Shopify

Checkout customization is the Plus paywall

Shopify's APIs (Admin, Storefront, Checkout) are deep, but the line that catches teams is checkout customization. Non-Plus plans get only minimal branding — logo and colours through standard settings. The Checkout Editor itself, checkout UI extensions, and the Functions API that power any real checkout customization (custom fields, validation, third-party logic) are all Shopify Plus features. If your business model depends on a non-standard checkout, you need Plus — budget for it from day one.

Practical implications

• Transaction fees apply unless you use Shopify Payments. Using an external gateway adds a per-order fee on top of the gateway's own cut.
• The Storefront API enables fully headless builds, but you then own the frontend, performance, and SEO work that the standard theme handled for you.
• Webhooks and the Admin API are available on all plans — automation and integrations do not require Plus.

When to choose it

Shopify is the default for serious, scaling commerce that needs apps, APIs, and international reach. For a simple Japan-market shop with minimal engineering, BASE or STORES will be faster and cheaper to launch.