B2B Handsfree vs B2B Onboard: Which Registration App Fits Your Store?

Full disclosure: I'm building B2B Onboard. I'll be as fair as I can here, but you should know that going in. I'll point out where B2B Handsfree is the better choice, because for some merchants, it is.

Both apps solve the same core problem: letting wholesale customers apply for a B2B account on your Shopify store. Both handle registration, both handle approval. The differences are in scope, approach, and what happens after someone submits an application.

TL;DR: B2B Handsfree is best for EU-only merchants who need VAT validation and automatic tax exemption. B2B Onboard is better for merchants who need custom forms, file uploads, multi-region tax validation, or Shopify Plus B2B company assignment. Both have free tiers.

What Each App Does

B2B Handsfree is built by commerce & code (A9 Design). It focuses on B2B registration with EU VAT validation and automatic tax exemption. The core value proposition is straightforward: a customer registers, their VAT ID is validated, they're tagged and set as tax-exempt, and invoicing apps pick up the VAT number automatically.

B2B Onboard is built by Mentilead. It's a form builder with an approval workflow. Custom forms with 11+ input types, file uploads for business documents, real-time tax ID validation across six regions, branded email notifications, and for Plus merchants, automatic Shopify B2B company and catalog assignment on approval.

Both are focused registration apps. Neither tries to be a full wholesale suite with pricing tiers and quantity breaks. That's a good thing. They do one job well instead of many jobs poorly.

Registration Forms

B2B Handsfree gives you a customizable registration form with standard fields: company name, address, phone, and VAT ID. The form is functional and gets the job done for merchants who need the basics.

B2B Onboard takes a form-builder approach. You get 11 input types (text, email, phone, number, textarea, select, radio, checkbox, date, country picker, file upload) plus layout elements (headings and paragraphs). Drag and drop reordering. Multiple forms for different registration types (wholesale, reseller, trade account). Ready-made templates to start from.

If your registration needs are simple, both work. Company name, VAT number, address. Done. If you need different forms for different customer types, conditional fields, or file uploads for trade licenses and tax exemption certificates, B2B Onboard gives you more flexibility.

Tax ID Validation

This is B2B Handsfree's core strength. It validates EU VAT numbers in real time via VIES. If the number is valid, the customer is automatically set as tax-exempt in Shopify. The VAT number flows to invoicing apps through metafields. For EU-focused merchants, this is clean and well-executed.

The limitation is scope. B2B Handsfree covers EU VAT. If you sell wholesale to the UK, US, Australia, New Zealand, or Canada, those tax IDs aren't validated. For a deep dive into how tax ID validation works across all these regions, see How to Validate International Tax IDs on Shopify.

B2B Onboard validates EU VAT (via VIES) and does format validation for UK VAT, US EIN, Australian ABN, New Zealand GST, and Canadian BN. If your B2B customers are international, the coverage is broader.

B2B Handsfree wins if: Your wholesale customers are entirely within the EU. The VIES integration plus automatic tax-exempt tagging is a tight, proven workflow.

B2B Onboard wins if: You sell to the UK, US, Australia, or other non-EU regions. Or if you need VAT validation as one piece of a larger registration form.

Approval Workflow

B2B Handsfree handles approval through Shopify's customer management. Registered customers are tagged and can be reviewed in the admin. The focus is on automation: valid VAT equals automatic tax exemption.

B2B Onboard has a dedicated approval dashboard. Applications show up with all submitted data and uploaded documents. One-click approve, reject, or request more information. Dashboard badges rank applications by wait time so older applications don't get buried. Approved customers are created in Shopify with configurable tags.

The "request more information" workflow matters if you deal with incomplete applications. Instead of rejecting and asking someone to reapply, you can ask for the missing document or clarification, and the applicant updates their submission.

Shopify Plus Integration

If you're on Shopify Plus, B2B Onboard integrates with Shopify's native B2B features. On approval, it can automatically create the B2B company profile, set up the company location, assign the contact, wire up the tax ID, and assign the right catalog. All in one step. The idea is that B2B Onboard handles the front door (registration and vetting) while Shopify's native B2B handles the back office (company management, pricing, payment terms).

