordable Shopify alternative for Indian sellers — free for 3 months, no credit card, then ₹299/month (₹2,499/year), unlimited products, custom domain, free SSL, Razorpay/PayU/Cashfree, and 0% platform commission. Shopify's cheapest full-store plan (Basic) costs ₹1,994/month plus 18% GST and a ~2% per-sale transaction fee, since Shopify Payments isn't available in India. HOD Media is built India-first with native COD, UPI, and GST invoicing.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | HOD Media | Shopify Basic |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | ₹299/month | ₹1,994/month + 18% GST |
| Annual price (per month) | ₹208/month (₹2,499/year) | ~₹1,499/month + 18% GST (billed yearly) |
| Platform transaction fee | 0% | ~2.0% per sale (Shopify Payments not in India) |
| Unlimited products | ✓ | ✓ |
| Custom domain + SSL | ✓ included | Domain extra, SSL included |
| UPI / COD | ✓ native | Via payment app or gateway |
| GST invoicing | ✓ built-in | Via paid app |
| Indian payment gateways | Razorpay, PayU, Cashfree | Via Razorpay etc. (no Shopify Payments) |
| Extra apps needed | Not needed | Often ₹400–₹8,000/mo for India features |
| Support | WhatsApp + email | Chat / email |
Pricing compared April 2026; verify current rates on each provider's site. USD prices shown as approximate ₹ equivalent at time of verification.
~7×
More expensive
Shopify Basic (monthly) vs HOD Media
0%
Commission on HOD Media
Shopify adds ~2% per sale in India
Built-in
UPI, COD & GST
No paid apps needed with HOD Media
Which platform is right for you?
Choose HOD Media if…
- You're an Indian small or medium business selling in INR
- You want 0% commission and no per-sale fees
- You need native UPI, COD, and GST invoicing without extra apps
- Your budget is ₹299–₹2,499/year
- You want WhatsApp + email support in Hindi/English
Choose Shopify if…
- You need Shopify's large global app marketplace
- You sell internationally with multiple currencies
- You require specific enterprise integrations only on Shopify
- You need Shopify POS for a physical retail setup
- App ecosystem depth matters more than low cost
How to switch from Shopify to HOD Media
Migrating from Shopify is straightforward and usually takes a few hours for a small store — and done right, you keep your Google rankings:
- 1. Export your data — download products and customers from Shopify as CSV.
- 2. Import + theme — upload the catalogue into HOD Media and pick a mobile-ready theme.
- 3. Connect payments — add Razorpay/PayU/Cashfree and enable UPI + COD (partial-advance COD to cut RTO).
- 4. Move your domain — point your existing domain to the new store; free SSL provisions automatically. Add 301 redirects for any changed URLs.
- 5. Keep your SEO — resubmit your sitemap in Google Search Console so Google re-indexes on the same domain.
The result: the same professional, custom-domain store — without Shopify's ~₹1,994/month bill or the ~2% per-sale fee. For more, read the best Shopify alternative in India and the real cost to run an online store.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is HOD Media cheaper than Shopify in India?
Yes. HOD Media is free for the first 3 months (no credit card), then ₹299/month (or ₹2,499/year — ₹208/month). Shopify's cheapest real-store plan (Basic) is ₹1,994/month on monthly billing, plus 18% GST and a ~2% per-sale transaction fee because Shopify Payments is not available in India. At monthly rates, Shopify Basic is roughly 7× the cost of HOD Media.
Does HOD Media charge a transaction fee?
No. HOD Media has 0% platform commission on all plans. Your payment gateway (Razorpay, PayU, or Cashfree) charges its standard processing fee; HOD Media never takes a cut of your sales.
Can I use UPI and Cash on Delivery with HOD Media?
Yes. UPI and COD are natively supported on every HOD Media store — no third-party app required. Razorpay, PayU, and Cashfree are built-in payment gateway integrations.
Does HOD Media include GST invoicing?
Yes. CGST, SGST, and IGST invoicing is built into the platform on both plans. You do not need a paid app to handle Indian tax rules, unlike Shopify where GST invoicing typically requires a third-party app.
Can I use my own domain name with HOD Media?
Yes. The Online Store plan is free for the first 3 months (no credit card), then ₹299/month or ₹2,499/year — and includes a free custom domain connection and free SSL certificate.
When is Shopify a better choice than HOD Media?
Shopify is worth the higher cost if you need its large global app marketplace (thousands of integrations), sell internationally with multi-currency, or require specific enterprise features not yet available on HOD Media.
Start your store for ₹299/month
All features. 0% commission. No setup fee. Cancel anytime.
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