Briefly: Choosing an e-commerce script is a decision about whether the store will run on a rented platform or the business’s own hosting. WooCommerce is open-source; the code and data stay with the business, and maintenance is required in return. ikas, Ticimax, IdeaSoft, T-Soft, and Shopify use package or subscription models; servers and updates are handled by the provider. A ready-made platform is a better fit for a store with few products and no technical support; WooCommerce better suits a store wanting content and customization.
The infrastructure decision determines more than the cost on setup day. This choice also shapes the renewal fee payable three years later, how far the design can be changed, and where product and customer data can be moved when a platform change is desired. Below, WooCommerce running on WordPress, domestic SaaS platforms (ikas, Ticimax, IdeaSoft, T-Soft), and Shopify are compared side by side by pricing model, code access, and data portability. Platform information was checked on each company’s own official pages on 26.09.2026; because amounts change frequently, the model is explained instead of figures.
The author of this article, Onur Freelance, builds WooCommerce-based stores for clients. This perspective is not hidden; situations where a ready-made platform is the more appropriate choice are also stated clearly in a separate section.
Video transcript
Which e-commerce script should you choose? First, decide whether the store will run on a rented platform or the business’s own hosting. With open-source WooCommerce, the code and data remain with the business, and maintenance is required in return. With ready-made platforms, the technical burden belongs to the provider; design stays within the platform’s limits, and the store does not remain live if the subscription is not renewed. A ready-made platform suits a store with few products that wants to start quickly and has nobody to handle technical monitoring. If blog content, custom product configurations, and full access are wanted, WooCommerce stands out. For a fair comparison, look at the three-year total rather than the first-year promotion: platform and renewal fees, payment processing rates, themes and plugins, maintenance and support. Common mistakes: deciding by promotional pricing, unlicensed scripts distributed free, failing to ask about data export, and failing to redirect old addresses with three hundred and one redirects when changing platforms. The platform comparison table and questions to ask are on the page. You can write on WhatsApp about infrastructure suitable for the store. Onur Freelance dot com.
Let us identify suitable infrastructure for your store together
When a few details such as product count, intended payment and shipping companies, and who will use the panel are shared, a free initial assessment is carried out through WhatsApp. If WooCommerce does not fit the project, this is also stated openly in the discussion.
What is an e-commerce script? Rented versus owned infrastructure
An e-commerce script is software providing ready-made online store functions such as a product catalog, cart, checkout, order tracking, and customer accounts. This software is offered in two main models: open-source software installed on the business’s own hosting account and SaaS (software as a service) platforms used by subscription on the provider’s servers. The options in this comparison fall into four groups:
- Self-hosted open-source: Such as WooCommerce; files and the database reside in the business’s hosting account, and responsibility for updates belongs to the business or its developer.
- Domestic SaaS platforms: ikas, Ticimax, IdeaSoft, and T-Soft; server and software updates are handled by the provider, and the store owner pays a package fee.
- Global SaaS: Shopify; runs on a dollar-denominated subscription, with additional functions added through app integrations.
- Custom software and marketplace systems: Structures developed specifically for a business or designed to bring multiple sellers together on the same website.
The difference between renting and owning is felt over years rather than in the first month. In the SaaS model, the technical burden belongs to the provider; in return, design and features remain within the platform’s permitted limits, and the store cannot stay live when the subscription is not renewed. In the open-source model, freedom increases, but responsibility for backups, updates, and security monitoring also passes to the business.
WooCommerce: An open-source store on WordPress
WooCommerce is an open-source e-commerce plugin installed on WordPress; its core is free, and no monthly fee is paid to the platform itself. The official plugin page on WordPress.org emphasizes that the open-source structure provides lasting ownership over store content and data. Costs arise from other items: hosting, a domain name, paid themes or plugins if needed, setup work, and maintenance.
The biggest practical advantage is managing corporate pages, blog posts, and products in the same panel. Every line of code, including theme and plugin files, is accessible; products can also be imported and exported using WooCommerce’s built-in CSV tool. The weak point is the need for maintenance: as the number of plugins grows, update compatibility, backups, and security monitoring become regular work. For a business without technical staff, this means WooCommerce should not be recommended without maintenance support.
As an example, Mirzade Baklavaları’s WooCommerce store can be examined. Because baklava is sold by weight or tray, products were configured with variations; quantities are selected on the product page, while the cash-on-delivery option is stated in the category boxes on the homepage. In an open-source structure, this kind of sales-unit configuration can be created through the panel or code.
