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Head-to-Head Specification Audit
Shopify vs Paddle
E-Commerce Developers · South Africa
Specification Matrix
| Metric | Shopify | Paddle |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $29/mo | CustomBetter |
| API Rate Limit | 2 req/min | 100 req/minBetter |
| Target Country | South Africa | Global |
| Category | E-Commerce Platform | SaaS Billing |
| Compliance | GDPR, CCPA, PCI-DSS | SOC2, GDPR, PCI-DSS |
| Hosting Regions | US, EU, AU | EU-West, US-East |
| Native Integrations | 7 listedBetter | 6 listed |
Shopify — Key Specs
- ✓Storefront API supports headless commerce with any frontend framework
- ✓Checkout extensibility via UI Extensions — no more checkout.liquid hacks
- ✓Built-in ZAR currency support and PayFast/Peach Payments gateway integration
- ✓Webhooks for 50+ event types with automatic retry on delivery failure
Paddle — Key Specs
- ✓Merchant of record for SaaS — handles all global tax compliance
- ✓Paddle Billing + Paddle Checkout unified
- ✓SOC 2 Type II, GDPR, PCI DSS compliant
- ✓Strong UK/EU market — GBP, EUR checkout native
Frequently Asked Questions
What is cheaper, Shopify or Paddle?+
Paddle starts at $0/mo, which is lower than Shopify at $29/mo.
Which tool is better for compliance — Shopify or Paddle?+
Both support GDPR, PCI-DSS. Shopify additionally supports CCPA. Paddle additionally supports SOC2.
Which has a higher API rate limit — Shopify or Paddle?+
Paddle has a higher API rate limit at 100 requests per minute. Shopify: 2 req/min. Paddle: 100 req/min.
Which tool is better suited for South Africa?+
Shopify is evaluated for E-Commerce Developers in South Africa with hosting regions: US, EU, AU. Paddle has hosting regions: EU-West, US-East. For data residency in South Africa, check each vendor's data processing agreements.
Data last verified: 26 June 2026
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