Comparison, checked September 24, 2026
Shopify vs custom ecommerce for a Canadian online store
- Author
- By Redenn Editorial
- Published
- Published
- Last reviewed
- Reviewed
The short answer
Shopify is the right choice for high-volume standard retail: a large catalogue of ordinary products, a large app ecosystem, and staff who want a proven checkout and admin. A custom ecommerce build from Redenn, from CA$1,499, is the better choice when the catalogue, pricing or ordering process is unusual, when the store must integrate with systems you already run, or when you want to own the storefront and stop paying platform and app subscriptions.
Side by side
| Shopify | Custom ecommerce (Redenn) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Monthly subscription plus app subscriptions and payment processing fees; varies by plan and volume | Ecommerce from CA$1,499 one-time; Redenn Dynamic hosting CA$49/month; payment processor fees separate |
| Scope | Catalogue, checkout, orders, inventory, shipping settings and themes, extended by apps | Storefront with catalogue, checkout, taxes and shipping for Canadian sales; custom rules and integrations quoted |
| Ownership (code, content, domain, accounts) | You own products, customer data exports and a domain in your name; the store runs only on Shopify | You own the code, database, domain (Cloudflare Registrar) and every account |
| Support | Platform support and a large pool of Shopify agencies and freelancers | Redenn support under Dynamic or Pro Managed hosting; priority support on Pro Managed CA$99/month |
| Hosting | Included in the subscription | Vercel CDN plus Supabase database; Dynamic CA$49/month or Pro Managed CA$99/month |
| SEO capability | Solid basics; product and collection pages follow the platform's URL structure | Full control of metadata, structured data, URLs and page speed; Search + AI Foundation CA$299 |
| Development capability | Theme customization and apps; deeper changes need a Shopify developer | Any feature: quote requests, B2B pricing, configurators, custom fulfilment rules |
| CRM | Built-in customer records plus CRM apps; varies | CRM integration from CA$99; CRM Setup from CA$299; Custom CRM quoted |
| Automation | Platform automation features and apps; varies | Lead Follow-Up Automation from CA$149; order and email workflows quoted |
| AI features | Platform-provided AI tools where offered; varies | AI Website Chat from CA$99/month trained on your products and policies |
| Maintenance burden | Platform maintained; app updates and theme compatibility are on the merchant | Updates and monitoring handled under Redenn Dynamic and Pro Managed hosting |
| Right choice when | High-volume standard retail, many SKUs, need for a large app ecosystem, point-of-sale, or in-house Shopify skills | Unusual catalogue or pricing, B2B ordering, integration with existing systems, or a desire to own the store outright |
Our verdict
For high-volume standard retail with many products and a need for the app ecosystem, Shopify is the safer choice and Redenn will say so. For catalogues with configured or quoted products, B2B ordering, integrations with your existing systems, or a store that should be part of a larger owned website, a custom build from CA$1,499 on Redenn Dynamic hosting is the better fit. Over three years Shopify's cost depends on plan, apps and volume, while the Redenn example is CA$3,292.97 plus domain, processing and usage. Decide on how unusual your selling process is, not on the platform's popularity.
What Shopify does well
Shopify is a mature hosted commerce platform. Checkout, order management, inventory and shipping settings work out of the box, thousands of apps add features, and many Canadian agencies and freelancers know it well. For a store selling standard products at volume, it is hard to argue against, and Redenn will say so on a scoping call if that is what you need.
Ownership and lock-in
On Shopify you own your products, your customer data exports and your domain. The store itself, its theme and its app integrations run only on the platform, and the subscription plus app fees continue for as long as you sell. A Redenn build gives you the storefront code, the Supabase database, the domain at Cloudflare Registrar in your name and every account. Payment processing runs through Stripe checkout or payment links, and processor fees are separate on any platform.
