Shopee and Lazada vs Shopify for Singapore sellers

Information checked as of 6 October 2026

Most Singapore sellers meet online selling through Shopee or Lazada. The shoppers are already there, the apps handle payment and delivery, and you can list a product in an afternoon. A Shopify store works the other way round. You own the storefront, the customer list and the brand, but every visitor has to be brought in by you. Neither is better in general. They suit different stages of a business, and many sellers end up running both.

This guide compares the two models for a Singapore seller: traffic, customer data and branding, fees, payouts, logistics, campaigns, and how to sell on both without double-selling stock. Shopee's and Lazada's seller centres, Shopify's Help Center and the Ministry of Home Affairs' marketplace safety pages are the sources throughout. We don't quote fee percentages, because both marketplaces change them several times a year. The fee pages are linked instead.

The short version

• Marketplaces sell you traffic. Shopee and Lazada bring buyers who are already searching. In return they set the rules, take fees on every order, and keep the customer relationship.
• Shopify sells you control. Your own domain, design, customer list and marketing. You pay a monthly plan and payment processing, and you find your own customers.
• Marketplace fees stack. Expect a category-based commission, a per-order transaction or payment fee, optional programme fees, and shipping. Check the Shopee seller fees page and Lazada's commission rate article in its Seller Center Help Center for current rates.
• You can't send marketplace buyers to your own shop. Shopee penalises phone numbers, emails and external links in shop descriptions. Lazada has an Off Platform Transactions Policy.
• You can sell on both. Shopify's own Marketplace Connect app doesn't support Shopee or Lazada, but third-party apps on the Shopify App Store sync products, stock and orders.
• A common path: test products on a marketplace, build a brand people search for by name, then open a Shopify store and keep the marketplace shop as a second channel.

Marketplace or your own store: what really changes

Traffic

This is the marketplaces' biggest advantage. Shoppers open the Shopee or Lazada app to search, so a new listing can sell on its first day without any marketing. On Shopify, nobody arrives until you send them, through search engines, social media, ads, email or word of mouth. If you have no audience yet, plan for that work before you open a store.

Marketplace traffic isn't free either. Your listings compete with every other seller of the same product, often side by side on price, and visibility depends on the platform's ranking, its ads products and its campaigns.

Customer data and the relationship

On a marketplace, the buyer is the platform's customer first. You get what you need to fulfil the order, and communication runs through the platform's chat. Both platforms tell buyers to stay on the app: the Ministry of Home Affairs' marketplace safety pages, written with information from the platforms, say Shopee encourages users to report sellers who ask to transact outside the app, and that Lazada's return policy and buyer protection don't cover transactions made off the platform.

Shopee spells out the seller side. Since April 2025, phone numbers, email addresses and links to other platforms or shops in a shop description count as "redirecting transactions away from Shopee", which earns penalty points after a warning. Its listing policy also says to remove personal contact information and links to external transaction platforms from listings. Lazada's Seller Center lists an Off Platform Transactions Policy under its fair trading policies. In practice, you can't use a marketplace shop to collect customers for your own store.

On Shopify, customer profiles sit in your admin, and you can export them to a CSV file. You still need consent before sending marketing, under the PDPA and Shopify's own rules. But the list is yours to use and keep, and it doesn't vanish if a platform changes its policies.

Branding and control

A marketplace shop is a page inside someone else's app, with limited room for design and storytelling. The platform also decides the return rules, the delivery options and the campaign calendar, and changes them when it chooses. A Shopify store is your own site on your own domain. You choose the theme, the checkout experience (within Shopify's limits), the return policy and the shipping rates.

Trust

Marketplaces lend you their trust. A first-time buyer who has never heard of you will still buy, because the platform holds the payment until delivery and handles disputes. On your own store you earn that trust yourself, through reviews, clear policies, recognisable payment methods and good service. In Singapore, that includes PayNow. Shopify Payments doesn't offer it, so see our PayNow and GrabPay guide.

Fees: how each model charges

The figures change often, so this section explains how fees are structured and links to where you can check them.

Shopee

Shopee's seller fees page lists four types of fee for local sellers in Singapore:

• Commission fees, a percentage that depends on product category and on whether you're a Shopee Mall seller. Shopee says they're GST-inclusive and calculated on the product price after seller-funded promotions.
• Transaction fees, charged on every successful order, whatever the payment method.
• Service fees, for sellers in optional programmes such as the Promo Xtra Programme (PXP), which replaced the Coins Cashback Programme in May 2026.
• Shipping fees, which depend on the logistics channel you use.

