GOB vs Shopify, side by side
| Feature | GOB | Shopify |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to start selling | Free forever - no subscription, no plan tiers. | Paid monthly subscription billed in USD, on top of any app costs. |
| Local Nigerian payments | Card, bank transfer, USSD and GOB Wallet, all built in. | Shopify Payments isn't available in Nigeria - merchants rely on third-party gateway apps and their fees. |
| Instant settlement | Money lands in your GOB wallet the second a customer pays. | Payout timing depends on whichever gateway app you've connected - rarely instant. |
| Withdrawals | 24/7 to any Nigerian bank account, no minimum. | Payouts run on your payment provider's schedule, not Shopify's. |
| Custom domain | Register a domain and connect it from the app - GOB configures DNS and issues SSL automatically. | Buy a domain separately (billed in USD) or connect one you already own and manage the DNS yourself. |
| WhatsApp / Instagram checkout links | Built in - generate a shareable payment link for any order, no full store required. | No native equivalent - needs a Buy Button/Linkpop setup or a separate app. |
| In-app customer discovery | Every store is automatically listed for browsing inside the GOB app. | No built-in marketplace - you bring 100% of your own traffic. |
| Running the business day to day | Entirely from your phone - no hosting or laptop required. | Web-based admin; several workflows are built around a desktop screen. |
| AI assistant | GOBie handles product listings, business questions and even bill payments in plain English. | Shopify Magic offers AI content-generation tools, not a full chat-based business assistant. |
| Staff & permissions | Roles, permissions and activity tracking included free. | Extra staff accounts are gated by plan tier. |
| Business banking | Dedicated virtual account, wallet, transfers and bill payments in the same app. | Not a banking product - payments and banking sit entirely outside Shopify. |
| Identity verification (KYC) | NIN/BVN verification built into onboarding. | No Nigeria-specific KYC layer. |
| Offline sale recording | Log WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok or in-person sales alongside store orders. | Needs POS hardware or a separate add-on app. |
Buy, register and connect your own domain - right from the GOB app.
Search a domain, register it, and GOB connects it to your store automatically - DNS and SSL configured for you, no manual setup, no separate registrar account. On Shopify, you buy the domain separately in USD and manage the connection yourself.
Get Your Free StoreBuilt for how Nigerian businesses actually sell.
Instant Naira Settlement
Card, transfer, USSD and wallet payments land in your GOB wallet the second a customer pays - withdraw 24/7 to any bank.
GOBie AI Assistant
List products, ask about your profit, or pay a bill - all in plain English, right inside the app.
Free Custom Domain
Register and connect a domain from the app - GOB handles DNS and SSL automatically, at no extra cost.
Not a Marketplace
Every product stays under your brand. GOB never resells or owns what you list.
Free Staff & Roles
Add your team, control what each person can see and do - included at no cost.
Built-In KYC
NIN/BVN verification protects you and your buyers before wallet payments unlock.
See the full list of GOB features - store, payments, shipping, staff tools and GOBie AI.
GOB vs Shopify - FAQ
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Set up an online store, accept payments, and manage operations all from your phone, for free.