B2B Handsfree works on Plus too, but doesn't do the automatic company/catalog assignment. The customer is created and tagged, and you set up the B2B company profile separately in the Shopify admin.

If you're not on Plus, this doesn't matter. Both apps create standard Shopify customers with tags.

Theme Impact

Both apps need to display a registration form on your store. How they do this matters.

B2B Onboard uses Shopify's App Proxy to serve the form. The form renders at a URL on your store domain (like yourstore.com/apps/register) inside your theme's layout. No JavaScript injected into your theme files. No Liquid snippets. Nothing to clean up if you uninstall.

B2B Handsfree also integrates through Shopify's standard app integration. The specifics of their implementation may vary, so it's worth checking the current setup process.

The theme impact question is more about principle than about either specific app. If you've been burned by apps that modify your theme code and leave fragments behind on uninstall, you want to understand how the form is delivered before you install.

Email Notifications

B2B Handsfree sends notification emails for registration events. The specifics depend on your configuration.

B2B Onboard has five email templates: application approved, application rejected, more information requested, merchant notification (new application), and applicant confirmation (application received). Each is customizable with your logo and brand colors. On Growth plans and above, emails are white-labeled (no Mentilead branding).

If branded, professional communication matters to your wholesale applicants, this is a differentiator.

Integrations

B2B Handsfree integrates directly with invoicing apps like Sufio, Billbee, and Order Printer Templates. The VAT number stored in customer metafields flows automatically to invoices. This is a meaningful feature if generating VAT-compliant invoices is a core part of your B2B workflow.

B2B Onboard also stores VAT numbers and company info in metafields, making them available to invoicing apps. It additionally integrates with Shopify Flow (trigger on new registration, actions for approve/reject) for merchants who want to build custom automations.

Pricing Comparison

| | B2B Handsfree | B2B Onboard | |---|---|---| | Free tier | Yes (limited) | Yes (1 form, 10 apps/mo) | | Entry paid plan | Check current pricing | $14.99/mo (3 forms, 50 apps/mo) | | Mid-tier | Check current pricing | $29.99/mo (10 forms, 250 apps/mo, Flow, branding) | | Top tier | Check current pricing | $49.99/mo (unlimited) |

B2B Handsfree's pricing may have changed since research. Check their current Shopify App Store listing for the latest.

Which Should You Choose?

Choose B2B Handsfree if:

Your wholesale customers are EU-based
VAT validation and automatic tax exemption is your primary need
You want a simple, proven solution for EU B2B registration
You need direct invoicing app integrations and VAT on invoices is your main concern
You have straightforward registration needs (no file uploads, no multi-form setups)

Choose B2B Onboard if:

You need custom forms with file uploads (trade licenses, tax certificates)
Your wholesale customers span multiple regions (EU, UK, US, AU, NZ, CA)
You're on Shopify Plus and want automatic B2B company/catalog assignment
You want multiple forms for different customer types
You need a structured approval workflow with "request more info" capability
You want Shopify Flow integration for custom automations
Zero theme code injection is a hard requirement

Choose neither if:

You need a full wholesale suite with pricing tiers, quantity breaks, and order management. Both apps are registration-focused. Look at BSS B2B Wholesale Solution or Wholesale Gorilla instead. For a broader comparison including wholesale suites, see Best Shopify Apps for B2B Customer Registration in 2026.

The Honest Take

B2B Handsfree has been around longer and has a track record with EU merchants. If your B2B operation is straightforward, EU-focused wholesale with VAT validation as the key requirement, it does the job.

B2B Onboard is newer and broader in scope. More form flexibility, more regions for tax validation, deeper Plus integration, more approval workflow features. The trade-off is that it's a younger product.

Try both. Both offer free tiers. Install them, build a form, see which fits your workflow. The right answer depends on your specific merchants, your specific regions, and how much customization your registration process needs.

B2B Onboard handles B2B registration, tax ID validation across six regions, file uploads, and Shopify Plus company assignment. Start with the free plan and see if it fits.