Shopee deducts fees automatically before the money reaches your Seller Balance. You can download the fee invoices under My Income > My Tax Invoices in Seller Centre, which your accountant will want if you're GST-registered. Shopee changed its commission rates on 1 January 2026 and again on 28 August 2026, so check the seller fees page, its fee calculation example and the PXP service fee page before you price anything.

Lazada

Lazada charges a commission set by product category, with separate rate cards for Marketplace and LazMall sellers, and a payment fee on every successful transaction. Lazada publishes both in its Seller Center Help Center, in the "Lazada Commission Rate" and "What is Payment Fee?" articles. The commission article was last updated in August 2026. Shipping fees and any programmes or campaigns you join come on top. Fees are deducted from your payout and shown under Finance in Seller Center.

New-seller waivers

Both marketplaces currently advertise an introductory commission waiver for eligible new sellers: Shopee on its seller fees page, Lazada on Lazada University. The waivers cover commission only, not transaction, payment or shipping fees. The terms change, so read them when you sign up, and don't price your products on the assumption that the waiver lasts.

Shopify

Shopify charges a monthly subscription plus payment processing on each order, with rates that depend on your plan. Apps, a theme and a domain may add to that. If you use a third-party payment provider instead of Shopify Payments, Shopify may also charge a transaction fee. See Shopify's Singapore pricing page for current figures.

Comparing them honestly

The two cost structures have a different shape. Marketplace costs rise with every sale. Shopify's costs are mostly fixed, plus processing, which is why a store gets relatively cheaper as sales grow. The cost that's easy to forget with Shopify is marketing. Paying to bring in traffic can cost more than a marketplace commission, especially at the start. Work out your margin per order on each channel, including ads and vouchers, rather than comparing headline percentages.

Getting paid

• Shopee holds payment in escrow until the order is complete. Its seller guide says earnings reach your Seller Balance within 15 days after the order is deemed delivered, usually within 7 days of delivery if you used a Shopee-integrated courier. With a non-integrated courier it can take up to 23 days from ship-out. You then withdraw to your bank account manually or automatically.
• Lazada also holds the money first. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs' marketplace safety page, Lazada releases payment to the seller when the buyer confirms receipt or when the confirmation period ends: 7 calendar days for non-LazMall orders and 30 days for LazMall orders. Payouts and deductions then appear on your account statements in Seller Center.
• Shopify Payments doesn't wait for delivery. Shopify says the minimum settlement time in Singapore is 4 business days, longer for new stores at first, and you can choose daily, weekly or monthly payouts in SGD. Banks typically take another 24 to 72 hours to show the money. If you take PayNow through another provider, its payouts follow that provider's schedule.

For cash flow, the difference matters. Marketplace money arrives after delivery and the return window, while card payments on your own store settle sooner. On the other hand, refunds, chargebacks and disputes on your own store are yours to handle.

Logistics

Shopee and Lazada shipping

Marketplaces want you to use their integrated couriers, because tracking then flows into their app automatically. Shopee's integrated partners in Singapore are listed as Shopee Express (SPX), Ninja Van, uParcel and STO Express. You arrange each shipment in Seller Centre, then drop the parcel off or book a pick-up. Shopee says non-integrated channels, such as your own delivery fleet, are for special cases like chilled goods, items that need installation, or vouchers, and it removes them from listings that qualify for integrated shipping.

Lazada works similarly. Seller guides from BigSeller and OneCart describe Lazada assigning a delivery provider to your shop, with drop-off or pick-up arranged from Seller Center. Lazada also runs a fulfilment service, Fulfilment by Lazada, where you send stock to its warehouse. Check the current options in your Seller Center, because they vary by seller and product size.

Shipping fees on both platforms are deducted from your payout. Returns follow the platform's rules, not yours. The Ministry of Home Affairs' pages say Shopee buyers can request a return or refund within its 15-day Shopee Guarantee period after delivery, and that Lazada accepts Change of Mind returns on items marked with its Change of Mind logo and covers the return shipping.

Shipping from your own store

On Shopify you pick the carriers, set the rates and write the return policy, within the limits of Singapore consumer law that our guide to returns, refunds and the Lemon Law explains. That's more work but also more freedom. You can offer same-day delivery, free shipping over a threshold, local pickup, or a flat rate to Malaysia. Our Singapore shipping guide covers carrier apps, zones and rates. If your rates depend on product type, destination and cart contents all at once, Giraffe Shipping lets you set those rules up in Shopify checkout without code.

