How Disciple and Shopify compare
Disciple does the thing most community platforms charge a premium for: every plan includes your own iOS and Android app listed under your name, a synced web version, and no Disciple branding anywhere your members look. Groups, feeds, DMs, events, native video, livestreaming, courses, push notifications to segments, and a customer success manager who helps you through the app store submission. Associations, training providers, nonprofits, and membership brands that want an icon on the member's phone are who it is built for.
Shopify is what you use when the store is the business. World-class checkout, inventory and shipping, taxes, POS, thousands of apps, Shopify Email, Shopify Inbox, and a theme store make it the standard for merchants of every size. It scales from one product to a warehouse without changing platforms.
Where they are different
Disciple
- Disciple lives behind a login and a home screen icon.
- Disciple reaches members with push notifications and hands email to Mailchimp or ConvertKit.
- Disciple starts at $599 a month for a branded app with unlimited members.
- Disciple has courses, livestreams, tiers, and in-app purchases.
Shopify
- Shopify's blog and pages serve the store.
- Shopify Inbox handles chat.
- Shopify doesn't manage scheduling natively.
Choose Disciple when your members should open an app with your name on it, and a private community with groups, events, and paid tiers is the whole point.
Choose Shopify when you sell products at volume and need inventory, shipping, tax, and apps.
Compare features
What's on Disciple and Shopify
A check means that capability is available. Disciple and Shopify are marked only when the offer is comparable, not the same product.
Site and brand
- Workspace siteDisciple: Not includedShopify: Included
- Custom domainDisciple: IncludedShopify: Included
- Theme and fontsDisciple: IncludedShopify: Included
Public content
- BlogDisciple: Not includedShopify: Included
- Reader engagementDisciple: Not includedShopify: Included
- Showcase pagesDisciple: Not includedShopify: Included
- Shop pagesDisciple: Not includedShopify: Included
Reach and quality
- SEODisciple: Not includedShopify: Included
Audience and email
- AudienceDisciple: IncludedShopify: Included
- Marketing emailsDisciple: Not includedShopify: Included
- Campaign workflowsDisciple: Not includedShopify: Included
Messaging
- Built-in chatDisciple: IncludedShopify: Included
- Messaging CenterDisciple: Not includedShopify: Included
Commerce
- Shop paymentsDisciple: IncludedShopify: Included
Team
- Admin usersDisciple: IncludedShopify: Included
* Note: This table does not capture every feature of Disciple or Shopify, and is not intended as a comprehensive list. We keep this page current, but Disciple or Shopify may add or remove features that are not shown here.
Disciple vs Shopify pricing
Compare plans, prices, and what it costs to get started.
Disciple
Current plans and prices
See what Disciple charges on their pricing page.
Shopify
Current plans and prices
See what Shopify charges on their pricing page.
Cardel: An alternative to
Disciple and Shopify
You don't pay until you publish.
Cardel provides a home for your craft. Share and sell your work, grow your audience, and bring your community together on a site of your own.
Common questions
Is Cardel an alternative to Disciple or Shopify?
Cardel is a home for your craft: a site of your own with a blog, newsletter, shop, community, and one inbox. It can replace Disciple or Shopify when you want your work, audience, and sales in one place. The feature list on this page shows where Disciple and Shopify are marked.
Can I use Cardel with Disciple or Shopify?
Yes. Cardel pages can link out to other products, so you can keep Disciple or Shopify for what it does best and bring the rest of your work to Cardel.
How much does Cardel cost compared with Disciple and Shopify?
You don't pay for Cardel until you publish. Choose Starter, Pro, or Studio when your site goes live. Disciple and Shopify set their own prices, so check their pricing pages on this page for current plans.
How do I switch from Disciple or Shopify to Cardel?
Start with Build Your Site, set up your home, and bring your work over at your own pace. You do not have to move everything on day one.