Onur Freelance builds e-commerce websites with WooCommerce. Package prices start from 24,000 TL; monthly maintenance is optional and ranges from 500 to 2,000 TL. Domain and hosting registration are also made directly in the business’s name. The package’s scope is detailed on the e-commerce website development page.
Domestic ready-made platforms: ikas, Ticimax, IdeaSoft, and T-Soft
All four e-commerce platforms use the SaaS model: servers and software updates belong to the provider, while the store owner manages products, orders, and campaigns through the panel. Differences emerge in package structure, free starting options, and integration scope. The information below was obtained from each company’s official package page as of 26.09.2026; since promotions and amounts change frequently, the current page should be checked before deciding.
ikas
ikas offers a free starting package (Start) alongside paid subscription packages; the official pricing page shows the Start package with a limit of 100 products (as of 26.09.2026, official pricing page). Alongside a ready-made virtual POS option, the ability to connect an existing bank POS is also listed. Design is handled through a drag-and-drop theme editor, and migration support from other platforms is stated to be available.
Ticimax
Ticimax packages are sold on an annual license basis. According to the official frequently asked questions section, no commission is taken on sales; the amount paid consists of the package price and annual renewal fee. Products can be bulk uploaded through Excel and exported back to Excel; higher packages list Trendyol, Hepsiburada, and n11 integrations, and there is also a separate “Custom-Made” solution for brand-specific development.
IdeaSoft
According to the frequently asked questions on IdeaSoft’s official package page, no commission is requested on sales through the website, and the package fee is defined as the only amount payable. The same section states that domain name, hosting, and SSL are included in the package fee, and software updates are free and automatic throughout use. Products can be bulk uploaded through Excel and XML, and demo versions of the packages can be examined before purchase.
T-Soft
T-Soft offers separate package groups for beginners, small and medium-sized businesses, and large businesses. The official package page states that no commission is charged on orders and the SSL certificate is free. ERP, marketplace, logistics, and payment integrations are collected under a separate solutions heading; a B2B system for dealer sales and a free demo request form are also available.
What all four platforms have in common is that the software’s core code remains with the provider. Design is changed through theme and page editing tools; if a design outside the template is wanted, some providers offer this as a separate service. The expression “no commission on sales” also refers to the platform’s own share; the transaction rate charged by the virtual POS or payment institution is a separate item and is shown separately on pricing pages.
Shopify: A global platform with a dollar-denominated subscription
Shopify is a global SaaS platform providing hosting and SSL certificates for added domains within the subscription. Its Turkish pricing page lists plans in US dollars, with monthly or annual payment options; a short free trial is available. The same page also states that an additional transaction fee applies according to the plan when a third-party payment provider is used instead of Shopify’s own payment system (as of 26.09.2026, official pricing page).
For themes, Shopify permits code-level changes. According to the Shopify Help Center, theme files contain HTML, CSS, JSON, and JavaScript alongside the Liquid templating language and can be changed through the code editor; editing a paid theme’s code requires purchasing the theme. Products can be exported as a CSV file. For a business in Turkey, two points need attention: the TL equivalent of dollar-denominated costs changes with the exchange rate, and local payment, shipping, and e-invoice integrations to be used should be checked beforehand on the app side.
Page contents
Comparison table: Model, code access, and data portability
The table summarizes information verified on official pages for e-commerce script options and qualitative differences inherent to each model. The note “ask the provider” means the relevant official page does not explicitly state the export scope; it is not a claim of a deficiency.