Campaigns and promotions

Singapore marketplace selling runs to a calendar of big sale days. Shopee's fee pages refer to "Double-Digit" campaigns, the sales on dates like 9.9 and 11.11, alongside other monthly campaign days. Lazada University promotes new-seller benefits for your first Double Digit campaign. Taking part usually means funding discounts or vouchers, and some programmes cost extra: Shopee's PXP charges a higher service fee on orders during campaign spike periods, for example.

Campaigns can bring a lot of volume, but they make you dependent on the platform's calendar and pricing pressure. If most of your sales happen on campaign days, your margin is set by the campaign terms. On your own store you decide when to run a sale. The flip side is that you also have to supply the attention a campaign would have brought.

Selling on both

Running a Shopify store and a marketplace shop together is common. The hard part is keeping stock in sync so you don't sell the last unit twice.

• Shopify's own app doesn't cover them. Shopify Marketplace Connect connects to Amazon, eBay, Walmart and Target Plus (the last two in the US only). Shopee and Lazada aren't on its list.
• Third-party apps do. The Shopify App Store has several apps that sync products, stock and orders with Shopee and Lazada. Examples include Osco: Shopee, Lazada, TikTok, whose developer is based in Singapore, and Easy Shopee, Lazada & TikTok. Both listings describe product publishing, inventory sync and importing marketplace orders into Shopify. These are examples, not recommendations. Before you install, check the reviews, the pricing on the listing, and that the app supports the Singapore marketplaces you sell on.
• Price for each channel. Marketplace fees and vouchers mean the same price can earn you different margins. Several sync apps let you set different prices per marketplace.
• Start small. Sync a handful of products first and confirm that stock moves correctly in both directions before you connect your whole catalogue.

Our Shopify vs Etsy comparison covers the same marketplace-or-own-store question for craft and handmade sellers, and much of it applies here too.

When to start where

A marketplace first makes sense if you're testing whether a product sells at all, you sell commodity products that people search for by type rather than by brand, you have no audience or marketing budget yet, or you want the platform to handle payment, delivery and buyer trust while you learn.

Shopify first makes sense if you already have an audience, such as Instagram or TikTok followers, a mailing list or a physical shop, if your brand and presentation are part of what you sell, if you sell products marketplaces restrict or handle poorly, or if you want direct relationships with repeat customers.

Both makes sense once you have steady sales and enough stock and time to run two channels well. Marketplaces bring discovery, and your own store brings repeat buyers and margin.

Whichever you choose, the paperwork is similar. Both marketplaces verify seller identity against government records such as NRIC or ACRA details before you can sell, and the same income tax and GST rules apply to your sales wherever they happen.

A sensible path from marketplace to your own store

1. Prove the product on a marketplace. Learn which products, prices and photos sell, and what customers ask about.
2. Build a brand people can find without the app. Use a consistent shop name and packaging, and grow social accounts that you own. Keep within each platform's rules about contact details and off-platform transactions.
3. Open a Shopify store for the people who already look for you. Start with your best sellers, a clear return policy, PayNow as well as cards, and shipping rates that compete with marketplace delivery.
4. Connect the channels. Use a sync app so stock stays accurate, and give your own store a reason to exist: bundles, full product ranges, loyalty perks, or better service.
5. Grow your own channel deliberately. Use search engines, email marketing to customers who opted in on your store, and social media. Over time, the marketplace becomes one channel among several rather than the whole business.
6. Look beyond Singapore when you're ready. Shopee and Lazada run separate country sites. With Shopify, one store can sell to several countries, as our guide to selling to Malaysia and Indonesia with Shopify Markets explains.

FAQ

Is it cheaper to sell on Shopee and Lazada or on Shopify?

It depends on your volume and how you get customers. Shopee and Lazada charge per order: a category-based commission, a transaction or payment fee, plus shipping and any programme fees. Shopify charges a monthly plan plus payment processing, but you pay to bring in your own traffic. Compare your margin per order on each channel, including ads and vouchers, using the current fee pages rather than headline rates.

Can I put my Shopify store link in my Shopee or Lazada shop?

Generally no. Shopee treats phone numbers, email addresses and links to other platforms or shops in a shop description as redirecting transactions away from Shopee, which earns penalty points after a warning. Its listing policy also says to remove personal contact details and links to external transaction platforms. Lazada has an Off Platform Transactions Policy. Build a brand people search for by name instead.

