Lume vs Shopify Magic
AI image editing built into the Shopify admin (once branded Shopify Magic, now media generation and Sidekick), included with Shopify plans. Lume takes a different route: instead of describing a scene or training a model, you pick one of 4,000+ ready-made scenes, upload your product, and generate. This page sets the two side by side on the things that actually decide the choice.
The short answer
Choose Lume if
You want a finished look chosen from a catalogue rather than assembled. Templates carry the lighting, surface, composition and props already, so the decision is which scene suits the product, not how to build one.
Choose Shopify Magic if
Its workflow fits how you already work. It works inside the Shopify admin, so a new background is one step from the product page, with nothing to export or upload.
Shopify Magic pricing
Read from https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/shopify-admin/productivity-tools/shopify-magic/media-generation on 9 November 2026. Vendors change pricing often, so check the source before relying on these figures.
| Plan | Monthly | Yearly (per month) | Published allowance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Media generation in the Shopify admin | Included with Shopify plans | Not stated | No published limit |
What is worth knowing about Shopify Magic
- • It works inside the Shopify admin, so a new background is one step from the product page, with nothing to export or upload.
- • Output is about 1 megapixel: larger images are scaled down and smaller ones scaled up.
- • It generates one AI scene at a time, and unsaved scenes are deleted when the editor closes.
- • Generated images carry an invisible watermark that does not restrict commercial use but cannot be removed.
How Lume works
Lume is built around a catalogue of 4,000+ scenes, each one designed as a complete photograph: a surface, a lighting setup, a composition and any props already arranged. You upload a product photo, pick the scene, and the product is placed into it. There is no prompt to write and no model to train, which is the main structural difference between Lume and most tools in this category.
Output resolution is chosen per generation at 1K, 2K or 4K, costing one, two or three credits. Aspect ratios are grouped into kits for square, social, e-commerce and ads, so one product shot can be produced in the shapes a listing and a paid campaign each need. Batch generation is part of the product rather than a separate tool, which matters once a catalogue runs past a few dozen items.
Plans run from a free tier with 3 credits up to Studio at $79 a month. Unused credits roll over, and generated images are yours to use commercially on every paid plan.
Picking between them
The honest split is about where you want the creative decisions to sit. Tools that generate from a description give you a wide space to explore and ask you to steer it. A template catalogue narrows the space deliberately: the scenes were designed in advance, so the work is selection rather than direction. Which is better depends entirely on whether you enjoy art-directing or want the result.
Cost comparisons across this category are harder than they look, because the units differ. Some vendors meter generated images, some meter credits weighted by operation, and some meter exports separately from generation. Before comparing headline prices, work out how many finished, usable images each plan actually yields for the way you work.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does Shopify Magic cost?
- Shopify does not charge separately: its help centre says media generation in the file editor is available on all Shopify plans at no extra cost, for a limited time. Read from https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/shopify-admin/productivity-tools/shopify-magic/media-generation on 9 November 2026; check the source before relying on it.
- How much does Lume cost?
- Lume starts free with 3 credits. Paid plans are Pro $9, Business $29, Growth $49 and Studio $79 a month, with 60, 240, 420 and 720 credits. One credit makes one 1K image; 2K costs 2 and 4K costs 3.
- What is the main difference between Lume and Shopify Magic?
- Lume is built around 4,000+ ready-made scenes: you upload a product photo and pick a scene, with no prompt to write and no model to train. AI image editing built into the Shopify admin (once branded Shopify Magic, now media generation and Sidekick), included with Shopify plans.
- Can I use images from Lume commercially?
- Yes. Every Lume plan includes commercial licensing, so you can use the images on your store, marketplaces and ads.
See the scenes for yourself
Browse 4,000+ product photography backgrounds. Free plan, no card needed.