Shopify vs a custom website: which does your business need?
Shopify is built for one job, selling products online, and it does that job very well. The question is whether that is really your main job, or whether selling is a small part of a business that mostly runs on local customers and services.
Here is the honest call. If you are running a real online store, Shopify is often the right answer, and we will say so. If selling is a side of a service business, a custom site usually fits better. Where each one lands is below.
Shopify is the best tool if selling products online is your main business, with all the store features built in. A custom website wins when selling is a small part of a service or local business, because it can be faster, cheaper to run, and built around getting found locally rather than around a store.
Who this is for: Business owners deciding whether they need a full Shopify store or a custom site with light selling.
Shopify vs A custom site, side by side
| Shopify | A custom site | |
|---|---|---|
| Selling many products | Excellent, purpose-built | Possible, but not the focus |
| A service or local business | Overkill | Built for it |
| Monthly cost | Ongoing platform and app fees | One flat plan |
| Getting found locally | Store-focused | Built for local search |
| Look and control | Store themes | Designed around your business |
| Best for | A real online store | A service or local business |
If your business is selling products online, Shopify is likely the right call, and we would tell you so. If selling is a small piece and most of your customers are local, a custom site built for local search fits better and costs less to run. Run the free check below and we can help you decide.
Drop your website in below. You get a plain-English score in seconds, and a clear fix for anything holding you back in local search. Free, no email needed.
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