When Shopify is the bottleneck, we build the alternative.
Shopify is the right platform for most operators starting out. It becomes the wrong platform at scale — when per-transaction fees compound, when theme limits constrain conversion work, when custom checkout requires Shopify Plus ($2,000+/month), or when the SaaS architecture stops fitting the operation. We build the custom Next.js / headless alternative for operators who've hit that ceiling.
- Per-transaction fees
- 0%
- No Plus tier required
- Custom checkout
- Live deployment
- CBM Karachi
- Geographic delivery
- PK · CA · US
Custom platforms have no per-transaction Shopify Payments fee. At scale, this alone justifies the migration.
Custom checkout flow, regional payment rails, and multi-currency without Shopify Plus pricing.
CBM Computers Karachi migrated from generic Shopify theme to custom Next.js storefront — page-speed 3–5× faster, green Core Web Vitals.
Shopify alternative engagements across Pakistan, Canada, and the United States.
Last updated
When operators outgrow Shopify (and what to do about it)
Shopify works well at small-to-mid scale. The default upgrade path is Shopify Plus — but at $2,000– $40,000+/month, Plus has its own ceiling. Operators frequently hit one or more of these breakpoints: per-transaction fees compounding (2.4–2.9% on every Shopify Payments transaction, plus card fees); theme + Liquid template limits constraining conversion-rate experimentation; multi-currency / regional payment rails (JazzCash, Easypaisa, 1Link for Pakistan; Interac for Canada) requiring expensive workarounds; custom checkout requiring Plus; or the inventory + back-office model not fitting (used product grading, dual inventory, B2B + DTC mix, made-to-order, complex pricing).
The third option — beyond "stay on Shopify" and "move to Shopify Plus" — is a custom Next.js / headless platform built around your specific operation. You own the code, the database, and the integration roadmap. No per-transaction fees. No theme limits. Custom checkout without Plus pricing. Regional payment rails native.
The tradeoff is upfront cost ($40k–$150k+ vs ongoing Shopify subscription) vs ongoing SaaS fees. Typical payback: 18–30 months at Shopify Plus spend levels, faster if per-transaction fees on a high-revenue store are the main driver.
What we build in a Shopify alternative engagement
- Custom Next.js / React storefront — server-rendered for SEO, fast on mobile, full Tailwind + custom design system control.
- Headless commerce backend — choice of Shopify Hydrogen (keep Shopify catalog), Saleor, Medusa, or fully custom Postgres-backed commerce engine depending on scale.
- Custom checkout — multi-step, single-page, embedded, or split-checkout flows. No Plus tier required.
- Regional payment rails — JazzCash, Easypaisa, 1Link / NIFT for Pakistan; Interac, Moneris for Canada; Stripe + ACH for US; financing partners (Affirm, Klarna, GoodLeap) where relevant.
- Multi-currency + multi-region support — native, not a Shopify Markets workaround.
- Custom product modeling — dual inventory (new + used), condition grading, made-to-order, B2B + DTC mix, subscription / recurring orders.
- Integrated custom POS — for retailers with physical stores, one inventory across online + in-store (see /services/pos-system-development).
- Schema + SEO engineered in from day one — Product, Offer, AggregateRating, Review, Breadcrumb schema across the catalog. Core Web Vitals in the good zone on mobile + desktop.
- Migration from Shopify — full data migration (products, orders, customers, contracts), 301 redirect map, parallel-run + cutover. No SEO loss during the move.
- Ongoing platform retainer — feature releases, infrastructure, support, A/B testing infrastructure for conversion work.
How we deliver
- 01
Migration discovery
2-week sprint: current Shopify setup audit, integration map, custom workflows, conversion-rate baselines, SEO baselines, migration risk assessment. Deliverable: migration plan + timeline + cost.
- 02
Custom platform build
Next.js storefront + headless backend + custom checkout + payment integration. Parallel to current Shopify store — no disruption during build.
- 03
Data migration + redirect map
Products, customers, orders, reviews, subscription history all migrated cleanly. URL redirect map preserves SEO equity — every Shopify URL maps to its custom equivalent with 301 redirect.
- 04
Parallel run + cutover
2–4 week parallel run with the new store on a staging subdomain. Cutover happens on a Sunday with zero customer-visible downtime.
- 05
Operate + optimize
Ongoing platform retainer — feature releases, A/B testing infrastructure, conversion work, infrastructure cost optimization. You own the codebase and the roadmap.
Industries we ship this for
Engagement & pricing
Best for: operators evaluating the migration. Honest assessment + cost + timeline. No commitment to build.
Best for: $1M–$10M GMV operators migrating from Shopify or Shopify Plus. Standard custom Next.js platform + migration.
Best for: $10M+ GMV operators with complex operational requirements — multi-store POS integration, custom checkout, custom payment rails, B2B + DTC mix, subscription engines.
Best for: operators wanting ongoing engineering + infrastructure + conversion optimization on the custom platform after launch.
Frequently asked
When does it make sense to leave Shopify?+
Common triggers: per-transaction fees compounding past $20k/year, custom checkout requirements (and not wanting Shopify Plus pricing), regional payment rails Shopify can't support natively (JazzCash, 1Link, Interac, etc.), inventory model that doesn't fit (used products, condition grading, B2B + DTC mix), or the theme + Liquid limits constraining conversion-rate work.
How is custom different from Shopify Plus?+
Shopify Plus is still SaaS — same per-transaction fees, same Liquid templates, same vendor lock-in, same per-store pricing model. Custom is your code, your database, your roadmap. The tradeoff: Plus is fast to upgrade to and predictable; custom requires a build but pays back at scale.
Will we lose SEO during migration?+
Not if migration is done right. Every Shopify URL maps to its custom equivalent via 301 redirect. Schema markup re-implemented on the new platform. Core Web Vitals typically improve substantially on custom Next.js vs Shopify themes. SEO equity preserved, often amplified.
Can we keep Shopify's catalog but switch the storefront?+
Yes — Shopify Hydrogen (Shopify's official headless option) lets you keep Shopify Plus as the catalog + checkout backend while building the storefront in custom Next.js / React. Best of both: Shopify's ecosystem + custom frontend control. Common middle ground.
What about apps we depend on (reviews, shipping, etc.)?+
Every Shopify app has an equivalent in custom — usually via API, sometimes via a different vendor, occasionally rebuilt from scratch if no good equivalent exists. We map every dependency in the migration assessment phase before committing to build.
How long does the migration take?+
Starter platform 12–16 weeks. Full custom platform 4–6 months. Migration assessment + planning 2 weeks before that. Parallel-run + cutover 2–4 weeks. Total from kick-off to live: typically 16–28 weeks.
Do you work with retailers in Pakistan specifically?+
Yes — Pakistan is one of our active markets. The CBM Computers Karachi engagement migrated a generic Shopify theme to a custom Next.js storefront with JazzCash / Easypaisa / 1Link integration and Pakistan-targeted SEO. Full case study linked below.
Talk to us
Tell us what you're trying to ship and what's in the way. You'll get a real reply from a senior engineer — not a sales script.