It's a question we hear on every online shop project, and our answer sometimes surprises people: in the vast majority of cases, Shopify is the right choice. Here's how to decide.
What Shopify does very well
- Payments, security and hosting are handled for you, with no technical maintenance.
- Day-to-day running is simple: adding a product, tracking an order or creating a discount code takes just a few clicks.
- The app ecosystem covers most needs: customer reviews, emails, loyalty programmes, delivery.
For a straightforward catalogue, physical products and a standard buying journey, it's quick to launch and reliable.
When bespoke makes sense
- A configurable product: advanced personalisation, complex pricing, live preview.
- An unusual way of selling: quote-based sales, non-standard subscriptions, separate trade pricing.
- Deep integration with your management software or your production line.
- App fees that keep piling up until they cost more than a tailor-made tool.
How to decide
Ask yourself four questions:
- Is my buying journey standard? If so, Shopify.
- Do I want to run the shop myself day to day? Shopify is hard to beat on that front.
- Do I have a need that no app covers properly? Then bespoke may be worth it.
- What budget do I have for long-term maintenance? A bespoke build needs ongoing technical support.
What about design?
People often assume Shopify shops all look the same. They don't: with a custom-built theme, your shop can fully reflect your brand. What makes the difference is the work that goes into product pages, photos and the buying journey – not the platform.
During scoping, we'll tell you honestly what suits your project, even if the answer is the simplest option.
