Build vs Shopify
The e-commerce platform. Easy, proven, transaction fees.
Strengths
- Easy to start
- Excellent checkout
- Huge app ecosystem
- Reliable
- Great mobile
Weaknesses
- Transaction fees
- Limited customization
- Template constraints
- Expensive at scale
Build / Vibe when...
- You're building a marketplace
- Unique business model
- Headless makes sense
Buy Shopify when...
- Standard e-commerce
- Speed matters
- You want proven checkout
- Apps/integrations matter
Our Verdict
Use Shopify for most e-commerce. The transaction fees pay for conversion optimization. Go headless (Shopify backend + custom frontend) for brand differentiation.