Ecommerce in Sri Lanka
Last updated: 26 August 2026 · Reviewed: 26 August 2026 · By: Alston Antony
All LKR figures verified 2026-08-27 against vendor pages.
For most Sri Lankan online stores, WooCommerce on WordPress with PayHere or WebXPay is the best value: full control, low ongoing cost, and clean native integration with local gateways. Shopify is easier to launch but costs more because Shopify Payments is not available in Sri Lanka, so Basic-tier merchants pay an extra 2 percent Shopify surcharge on every sale (checked 27 August 2026). Realistic starting budget for a working Sri Lankan store: LKR 150,000 to 400,000 for design and setup, plus LKR 30,000 to 100,000 in year-one running costs. WebsiteHosting.lk is an independent Sri Lankan guide to hosting, website cost, domains, builders and ecommerce.
The Sri Lankan ecommerce myth this hub argues against
Small-business advice online still tells Sri Lankan owners to "just launch on Shopify, it is the industry standard." Shopify is fine, but the standard advice ignores three Sri Lankan specifics: Shopify Payments is not available here, so Basic-tier stores pay an extra 2 percent on top of PayHere or WebXPay's own 2.69 to 3.30 percent, blended payment cost of goods sold lands at 4.7 to 5.3 percent, and USD billing runs a Sri Lankan card at a 3 percent FX markup on every monthly invoice. Same site on WooCommerce with PayHere directly integrated pays only the gateway fee. That difference is worth LKR 100,000 to 300,000 a year on a typical Sri Lankan store.
The ecommerce stack for Sri Lanka
WooCommerce on WordPress
WooCommerce is cheap, portable and integrates cleanly with PayHere, WebXPay and iPay through official plugins. It needs decent WordPress hosting from Hostinger, SiteGround or Cloudways and about an hour of maintenance a quarter. Year-one all-in cost: LKR 40,000 to 400,000.
Compare vs ShopifyShopify
Shopify is fastest to launch, smoothest to run, and has the biggest app ecosystem. Base cost USD 29 per month, plus a 2 percent Shopify surcharge on Basic because Shopify Payments is not available in Sri Lanka. Year-one landed cost: LKR 130,000 to 500,000.
Shopify in Sri LankaSri Lankan payment gateways at a glance
| Gateway | Good for | Setup | Fee band |
|---|---|---|---|
| PayHere | Most SMB stores | Easy | 3.30 percent (Lite, free monthly) to 2.69 percent (Premium, LKR 9,990/mo) |
| WebXPay | SMB and mid-market | Easy | LKR 10,000 to LKR 107,880 annual subscription plus per-transaction rate |
| iPay (Dialog) | Mobile-first buyers | Medium | Custom pricing |
| Sampath Vishwa | Established retailers | Medium | Bank-negotiated |
| Frimi | Wallet-first buyers | Medium | Merchant-negotiated |
| LankaBangla | Card processing for larger retailers | Medium | Bank-negotiated |
| Dialog eZ Cash | Micro-payments, mobile top-up | Medium | Per-transaction |
Fees are the vendor's own published rates on 27 August 2026. Foreign card surcharges of about 1 percent stack on the base rate on most Sri Lankan gateways.
What launching a Sri Lankan store actually costs
- Platform. WooCommerce (free plugin) or Shopify Basic at USD 29 per month.
- Hosting. LKR 800 to 5,000 per month for WooCommerce; included in the Shopify plan.
- Domain. LKR 3,500 to 6,500 per year for a .lk address.
- Theme and plugins. LKR 15,000 to 50,000 one-off if paid.
- Design and setup. LKR 150,000 to 900,000 depending on scope.
- Payment gateway. Setup fee and 2.5 to 3.5 percent per transaction plus LKR fixed.
- Shipping. Courier account with Domex, Aramex, Pronto or Ninja Van.
- Content. Product photos, descriptions, category structure.
Child guides under this hub
- How to start an online store in Sri Lanka - end-to-end launch guide.
- Payment gateways in Sri Lanka - PayHere, WebXPay, iPay, Frimi compared.
- Shopify vs WooCommerce for Sri Lanka - the head-to-head.
- Ecommerce website cost in Sri Lanka - budget ranges.
Get quotes for your ecommerce project
Tell us the product count, gateways and timeline and we will help you get comparable quotes.
Frequently asked questions
Which payment gateways actually work in Sri Lanka?
PayHere, WebXPay and iPay by Dialog are the three that run 90 percent of Sri Lankan online stores. Sampath Vishwa is used by established retailers with existing Sampath relationships. Frimi, LankaBangla and Dialog eZ Cash cover mobile wallet flows for a mobile-first buyer base. Stripe and Shopify Payments are not available to Sri Lanka-registered businesses.
Which platform is best for a Sri Lankan online store?
WooCommerce on WordPress wins on year-one cost and gateway fit for most Sri Lankan stores. Shopify wins on setup speed and reliability but adds a 2 percent Shopify surcharge on Basic-tier transactions in Sri Lanka because Shopify Payments is not available here. Full comparison sits on the shopify-vs-woocommerce page.
How much does an ecommerce site cost to build in Sri Lanka?
A functional Sri Lankan store with WooCommerce or Shopify costs LKR 150,000 to 400,000 to design and launch. Annual running cost runs LKR 30,000 to 100,000 for hosting, domain, gateway plan and small maintenance. Advanced custom stores run LKR 500,000 to over LKR 2,000,000.
Do I need business registration to sell online in Sri Lanka?
Registration is not strictly required to start selling, but PayHere, WebXPay and iPay all require a registered business and a matching bank account to activate a merchant account. Register the business before signing up for a gateway - the paperwork is the slow part of the launch.
Sources
- PayHere fee card — Lite 3.30 percent, Plus 2.99 percent at LKR 3,990/mo, Premium 2.69 percent at LKR 9,990/mo (checked 26 Aug 2026)
- WebXPay pricing — Starter LKR 10,000 for 12 months, Economy LKR 59,880 for 12 months (checked 26 Aug 2026)
- Shopify pricing — Basic USD 29, Grow USD 89, extra 2 percent on Basic when not using Shopify Payments (checked 26 Aug 2026)