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
Algolia vs. Typesense for Shopify Search: Which Engine Wins?
DEPENDSAlgolia wins as the vendor-maintained buy for 1K–100K SKU catalogs; Typesense has no Shopify app, so it's the build lane; native search covers under ~1K SKUs free.
Search & Discovery
Should You Build or Buy a Shopify App Stack Audit?
CUSTOMIZEAudit app spend on Shopify's bill, which itemizes charges but not ROI (verified Sep 2026), then replace widget-class apps with native features; Vitals under 10 apps.
Platform & Architecture
Avalara vs. Vertex for Shopify Sales Tax: Which Engine Fits?
WAITAvalara vs. Vertex is a WAIT for Shopify stores with nexus in 2–30 states: Shopify Tax plus a filing service covers it. Both engines quote-only (verified Sep 2026).
Trust, Legal & Compliance
Boomi vs. Workato for Shopify Integrations: Which iPaaS Wins?
CUSTOMIZECustom middleware wins for a single Shopify storefront under five integrations; Boomi wins ERP-anchored estates, Workato when automations span the whole business.
ERP, Accounting & Integrations
Brightpearl vs. Linnworks on Shopify: Which OMS Wins, If Any?
WAITNative orders and Flow cover single-brand stores; Brightpearl wins the head-to-head for retail-ops scope, Linnworks for marketplace-heavy sellers. Both quote-based.
Inventory & Operations
Brightpearl vs. NetSuite on Shopify: Which ERP Fits, and When?
DEPENDSBrightpearl vs. NetSuite on Shopify turns on finance scope: Brightpearl for single-entity retail ops, NetSuite for multi-entity books. Only Oracle lists prices.
ERP, Accounting & Integrations
Cin7 Core vs. Unleashed: Which Inventory System Wins?
BUYCin7 Core beats Unleashed on entry price and review record — $349–$1,199/month vs $399–$729 (verified Sep 2026). Native inventory covers the lane below.
Inventory & Operations
Contentful vs. Contentstack for Shopify: Which CMS Lane Wins?
WAITContentful vs. Contentstack is a WAIT for one Shopify storefront: metaobjects cover it. Both CMSs are quote-based; buy one only when several channels share content.
Content & Storefront
Contentful vs. Storyblok for Shopify: Which CMS Lane Wins?
WAITContentful vs. Storyblok is a WAIT for one Shopify storefront: metaobjects cover it. Storyblok wins the head-to-head on published pricing.
Content & Storefront
Contentful vs. Strapi for Shopify Content: Which CMS Lane Wins?
WAITMetaobjects cover one storefront free; Contentful wins the head-to-head for multi-site editorial teams, Strapi for dev benches that want to own the stack.
Content & Storefront