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Running your own website is no longer an optional step for cross-border sellers — it’s becoming a necessary path to build your brand and own customer data.
There are two main reasons for this:
Marketplace rules are getting stricter — account bans, traffic dependency, and rising commissions are common.
Cross-border eCommerce is still expanding, leaving room for independent stores to grow.
According to DHL (2025), 59% of global shoppers buy from retailers outside their home country, and 35% of them shop internationally at least once a month. The global cross-border eCommerce market is expected to reach USD 4.71 trillion by 2032.
Independent site ecosystems have matured — most platforms now cover the full process from website creation to payment and shipping. But don’t forget: building a site doesn’t replace operations. Website setup is just step one; the real costs are hidden in plugins, payment fees, servers, marketing, and maintenance.
In this guide, we’ll break down those “invisible costs” and compare 7 major website builders across 4–5 key dimensions. Finally, we’ll give platform recommendations for different seller types.
1. Technical Barrier — Can You Build a Site Without Knowing How to Code?
The technical threshold determines both your time cost and outsourcing budget. Choosing a low-barrier platform lets you focus more on products and traffic.
| Platform | SaaS/Open Source | Coding Knowledge Required | Visual Editor | Best For |
| Shopify | SaaS | Simple (no coding) | Yes (drag & drop) | Non-technical SMBs |
| Weebly | SaaS | Simple | Yes | Small startups, low budgets |
| OpenCart | Open source | Medium (requires setup/maintenance) | Theme editor available | Teams with some technical/hosting capability |
| Joomla | Open source (CMS) | High | Editable themes, but needs development | Technical or outsourced dev teams |
| Ueeshop | SaaS (China) | Simple | Yes (Chinese interface) | New sellers needing Chinese support |
| Shoplazza | SaaS (China) | Simple | Yes (multi-language) | Sellers targeting both domestic and overseas markets |
| Dedecms | Open source (China) | High | Needs custom dev | Teams used to local sites needing deep customization |
SaaS platforms (Shopify, Weebly, Ueeshop, Shoplazza) simplify servers, SSL, and updates — you can “move in” without coding.
Open-source platforms (OpenCart, Joomla, Dedecms) offer flexibility but require hosting, database management, and security maintenance — leading to ongoing time and money costs.
If you lack a tech team or want to test the market quickly, choose SaaS.
If you have stable developers or need high customization, open-source is worth the long-term investment.
2. Cost — Monthly Fees Aren’t the Whole Story
Monthly plans are just the visible costs. What really drains your budget are the ongoing operational expenses: plugins, hosting, payment fees, and maintenance.
Cost Breakdown
Setup Costs: Plan fees, templates, domain, SSL
Ongoing Costs: Plugin subscriptions (marketing, CRM, logistics), hosting (for open source), backups, and security
Hidden Costs: Payment fees, chargebacks, outsourced development, SEO/tracking tools, future migration fees
| Platform | Setup Example | Typical Monthly Ops | Hidden Cost Notes |
| Shopify | $29/mo (Basic) + paid themes $100+ | Plugins $10–$200/mo; 2.9%+$0.30 per transaction | Extra fee for non-Shopify Payments; plugin stacking increases cost |
| Weebly | $10–$26/mo | Fewer plugins, basic functions | Limited scalability and integrations |
| OpenCart | Free software + hosting $5–$50/mo | One-time or subscription plugins | Compatibility maintenance can be costly |
| Joomla | Free + hosting | High dev & plugin cost | More like enterprise-level customization |
| Ueeshop | From ¥5500/year + 0.2–0.5% commission | Many built-in features | Saves cost on communication and outsourcing |
| Shoplazza | From ¥28/mo + 0.2–2% commission | Functional bundle included | Localized payments and tools for CN sellers |
| Dedecms | Free system + dev/maintenance | Dev & maintenance dominate cost | Cheap at start, but long-term upkeep expensive |
SaaS platforms (Ueeshop, Shoplazza) integrate more native features, reducing plugin and communication costs.
Open-source platforms look cheaper upfront but eat budgets through long-term maintenance.
Always calculate Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) — including plugins, payment fees, and outsourcing — for 1–3 years, not just monthly rent.
3. Scalability — Will It Grow With Your Business?
Expansion determines whether your platform can support your growth — from testing to scaling.
| Feature | Shopify | Weebly | OpenCart | Joomla | Ueeshop | Shoplazza | Dedecms |
| Multi-language | Yes (plugins or native) | Limited | Via plugin | Via plugin | Built-in or plugin | Built-in | Custom |
| Multi-currency | Yes | Basic | Plugin | Plugin | Yes | Yes | Custom |
| B2B / Tiered Pricing | Via plugin / Shopify Plus | Weak | Plugin | Custom | B2B version | Plugin / enterprise | Custom |
| ERP/Logistics Integration | Wide 3rd-party support | Limited | Available | Available | Linked to CN ERP/logistics | Same | Custom |
Shopify: best ecosystem for extensions but costly over time.
