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Shopify

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Strapi

Shopify vs Strapi

Shopify vs Strapi: which is right for your project? Shopify is leading hosted e-commerce platform. Strapi is open-source headless cms built with node.js. We compare features, performance, and pricing.

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TL;DR — Our Recommendation

It depends — Shopify and Strapi serve different use cases well. Choose Shopify for E-commerce businesses of any size that want a managed, reliable store. Choose Strapi for Developer teams wanting a self-hosted headless CMS with full control.

Official docs: Shopify Developer Docs · Strapi Documentation

Feature by Feature Comparison

Feature	Shopify	Strapi
Ease of Use	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Performance	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Flexibility	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Cost Value	⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Scalability	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ecosystem	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐

Pros & Cons

Shopify

Pros

Complete e-commerce solution — payments, shipping, inventory
Largest app ecosystem (8,000+ apps) for any e-commerce need
Handles Black Friday-level traffic without configuration
Shopify Payments eliminates third-party gateway complexity

Cons

Transaction fees on non-Shopify Payments orders
Liquid templating language is proprietary and limited
Content management beyond products is very basic
Monthly costs escalate with apps and higher plans

Strapi

Pros

Fully open-source — self-host with no vendor lock-in
Auto-generated REST and GraphQL APIs from your content types
Intuitive admin panel with customizable content modeling
Active open-source community with frequent updates

Cons

Self-hosting requires DevOps knowledge and maintenance
Plugin ecosystem is growing but still smaller than established CMS
Large datasets can stress the default SQLite/PostgreSQL setup
Cloud hosting launched recently — less mature than competitors

Platform Details

Detail	Shopify	Strapi
Language / Stack	Liquid (templating) / Proprietary	Node.js (JavaScript/TypeScript)
Type	ecommerce	headless cms
Pricing	$39-399/month	Free (self-hosted) / $29+/month (Cloud)
Open Source	No	Yes
Best For	E-commerce businesses of any size that want a managed, reliable store	Developer teams wanting a self-hosted headless CMS with full control
Export Method	CSV export or Admin API (GraphQL/REST)	REST API, GraphQL API, or database export

When to Choose Each Platform

Choose Shopify if…

You need e-commerce businesses of any size that want a managed, reliable store
Your team is comfortable with Liquid (templating) / Proprietary
You want a low learning curve for non-technical team members

Choose Strapi if…

You need developer teams wanting a self-hosted headless cms with full control
Your team is comfortable with Node.js (JavaScript/TypeScript)
You want an open-source solution with full code ownership
Budget is a top priority — free (self-hosted) / $29+/month (cloud)
You want a low learning curve for non-technical team members

Which Should You Pick?

The right choice between Shopify and Strapi depends on three things: your team's technical skills, your project timeline, and your long-term content strategy.

These platforms take fundamentally different approaches. Shopify is a ecommerce built with Liquid (templating) / Proprietary, while Strapi is a headless cms built with Node.js (JavaScript/TypeScript). That architectural difference shapes everything from daily content editing workflows to deployment and hosting costs. Both platforms require some technical comfort — consider which tech stack aligns better with your team's existing skills.

From a cost perspective, Strapi is open-source (Free (self-hosted) / $29+/month (Cloud)), while Shopify ($39-399/month) carries ongoing license costs. Factor in plugin or extension costs, developer rates for each tech stack, and whether you need managed hosting or can self-host.

Whichever you choose, migrating between them is straightforward. LeaveWP supports migration between 60+ platforms, so you're never locked in regardless of which you pick today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Shopify better than Strapi?

They're closely matched (23/30 vs 24/30). Shopify is best for E-commerce businesses of any size that want a managed, reliable store, while Strapi excels for Developer teams wanting a self-hosted headless CMS with full control. Your choice should depend on your team's skills and project requirements.

Can I migrate from Shopify to Strapi?

Yes. Export your Shopify content via CSV export or Admin API (GraphQL/REST), then import it into Strapi. LeaveWP can help automate this process while preserving your SEO metadata and URL structure.

What are the main differences between Shopify and Strapi?

Shopify is leading hosted e-commerce platform, while Strapi is open-source headless cms built with node.js. Key differences: performance (Shopify: 4/5, Strapi: 4/5), pricing ($39-399/month vs Free (self-hosted) / $29+/month (Cloud)), and ecosystem size (Shopify: 5/5, Strapi: 3/5).

How much does Shopify cost compared to Strapi?

Shopify: $39-399/month. Strapi: Free (self-hosted) / $29+/month (Cloud). Strapi is open-source and free to self-host, while Shopify is a paid platform.

Which is easier to learn, Shopify or Strapi?

They're similarly approachable (both 4/5). Shopify uses Liquid (templating) / Proprietary, while Strapi uses Node.js (JavaScript/TypeScript). Your team's existing skills will determine which feels easier.

Which performs better, Shopify or Strapi?

Both score equally on performance (4/5). The real difference depends on your setup: Shopify uses Liquid (templating) / Proprietary, Strapi uses Node.js (JavaScript/TypeScript). Proper caching and CDN configuration matters more than the platform itself at this tier.

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