This article was last updated and validated November 2025

Centra vs Shopify

Centra helps fashion brands expand globally without duplicating stores, and run both DTC and wholesale operations from one backend—at a fraction of the complexity of Shopify.

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Ecommerce platforms

Example: Shopify

yellowEcommerce, CMS, and front-end remain tightly linked through limited APIs

yellowExtending core functionality often depends on third-party apps

yellowRestricted flexibility slows innovation and makes it challenging to meet enterprise requirements

yellowOutcome: Templated design and difficult to scale for global brands.

Composable SaaS platforms

greenWebsite experience runs separately from the ecommerce system, so teams can make changes faster without disrupting operations.

greenOpen, API-based design makes it easy to connect systems and share data

greenWell-defined APIs let teams build and integrate new features quickly and affordably

greenOutcome: Faster launches, easier integrations, and the flexibility to expand into new channels and markets

Running a fashion brand? Choose a platform you won’t outgrow.

The most dynamic fashion brands adapt to shifting trends and customer demand while scaling into new markets and maintaining performance.

To succeed, brands need an ecommerce platform that delivers real flexibility and full control over design, development, and business logic—without relying on hacks or costly workarounds.

Salesforce Commerce cloud vs Shopify Plus vs Centra comparison

Why brands switch from Shopify to Centra

A side-by-side look at how Centra and Shopify manage the needs of modern fashion and lifestyle brands, including flexibility, business logic, and multi-market capabilities.

	Centra	Shopify
Built for brands	Built from the ground up for fashion and lifestyle brands, Centra eliminates the need for patchwork apps. It combines DTC, wholesale, and omnichannel in one backend. Teams can localize experiences, and maintain consistent brand storytelling globally.	Built for general retail and SMB . To match fashion-specific needs such as variant handling or multi-market management, brands often rely on third-party apps or custom workarounds.
Ease of use and scalability	Combines enterprise-grade flexibility with user-friendly management tools. Business teams can configure markets, prices, and campaigns directly—no code needed.	Fast to set up with pre-built themes, but scaling beyond the basics requires developer support and multiple store instances.
Omnichannel commerce	Centra unifies all sales channels: connecting online DTC, wholesale, and in-store sales on one platform.	Supports DTC and B2B via separate setups or apps. Managing multiple workflows increases operational overhead and cost.
Wholesale & B2B	For fashion and lifestyle brands with complex B2B needs, Centra provides a more complete, scalable, and industry-aligned solution out-of-the-box.	Shopify’s B2B offering usually demands added development, layered apps, and operational workarounds to reach the same level.
Single vs. multi-market	Run all markets from a single backend — one product catalog, localized pricing, currencies, and languages. Brands can create tailored experiences for each region without duplicating stores.	Multi-market selling often means creating separate stores or using Shopify Markets, which adds fees and complicates reporting and inventory management.
Payment options	Connects with over 200 local and global PSPs, giving full control and lower transaction costs — with zero platform fees.	Charges transaction fees when using non-Shopify payment gateways, and Shopify Payments isn’t available in all key markets.
Localization	Localize everything — content, pricing, payment methods, warehouses, and users — from one interface.	Limited localization without expansion stores, which require manual syncing of inventory and orders.
Promotions	Run targeted promotions with built-in segmentation and “if-this-then-that” logic — no plugins required.	Advanced discounting or cross-sell rules depend on third-party apps or Shopify Functions.
Omnichannel capabilities	Natively supports click-and-collect, ship-from-store, return-to-store, and endless aisle — all integrated into one order management system.	Omnichannel features depend on separate POS apps and lack full integration across stores and regions.
Order management and fulfillment	Advanced order management with built-in Distributed Order Management (DOM). Automatically routes orders to the best warehouse or store, manages incoming stock, and applies safety-stock logic — reducing manual work and delivery delays.	Basic multi-store fulfillment. No rule-based allocation or safety-stock control, and Advanced workflows depend on apps or Shopify Fulfillment Network.
Licensing fees	Single, all-inclusive license — no transaction fees, no hidden costs.	Pricing increases with volume and add-ons; extra stores and apps add recurring costs.

Tailor made for fashion

Global fashion brands choose Centra as the only platform that fully understands the needs and complex business logic of fashion commerce.

300+ of the world's top fashion brands are built on Centra—some from day one.

FAQ

Is Centra better than Shopify for fashion and lifestyle brands?

Yes. Centra is purpose-built for fashion and lifestyle brands, while Shopify is a general retail platform. Centra gives you the flexibility and depth needed to manage complex collections, global markets, and high-growth operations — without relying on dozens of add-ons.

With Centra, you get advanced product management, multi-market and multi-currency capabilities, flexible pricing logic, and built-in tools like digital showrooms and preorder/reorder workflows. It’s designed for omnichannel growth and global scalability from day one.

In short, Centra scales your brand, not your app list.

What makes Centra purpose-built for fashion and lifestyle brands?

Centra was created to solve the everyday challenges that fashion and lifestyle brands face — challenges that generic ecommerce platforms simply weren’t built for.

Here’s what makes Centra different:
Seasonal and collection-based selling: Manage complex product structures with collections, preorders, and drops without manual workarounds.

Global size, color, and variant logic: Handle detailed product variations and assortments across markets from one catalog.

Multi-channel commerce: Run DTC, wholesale, and in-store sales under a single platform — with shared inventory and pricing.

Localized shopping experiences: Sell globally with native support for multiple languages, currencies, warehouses, and tax setups.

Omnichannel fulfillment: Power click-and-collect, ship-from-store, and endless aisle workflows directly within the platform.

Built for growth, not plugins: Everything is included out of the box, so you don’t need dozens of third-party apps to meet fashion-specific needs.

In short: Centra is purpose-built for fashion commerce — giving brands complete flexibility, operational control, and freedom to scale globally without compromise.

Can Centra and Shopify handle DTC and wholesale sales channels on a single platform?

How do Centra and Shopify differ in supporting multiple markets, currencies, and languages?

How does Centra improve order management and fulfillment?

Centra provides advanced omnichannel features like click-and-collect, ship-from-store, endless aisle, and buy online, return-to-store, along with a rule-based Distributed Order Management system that manages allocation, incoming deliveries, and safety stock.

Shopify’s omnichannel features are more limited, primarily supporting mobile and social commerce, and more complex workflows require third-party apps. Shopify’s order management is less flexible for multi-store or wholesale operations.

How do brands score Centra versus Shopify on G2?

See how Centra compares to Shopify

Read the full G2 comparison

	Centra	Shopify
Meets requirements	9.0	8.5
Ease of use	9.0	9.0
Ease of setup	8.5	8.7
Ease of admin	9.1	8.8
Quality of support	9.3	8.4
Ease of doing business with	9.6	8.5
Product direction	9.8	8.9

Ready to see Centra in action?

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