Total cost over three years
Shopify's cost depends on plan, apps and processing volume, so it is shown as varies. The Redenn column uses the published Ecommerce starting price and Dynamic hosting; larger stores with custom rules are quoted.
| Item | Shopify | Custom ecommerce (Redenn) |
|---|---|---|
| Build | theme and setup; varies | Ecommerce from CA$1,499 |
| Platform or hosting, three years | subscription; varies | Redenn Dynamic CA$49/month x 36 = CA$1,764 |
| Apps and add-ons | varies | None required; custom features quoted |
| Domain | registrar price; varies | Registrar's live price plus CA$9.99/year management fee if Redenn manages it (CA$29.97 over three years) |
| Payment processing | processor fees; varies | Processor fees; varies |
| Three-year total | varies | CA$3,292.97 plus domain, processing and any usage |
Canadian sales tax on either platform
Both options must charge the right tax. Federal GST is 5%; HST applies in Ontario (13%), New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island (15%) and Nova Scotia (14% since April 1, 2025); Quebec adds QST at 9.975%; British Columbia charges PST at 7%, Manitoba RST at 7% and Saskatchewan PST at 6%; Alberta and the territories have no provincial sales tax. Rates change and must be verified with the Canada Revenue Agency and your accountant before launch.
When to choose Shopify
Choose Shopify when:
- You sell many standard products and expect high order volume.
- You want point-of-sale, marketplace channels or specific apps the ecosystem already provides.
- Your team already knows the Shopify admin.
- Speed to launch matters more than owning the storefront code.
Pros
- Proven checkout and admin
- Large app and theme ecosystem
- Many skilled Shopify partners in Canada
Cons
- Ongoing subscription and app fees
- Store cannot leave the platform
- Unusual pricing or ordering logic can be awkward
When to choose custom ecommerce (Redenn)
Choose a Redenn build when:
- Products are configured, quoted or priced per customer, as in B2B or made-to-order work.
- The store must integrate with your inventory, accounting or dispatch systems.
- You want the storefront to be part of a larger Next.js site with content, CRM and automation.
- You would rather pay once, from CA$1,499, and host for CA$49/month than pay platform and app subscriptions.
Pros
- You own the store
- Any feature can be built
- One codebase for site, store and automation
Cons
- Higher upfront cost
- New features need development, not an app install
- You choose and manage the payment processor account
Questions
Does a custom ecommerce site handle Canadian taxes?
Yes. The Redenn Ecommerce build includes taxes and shipping for Canadian sales, configured to the provincial rules above. Rates change, so they are verified at launch and should be reviewed with your accountant.
Is Shopify cheaper than a custom store?
Often in year one, and sometimes for years if you use few apps. Over three years it depends on plan, apps and volume, which is why this page shows varies. A Redenn store is CA$3,292.97 over three years plus domain, processing and usage.
Can Redenn build on Shopify instead?
Redenn builds custom ecommerce in Next.js and Node.js. If your needs point clearly to Shopify, Redenn will tell you on the scoping call rather than build the wrong thing.
What payment processor does a custom store use?
Stripe checkout or payment links by default, in an account you own. Processor fees are charged by the processor and are separate from Redenn's prices.
Can a custom store send marketing emails?
Yes, with a newsletter add-on from CA$49 connected to your email platform. Commercial messages must follow CASL: consent, sender identification and an unsubscribe mechanism.
How long does a custom ecommerce build take?
It is scoped with the quote, with a written scope, fixed price and ship date. Catalogue size, integrations and custom rules drive the timeline.
Sources
- Canada Revenue Agency, Canada Revenue Agency. Accessed 2026-09-24.
- Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation, Government of Canada. Accessed 2026-09-24.
Related
Services
- Ecommerce DevelopmentA storefront you own, with catalogue, checkout, Canadian sales tax rules and shipping, from CA$1,499.
- Web ApplicationsAccounts, data and workflows on Next.js and Supabase, scoped to a fixed price with a ship date in writing.
- CRM IntegrationsForms, chat, booking, phone and ad lead forms feeding your CRM with the source recorded, from CA$99.
- Email AutomationWelcome, quote follow-up, onboarding and reactivation sequences with CASL handled, from CA$149 per sequence.
- Website HostingGlobal CDN, automatic SSL and monitoring from CA$99/year for static sites to CA$99/month for managed applications.
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