# Are there merchant-of-record providers besides Global-e and Flow Commerce that integrate with Shopify?

Reviewed by Martin Dejnicki, Director of SEO & AI Search · facts verified October 9, 2026 · canonical: https://deploi.ca/shopify/faq/merchant-of-record-alternatives-global-e-flow

## Short answer

ESW (a cross-border ecommerce company) and Reach act as merchant of record for Shopify stores outside Global-e, as of October 2026. ESW connects through three Shopify apps ([ESW's Shopify page](https://esw.com/esw-shopify-solution/)), and Reach through a custom app ([Reach's Shopify guide](https://docs.withreach.com/docs/shopify-getting-started)). Zonos isn't a cross-border merchant of record on Shopify, because Shopify doesn't support its checkout ([Zonos's checkout page](https://zonos.com/international-checkout), October 2026).

- **ESW on Shopify:** Merchant of record through three Shopify apps. Its public ESW International listing launched on 5 September 2025 and had no reviews in October 2026. ESW is a wholly owned subsidiary of Asendia, a La Poste and Swiss Post joint venture ([ESW, The ESW x Shopify Solution](https://esw.com/esw-shopify-solution/); [ESW, ESW International on the Shopify App Store](https://apps.shopify.com/esw-international); [ESW, About ESW](https://esw.com/about-the-company/))
- **Reach on Shopify:** Merchant of record through a custom app. A Reach representative sends the link to install a custom Reach data app, and Reach's disclaimer and terms must appear at checkout (October 2026) ([Reach developer docs, Getting started with Shopify](https://docs.withreach.com/docs/shopify-getting-started))
- **Zonos on Shopify:** Not a cross-border merchant of record. For US sales tax on Shopify, Zonos calls its role a "co-operator". Its Zonos Duty and Tax app costs from $2,500 a year, plus $2 an order and 10% of the duties, taxes and fees (October 2026) ([Zonos Docs, U.S. Sales Tax Solutions](https://zonos.com/docs/supply-chain/landed-cost/us-sales-tax); [Zonos, Zonos Duty and Tax on the Shopify App Store](https://apps.shopify.com/duty-and-tax-calculator-iglobal-stores))
- **Passport's owner:** Global-e, since July 2026. Global-e completed the purchase on 1 July 2026 and offers a non-merchant-of-record solution through Passport; Passport's own pages say it sells Seller of Record and Merchant of Record services ([Passport, IOR vs. MOR vs. SOR: Which Global Ecommerce Model Does Your Brand Need?](https://passportglobal.com/blog/ior-vs-mor-vs-sor-which-global-ecommerce-model-does-your-brand-need/); [Global-e investor relations, Global-e to Enhance Logistics Offering with Acquisition of Passport](https://investors.global-e.com/node/9066/pdf); [Global-e investor relations, Global-e Closes on Acquisition of Passport](https://investors.global-e.com/news-releases/news-release-details/global-e-closes-acquisition-passport-us-based-e-commerce))

## Deploi's call

The real shortlist beyond Shopify's Managed Markets is ESW (a cross-border ecommerce company), Reach and registering for tax yourself. Zonos belongs in a different column, because on Shopify it collects duties and remits tax without becoming the merchant of record for cross-border orders. Flow and Passport don't belong on the list: both are owned by Global-e, the merchant of record behind Managed Markets.

**WAIT: Stay on Managed Markets, Shopify's merchant-of-record service, when**

- Your business is eligible: based in the continental United States, or an eligible store in Canada or the United Kingdom ([Shopify Help Center](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/international/managed-markets/overview), October 2026).
- International sales are under roughly $2M a year or spread across many countries; Deploi's cross-border stack record scores that WAIT, the record's illustrative estimate ([Deploi decision record](https://deploi.ca/shopify/build-vs-buy/managed-markets-merchant-of-record), October 2026).

**DEPENDS: Price ESW, Reach, a direct Global-e contract or your own tax registrations when**

- You need [business-to-business (B2B) orders, which Managed Markets refuses](https://deploi.ca/shopify/faq/managed-markets-b2b-wholesale-or-dtc-only), subscriptions or several business entities in one store ([Shopify Help Center](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/international/managed-markets/requirements-and-considerations), October 2026).
- Your business is outside [the countries where Managed Markets is available](https://deploi.ca/shopify/faq/managed-markets-plus-only-or-advanced-plan).
- International sales pass roughly $2M a year in two to four markets, where the record scores your own stack CUSTOMIZE ([Deploi decision record](https://deploi.ca/shopify/build-vs-buy/managed-markets-merchant-of-record), October 2026).
- You also sell on marketplaces or other platforms. Deploi's Global-e vs. Managed Markets record scores a direct Global-e contract BUY there ([Deploi decision record](https://deploi.ca/shopify/build-vs-buy/global-e-vs-managed-markets), October 2026), so price it beside ESW and Reach.

