Compare the deployment you would actually buy

Start with your requirements, then compare the current products and tiers that would meet them. These evaluation guides focus on documented scope, implementation ownership and tests you can run with your own data. Review the evidence date before using a comparison in a buying decision.

## Define the decision before choosing the shortlist Decide whether you need a complete product-discovery platform, an improvement to retail-media relevance, a campaign system or a specific Shopify workflow. These are different scopes with different operational dependencies.

## Compare the same requirement on both sides Use current product documentation and identify the relevant tier, integration and configuration. Record native delivery, partner delivery, custom work and unknowns separately. An absent public statement is an unanswered question, not evidence that a vendor lacks the feature.

## Make migration part of the evaluation List the journeys, catalogue fields, events, contracts and operating processes that must continue to work. Request a demonstration of the proposed replacement and a rollback plan before removing an existing component.

## Use a representative test Agree the catalogue, queries, shopper journeys and scoring method in advance. Keep the inputs and evaluation conditions consistent. Separate offline relevance, attributed outcomes and a controlled live experiment so each result answers the question it was designed to test.

## Read the evidence notes Each comparison should identify the current source for a factual claim and the date it was checked. Vendor marketing is evidence of a published position; it is not an independent performance test. Use the linked documentation and request a demonstration where the public evidence leaves a question open.

Frequently asked questions

Does an undocumented feature mean a vendor does not support it?

No. Record it as unconfirmed and ask for current evidence. Confirm the relevant product, plan, integration and configuration before making a comparative statement.

Can fewer apps automatically mean lower total cost?

No. Compare licensing, implementation, operational work, missing workflows and transition costs over the same period. Use current quotes and a workflow inventory before calculating savings.

How should a head-to-head evaluation be run?

Agree the inputs and scoring method first. Use the same catalogue snapshot and representative tasks, preserve configuration details and separate offline relevance from live commercial measurement. Publish the conditions beside any result.