Looking for the best alternative to Nosto?

See where personalization and merchandising begin to add complexity rather than clarity. Reduce manual rules, ship intent-aware search, and give merchandisers real control with Layers.

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Layers vs Nosto

See why merchants switch from Nosto to Layers

The difference between Layers and Nosto

See intent, not just recommendations

Nosto relies on personalization widgets and rule-based recommendations. At the same time, Layers understands shopper intent across search and collections, interpreting queries such as “summer dresses under $150 for a wedding” without requiring segments or manual rules, reducing ongoing configuration and maintenance.

Built for operators, not campaign logic

Nosto was built for marketers configuring experiences, while Layers was designed for ecommerce operators running the catalog day-to-day, with native Shopify support for combined listings, multi-region catalogs, currency-aware ranking, and visual product control without campaign trees or rule sprawl.

Fast setup, no rule debt

Layers connects directly to Shopify, syncs the catalog and variants, and begins learning from shopper behavior within hours, eliminating the need for segments, personalization strategies, or long-term rule debt that tends to accumulate as Nosto setups grow more complex.

Merchandising with a focus on performance

Layers goes beyond personalization signals by blending behavioral data with business metrics like margin, inventory depth, and return rates, while giving merchandisers the ability to preview changes, schedule rules, and test sort logic, something Nosto cannot do without additional tooling to connect discovery decisions to profitability.

Global by default

Layers supports Shopify Markets and multilingual catalogs natively within a single index, automating pricing, currency conversion, and translations. At the same time, Nosto was not designed around native Markets workflows and often requires additional configuration to manage global catalogs cleanly.

Lower complexity, clearer ownership

Layers replaces multiple tools across search, merchandising, and discovery with a single platform and workflow. At the same time, Nosto serves personalization-led teams but leaves merchandisers with less direct control and higher long-term operational overhead.

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Frequently asked questions

What’s the core difference between Layers and Nosto?

Nosto is a personalization platform focused on recommendations and experiences. Layers is a discovery and merchandising engine built around intent, search, and catalog control. Layers removes the need for rule-heavy personalization setups.

What’s the core difference between Layers and Nosto?

How fast can we go live on Shopify?

Most teams connect Layers and see live search and merchandising within hours. Nosto typically requires setup across widgets, segments, and personalization strategies.

How fast can we go live on Shopify?

Most teams connect Layers and see live search and merchandising within hours. Nosto typically requires setup across widgets, segments, and personalization strategies.

How fast can we go live on Shopify?

Most teams connect Layers and see live search and merchandising within hours. Nosto typically requires setup across widgets, segments, and personalization strategies.

Will Layers replace personalization tools?

For many teams, yes. Layers handles intent-aware discovery, contextual ranking, and merchandising without separate personalization rules. Nosto may still be useful for campaign-driven personalization use cases.

Will Layers replace personalization tools?

Does Layers support Shopify Markets and multilingual catalogs?

Yes. Layers supports multi-region, multi-currency, and multi-language catalogs in a single index.

Does Layers support Shopify Markets and multilingual catalogs?

Yes. Layers supports multi-region, multi-currency, and multi-language catalogs in a single index.

Does Layers support Shopify Markets and multilingual catalogs?

Yes. Layers supports multi-region, multi-currency, and multi-language catalogs in a single index.

Which should I choose if my team is merchandising-led?

Choose Layers. If your priority is clean control over search, collections, and profitability, Layers is a better fit. If your team primarily runs marketing-led personalization campaigns, Nosto may be a better fit.

Which should I choose if my team is merchandising-led?

Migrate and save up to $200,000 annually*

Switch to Layers and save ~50% compared to other enterprise platforms, without losing a dollar in revenue.

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*Cost savings are based on real-world feedback and data collected during onboarding. There is no guarantee that your business will experience the same or similar cost savings, it is driven by volume and features utilized.

Setup in less than a week

No technical experience required

Seamless Shopify Plus integration

Reduce empty searches by 30%+

Unlimited user accounts included

24/7 dedicated support