No app stack tax
A typical Shopify store on Plus pays $300-800/mo across apps (Recharge, Klaviyo, Smile, Bold). Vertex's automation + subscription + loyalty layer is included from $9.99/mo.
Vertex Ordering vs Shopify
Shopify needs apps. Vertex needs nothing.
Shopify is a great storefront platform — but you'll add Recharge for subscriptions, Klaviyo for email, Bold for bundles, Smile for loyalty, Mailchimp for SMS, and Zapier for everything else. Vertex includes the equivalent of all of them in one platform.
Why teams switch
Native automation, not Zapier
Shopify Flow is restricted to Shopify Plus. Vertex includes our embedded Activepieces canvas on every paid plan, with 9,000+ integrations and no per-task fees.
Subscriptions without Recharge
Shopify subscriptions require a third-party app (Recharge takes 1-2% of every renewal). Vertex's subscription engine is native, with no per-transaction surcharge.
Built for commerce beyond ecommerce
Shopify is ecommerce-first. Vertex serves restaurants, services (bookings), retail (POS), and ecommerce on the same engine — without forcing each vertical into the others' shape.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Vertex Ordering | Shopify |
|---|---|---|
| Online storefront | ✓ | ✓ |
| Page builder | Native, drag-and-drop | Theme-based, code-required for major changes |
| Custom domains + SSL | Starter ($9.99/mo) | Basic ($29/mo) |
| Subscription billing | Native, no surcharge | Recharge add-on (1-2% per renewal) |
| Workflow automation | Native, 9,000+ apps | Shopify Flow (Plus only) or Zapier |
| Loyalty program | Native | Smile / Yotpo app ($49+/mo) |
| Bookings / appointments | Native | Not supported (app required) |
| Restaurant features (POS, KDS) | Native | Not supported |
| Payments processor | Stripe (pass-through) | Shopify Payments (+ 0.5-2% if you use external) |
Pricing at a glance
Vertex Ordering
- Starter $9.99/mo
- Growth $19.99/mo
- Scale $39.99/mo
Includes storefront, POS, bookings, subscriptions, automations, loyalty. Stripe pass-through processing.
Shopify
- Entry $29/mo (Basic)
- Mid $79/mo (Shopify)
- Top $299/mo (Advanced)
Shopify charges an additional 0.5-2% transaction fee if you use a payment processor other than Shopify Payments. Plus, typical Shopify stores spend $100-500/mo on apps. Vertex's flat monthly fee includes the equivalents of the most-used apps.
Vertex Ordering is the right call when…
- Multi-vertical businesses (e.g., restaurant + retail + DTC products)
- DTC brands tired of paying Recharge per-transaction fees on subscriptions
- Operators who want bookings, loyalty, and automations included
- Teams that don't want to manage 8+ apps just to run a store
Stick with Shopify when…
- Pure ecommerce stores at scale ($1M+ annual revenue) where Shopify's ecosystem depth pays off
- Stores that need a specific Shopify app with no equivalent integration on Vertex (e.g., advanced PIM, B2B Wholesale Channel)
- International businesses needing multi-currency / multi-language out of the box (Vertex i18n is on roadmap)
No platform is right for every business. We'd rather you pick the right one than churn out in 6 months.
Common questions
Can I migrate from Shopify to Vertex?
Yes. Products, customers, orders, and collections export via Shopify Admin → Settings → Apps → Bulk Export, and import into Vertex through our migration endpoint. Subscriptions on Recharge require manual recreation, but customer payment methods carry over through Stripe Customer Portal once both are connected.
What's the real cost difference?
A typical Shopify Plus store running Recharge ($499 base + 1.25%), Klaviyo ($150), Smile ($49), and Yotpo ($49) is paying $750+/mo before transactions. The same store on Vertex Scale is $39.99/mo. Stripe's pass-through processing applies in both cases.
Do I lose anything by switching?
Yes — Shopify's app ecosystem is the largest in commerce, and some niche apps don't have Vertex equivalents (yet). For 90% of stores, our native subscriptions + automations + bookings + loyalty cover what you need, but if you depend on a specific Shopify app, check our integrations directory first.
What about Shopify POS?
Vertex includes POS for restaurants, retail, and services natively. Hardware-wise, you'd use Stripe Terminal hardware instead of Shopify POS Go/Pro terminals.
See it for yourself.
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