| Platform | Model | Code / theme access | Data portability | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WooCommerce | Open-source, free core; hosting, plugins, and setup separate | Full access to all files and the database | Built-in CSV product import/export; data on the business’s server | Stores wanting to grow through content, build custom configurations, and obtain maintenance support |
| ikas | SaaS; free starting package and paid subscription packages | Drag-and-drop theme editor; core code with the provider | Offers migration support; ask the provider about export scope | Small stores wanting to start quickly and test demand at low cost |
| Ticimax | SaaS; annual package and annual renewal, no sales commission | Ready-made themes, page design tool, optional custom design | Products can be exported to Excel | Businesses wanting marketplace and ERP integration in one panel |
| IdeaSoft | SaaS; package fee, domain name and hosting included | Theme store and panel tools; core code with the provider | Bulk import through Excel/XML; ask the provider about export scope | Businesses wanting no involvement with hosting or updates |
| T-Soft | SaaS; package groups by scale, no order commission | Ready-made and customizable themes; core code with the provider | Ask the provider about export scope | Companies needing B2B dealer sales and extensive integrations |
| Shopify | SaaS; dollar-denominated subscription, additional transaction fee for third-party payments | Theme code editable with Liquid, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript | Products can be exported as CSV | Brands wanting a global app ecosystem and able to manage dollar costs |
Let us weigh the uncertain points together
If you are undecided between two options in the table, let us assess them together based on product count, expected order volume, and the team’s technical situation. The proposal is prepared the same day; messages received between 09.00–21.00 are answered that day.
WooCommerce or ikas? Which makes more sense in which situation
The answer depends on the store’s scale and who will handle the panel and updates. Situations where ikas or a similar ready-made platform is more appropriate than WooCommerce are:
- The catalog is limited to a few dozen products, and sales need to begin quickly.
- Nobody on the team will monitor updates, backups, and plugin compatibility, and no maintenance service will be obtained.
- Demand for the product is to be tested first with a free or low-cost package.
- A ready-made theme is considered sufficient, and blogging and content production are not priorities in the near term.
WooCommerce stands out when organic traffic is targeted through category pages and blog content, when product configuration is nonstandard (personalized fields, dealer-specific prices, variations by sales unit), and when full access to code and the database is wanted. The pricing model also differs: instead of an annually renewed package fee, a setup project and optional monthly maintenance are paid for. The same question of ownership and portability for corporate websites is also addressed in the guide comparing WordPress and ready-made website builders.
The most instructive way to assess an e-commerce script candidate is to test two options with the same scenario. Entering a few products and following a test order end to end through payment, shipping, and invoicing shows more clearly than tables whether the panel suits the team. ikas’s free package, Ticimax’s free trial, and the demo options from IdeaSoft and T-Soft make this test possible.
A ready-made e-commerce website or a setup project? Calculating total cost
Ready-made e-commerce website packages have periodically renewed fees; setup projects such as WooCommerce have an initial project fee followed by hosting and optional maintenance. The fair way to compare the two models is to examine the three-year total rather than the first-year promotional price. The calculation can follow this order:
- Platform fee: Annual package and renewal fee or the setup project’s cost.
- Payment cost: The transaction rate of the virtual POS or payment institution; the additional transaction fee on Shopify if a third-party payment provider is used.
- Themes, plugins, and apps: Paid theme, plugin, or app subscriptions.
- Domain name and hosting: Included in some SaaS packages; separate items in self-hosted structures.
- Design and custom development: Every adaptation beyond the ready-made theme, product entry, and photography.
- Maintenance and support: Support within the SaaS package, update and backup services in an open-source structure.
How each item is calculated is explained separately in the cost of building an e-commerce website in 2026 guide. At Onur Freelance, WooCommerce setup is a project fee starting from 24,000 TL; if updates, backups, and security monitoring are wanted, these are undertaken within annual WordPress maintenance.
When does a custom script or marketplace software make sense?
E-commerce software written from scratch makes sense only when a business process cannot be met by a ready-made e-commerce script. Examples include two-way stock and price synchronization with ERP, dealer-specific account limits and price lists, or multistep product configurators. Cost and time increase significantly, and the system becomes dependent on the team that wrote it; transfer of source code, documentation, and server access must be stated in the contract.
Building a marketplace bringing multiple sellers together on one website is an entirely different project from a standard store. It requires layers such as a seller panel, settlement and commission calculations, and seller-specific separation of shipping and returns. Before taking this route, clarify whether the need is actually a multiseller structure or dealer sales; for dealer sales, ready-made modules such as T-Soft’s B2B system or a dealer configuration built on WooCommerce are often sufficient.
Selling on marketplaces such as Trendyol, Hepsiburada, or n11, however, is a sales channel choice rather than an infrastructure choice. A store with its own website can run these channels in parallel; Ticimax, IdeaSoft, and T-Soft offer marketplace integration under package or solution headings, while in WooCommerce this connection is established through a plugin or an external integration service.