## Which merchant-of-record providers outside Global-e work with Shopify?

ESW and Reach are merchant-of-record providers outside the Global-e group that document a Shopify integration, as of October 2026. Shopify defines a merchant of record as the legal entity that sells to the customer and follows local laws abroad ([Shopify Help Center](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/international/managed-markets/overview), October 2026). Shop for one only after [testing whether Managed Markets pays its way under $5M of international sales](https://deploi.ca/shopify/faq/managed-markets-worth-it-under-5m-international-sales), because both alternatives start with a sales conversation.

**ESW and Reach both sign as merchant of record for Shopify stores, connect in different ways and publish no price**

| Line | ESW | Reach |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Merchant-of-record claim | Merchant of record for your international transactions | Merchant of record; its disclaimer and terms show at checkout |
| How it connects to Shopify | Three Shopify apps; its public listing launched 5 September 2025, no reviews yet | A custom data app from a link Reach sends, plus Shopify Flow |
| Shopify Plus stores with several business entities | Not stated | Extra setup steps, one market per region |
| Owner | Asendia, owned by La Poste and Swiss Post | No parent named |
| Published price | None | None |

Sources: [ESW, The ESW x Shopify Solution](https://esw.com/esw-shopify-solution/); [ESW, ESW International on the Shopify App Store](https://apps.shopify.com/esw-international); [ESW, About ESW](https://esw.com/about-the-company/); [Reach, Reach for Shopify](https://www.withreach.com/partners/integrations/shopify); [Reach developer docs, Getting started with Shopify](https://docs.withreach.com/docs/shopify-getting-started); [Reach, The Team Behind Merchant of Record Infrastructure](https://www.withreach.com/company). Verified October 9, 2026.

ESW (owned by Asendia) says it handles tax, currency settlement, customs compliance and fraud on international orders ([ESW's Shopify page](https://esw.com/esw-shopify-solution/), [About ESW](https://esw.com/about-the-company/), October 2026). Reach calls itself "fully embedded within Shopify" ([Reach's Shopify page](https://www.withreach.com/partners/integrations/shopify)). So the difference is setup and ownership, not the role.

## Is Zonos a merchant of record on Shopify?

Zonos, a duty and tax software company, is not a cross-border merchant of record on Shopify. Zonos acts as merchant of record for US domestic orders through Zonos Checkout, and it says "Shopify does not support third-party checkout replacements" ([Zonos](https://zonos.com/international-checkout), October 2026). For US sales tax on Shopify, Zonos describes its role as a "co-operator", where "the merchant handles their own payment processing" ([Zonos Docs](https://zonos.com/docs/supply-chain/landed-cost/us-sales-tax), October 2026). The same page offers merchant-of-record tax services for US sales tax on Shopify as "an opt-in".

What Zonos sells on Shopify is the Zonos Duty and Tax app. It costs from $2,500 a year, plus $2 an order and 10% of the duties, taxes and fees, and Zonos says it remits value-added tax (VAT) for you ([Zonos Duty and Tax listing](https://apps.shopify.com/duty-and-tax-calculator-iglobal-stores), October 2026). Deploi's Zonos vs. Managed Markets record reads Zonos the same way: it "keeps your company as seller of record" ([Deploi decision record](https://deploi.ca/shopify/build-vs-buy/zonos-vs-managed-markets), October 2026). So file Zonos under duty and tax tooling, not under merchants of record.

## Which shortlisted names now belong to Global-e?

Passport, a cross-border shipping company, and Flow Commerce, a cross-border software company, both belong to Global-e, the merchant of record behind Shopify's Managed Markets. Global-e agreed in May 2026 to pay $350 million upfront ([Global-e's May release](https://investors.global-e.com/node/9066/pdf)) and completed the purchase on 1 July 2026 ([Global-e's closing release](https://investors.global-e.com/news-releases/news-release-details/global-e-closes-acquisition-passport-us-based-e-commerce), October 2026). Global-e says it will provide "a non-Merchant of Record (non-MoR) solution" through the Passport brand, while Passport's own July 2026 post says it offers both Seller of Record and Merchant of Record services ([Passport](https://passportglobal.com/blog/ior-vs-mor-vs-sor-which-global-ecommerce-model-does-your-brand-need/), October 2026). Passport's Shopify App Store listing names no merchant, seller or importer of record ([Passport Shipping listing](https://apps.shopify.com/passport-intl-shipping), October 2026).

