TL;DR: There is no universal “best” brand page app. Choose by catalogue size, need for logos and search, and whether native collections already solve the job. For large multi-brand catalogues, Brand Page Pro A-Z Brands List is one option among native, custom and third-party routes, not the only answer.
Figure (BRAND-002-A1): Comparison table of Shopify brand page approaches including native setup and apps
How to choose (at a glance)
- Write down the job: index only, logos, search/filter, or unique brand SEO pages.
- Count brands and how often the list changes.
- Test whether collections + navigation already work.
- List must-have features before looking at apps.
- Compare native, custom theme and apps against that list.
- Check today’s App Store pricing and reviews (do not reuse old blog numbers).
- Install on a development theme and test uninstall behaviour.
- Pick the lightest solution that meets the job.
Quick answer
Small catalogues rarely need an app. Large, messy vendor lists usually do. This guide is a decision framework with an ownership disclosure, not an awards page.
If shoppers can already find brands via a short menu and you are not losing sales to a missing directory, do not install software for aesthetics alone. If merchandisers spend hours updating a manual brands page every week, a generated A-Z index is usually the lighter long-term fix.
Who this comparison is for
Multi-brand Shopify merchants and agencies who need shoppers to browse brands alphabetically. Research date: 4 November 2026. Feature and price claims for every product must be re-checked against live listings that day.
Disclosure
This guide is published by Aperitive, developer of Brand Page Pro A-Z Brands List. We include native and custom options, and we state when our app is a poor fit.
How we evaluated the options
Evaluation criteria (no fake lab scores):
- Fit for A-Z / vendor directory jobs
- Logos, layouts, collection linking (as claimed on listings)
- Native alternative quality
- Current published pricing
- Setup complexity
- Theme risk / uninstall notes where known
- Whether the tool solves a directory job versus a long-form SEO content job (related, not identical)
We do not invent ratings, “Editor’s Choice” badges, or competitor screenshots.
Decision nuance: four jobs people call “brand pages”
Clarify which job you are buying for before you compare apps:
- Directory index – A–Z list of brand names (and optional logos) linking into the catalogue
- Brand collection landing – one collection URL per brand that holds products
- Brand storytelling – rich imagery and copy beyond a directory row
- Brand SEO content programme – unique long-form pages per brand, usually editorial workflow
Brand Page Pro and similar directory apps primarily serve (1), often with links into (2). They are not automatically a substitute for (4). Mixing those jobs in a comparison table produces unfair “wins”.
Summary comparison table
Prices and competitor names marked re-checked 4 November 2026.
| Route | Ideal merchant | Strength | Limitation | Pricing note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Native collections + menu | Few stable brands | No app | Weak A-Z UX at scale | Included in Shopify |
| Custom Liquid / headless | Strong engineering team | Full design control | Build + maintain | Agency cost |
| Brand Page Pro | Large vendor catalogues | Listing: auto A-Z, logos, layouts, collection linking | App dependency; plan limits | Free + Pro ~$7.99/mo |
| Native vendor / collection setup | Small brand sets | Theme templates + menus | Manual upkeep | Included |
If fewer than two credible third-party apps exist on publish day, retitle publicly to “Best ways to build a Shopify brands page” and keep the table to native / custom / Brand Page Pro.
Native Shopify and DIY routes
Brand collections + navigation
- Create one collection per brand (manual or automated by Vendor where possible).
- Open Online Store > Navigation.
- Add each brand collection under a parent Brands item (or a flat list if short).
- Spot-check mobile menu density and tap targets.
Choose native when: under roughly 15 brands, infrequent change, no need for letter indexes or logo grids.
Avoid native alone when: hundreds of vendors, constant catalogue churn, or mobile menus become unusable.
Manual page
Create a page and paste brand links by hand. Fine for a boutique list that rarely changes. Fails when vendors are added weekly or when merchandisers forget to update the page after a new collection goes live.
Custom Liquid / headless
A developer can render vendors from Liquid or the Storefront API into a designed A–Z experience. That can look excellent and still becomes a maintenance project when themes or APIs change. Budget for ongoing support and document how new vendors appear without a deploy.
| Approach | Best for | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Brand collections + menu | Small brand counts | No true A–Z index; menu bloat |
| Manual page | Very short static lists | Goes stale quickly |
| Custom theme / headless | Strict design systems | Build and maintenance cost |
| Brand directory app | Large, changing vendor sets | App dependency; plan gates |
Brand Page Pro A-Z Brands List
App Store listing (snapshot research 2026-11-03; re-verify): auto-generated brands page from vendors, logo upload, multiple layouts, collection linking, Free and Pro plans.
