Stack vs Shopify
If you are a Kenyan operator deciding between Stack and Shopify, the question is not which is better in general. It is which is better for the way you actually sell. Here is the difference in plain English.
| Feature | Stack | Shopify |
|---|---|---|
WhatsApp ordering, native In Kenya most orders happen on WhatsApp. Either the platform handles that, or you do it manually and miss orders. | ||
M-Pesa STK push at checkout Native Daraja integration. The phone buzzes; the customer types their PIN; the money lands in your Paybill. | Via third-party app Adds aggregator markup and external dependency. | |
Funds straight to your M-Pesa account If the platform holds your money before passing it on, you have a counterparty risk and a delay. | Depends Via app. May or may not pass directly. | |
Inventory + stock auto-hide When an item runs out, it disappears from the menu so you stop selling things you cannot ship. | ||
Delivery zones + rider hand-off Set zones, set fees, one tap to WhatsApp the rider the address. Critical for Nairobi commerce. | Via app Global apps not built for Nairobi rider economics. | |
Monthly cost (entry) What you actually pay each month before transactions. | Free up to 30 orders Then KES 1,500/mo. | ~KES 4,800/mo Basic plan, USD billed. |
Transaction fee on Stack paid tier What gets taken out of each paid order. | 1% All-in. No card-network surcharge. | 2-3%+ Plus payment provider fees stacked on top. |
Built for Kenya / mobile-money-first markets The team that built it lives here and runs commerce here. Not a flag retrofitted onto a global product. | ||
We help you onboard, free During the closed beta, an actual human walks you through Daraja, your shop, your team, and your first order. | Docs only | |
Own your data + portable Export products, orders, customers any time. No lock-in. |
The three honest differences
1. WhatsApp is the storefront
On Shopify, customers shop on a website. In Kenya, customers shop on WhatsApp. With Stack, the catalogue lives inside the chat the customer is already in. No tab-switch. No abandoned carts because they had to leave WhatsApp to pay.
2. M-Pesa is native, not an app
On Shopify you install a third-party M-Pesa app that talks to an aggregator that talks to Safaricom. Each layer adds fees and fragility. Stack talks to Daraja directly. Funds settle to your Paybill. We never touch the money.
3. Built-in deliveries
Shopify ships pre-built integrations for FedEx and DHL. Stack ships pre-built integrations for “Boda guy you trust” and “delivery zones across Nairobi”. The default changes based on where you operate.
When Shopify is the right answer
If two or more of those describe you, choose Shopify. We are not offended. If you are still on the fence, book a call and we will think it through with you.
Next step
Up to 30 orders a month, zero fees. Founding cohort still open.