Can Shopify sync with Shopee and Lazada?

Not with Shopify's own Marketplace Connect app, which supports Amazon, eBay, Walmart and Target Plus. Third-party apps on the Shopify App Store, such as Osco and Easy Shopee, Lazada & TikTok, sync products, inventory and orders with Shopee and Lazada. Check reviews, pricing and Singapore support before you install one.

How quickly do Shopee, Lazada and Shopify pay sellers in Singapore?

Shopee credits earnings to your Seller Balance after the order is complete, usually within 7 days of delivery with an integrated courier and up to 23 days from ship-out with a non-integrated one. Lazada releases payment when the buyer confirms receipt or the confirmation period ends. Shopify Payments has a minimum settlement time of 4 business days in Singapore, with daily, weekly or monthly payouts.

Should I start on a marketplace or with my own Shopify store?

Start on a marketplace if you're testing products, have no audience yet, or sell items people search for by type. Start with Shopify if you already have followers, a mailing list or a shop, or if your brand is part of what you sell. Many sellers run both once sales are steady, using a sync app to keep stock accurate.

If you're weighing up a store of your own, a Shopify trial lets you add your best-selling products, set up payments and shipping, and see what your own storefront looks like before you commit.

Start a Shopify trial →

References

Fees, policies and features change, so check the live page before you act on anything here.

1. About Commission, Service, and Transaction Fees, Shopee SG Seller Education Hub. Accessed 6 Oct 2026.
2. How are Commission, Service, and Transaction fees calculated?, Shopee SG Seller Education Hub. Accessed 6 Oct 2026.
3. Promo Xtra Programme (PXP) Service Fees, Shopee SG Seller Education Hub. Accessed 6 Oct 2026.
4. 2026 Platform Updates (Aug 2026), Shopee SG Seller Education Hub. Accessed 6 Oct 2026.
5. About My Income, Shopee SG Seller Education Hub. Accessed 6 Oct 2026.
6. Withdrawing your income, Shopee SG Seller Education Hub. Accessed 6 Oct 2026.
7. Introduction to Shopee Supported Logistics, Shopee SG Seller Education Hub. Accessed 6 Oct 2026.
8. Fulfilment policy for use of non-integrated channels, Shopee SG Seller Education Hub. Accessed 6 Oct 2026.
9. Improper shop information violation, Shopee SG Seller Education Hub. Accessed 6 Oct 2026.
10. Avoiding listing violations, Shopee SG Seller Education Hub. Accessed 6 Oct 2026.
11. Lazada Commission Rate, Lazada Seller Center Help Center (Singapore). Accessed 6 Oct 2026.
12. Off Platform Transactions Policy, Lazada Seller Center Help Center (Singapore). Accessed 6 Oct 2026.
13. Lazada University (new seller benefits), Lazada Singapore. Accessed 6 Oct 2026.
14. E-commerce Marketplace Transaction Safety Ratings: Shopee, Ministry of Home Affairs. Accessed 6 Oct 2026.
15. E-commerce Marketplace Transaction Safety Ratings: Lazada, Ministry of Home Affairs. Accessed 6 Oct 2026.
16. Basics of Processing Lazada Orders: New Seller Guide, BigSeller. Accessed 6 Oct 2026.
17. Lazada Seller Center Singapore: Fees, Setup & Tips, OneCart. Accessed 6 Oct 2026.
18. Lazada Seller Fees: Every Charge and When It Starts, OneCart. Accessed 6 Oct 2026.
19. Shopify Marketplace Connect app, Shopify Help Center. Accessed 6 Oct 2026.
20. Shopify Marketplace Connect, Shopify App Store. Accessed 6 Oct 2026.
21. Osco: Shopee, Lazada, TikTok, Shopify App Store. Accessed 6 Oct 2026.
22. Easy Shopee, Lazada & TikTok, Shopify App Store. Accessed 6 Oct 2026.
23. Payouts and settlement times with Shopify Payments in Singapore, Shopify Help Center. Accessed 6 Oct 2026.
24. Understanding Shopify Payments payout timing, Shopify Help Center. Accessed 6 Oct 2026.
25. Importing and exporting customer lists, Shopify Help Center. Accessed 6 Oct 2026.
26. Refunding orders, Shopify Help Center. Accessed 6 Oct 2026.
27. Pricing, Shopify Singapore. Accessed 6 Oct 2026.