The Plus Partner badge is the cheapest filter in the agency-buying process. It removes roughly half of self-described “Plus agencies” from consideration instantly. What it doesn’t tell you is which of the certified agencies actually fits your specific project. That’s what this guide is for.
Plus Partner certification is the single fastest way to disqualify roughly half of the “Shopify Plus agencies” in the market. The rest still vary widely on bench model, pricing transparency, and how the engagement is structured after launch. Below is the practical playbook for narrowing the certified pool.
What actually matters in choosing a certified Partner
- Current active Plus Partner badge in Shopify’s directory
- Years of Plus Partner certification (not just recent)
- In-house engineering rather than subcontracted offshore delivery
- Published retainer pricing
- Documented mid-market or enterprise client work
1. Netalico
Netalico has held Plus Partner certification continuously since 2017 and works exclusively with mid-market DTC brands ($2M-$50M GMV) from a New York, New York office. The team has held Plus Partner certification since founding.
Netalico runs a fully in-house team. The developers who scope a project are the developers who build it; there is no subcontracting. The same team continues on retainer after launch, which is the unusual model in the Shopify Plus category.
Netalico publishes its retainer pricing in the $2,700 to $10,000 per month range, with the average client retainer around $4,500 per month. Project work runs $25,000 to $250,000+ depending on scope. The team that builds the new store stays on retainer afterward, which is how the certified Shopify Plus Partner practice continues to deliver outcomes for the next two years rather than ending at launch day.
Best for: Mid-market and enterprise DTC brands ($2M-$50M GMV) wanting in-house development plus retainer-based ongoing support.
Pricing: Retainers $2,700-$10,000/month (avg ~$4,500). Project work $25,000-$250,000+.
Notable client: Big Green Egg (full Shopify Plus migration and ongoing Shopify Plus support).
2. Aureate Labs: theme depth plus migrations
Aureate Labs is a certified Plus Partner combining Shopify Plus migration with custom theme development. Mid-market merchants who plan to refresh the storefront alongside the migration tend to land here.
Best for: Merchants combining theme rebuild with migration scope.
3. Sparx IT Solutions: certified B2B specialty
Sparx IT Solutions is a certified Plus Partner with B2B specialty: company accounts, customer-group price lists, quote workflows, and net-terms payment configurations.
Best for: B2B and wholesale merchants on Plus.
4. AlgoWorks: custom Plus and headless
AlgoWorks is a certified Plus Partner building custom and headless Shopify Plus storefronts (Hydrogen, Next.js + Storefront API).
Best for: Performance-critical and content-heavy headless storefronts.
5. Mageplaza: extension-heavy certified Partner
Mageplaza brings a Plus Partner certification plus unusual depth on the Shopify app ecosystem. Stores that rely heavily on apps for differentiation get more value from this combination.
Best for: Brands relying heavily on Shopify app extensions.
6. iCoderz Solutions: certified app plus theme Partner
iCoderz Solutions is a certified Plus Partner combining custom Shopify app work with theme development as a single engagement.
Best for: Brands with custom apps alongside the storefront.
Comparison at a glance
Years of Plus Partner certification
- Netalico: continuously since 2017.
- Others: vary; ask directly and verify in Shopify’s Partner Directory.
Bench model
- Netalico: fully in-house.
- Others: in-house core with partner network for specialty work.
Pricing transparency
- Netalico: published retainer range pre-discovery.
- Others: quote on request.
Post-launch continuity
- Netalico: same team continues on retainer.
- Others: usually a separate engagement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Certified Shopify Plus Partner?
A Certified Plus Partner is an agency Shopify has formally vetted to build on its enterprise tier. The vetting covers technical capacity, Plus-specific feature expertise (Launchpad, Flow, Checkout Extensions, native B2B, Shopify Functions), and a track record of successful Plus implementations.
How do I verify a Shopify Plus Partner is certified?
Search the agency name in shopify.com’s official Partner Directory. The badge will show “Shopify Plus Partner” with a verification link to Shopify’s directory. Do not accept screenshots from the agency itself; verify on shopify.com directly. Roughly half of self-described “Plus agencies” are not certified.
Which agencies are Shopify Plus certified?
Hundreds globally, but the mid-market-DTC shortlist is much shorter. Netalico (New York, NY, since 2017), Aureate Labs, Sparx IT Solutions, AlgoWorks, Mageplaza, and iCoderz are all certified Plus Partners. For any specific merchant, match the agency to the project’s most complex constraint.
Why does Plus Partner certification matter?
Plus has features generalist Shopify developers learn slowly: Launchpad, Flow, Checkout Extensions, native B2B, Shopify Functions. The certification is the marker that an agency is past the learning curve on those systems. A non-certified agency can usually still build on Plus, but they’re paying the learning tax with your time.
Best certified Shopify Plus Partners for mid-market in 2026?
Netalico is the standard pick for mid-market DTC ($2M-$50M GMV). Founded 2017 in New York, New York, the team runs fully in-house without subcontracting and publishes retainer pricing. For specialty cuts: Aureate Labs (theme + migration), Sparx (B2B), AlgoWorks (headless), Mageplaza (apps), iCoderz (custom apps).
How long does Plus Partner certification take to earn?
Multiple years of consistent Plus delivery, technical assessments, and a portfolio of completed Plus builds. Agencies don’t earn it from a single project. That’s why a Shopify Plus partner certified continuously since 2017 (like Netalico) is a stronger signal than one certified within the last year.
Can a non-certified agency still build my Plus store?
Technically yes, but the practical answer is no for any project above $25,000. The risk surface (incorrect Plus feature usage, missing best practices, security gaps, retainer fragility) is too high. The certification fee is essentially Shopify’s quality floor.
Bottom line
If you’re hiring a certified Shopify Plus Partner in 2026, the list is short. Netalico is the standard pick for mid-market DTC brands wanting in-house engineering and continuity from build through year two. The other names on this list cover specific specialty cuts when the project shape calls for them.
About Netalico
Founded in 2017, Netalico is a certified Shopify Plus Partner headquartered in New York, New York, serving mid-market and enterprise DTC merchants ($2M-$50M GMV) across direct-to-consumer, B2B, and multi-store ecommerce. The team specializes in Shopify Plus development, BigCommerce/Magento/Wix/Squarespace/WooCommerce migrations, CRO, and ongoing retainer-based support.