Flow Commerce has belonged to Global-e since January 2022 ([Global-e's Flow release](https://investors.global-e.com/news-releases/news-release-details/global-e-announces-closing-acquisition-flow-commerce-and), October 2026), so [Flow is not a real alternative to Managed Markets](https://deploi.ca/shopify/faq/flow-commerce-vs-managed-markets-global-e). A shortlist of Managed Markets, Passport and Flow therefore holds one company. That matters because concentration is the risk a second provider is meant to remove.

## What should you compare instead of star ratings?

Compare each provider with Shopify's Managed Markets on five contract terms, because star ratings and country counts say little about a merchant of record.

1. **Which company signs.** Managed Markets' merchant of record is the Global-e company for your store's country. US stores sign with Global-e US Inc. ([Global-e](https://s3.global-e.com/policies/shopify/ww-merchant-terms-v3.html), October 2026). Canadian stores sign with Global-e Canada E-Commerce Ltd. and Global-e Commerce Shipping Canada Inc., and UK stores with Globale U.K. Limited ([Global-e Canada terms](https://s3.global-e.com/policies/shopify/ww-merchant-terms-ca.html), [Global-e UK terms](https://s3.global-e.com/policies/shopify/ww-merchant-terms-uk.html), October 2026). Ask each alternative to name its contracting company in writing.
1. **The orders Managed Markets refuses.** Business-to-business (B2B) orders, subscriptions and several business entities in one store aren't supported ([Shopify Help Center](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/international/managed-markets/requirements-and-considerations), October 2026). Reach, a merchant-of-record provider, has extra setup steps for "Shopify Plus with multiple entities" ([Reach developer docs](https://docs.withreach.com/docs/shopify-getting-started), October 2026), so ask each provider about all three.
1. **Duty refunds on returns.** Managed Markets refunds no duties, customs fees or value-added tax (VAT) once an order is fulfilled ([Shopify Help Center](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/international/managed-markets/fulfillment), October 2026). Get each alternative's answer in writing.
1. **Who your team calls.** "All Managed Markets questions go to Shopify Support" ([Shopify Help Center](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/international/managed-markets/overview), October 2026). Ask each alternative where an escalation goes and how fast it answers.
1. **Exit.** Managed Markets can be ended "at any time" from the Shopify admin, with 30 days to cure a material breach either way ([Global-e](https://s3.global-e.com/policies/shopify/ww-merchant-terms-v3.html), October 2026). Ask each alternative for its exit terms.

## When should you not shop beyond Managed Markets?

Don't shop beyond Shopify's Managed Markets when it already fits, because every merchant-of-record provider outside Global-e starts with a sales process.

> **When not to shop for another merchant of record**
> - **When you're eligible for Managed Markets and your catalog clears its restricted list.** A published fee, an exit from the admin and one support line are worth real money against a contract you have to negotiate.
> - **When the fee is the only reason.** Shopify publishes 3.5% per transaction, or 3.25% on Shopify Plus, plus currency conversion ([Shopify](https://www.shopify.com/international/pricing), October 2026). The merchant-of-record providers outside Global-e publish no price, so you can't tell whether you're beating it until procurement.
> - **When you need a yes this quarter.** Setup with Reach, a merchant-of-record provider, runs through a Reach representative and a go-live call ([Reach developer docs](https://docs.withreach.com/docs/shopify-getting-started), October 2026).

*Providers' claims are quoted from their own pages as of October 2026 and are not independently audited. Merchant-of-record arrangements carry tax and legal consequences; take contract terms to counsel.*

## Deploi's point of view

**What we've seen.** Cross-border shortlists get assembled from comparison blog posts, which is how Flow survives on them nearly four years after the acquisition and how Zonos gets filed as a general merchant of record. Building the shortlist from each vendor's own terms page takes an afternoon and changes the list.

**Where we disagree.** Comparison content ranks these providers on star ratings and country counts. Both are close to meaningless here. A new listing has no reviews and a country count is a marketing number. The variables that decide the project are which entity signs, how duties are treated on returns, and where an escalation goes at 6pm on a Friday.

**What this page adds.** Which providers outside Global-e sign as merchant of record for Shopify stores and how each connects (ESW through three apps, Reach through a custom app); that Zonos is not a cross-border merchant of record on Shopify; that Passport joined Global-e in July 2026; and a five-point comparison built on the contracting company, refused order types, duty refunds, support route and exit.

