Search & Discovery — Build vs. Buy
24 capability decisions in Search & Discovery, each scored across the 12-dimension TCC framework for a mid-market Shopify reference scenario.
Build or Buy Automated Collection Sorting on Shopify?
BUILDBuilding automated collection sorting wins for mid-market Shopify stores with a dev bench: a scheduled Admin API job replaces a sort-app subscription for good.
Search & Discovery
Build or Buy Search Analytics & Zero-Results Tracking on Shopify?
BUILDSearch analytics and zero-results tracking earns a lightweight build: an owned pipeline prices the gaps that Shopify's thin native reports only count.
Search & Discovery
Build or Buy a Spec Sheet and SDS Document Library on Shopify?
CUSTOMIZEEasify attaches files to product pages free; ResourceHub adds a searchable library on 17 reviews. Own the document model; build only for SDS revisions and gating.
Search & Discovery
Elasticsearch vs. Shopify Search & Discovery: Is Native Enough?
WAITElasticsearch is a WAIT under 10,000 SKUs: Search & Discovery is free with semantic search, synonyms and boosts. Elasticsearch earns its place for headless builds.
Search & Discovery
Klevu vs. Algolia for Shopify Search: Which Engine Wins?
BUYAlgolia beats Klevu as the buy for mid-size Shopify catalogs, free to start and usage-priced after; Klevu wins on fixed module pricing; native covers under ~1K SKUs.
Search & Discovery
Klevu vs. Shopify Search & Discovery: Is Native Enough?
WAITShopify Search & Discovery is free with semantic search, 1,000 synonyms and boosts (verified Sep 2026); Klevu's $649/month Site Search earns its place past 10K SKUs.
Search & Discovery
Should You Build Self-Hosted Search or Buy SaaS Search on Shopify?
BUYSelf-hosted search pays off only above ~100K SKUs or in search-led UX; for 1K–100K SKUs buy SaaS search via Algolia's app; under 1K SKUs native search is free.
Search & Discovery
Should You Build or Buy Filters & Faceted Navigation on Shopify?
CUSTOMIZEFilters and faceted navigation reward a CUSTOMIZE play: own the metafield schema, rent or use native rendering.
Search & Discovery
Should You Build or Buy Merchandising Rules on Shopify?
BUYMerchandising rules are a BUY once a merch team trades collections weekly.
Search & Discovery
Should You Build or Buy Site Search on Shopify?
DEPENDSSite search on Shopify splits by catalog size: native to ~1,000 SKUs, buy in the middle, build at big-catalog, search-led scale.
Search & Discovery