Online store in Peru: complete guide to selling online in 2026

E-commerce in Peru has experienced unprecedented growth. According to the Peruvian Chamber of Electronic Commerce (CAPECE), Peruvian e-commerce moved over $12 billion in 2024 and continues to grow at double digits in 2026. If you still do not have your online store in Peru, this is the time to make the leap. Here is the most complete guide to start selling online.

The e-commerce landscape in Peru 2024-2026

Peru has over 24 million internet users, of whom approximately 18 million have already made an online purchase. The average purchase ticket has increased by 35% since 2023, and categories such as fashion, technology, food, and services lead sales. The pandemic accelerated digitalization, but the habit of buying online is here to stay. Today, 68% of Peruvians prefer to research online before buying, even if the final purchase is in a physical store.

Platforms to create your online store

Shopify

The world's most popular e-commerce platform. It offers an all-in-one solution with hosting, security, payment gateways, and an intuitive admin panel. Ideal if you want to launch quickly. Plans from $29/month. Drawback: transaction fees can add up if you do not use Shopify Payments (not available in Peru; you would use an external gateway).

WooCommerce + WordPress

The most flexible option if you already have a WordPress site. It is a free plugin that turns your website into an online store. You have full control over design, features, and data. It requires more technical configuration, but in the long run, it is more cost-effective and customizable. Ideal for medium-sized catalogs and businesses that want full integration with their corporate website.

Custom development

If your business requires unique features (marketplace, subscriptions, real-time quotation tools, integration with an existing ERP), custom e-commerce development with technologies like Next.js + Node.js is the best option. You have full control, maximum performance, and zero transaction fees. It is the recommended route for businesses projecting sales over $50,000 per month.

Payment gateways: how to collect payments in your Peruvian online store

Choosing the right payment gateway is critical for your conversion rate. Peruvians prefer payment methods they know and trust:

• Culqi: Excellent for getting started. Easy integration, competitive fees (3.5% + S/ 1 per transaction), accepts all cards. User-friendly panel and local support in Spanish. Ideal for SMEs.
• Niubiz (formerly VisaNet): The most robust gateway in the Peruvian market. Accepts all cards, has plugins for WooCommerce and Shopify, offers solutions for recurring payments. Better for medium and large businesses.
• Izipay: Another solid option from the Interbank group. Good integration with physical stores that also want to sell online.
• Stripe: Available for Peru since 2024. Ideal if you sell internationally. Standard global fees (2.9% + $0.30). Excellent development API for custom e-commerce.
• Yape and Plin: Essential. Over 15 million Peruvians use Yape. Integrating QR payments with Yape or Plin as a complementary option can increase your conversion by up to 20%.

Logistics and shipping for your online store

Logistics is the Achilles' heel of many e-commerce businesses in Peru. Define your shipping strategy: will you manage your own stock? Will you do dropshipping? Will you work with logistics operators? Some options include: Olva Courier, Shaloom, DHL (international), and delivery services like Rappi or PedidosYa for last-mile delivery. Offer real-time tracking and clearly communicate delivery times from checkout. Transparency reduces buyer anxiety and post-sale complaints.

E-commerce SEO: getting your products found

SEO for online stores has its particularities: optimize product titles and descriptions with purchase-intent keywords, implement product structured data (price, availability, ratings), create categories with useful content (buying guides, comparisons), optimize loading speed (slow stores lose 50% of buyers), and generate customer reviews and ratings (user-generated content is gold for SEO).