Shopify vs Tiendanube

Shopify

Shopify offers a global platform with a huge ecosystem of themes and apps, useful if the business also plans to sell outside Latin America or needs very specific integrations that don't always have a local version.

Tiendanube

Tiendanube is the most widely used e-commerce platform in several Latin American countries, with plans that charge no sales commission (only a transaction fee that varies by plan) and a free Plan Inicial for those just starting to sell online.

Key differences

• Tiendanube has a real free plan (Plan Inicial); Shopify doesn't, its cheapest plan already costs $5/month.
• Local payment methods (Mercado Pago and similar) are natively integrated in Tiendanube, while on Shopify they usually depend on third-party apps, depending on the country.
• No Tiendanube plan charges a sales commission beyond the transaction fee (0.7%–2% depending on the plan); Shopify does charge an additional fee on its Starter plan if you don't use its own payment processor.
• Shopify has a notably larger app and theme ecosystem globally, which can matter if the business needs a very specific integration.

Pricing

Updated: September 2026 — source: official pricing pages (see Sources).

Shopify

• Starter — $5/month + 5% and 30¢ per transaction.
• Basic — $39/month ($29/month billed annually).
• Grow — $105/month ($79/month billed annually).
• Advanced — $399/month ($299/month billed annually).

Tiendanube

• Plan Inicial — $0, no limit on products, visits, or sales.
• Plan Esencial and above — price varies by country, with a transaction fee of 0.7% to 2% depending on the plan and a 25% discount when paying annually (check the exact price in the Tiendanube dashboard for your country, as it varies by local currency).

Features and integrations

To sell within a single Latin American country with well-integrated local payment methods, Tiendanube solves more "out of the box." To sell internationally or if you need a very niche-specific app, Shopify's larger ecosystem weighs in its favor.

Ease of use

Both platforms are designed so that someone without technical knowledge can set up a store. Tiendanube has the added advantage that its support and interface are in Spanish, designed for the region.

Who is each tool for?

Shopify: Businesses that plan to sell outside Latin America or need a very specific app/integration from Shopify's global ecosystem.

Tiendanube: Businesses that sell mainly within one Latin American country and want local payment methods sorted from day one, starting for free.

Verdict

To sell within Latin America with local payments sorted, Tiendanube wins on entry cost and practicality. To sell globally or need a larger app ecosystem, Shopify remains the stronger option.