A better alternative to Tolstoy
Last updated: June 2025
TL;DR: Storista gives you flat monthly pricing with unlimited video views and Built for Shopify certification. Tolstoy charges extra for widget impressions — even when visitors don't click.
Looking for a Tolstoy alternative that won't surprise you with extra charges? Storista is a shoppable video app for Shopify that helps brands turn TikToks, Reels, and UGC into sales — with simple, predictable pricing and no impression fees.
Pricing: Flat Monthly Fee vs Impression-Based Charges
The biggest difference between Storista and Tolstoy is how you're billed. Tolstoy charges a monthly subscription plus additional fees for widget impressions — and those impressions count even when visitors don't interact with a video.
Storista uses straightforward flat monthly pricing. No per-impression fees, no overage charges, no surprises. Whether you're in a quiet period or running a major sale, your costs stay the same.
Built for Shopify Certification
Storista holds the "Built for Shopify" badge — the highest quality standard an app can achieve in the Shopify ecosystem. It means Storista meets Shopify's strictest requirements for performance, design, security, and merchant experience. Tolstoy does not have this certification.
Simplicity Without Sacrificing Quality
For brands looking to add effective shoppable video to their Shopify store, Storista stands out with its ease of use and intuitive interface. You can import videos from Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts, tag products, and go live in minutes — no technical setup required. It's a great fit for fashion, beauty, and lifestyle brands that want powerful video commerce without the complexity or cost of enterprise-grade tools like Tolstoy.
| Feature | Storista | Tolstoy |
|---|---|---|
| Built for Shopify | ||
| Adaptive Bitrate Streaming | ||
| Import | Instagram Reels, TikTok, YouTube Shorts | Instagram Reels, TikTok, Youtube Shorts |
| Free plan | Unavailable for web | |
| Cost | From $16 per month | From $19 per month with extra charges |
| Video views | Unlimited | Based on plan with extra charges |
See why customers
love using Storista
So happy about this app and cannot wait to utilise all the functionalities.
Berry Red London
Great app for displaying UGC widgets on the website. Lots of control as to what exactly and where you want to display UGC content.
Bed|Stu
The app is amazing and has helped convert so many of our customers!
Organic Events Supply
Storista has been a huge help for our store. It's easy to use, integrates smoothly with Shopify, and really helps showcase our products in a way that builds trust and increases engagement.
Visioneer
This app is a game changer. Being able to showcase our products in videos in such an easy way is a great feature and I totally recommend it. The app itself is very easy to use. And being able to tag the products on the video, so that they become shoppable is great.
Homo Naturals
I started my business as an Instagram shop so I rely on stories heavily to sell my products. After trying several apps on for Insta integrations I am now rooting for this app to become the best on Shopify!
Betterburnt
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Storista cheaper than Tolstoy?
Does Tolstoy charge for video impressions even without clicks?
Can I switch from Tolstoy to Storista?
What does "Built for Shopify" mean?
Does Storista have a free plan?
Disclaimer: All information regarding the Tolstoy service has been taken from the web pages https://gotolstoy.com, https://gotolstoy.com/pricing and https://apps.shopify.com/tolstoy as of June 21, 2025. This comparison is based on publicly available data and aims to provide an accurate and fair evaluation of the services offered. If any information has changed since this date, it may not be reflected in this comparison.