Strong fit: multi-brand catalogues that need a maintainable A–Z hub linked from navigation. Weak fit: stores that only need three brand links; stores that actually need long-form SEO articles per brand (different job); merchants unwilling to install apps.
Landing page: Brand Page Pro on aperitive.io. Prefer the App Store for any published price claim if the landing page drifts.
Prerequisites before judging the app: Vendor values standardised on products; decision on whether each brand needs a collection URL; a staging theme for install/uninstall checks. Dirty vendor data produces a messy directory in every tool, including this one.
Alternative apps
Add even-handed sections for at least two current App Store alternatives with:
- Listing URL
- Stated features relevant to brand directories
- Dated pricing
- One clear limitation each
Do not copy competitor marketing verbatim. Do not reuse 2024/2025 prices from old Aperitive posts. If an alternative is primarily a mega-menu or a general page-builder, say so; do not pretend it is a specialised A–Z vendor directory.
Recommendations by use case
| Use case | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| 5–10 brands, stable | Native collections + menu |
| 50–500 vendors, need A–Z | Brand Page Pro or verified alternative |
| Logo-forward brand storytelling | App with logo layouts, or custom design |
| Unique SEO copy per brand | Brand collections + content process |
| Fully custom front end | Theme/headless build |
| Agency launch in under a day | Directory app on a development theme, then menu link |
Worked decision example
A multi-brand beauty retailer has 180 vendors, weekly new lines, and a mobile menu that already wraps awkwardly. Merchandising wants logos on an A–Z page; SEO wants unique copy only for the top 20 brands.
- Job split: directory for all 180; editorial collections for top 20.
- Native menu alone: rejected (scale + mobile).
- Custom Liquid: possible but agency bandwidth blocked for six weeks.
- Shortlist: Brand Page Pro + two verified directory apps.
- Trial: generate index, upload a handful of logos, link collections, uninstall check.
- SEO: keep unique copy on the top 20 collection templates; do not expect the directory app to invent essays.
Outcome: pick the lightest tool that generates the index reliably; keep content ops separate.
When Aperitive is not the right choice
Pick something else if you need checkout brand logic, AI-generated brand essays, or a zero-app policy. Also skip Brand Page Pro if a native menu already satisfies shoppers. More software is not a goal.
Common evaluation mistakes
| Mistake | Why it hurts | Better approach |
|---|---|---|
| Ranking by old blog prices | Plans change | Dated App Store snapshot |
| Expecting SEO articles from an A–Z index | Wrong job | Pair directory + content process |
| Installing before cleaning Vendor data | Ugly letters / duplicates | Standardise vendors first |
| Skipping uninstall test | Theme residue risk | Dev theme proof |
| Comparing page builders as directory apps | Inflated feature lists | Score only directory-relevant claims |
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Shopify app for an alphabetical brand directory?
The best app is the one that matches your brand count and features after a live listing check. Start with the criteria list above, not a trophy ranking.
Can Shopify do a brands page without an app?
Yes, via collections and navigation, with UX limits at scale. A manual page also works for tiny lists.
Do brand page apps create SEO content for every brand automatically?
Generally no. An A–Z index is a directory. Confirm any content-generation claims on the specific listing. Brand Page Pro should not be described as unlimited AI SEO page generation unless product evidence shows that.
How should agencies evaluate brand directory apps?
Run a development store proof: generate index, link collections, test mobile, uninstall cleanly, document time-to-launch for the client. Capture dated pricing screenshots for the SOW.
How many brands before an app is worth it?
There is no magic number. When menu maintenance or a manual page becomes a weekly chore, or mobile navigation fails usability checks, trial a directory app. Many stores feel the pain somewhere between a few dozen and a few hundred brands, depending on logo needs and update frequency.
Will a brand directory fix inconsistent vendor spelling?
No. Fix Vendor (or your brand metafield source) first. The directory will faithfully display whatever data you feed it, including duplicates like “Acme” and “ACME Ltd”.
Next steps
Implementation guide: How to create an A-Z brands page in Shopify (BRAND-001). Product: Brand Page Pro. App Store: apps.shopify.com/brand-page.
Shopify origin: https://www.aperitive.io/blogs/articles/best-shopify-brand-page-apps-how-to-choose