## When this answer changes

- ESW or Reach publishes a price, or ESW's App Store listing collects its first reviews.
- Zonos Checkout becomes usable on Shopify, or Zonos extends its merchant-of-record role on Shopify beyond US sales tax.
- Global-e buys another cross-border provider, as it bought Flow in 2022 and Passport in July 2026.
- Shopify and Global-e renew or end the three-year agreement they announced on 14 May 2025.
- Managed Markets starts supporting business-to-business (B2B) orders, subscriptions or several business entities in one store.

## Sources

1. [ESW, The ESW x Shopify Solution](https://esw.com/esw-shopify-solution/), checked October 9, 2026
2. [ESW, ESW International on the Shopify App Store](https://apps.shopify.com/esw-international), checked October 9, 2026
3. [ESW, About ESW](https://esw.com/about-the-company/), checked October 9, 2026
4. [Reach, Reach for Shopify](https://www.withreach.com/partners/integrations/shopify), checked October 9, 2026
5. [Reach developer docs, Getting started with Shopify](https://docs.withreach.com/docs/shopify-getting-started), checked October 9, 2026
6. [Zonos, International Checkout Solution for Ecommerce](https://zonos.com/international-checkout), checked October 9, 2026
7. [Zonos Docs, U.S. Sales Tax Solutions](https://zonos.com/docs/supply-chain/landed-cost/us-sales-tax), checked October 9, 2026
8. [Zonos, Zonos Duty and Tax on the Shopify App Store](https://apps.shopify.com/duty-and-tax-calculator-iglobal-stores), checked October 9, 2026
9. [Passport, IOR vs. MOR vs. SOR: Which Global Ecommerce Model Does Your Brand Need?](https://passportglobal.com/blog/ior-vs-mor-vs-sor-which-global-ecommerce-model-does-your-brand-need/), checked October 9, 2026
10. [Global-e investor relations, Global-e to Enhance Logistics Offering with Acquisition of Passport](https://investors.global-e.com/node/9066/pdf), checked October 9, 2026
11. [Shopify Help Center, Overview of Managed Markets](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/international/managed-markets/overview), checked October 9, 2026
12. [Shopify Help Center, Requirements and considerations for using Managed Markets](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/international/managed-markets/requirements-and-considerations), checked October 9, 2026
13. [Shopify Help Center, Fulfilling and managing Managed Markets orders](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/international/managed-markets/fulfillment), checked October 9, 2026
14. [Global-e, Service Terms for Shopify Managed Markets](https://s3.global-e.com/policies/shopify/ww-merchant-terms-v3.html), checked October 9, 2026
15. [Shopify, Pricing for Shopify's international sales tools and Shopify Managed Markets](https://www.shopify.com/international/pricing), checked October 9, 2026
16. [Passport Global, Passport Shipping on the Shopify App Store](https://apps.shopify.com/passport-intl-shipping), checked October 9, 2026
17. [Global-e investor relations, Global-e Announces Closing of Acquisition of Flow Commerce and Expansion of its Leadership Team](https://investors.global-e.com/news-releases/news-release-details/global-e-announces-closing-acquisition-flow-commerce-and), checked October 9, 2026
18. [Reach, The Team Behind Merchant of Record Infrastructure](https://www.withreach.com/company), checked October 9, 2026
19. [Global-e investor relations, Global-e Closes on Acquisition of Passport](https://investors.global-e.com/news-releases/news-release-details/global-e-closes-acquisition-passport-us-based-e-commerce), checked October 9, 2026
20. [Global-e, Canadian Service Terms for Shopify Managed Markets](https://s3.global-e.com/policies/shopify/ww-merchant-terms-ca.html), checked October 9, 2026
21. [Global-e, UK Service Terms for Shopify Managed Markets](https://s3.global-e.com/policies/shopify/ww-merchant-terms-uk.html), checked October 9, 2026
22. [Deploi Build vs. Buy, Build Your Cross-Border Stack or Use Managed Markets on Shopify?](https://deploi.ca/shopify/build-vs-buy/managed-markets-merchant-of-record), checked October 9, 2026, Deploi research
23. [Deploi Build vs. Buy, Global-e vs. Managed Markets: Which Merchant of Record Fits?](https://deploi.ca/shopify/build-vs-buy/global-e-vs-managed-markets), checked October 9, 2026, Deploi research
24. [Deploi Build vs. Buy, Zonos vs. Managed Markets: Merchant of Record or Not?](https://deploi.ca/shopify/build-vs-buy/zonos-vs-managed-markets), checked October 9, 2026, Deploi research