They're built for low-risk retail. Research-compound commerce needs underwriting-grade compliance, payments you own, and vertical operations — the exact things generic platforms can't give you, at any plan tier.
| What you actually need | Shopify | WooCommerce | PEP Websites |
|---|---|---|---|
| High-risk payment acceptance | ✕ Bans the category | Bring-your-own, unmanaged | ✓ Multi-rail, you own the accounts |
| Account stability | ✕ Suspends on review | Host-dependent | ✓ No processor can pull your store |
| Processor-grade compliance | ✕ Can't pass underwriting | ✕ DIY plugins | ✓ Full mandated set, built in |
| Age 21+ / RUO / state blocking | Apps, brittle | Plugins, manual | ✓ Enforced on every order |
| Immutable audit trail | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ Signed, timestamped, on demand |
| COA-first storefront | Custom build | Custom build | ✓ Native to the vertical |
| Vertical operations & fulfillment | Generic apps | Generic plugins | ✓ Labels, OCR receiving, reorder |
| Who carries the risk | You — alone | You — alone | ✓ Operators who run it too |
PEP Websites