Shopify vs Next.js for Ecommerce in 2026 — When to Choose Each

The Wrong Way to Think About This Question Most "Shopify vs Next.js" articles declare a winner. That's the wrong framing entirely. These are tools built for different problems. Shopify is a hosted ecommerce platform. Next.js is a React framework. Comparing them directly is like comparing a prefab house to a construction company — one gives you a finished product, the other gives you the capability to build anything. The right question is: which one fits your specific situation? Budget, timeline,