Shopify Plus vs. VTEX: Why more brands are choosing to scale with Shopify

Shopify Plus and VTEX are two platforms vying to lead the digital commerce market in Latin America. But while VTEX offers a more technical and complex approach, Shopify Plus focuses on what brands truly need today: agility, operational efficiency, and complete autonomy.

In this comparison, we analyze why more and more companies are migrating from VTEX to Shopify Plus, seeking to scale more quickly, at a lower cost, and with a real focus on their business.

Shopify Plus and VTEX: Two very different ways to grow

Shopify Plus was designed for brands looking to sell more with less technological friction. With a SaaS model, accelerated time to market, and a robust ecosystem of integrations, it allows you to scale operations without the need for custom development or in-house technical teams.

VTEX, on the other hand, offers a more complex headless architecture, designed for retailers with large operational structures and very specific needs. This often translates into longer implementation times, greater technical dependency, and variable costs tied to sales volume.

The difference is clear: Shopify Plus simplifies complexity and removes technical barriers so your business can move forward frictionlessly. Less code, more results.

Advantages of Shopify Plus over VTEX

Accelerated time to market

In eCommerce, timing is everything. Shopify Plus allows you to launch and scale stores in record time, thanks to native tools and customizable templates. VTEX, due to its more technical structure, typically requires more extensive development.

Lower and more predictable costs

Shopify Plus offers a fixed monthly fee that includes up to 10 environments and very low sales commissions, along with priority support and full access to advanced features, providing predictability and allowing for seamless scaling. In contrast, the VTEX model is based on a combination of a fixed subscription and variable commissions based on GMV (general merchandise value), which can impact profitability as the business grows.

Native B2B included

Shopify Plus includes built-in B2B features: per-customer pricing, exclusive catalogs, customized payment terms, and a shopping cart, all managed from the admin platform without the need for external apps. At VTEX, many of these features require custom development, which increases complexity and operational costs.

Infrastructure without limits

Shopify Plus offers unlimited managed servers that allow you to scale traffic, catalog, and sales without impacting performance or requiring additional infrastructure setup. VTEX is also a scalable platform, but may require more technical intervention to scale parts of the stack, configure environments, or maintain stable performance in complex scenarios.

Integrated AI

Shopify Plus incorporates artificial intelligence tools into the admin panel and shopping experience: product description generation, automated chat responses, personalized storefront recommendations, and predictive content that improves conversions. All without the need for external apps or advanced configuration.

Updates every 6 months

Shopify releases more than 150 feature enhancements every six months, with no action required from the customer. Updates are automatic, with no downtime, maintenance, or technical lock-in.

Plug & play ecosystem

With thousands of certified apps and a global partner community, Shopify Plus allows you to add functionality without custom development. This streamlines operations and improves team efficiency. With VTEX, many features require technical implementation or in-house development.

Internationalization without friction

Shopify Plus lets you manage multiple stores, languages, and currencies from a single platform, with complete control over your brand and sales strategy. International expansion is designed from the core of the product.

Conversion-optimized checkout

Shopify 's checkout is recognized as one of the fastest and most efficient on the market. It converts 20% better on average compared to other platforms, thanks to its mobile-first approach, loading speed, and simplified experience. At VTEX, the checkout often requires customization to achieve similar levels of conversion.

When is Shopify Plus clearly superior?

• When the marketing and sales team needs real autonomy.
• When the business seeks to scale quickly without relying on constant development.
• When long-term profitability is prioritized without variable costs by volume.
• When you plan to operate in multiple countries, languages, or currencies.
• When agility is needed to adapt to commercial events, launches, or strategy changes.

In all of these cases, Shopify Plus doesn't just respond—it accelerates business.

Conclusion

VTEX may be a valid solution for retailers with highly customized structures and large technical teams, but in a scenario where dynamism, profitability, and autonomy are key, Shopify Plus is the platform that best interprets the challenges of modern digital commerce .

With Shopify Plus , brands aren't locked into their technology— they use it to move faster, sell more, and grow without limits .

Want to understand how Shopify Plus can boost your eCommerce?

At LOP, we help brands across the region scale with the platform that leads the evolution of digital commerce .

We are certified Shopify Plus partners and eCommerce specialists with 25 years of experience in digital media.

Contact us and start your project with experts: https://lop.global/pages/contacto