Shopify Plus vs. Custom Development: The Ultimate Comparison
Choosing the right e-commerce platform is one of the most important strategic decisions for your business. Shopify Plus offers a proven SaaS solution, while custom development with modern frameworks like Next.js promises maximum flexibility. In this article, we honestly analyze both options and help you make a decision.
Overview of Both Approaches
Shopify Plus (SaaS)
Hosted platform with everything included. You rent the infrastructure and extend it with apps and customizations.
- Monthly fees + transaction costs
- Maintenance by Shopify
- Large app library
- Limited flexibility
Custom Development
Custom build with technologies like Next.js, React, Supabase. Full control over every aspect.
- One-time development costs + hosting
- Own maintenance or agency
- 100% flexibility
- No vendor lock-in
Cost Comparison: 3-Year TCO
Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) over 3 years for a shop with €500K-2M annual revenue:
| Cost Factor | Shopify Plus | Custom (Next.js) |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Development | €15,000 - 40,000 | €40,000 - 100,000 |
| Platform Fees (3 years) | €72,000 - 108,000 | €0 |
| Transaction Fees (3 years)* | €15,000 - 60,000 | €0** |
| Apps & Integrations (3 years) | €10,000 - 30,000 | €3,000 - 10,000 |
| Hosting (3 years) | Included | €3,000 - 10,000 |
| Maintenance & Support (3 years) | €15,000 - 30,000 | €20,000 - 50,000 |
| 3-Year TCO | €127,000 - 268,000 | €66,000 - 170,000 |
* At 1% Shopify Payments surcharge on €500K-2M revenue/year | ** Only Stripe fees (~1.4% + €0.25), no additional platform fees
When Shopify Plus is the Right Choice
Ideal for:
- Fast Launch: Shop needs to be live in 4-8 weeks
- Standard Features: Classic product catalog, standard checkout
- Existing Ecosystem: Team already knows Shopify
- D2C Brands: Focus on marketing, not tech
- Multi-Channel: POS, Instagram Shop, TikTok Shop important
- Risk Minimization: No dependency on individual developers
When Custom Development Makes Sense
Ideal for:
- Complex Business Logic: Configurators, B2B pricing, custom subscription models
- Maximum Performance: Lighthouse 100, sub-second load times
- Internationalization: Multi-locale, multi-currency, complex tax logic
- No Platform Dependency: Long-term independence desired
- Special Integrations: ERP, PIM, CRM with deep integration
- Long-term Cost Optimization: No ongoing platform fees
The Hybrid Option: Shopify + Headless
An interesting middle ground: Headless Commerce with Shopify as backend. You use Shopify's Storefront API for products, orders, and checkout, but build your own frontend.
Headless Shopify: Advantages
- Shopify's robust backend (order management, shipping, payments)
- Full frontend freedom (Next.js, Hydrogen)
- Best performance possible
- App ecosystem still usable
But: Costs from both worlds – Shopify fees + development effort
Decision Matrix
| Criterion | Shopify Plus | Headless Shopify | Full Custom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time-to-Market | |||
| Long-term Costs | |||
| Flexibility | |||
| Performance | |||
| Easy Maintenance |
Our Recommendation
Choose Shopify Plus if...
...your revenue is under €5M/year, you have standard requirements, and want to launch quickly.
Choose Custom Development if...
...you think long-term, have unique requirements, or want to avoid platform fees as revenue grows.
Which Solution Fits You?
We analyze your requirements and provide honest recommendations – independent of platform partnerships.
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Martin Ogris
•Founder & CEOMartin Ogris is the founder of clickpuls and has been working in e-commerce for over 10 years. Together with his team, he helps companies optimize their online presence, automate processes, and achieve sustainable growth. His expertise includes shop systems like Shopify and WooCommerce, strategic consulting, and the integration of modern AI tools.