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Shopify
Plan 9
4 Sep 2026
5 min read

Shopify or Umbraco? The questions we ask first

Catalogue size, content depth and integrations: how we choose a platform in discovery.

Shopify
Sell or tell?

We build on both, so we have no reason to push one over the other. In discovery, a few questions usually settle it.

Are you mainly selling products or ideas?

If most revenue comes through a checkout, Shopify is hard to beat. Payments, tax, shipping, inventory and fraud checks are handled and kept up to date for you. If your site exists to inform, recruit, publish or generate leads, Umbraco gives you far more control over content and structure.

How big and complex is the catalogue?

Shopify handles large catalogues well, including variants and B2B pricing on its higher plans. Unusual product logic, such as configurators or quote-only products, can push us towards custom work.

How much content do you publish?

Shopify's content tools are fine for product stories and a blog. If you run several sites, languages, resource libraries or complex page layouts, Umbraco is the stronger editor.

What does it need to connect to?

Both integrate with CRMs, ERPs and marketing tools. Shopify does it through apps and APIs, Umbraco through custom .NET code, which suits organisations with bespoke systems.

Choose ShopifyCommerce is the core of the business and you want a proven checkout with low maintenance.
Choose UmbracoContent, membership or integrations are the core, and commerce is a smaller part.
Use bothUmbraco for content and Shopify for checkout, joined by APIs. More moving parts, but the best of each.

Still unsure? We'll talk it through with you in a discovery call.

Need a plan? Let's talk.

Tell us what you're building. We'll tell you honestly which platform fits.

Start a conversation →