Deciding between a self-hosted solution like Litestore and a cloud-based platform like Shopify?
This comparison will help you understand the key differences.
| Litestore | Shopify | |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting | Self-hosted | Cloud-hosted (SaaS) |
| Code base | Editable | Proprietary |
| Technology Stack | Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP (LAMP stack) | Proprietary cloud platform |
| Commission Fees | None (only payment processor) | 2% to 0.2% |
| Customization | Full code access & modification | Limited to themes/apps |
| Data Ownership | Hosted anywhere | Hosted on Shopify servers |
| Inventory Management | Built-in | Built-in |
| Packlist Management | Built-in | Via third-party apps |
| Invoicing | Built-in | Via third-party apps |
| Credit Notes | Built-in | Via third-party apps |
| Link Trackers | Built-in | Via third-party apps |
| Affiliate Program | Built-in | Via third-party apps ($) |
| Reporting | Built-in advanced reports | Basic built-in, advanced via apps |
| Image Tools | Basic editing + 1-click background removal | Basic editing, apps for advanced |
| User Management | Built-in | Built-in |
| Email Management | Built-in | Built-in + third-party integrations |
| Scalability | Depends on server resources | Handles high traffic automatically |
| App Ecosystem | Limited/custom development | 8,000+ apps available |
| Support | Email or live chat in South African Standard Time | 24/7 support |
| Initial Setup Cost | Higher (perpetual license) | Lower (monthly or annual rental) |
| Long-term Cost | Lower (hosting only) | Higher (ongoing subscription payments) |
Best for: Businesses wanting full customization and ownership with no arbitrary limits or ongoing fees
Best For: Businesses wanting ease of setup, paid app ecosystem, software as a recurring subscription
Perfect for small businesses getting started
Full-featured solution for growing businesses
Complete solution with custom features
