Build vs. Buy on Shopify
Build, buy, customize, or wait — decided with numbers. Capability-by-capability verdicts with honest 3-year cost math.
Custom wins on 3-year cost or fit — with maintenance counted honestly.
The app wins your scenario — we say so plainly.
Buy the app, build the glue: very often the honest mid-market answer.
Shopify is shipping this natively. Don't spend yet; we'll tell you when it flips.
Latest Decisions
Strapi vs. Shopify Metaobjects: Which Content Layer Wins?
WAITShopify metaobjects cover catalog content at no extra cost, up to 1,000,000 entries per definition (verified Sep 2026). Strapi wins past one storefront.
Content & Storefront
Recharge Alternatives: Build or Buy the Subscription Migration?
CUSTOMIZEBuy the destination subscription platform, build the migration glue (Deploi estimate, illustrative); Skio is Recharge-owned, so Skio-to-Recharge is same-vendor.
Subscriptions & Memberships
TaxJar vs. Vertex for Shopify Sales Tax: Which Lane Fits You?
BUYTaxJar beats Vertex for filing on top of Shopify Tax at 2–30 states, once new-customer availability is confirmed; Vertex only at enterprise complexity, by contract.
Trust, Legal & Compliance
Trustpilot vs. On-Site Reviews: Which Does a Shopify Store Need?
WAITTrustpilot vs. on-site reviews is a WAIT on Trustpilot for product reviews: Judge.me covers product pages from a free plan; Trustpilot sells company trust yearly.
Reviews & UGC
Veeqo vs. Shopify Shipping: Do You Need a Separate Label Tool?
WAITShopify Shipping covers Shopify-only stores with discounted labels in admin; Veeqo, free to install and Amazon-owned, wins for multi-channel sellers.
Shipping, Delivery & Fulfillment
Yotpo vs. Bazaarvoice on Shopify: Which Reviews Suite Wins?
BUYYotpo wins for Shopify-first brands on a published tier ladder; Bazaarvoice fits an existing enterprise UGC contract; above ~$50M, mirror reviews into metaobjects.
Reviews & UGC
Yotpo vs. Stamped on Shopify: Which Reviews App Wins?
BUYYotpo wins above ~5,000 orders a month on a published ladder (free to $15–$1068/mo, verified Sep 2026); Stamped wins below it when reviews and loyalty share a bill.
Reviews & UGC
Yotpo vs. Trustpilot on Shopify: Which Reviews Platform Wins?
BUYYotpo wins Shopify product reviews on a published $15–$1068/mo ladder; Trustpilot is a separate company-trust job at $1,188 / year, annual only (verified Sep 2026).
Reviews & UGC
Affiliate Network or In-House Program: Build or Buy on Shopify?
CUSTOMIZEAn in-house affiliate program wins when you recruit creators and customers yourself; a network earns its fee only when publisher reach is the growth lever.
Loyalty, Referrals & Retention
Affirm vs. Afterpay on Shopify: Which Installment Add-On Wins?
WAITAfterpay wins the head-to-head as the one distinct network worth adding; Shop Pay Installments already runs on Affirm for most US, Canada and UK stores.
Checkout & Conversion