Our verdict
The easiest all-in-one platform for selling online
Best for: First-time sellers and growing online stores that want everything in one place
Pros
- Very easy store builder, no coding needed
- Hosting, security and checkout all included
- Huge app store and theme library
- Sell online, on social media and in person
- Free trial, then $1/month for 3 months
Cons
- Extra transaction fee if you don’t use Shopify Payments
- Apps can add up to a high monthly cost
- Less content flexibility than WordPress
- Advanced plan is expensive
Score breakdown
On this page
Shopify is the platform behind millions of online stores, from one-person side businesses to big brands. Its appeal is simple: you can build a professional store, take payments and manage orders without touching code or worrying about hosting.
In this Shopify review we look at what Shopify does, what it really costs (including transaction fees and apps), its main features, and who should consider an alternative. For a hands-on walkthrough, see our guide on how to start a Shopify store.
Shopify at a glance
| Shopify | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2006 |
| Starting price | $19/mo billed yearly ($27 monthly) |
| Free trial | 3 days, then $1/month for 3 months |
| Included | Hosting, SSL, checkout, themes, inventory, analytics |
| Sales channels | Online store, social media, marketplaces, in person (POS) |
| Support | 24/7 chat and email |
What is Shopify?
Shopify is an all-in-one ecommerce platform. You pay a monthly subscription and get everything needed to run a store: a website builder, hosting, a secure checkout, payment processing, inventory and order management, and marketing tools. Because it’s a hosted service, Shopify handles security, updates and performance for you.
Shopify pricing
Prices checked on October 13, 2026 (USD):
| Plan | Billed yearly | Billed monthly | Fee with third-party payments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $19/mo | $27/mo | 2% |
| Grow | $54/mo | $72/mo | 1% |
| Advanced | $299/mo | $399/mo | 0.6% |
| Plus | From $2,300/mo | 0.2% | |
New stores get a 3-day free trial (no credit card needed), then $1/month for the first 3 months on most plans.
the price may vary according to your location, currency, and country. or from time to time. please visit the Shopify official website for more information about the prices.
Hidden costs to plan for
- Payment fees: if you use Shopify Payments, you only pay card processing rates (which vary by country and plan). If you use another payment provider, Shopify adds the extra fee in the table above.
- Apps: many stores add apps for reviews, email marketing, upsells or subscriptions. Some are free, but paid apps can easily add $20–$100+ per month.
- Themes: there are good free themes; premium themes are a one-off cost, typically a few hundred dollars.
- Domain: buy a custom domain through Shopify or another registrar.
Key features
Easy store builder
Shopify’s drag-and-drop editor and themes let you build a professional-looking store in a day. Every theme is mobile-friendly, which matters because most online shopping happens on phones.
Checkout and payments
Shopify’s checkout is fast and trusted by shoppers, with support for cards, Shop Pay, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay and many local methods.
Inventory and orders
Track stock, manage product variants (sizes, colours), print shipping labels in supported countries and handle returns from one dashboard.
App store
Thousands of apps add features such as product reviews, email marketing, dropshipping, print-on-demand and subscriptions.
Selling everywhere
Connect your store to Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Google and marketplaces, and sell in person with Shopify POS.
SEO and marketing
Edit page titles, descriptions and URLs, create discount codes and run email campaigns with Shopify’s own tools.
Shopify vs building your own store
With a self-hosted option such as WooCommerce on WordPress, you have more freedom and can keep costs low, but you’re responsible for hosting, security, updates and payment setup. Shopify trades some flexibility for simplicity: you pay a monthly fee and Shopify takes care of the technical side.
Who should use Shopify?
- First-time sellers who want to launch quickly without technical skills.
- Growing brands that need reliable checkout and inventory tools.
- Sellers who want to sell on social media and in person as well as online.
- Dropshipping and print-on-demand businesses (via apps).
Consider an alternative if you mainly publish content with a few products (WordPress with WooCommerce may suit you better), or you’re on a very tight budget and comfortable managing your own hosting.
Our verdict
Shopify is the easiest way for most people to start and grow an online store. It’s reliable, well supported and has an app for almost anything. Keep an eye on app costs and use Shopify Payments to avoid extra fees, and it’s excellent value for a serious store.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Shopify cost?
Basic is $19/month billed yearly ($27 monthly), Grow is $54 ($72 monthly) and Advanced is $299 ($399 monthly). Shopify Plus starts at $2,300/month. Checked October 2026.
Does Shopify have a free trial?
Yes. Shopify offers a 3-day free trial with no credit card required, then most plans cost $1/month for the first 3 months.
Does Shopify charge transaction fees?
If you use Shopify Payments there is no extra Shopify transaction fee, only card processing fees. If you use a third-party payment provider, Shopify adds 2% on Basic, 1% on Grow and 0.6% on Advanced.
Is Shopify better than WooCommerce?
Shopify is easier and handles hosting, security and updates for you. WooCommerce (on WordPress) is more flexible and can be cheaper, but you manage more yourself.
The easiest all-in-one platform for selling online
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