Shopify

Shopify is a hosted e-commerce platform. Products, orders, payments, shipping and the storefront run on one system, with hosting, security and updates handled by the provider.

Strengths: what it’s good at

• Reliable checkout: a fast, well-tested checkout with many payment methods.
• Low maintenance: no servers, no security patches, no plugin conflicts on the core.
• Apps: a large app store for reviews, subscriptions, marketing and integrations.
• Headless option: the storefront can also be built separately, with Shopify running the commerce in the background.

Limits: what to consider

Monthly fees and transaction costs add up, some apps charge separately, and the checkout can only be customised within the platform’s limits. Complex B2B processes may fit a specialised platform better.

Use: when I choose it

For D2C brands and small to mid-sized shops that want to sell without running technology, with a custom theme that fits the brand. For special requirements, a headless storefront with Astro or Next.js.