A custom business platform — storefront, dashboard, CRM, email, and automation in one system — built for how your business actually runs. We build it, host it, and keep it running. You just operate it.
Template builders give you a page editor and leave you to bolt on a CRM, an email tool, a scheduler, and analytics — each its own login and its own bill. Engine8 is one custom platform that does all of it, built for your business and run for you.
| Feature | Engine8 | Shopify | Wix | Squarespace | WordPress |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | ✓ Custom platform built for you | Template + apps | Drag-and-drop | Template-based | Plugin stack |
| Operating tools (CRM, email, automation) | ✓ Built in, one system | Separate paid apps | Limited / add-ons | Limited | Plugin-dependent |
| Monthly cost | ✓ One platform fee — hosting, tools & support | Plan + app subscriptions | Plan + add-ons | Plan | Hosting + plugins |
| Customization | ✓ Unlimited (custom code) | Theme-limited | Drag-and-drop | Template-based | Plugin-dependent |
| Performance | ✓ 95+ Lighthouse | 60–80 | 40–65 | 50–70 | 50–75 |
| Who runs it | ✓ We host, maintain & support | You (DIY) | You (DIY) | You (DIY) | You + devs |
| Your asset | ✓ You own your site, custom work & data | Locked to platform | Locked to platform | Locked to platform | Self-managed |
A live look at the core systems included in every project: operations, content control, revenue tooling, automation, and reporting.
Included Module
Real-time visibility into the metrics your team needs to run sales, fulfillment, and growth from one command center.
We build browser-native creative tools that rival desktop software — 3D product configurators, canvas design editors, real-time UV mapping, and more. Every editor is 100% custom-built to the client's exact workflow.
Production-grade systems designed, built, and run in-house — then hosted and supported on the Engine8 platform so they keep performing after launch. Custom to your business. Built to operate, not just to look good.
Custom, mobile-first, SEO-built, conversion-focused — and connected to the admin tools that run the rest of your business.
Real-time inventory, dynamic pricing, and checkout on the payment processor that fits you. We’re not locked to one provider — if it has an API, we integrate it.
Browser-based 3D viewers where customers rotate, swap materials, and upload artwork, then order with confidence.
Analytics, content, roles, and every daily tool behind one login — the operations layer your platform subscription keeps running.
Drag-and-drop design for stickers, labels, signs, and apparel, with print-ready export.
Blazing-fast, structured-data pages dialed for conversion.
Auth, billing, teams, and API-first architecture to launch and scale a product.
Opt-ins, email sequences, CRM, and conversion tracking working as one system.
Calendars, payment-at-booking, and reminders — processor-flexible.
Design-to-print pipelines into Printful, Printify, or your own shop.
Live dashboards, chat, and notifications without page refreshes.
If it has an API, we wire it in — payments, shipping, CRM, email, AI.
A deterministic assistant tuned to your business, upgradeable to full LLM support.
LLM workflows, RAG, vector search, and domain-specific tooling built into your product.
Every line written from scratch. Real users. Real payments. Real scale.
Full-stack reptile e-commerce platform with AI-powered live chat, HLS gecko cam streaming, a rich content ecosystem, and a 12-section admin dashboard — all built from scratch.
3D product configurator for custom branded tents with a real-time Three.js editor, e-commerce checkout, and a visual admin panel featuring scene editing — 9,400+ lines of custom code.
Custom sticker e-commerce with a Fabric.js design editor, AI design assistant, volume-based dynamic pricing engine, and a full admin suite with built-in user documentation.
Event ticketing platform for a 3,000+ attendee boxing event featuring PayPal checkout, QR ticket scanning, a 3D countdown timer, and real-time admin analytics.
Print-on-demand merch store with Printful fulfillment integration, dual payment processing via Stripe and PayPal, 21+ age verification, and a 5-step product creation wizard.
Service businesses that need a lead-generation engine. Brands launching storefronts. Startups shipping their first product. Companies replacing systems that hold them back. If your website should be driving revenue, not just existing — you're in the right place.
Brand Engines that turn visitors into booked calls, form fills, and paying clients — not just “nice websites.”
Commerce Engines with custom storefronts, checkout flows, and fulfillment — built to sell, not just display.
Platform Engines: dashboards, portals, and multi-user systems shipped fast enough to keep up with your roadmap.
Custom internal tools, admin panels, and modernized web infrastructure for teams that have outgrown off-the-shelf.
Side-by-side, so you can see exactly what you're getting and what you're leaving on the table.
| Feature | Engine8 | Freelance Marketplaces | Traditional Agencies | Offshore Teams |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turnaround | ✓ 2–4 weeks | 4–8 weeks | 8–16 weeks | 6–12 weeks |
| Communication | ✓ Direct, daily — U.S.-based | Through platform | Account manager | Timezone gaps |
| Custom build | ✓ 100% bespoke | Template-based | Bespoke (at $$$) | Varies wildly |
| Pricing | ✓ Scoped build + flat monthly platform | Hourly / bid wars | $15k–$80k+ | Cheap, hidden costs |
| Code quality | ✓ Production-grade | Inconsistent | Senior-reviewed | Often poor |
| Hosting & support | ✓ Included in your platform | Extra contract | Retainer required | Extra contract |
| Ownership | ✓ Own your site & data; buyout to go standalone | Usually | Sometimes | Usually |
Two parts. A one-time build fee to design and launch your platform, quoted after a consultation and paid across milestones — no hourly billing, no surprise invoices. Then a monthly platform subscription that hosts it, supports it, and keeps the operating tools running. You’ll know both numbers before any money changes hands.
Brand Engines launch in 2–3 weeks. Commerce and Platform Engines run 4–12 weeks depending on complexity. You get a realistic timeline before any money changes hands.
Brand Engine if you sell a service and need calls, bookings, and leads. Commerce Engine if you sell products and need a storefront and checkout. Platform Engine if you need dashboards, portals, or multi-user systems. Not sure? Start a conversation and we’ll scope it.
You own your site, your brand, your content, the custom features built for your business, and all your data — we never resell or reuse any of it. You pick the path at plan design: Engine8 Platform (subscription, AI tools and bulk email campaigns through us, ongoing dev work continues) or Standalone +40% upfront (self-hosted, those platform features stop working, ongoing dev through us ends). On the Platform path, part of your build is deferred while you’re with us — pay that deferred portion (40% of what you paid) anytime to convert to standalone. Regular email keeps working through your own connected business email either way. You can export your data anytime, and if Engine8 ever stopped operating, your code is released to you automatically.
Template builders give you a page editor, then leave you to bolt on a CRM, email tool, scheduler, and analytics — each its own bill. Engine8 is one custom platform that does all of it, built for your business, scoring 95+ on Lighthouse and doing things no template can. One system, one login, one fee — and we run it for you.
Your platform subscription keeps everything hosted, supported, and running, with priority help when you need it. New features or changes are scoped separately as your business grows — you’re never paying for work that hasn’t been done.
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