Questions to ask before choosing an e-commerce script
Questions directed to the provider or developer who will carry out setup during the sales discussion prevent most later surprises. Obtaining written answers is also useful when changing platforms in the future:
- In what format and to what extent can product, customer, and order data be exported?
- Is a platform share taken from sales; is the virtual POS rate paid separately?
- Can the bank POS or payment institution you want to work with be connected to the system?
- Which package includes shipping, e-invoice, and e-Archive invoice integrations?
- Can titles, descriptions, URLs, and 301 redirects be edited on category and product pages?
- Are theme changes made through the panel, and is code-level intervention possible?
- How are contract duration, renewal conditions, and price updates determined?
- Are there package limits for product count, user count, or traffic?
Common mistakes in choosing infrastructure
Most mistakes in choosing an e-commerce script arise from making the decision based only on the storefront. The situations causing the most regret after setup are:
- Deciding based on the first-year promotion: When promotions such as “buy 2 years, get 1 free” end, the renewal fee takes effect; calculations should use the renewal price.
- Using unlicensed scripts distributed “free”: Copies with cracked license checks may contain malicious code and backdoors; this risk should not be taken on a website processing customer and payment data.
- Failing to ask about data export: Leaving a platform from which product and customer data cannot be exported means rebuilding the store almost from scratch.
- Overlooking the product limit: Some starting packages limit product additions; with variable products, this limit may be reached faster than expected.
- Accumulating plugins in WooCommerce without a maintenance plan: Every new plugin means update and compatibility monitoring; unnecessary plugins become speed and security problems.
- Failing to redirect during a platform change: If old product and category addresses are not connected to new addresses with 301 redirects, search visibility is harmed; the process is explained on the WordPress website migration page.
Let us clarify the plan before starting online sales
If you are considering a store from scratch or moving from a ready-made platform to WooCommerce, a short discussion with a product list and example websites you like is sufficient. When the scope is clear, the package, maintenance option, and schedule are brought together in one proposal.
The right e-commerce script is the option matching the store’s scale, the team’s time, and the preference about who keeps the data, rather than the one offering the most features. A ready-made platform is a reasonable first step for a business wanting to start quickly with few products; WooCommerce offers a more flexible foundation for a brand targeting growth through content and full control. Placing the same test order in trial versions of two candidates makes this decision clearer than any table.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Are an e-commerce script and an e-commerce platform the same thing?
In practice, yes; both terms are used for the software running an online store. The nuance lies in usage habits; “script” is preferred more for software installed on a server, while “platform” is preferred for subscription services.
Is WooCommerce completely free?
WooCommerce’s core plugin is free and open-source, with no monthly platform fee. Hosting, a domain name, paid themes and plugins if needed, and setup and maintenance work are separate cost items.
Do ikas, Ticimax, IdeaSoft, and T-Soft charge commission on sales?
Ticimax and IdeaSoft state in their official FAQs that they do not charge commission on sales, while T-Soft states on its official package page that there is no commission on orders. The virtual POS or payment institution’s transaction rate is always a separate item; platforms including ikas show ready-made POS rates separately on their pricing pages.
Why can Shopify costs vary?
Because Shopify plans are priced in US dollars, their TL equivalent changes with the exchange rate. In addition, an extra transaction fee applies according to the plan when a third-party payment provider is used instead of Shopify’s own payment system; paid apps can also increase monthly expenses.
Is it possible to move from a ready-made platform to WooCommerce?
Migration is possible if product and customer data can be exported; products can be imported using WooCommerce’s CSV tool. Redirecting old product and category addresses to new addresses with 301 redirects is an essential part of migration to preserve search visibility.
Which e-commerce platform is more suitable for a small business?
If the catalog is small and nobody on the team can handle technical monitoring, a free or entry-level ready-made platform package may be more practical. For small businesses wanting to grow through content, create custom product configurations, and keep data on their own server, WooCommerce with maintenance support is a strong option.
Does e-commerce infrastructure affect SEO?
It does; how much fields such as titles, descriptions, URL structure, 301 redirects, blogs, and structured data can be edited varies by platform. These areas should be tested before selection; no platform guarantees rankings on its own.
Which platform does Onur Freelance use to build e-commerce websites?
WordPress and WooCommerce are used; store setup starts from 24,000 TL, and optional monthly maintenance ranges from 500 to 2,000 TL. Domain and hosting registration are made in the business’s name, and the proposal is shared the day requirements are submitted.
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