Ueeshop/Shoplazza: smooth domestic integrations, great for sellers shipping from China.
Open-source: unlimited in theory, but requires developer resources and ongoing risk management.
If you plan to scale to multiple countries or add B2B, choose a platform with a mature ecosystem (Shopify, Shoplazza).
4. Customer Support — Who Helps When Things Go Wrong?
Good support reduces downtime and stress. For new sellers, Chinese-language support can be a huge relief.
| Platform | Support Language | Channels | Learning Resources | Local Activities |
| Shopify | Mainly English | 24/7 chat/email/phone | Docs + active community | Mostly via partners |
| Weebly | English | Online help | Basic tutorials | None |
| OpenCart | Community-driven | Forums | User support | None |
| Joomla | Community-driven | Docs & forums | Self-learning | None |
| Ueeshop | Chinese | WeChat/phone/chat | Tutorials, case studies | Offline salons & user days |
| Shoplazza | Chinese | Chat/support groups | Online academy | Local workshops |
| Dedecms | Chinese | Forums | Docs & groups | None |
When your ads are running but checkout fails, time zone delays can cost you hundreds.
Chinese SaaS (Ueeshop, Shoplazza) win in response time and communication.
Shopify has the richest community but requires English fluency.
5. Policy & Payment Risk — Independence ≠ No Risk
Even independent sites face payment risks — chargebacks, high-risk categories, and gateway restrictions.
| Platform | Payment Options | Risk Notes | Policy on High-Risk Niches |
| Shopify | Shopify Payments + Stripe/PayPal | Extra fees for non-native gateways | Strict on high-risk categories |
| Weebly | Stripe, Square | Follows gateway policies | Suitable for standard products |
| OpenCart | Custom gateways | Risk depends on provider | Flexible |
| Joomla | Same as OpenCart | Same | Same |
| Ueeshop | PayPal + CN/local gateways | Multi-channel reduces risk | More flexible, localized |
| Shoplazza | Local + international gateways | Dual-channel lowers risk | Relatively open (within law) |
| Dedecms | Custom integrations | You manage risk | Must ensure compliance |
If you sell standard goods (apparel, home goods, electronics), most platforms fit.
If you deal in high-risk or high-refund items, prioritize flexible payment options (Ueeshop, Shoplazza, OpenCart).
6. Recommendations by Seller Type
Beginners / Small Budget / No Tech Skills
→ Ueeshop or Shoplazza / Weebly
✅ Chinese support, built-in marketing tools, quick setup.
Targeting Western Markets, English Capable, Growth-Oriented
→ Shopify
✅ Global ecosystem, app marketplace, mature resources.
Have a Dev Team / Need Full Customization
→ WordPress + WooCommerce, OpenCart, Joomla, or Dedecms
✅ Total control, custom logic, but higher maintenance workload.
7. Open Source vs SaaS, Domestic vs International — How to Decide?
| Type | Pros | Cons | Best For |
| Open Source (WordPress, OpenCart, Joomla, Dedecms) | High flexibility, no platform lock-in, no commission | High maintenance, security burden | Technical teams, long-term branding |
| SaaS (Shopify, Weebly, Ueeshop, Shoplazza) | Fast launch, stable, secure | Limited customization, plugin costs | Small teams, growth phase |
| Foreign Platforms | Mature ecosystem, global payment coverage | Language barrier, payment onboarding hurdles | Sellers fluent in English |
| Domestic Platforms | Localized support, Chinese UI, domestic payments/logistics | Smaller global ecosystem | China-based sellers shipping overseas |
In short:
Want speed? → SaaS
Want control? → Open Source
Need localization? → Domestic SaaS
Targeting global market? → Shopify
8. Pre-Launch Checklist — Quantify Hidden Costs Before You Choose
To make a smart choice, calculate these 7 key items before committing:
Estimated annual order volume × payment fee = annual payment cost
Plugin budget (CRM, logistics, SEO, email, etc.)
Hosting/backup/security fees (for open source)
Outsourcing & customization costs (year 1–2)
Customer service time or outsourcing cost (for non-Chinese support)
Marketing/analytics tool subscriptions
Migration cost (if switching platforms later)
Add these together and compare across platforms. You’ll realize that the “cheapest” option often isn’t the cheapest in the long run.
Final Takeaway
There’s no perfect platform, only the one that fits your current stage and resources.
Choosing a platform is ultimately about resource allocation — time, money, and technical capability.
An independent website isn’t a cost-saving tool, it’s a brand-building asset.
Make sure every dollar you spend goes toward customer growth and retention — not invisible fees.
