The cost of an online store is the monthly plan, the card payment fees, and any extra features you need. Paid store plans usually start around AED 100 a month, with some features kept for higher plans. Dekkan Merchant is one plan at AED 39 a month with every feature included, less than half the usual price, and the first month is free.
What you pay for
When you compare platforms, do not look at the plan price alone. Add up everything you will pay each month:
- The monthly or yearly plan.
- Card payment fees on every order.
- Features that may need a higher plan or a paid app, such as coupons and reports.
- Your store design and your own domain.
- Delivery, which depends on the shipping company you choose.
The plan: look at the one you will actually need
The first price you see is often the lowest plan. Ask: does it cover the number of products you need? Does it include coupons, reports and customer management? If not, the real price is the price of the plan that does.
Paid plans on popular store platforms usually start around AED 100 a month. Dekkan Merchant is one plan at AED 39 a month, or AED 429 a year, with unlimited products and orders and 16 ready-made themes: less than half the usual price. Details are on the pricing page.
| Item | Typical store plan | Dekkan Merchant |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly plan | Around AED 100 | AED 39 |
| Per year | Around AED 1,200 | AED 429 paid yearly |
| Features | Some in higher plans | All in one plan |
| Products and orders | May be limited by plan | Unlimited |
| Cash on delivery fees | Some platforms charge one | None |
Payment fees: ask for the full number
Every order paid by card carries a processing fee, usually a percentage plus a fixed amount. Ask for the full amount taken from each order, and whether the platform adds its own fee on top of the payment gateway.
- Cards and Apple Pay on Dekkan Merchant: 3.5% + AED 1.10 per card transaction, available to UAE stores for now.
- Cash on delivery: no payment fee.
- Bank transfer: the money goes straight to your account.
Full details are on the fees page.
Features: what is included and what costs extra
Some features may come with a higher plan or as an add-on app with its own subscription, so add up their prices before you compare. On Dekkan Merchant all of this is in the same plan:
- Your own branded store and domain.
- Unlimited products and orders.
- Coupons, reports and customer management.
- The Dekkan Merchant app for iPhone and Android.
- Support on WhatsApp.
Questions to ask any platform before you choose
- What do I pay each month for a plan that has everything I need, not the lowest plan?
- How much is taken from each card order, with all fees included?
- Is there a limit on products or orders?
- Do I pay fees on cash on delivery orders?
- Can I cancel anytime?
Start at the lowest cost
Try Dekkan Merchant free for a full month with no credit card. Start with cash on delivery and bank transfer, and turn on cards as your store grows. If you are just starting, read how to start an online store from home and licences for selling online in the Gulf.
Frequently asked questions
Is the first month really free?
Yes. You start with no credit card and can cancel anytime.
Are there fees on cash on delivery orders?
No. Cash on delivery orders on Dekkan Merchant carry no payment fee.
Is there a limit on products or orders?
No. Products and orders are unlimited on the same plan.
Sources
Facts checked on
