Vecstore vs Shopify Search
Shopify search reads your text. Vecstore also sees your photos.
Let shoppers search by what products look like, or with a photo. Works with any Online Store 2.0 theme.
100 free credits on sign up. No card required.
3 things Vecstore does that Shopify search doesn't
1/ Search what photos show
Shopify search reads titles, descriptions and tags. Vecstore also looks at the product photos, so color, pattern and style are searchable even when nobody wrote them down.
navy cotton henley shirt
2/ Search with a photo
Shoppers upload a screenshot or a photo and get visually similar products from your catalog. No words needed.
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3/ One index, beyond Shopify
Your synced catalog is a normal Vecstore database. Search it from a mobile app, a headless storefront or anywhere else with the same API key.
Compare Vecstore vs Shopify search
| Feature | Vecstore | Shopify search |
|---|---|---|
| Typo tolerance | ||
| Search by meaning | From product text only | |
| Search what product photos show | ||
| Shoppers search with a photo | ||
| Filters on the results page | Brand, type, stock | Via Search & Discovery |
| Same search in your own apps | REST API | Storefront API |
| Setup | Install app, no code | Built in |
| Price | 1 credit per search type | Included with Shopify |
Shopify search is good, and it's free. Vecstore is for stores that sell with photos.
Stick with Shopify search for
- ✓ Shoppers who mostly search by product name
- ✓ Catalogs where photos add little, like books or parts
- ✓ Boosts and recommendations from Search & Discovery
Pick Vecstore for
- ✓ Fashion, furniture, home and other visual catalogs
- ✓ Shoppers who want to search with a photo
- ✓ Using the same search in your own apps
Vecstore vs Shopify search questions
Does Shopify have AI search built in?
Yes. Shopify store search includes typo tolerance and semantic understanding of product text such as titles, descriptions, types and tags. It does not use product images.
What does Vecstore add on top of Shopify search?
Search based on what product photos show, and photo upload so shoppers can find visually similar products. You can also use the same search outside Shopify through the Vecstore API.
Do I have to replace Shopify search completely?
No. You choose which parts to turn on. The search popup and the results page are added separately in the theme editor, and you can turn either one off any time.
Which one is cheaper?
Shopify search is included with your plan. Vecstore uses 1 credit per search for each search type you turn on, with 100 free credits on sign up.
When should I stick with Shopify search?
If shoppers mostly search by product name and your catalog is not very visual, built-in search with the Search & Discovery app is often enough.
Let shoppers search with photos. No code, any theme.
3–4ms average search latency
100 Free credits. No credit card required.