Shopify Plus vs custom B2B commerce in 2026

The verdict in three sentences

In 2026, Shopify Plus (B2B offering) runs about 2,500 EUR/month plus development of your business rules, while custom starts at 65,000 EUR one-off plus maintenance. Shopify Plus wins on time-to-market and delegated maintenance; custom wins as soon as your B2B rules fall outside the standard frame or the 3-year TCO exceeds a build. The tipping point usually sits around 160,000 to 210,000 EUR of cumulative 3-year cost.

What each option really covers

Shopify Plus natively includes catalogue, checkout, hosting and a B2B layer (per-company pricing, accounts, basic net terms). But every fine business rule — complex credit limits, multi-level quote approval, deep ERP integration — is paid for in app development or third-party subscriptions.

3-year TCO, 2026 figures

The real trade-off is total cost of ownership, not sticker price. Here are two realistic scenarios for a mid-sized B2B distributor.

In this scenario, Shopify Plus stays 30,000 EUR cheaper over 3 years. But if app fees climb (marketplaces, PIM, ERP) or volume triggers transaction fees, custom moves ahead by year 4. That's where the decision tree matters.

Quick decision tree

A leader can decide in three questions. Do your B2B rules fit within Shopify Plus + 2-3 apps? If yes, stay on Shopify. Do you need real-time ERP integration and a complex customer portal? If yes, custom limits debt. Is your horizon beyond 4 years at high volume? If yes, custom smooths the cost.

Mini case study

Mehdi runs a mid-sized electrical-supply trading firm, 900 SKUs, 180 business customers. He's torn between the two paths. On Shopify Plus he estimates 153,000 EUR over 3 years with a 3-month launch. Custom is 183,000 EUR but a 7-month launch and zero app fees.

His deciding factor: he wants to connect his Sage ERP in real time and manage complex per-customer credit. On Shopify that requires 2 apps at 9,000 EUR/year combined, not included above. Add that back and the gap drops to 12,000 EUR over 3 years, favoring custom from year 4. He picks custom for code ownership and no lock-in — a classic 2026 call when the ERP is central.

FAQ

Does Shopify Plus really handle B2B? Yes, the native B2B offering covers per-company pricing, customer accounts and basic net terms. Limits show up on fine approval workflows and deep ERP integration, which need apps or development.

What's the real hidden cost of Shopify Plus? Third-party apps (PIM, ERP, marketplace) and transaction fees if you don't use Shopify Payments. Budget 16,000 to 27,000 EUR of apps over 3 years for a demanding B2B setup.

At what volume does custom pay off? Generally beyond 160,000 to 210,000 EUR of cumulative 3-year TCO, or as soon as lock-in and app fees exceed the cost of a controlled build.

Can we migrate from Shopify Plus to custom later? Yes, but migration costs 16,000 to 44,000 EUR depending on volume and integrations. Better to decide early if ERP and complex rules are structural.

Is lock-in a real risk? It is if your business depends on Shopify-specific rules and proprietary apps. Custom makes you owner of the code and free to change host or PSP.

Let's scope your project. Give us your order volume, your ERP and your B2B rules: we'll price the 3-year TCO of both scenarios and recommend the most profitable path. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.