Shopify Review: Is Shopify a Good Website Builder or Not?
In the fast-paced world of e-commerce, having a reliable, trustworthy, and user-friendly website builder is crucial for online businesses.
As you will learn in this comprehensive Shopify review, Shopify has emerged as one of the leading platforms, offering entrepreneurs a reasonably-priced all-in-one solution for creating, managing, and growing their online stores.
Shopify has become increasingly popular because it’s feature-rich, customizable, and versatile. However, as with any platform, Shopify has weaknesses.
In this article, we’ll look closely at Shopify’s key features, ease of use, pricing, customer support, and more to help you decide whether Shopify is the right for your needs.
Shopify Review 2023: Is Shopify a Good Website Builder?
How good is Shopify? Well, as you will learn in this Shopify.com review, we’re talking about one of the most popular website builders for creating and managing online stores. Shopify offers a wide range of features, a user-friendly interface, and robust e-commerce tools - everything you need to build websites.
Whether you’re a small business owner or a large enterprise, Shopify offers extensive customization options and reliable customer support.
So, it’s a great large and small business website builder for launching your first website, building a strong online presence and increasing sales.
Here’s why Shopify is considered a good website builder:
User-Friendly Interface
Shopify has a very intuitive and user-friendly interface that allows people with minimal technical knowledge to build and manage their online stores effortlessly.
Moreover, the platform offers drag-and-drop functionality, making it easy to customize the design and layout of your website.
Extensive Feature Set
Shopify offers a large set of features tailored specifically for e-commerce businesses. These include secure hosting, SSL certificates, payment gateway integration, inventory management, order tracking, and abandoned cart recovery.
So, with Shopify, you have all the necessary tools to run a successful online store.
Versatile Design Options
Shopify provides many professionally designed themes tailored to match your brand and meet your business needs.
Whether you’re looking for a minimalist design or a visually stunning layout, Shopify offers numerous options to create a stunning and engaging online store.
Mobile-Responsive Websites
Your e-commerce site must be mobile-responsive because most people shop from smartphones and don’t tolerate slow websites.
Luckily, Shopify ensures your site is optimized for mobile devices, allowing customers a seamless shopping experience across various platforms and screen sizes.
App Store and Integrations
Shopify has a robust app store with many third-party applications and integrations.
These apps allow you to extend the functionality of your online store, integrate with popular tools and services, and enhance the overall user experience.
Reliable Customer Support
Shopify has top-notch customer support. The platform provides 24/7 assistance through various channels, including live chat, email, and phone.
Whether you need technical assistance or have questions about running your online store, Shopify’s support team can help at any time.
Scalability and Performance
Shopify can accommodate businesses of all sizes. That’s why it became so popular and widely accepted.
Additionally, the platform can handle high volumes of traffic and transactions, ensuring that your online store stays responsive and works well even during peak periods.
SEO-Friendly
Shopify has built-in SEO features, making it easier for your online store to rank higher in search engine results. It provides options for optimizing page titles, meta descriptions, URLs, and more, helping improve your website’s visibility and attracting organic traffic.
In conclusion, Shopify is a unique website builder for online stores.
The easy-to-use interface, large feature set, flexible templates, mobile responsiveness, app integrations, reliable customer support, scalability, and SEO tools, make Shopify a highly recommended choice for businesses of any size.
Review of Shopify Website Builder Pricing Plans
First of all, how much does Shopify cost? Let’s first review Shopify prices:
How Much Does Shopify Website Creator Cost for Nonprofits?
Shopify offers two plans specifically designed for nonprofits: NPO Lite and NPO Full.
To sign up for these plans, you must contact Shopify Support directly, so they can verify your nonprofit status and apply the relevant plan changes.
While account-specific support isn’t provided through the Shopify Community, Shopify offers assistance through live chat, email, or callback.
Here’s all you need to know about the nonprofit plans:
NPO Lite:
Monthly fee: NPO Lite with Free Channels (no online shop) - $9
Annual fee: NPO Lite with Free Channels (no online shop) - $96
Most Common: NPO Lite with Online shop + free channels (excluding POS Classic retail functionality) - $29 monthly or $312 annually
NPO Lite offers features not typically available on Shopify Lite or Shopify Basic plans.
Features and benefits of NPO Lite include:
1% transaction fees for merchants using a 3rd party payment provider (instead of 2% on the Basic plan)
Lower Shopify Payments credit card rates (equivalent to Shopify plan rates)
Accept donations through Shopify Payments for registered charities in the US/Canada
Unlimited Staff Accounts
Real-time Carrier Shipping (Advanced plan feature)
Maximum of 3 locations
NPO Full:
Monthly fee: NPO Full with Free Channels (no online shop) - $79
Annual fee: NPO Full with Free Channels (no online shop) - $852
Most Common: NPO Full with Online shop + free channels + Retail POS functionality (for merchants still using POS Classic) - $99 monthly or $1068 annually
NPO Full offers more robust features compared to the regular Shopify plan.
Features and benefits of NPO Full include:
0% transaction fees for merchants using a 3rd party payment provider (instead of 1% on the Shopify plan)
Lower Shopify Payments credit card rates compared to the Shopify plan
Unlimited Staff Accounts
Accept donations through Shopify Payments for registered charities in the US/Canada
Real-time Carrier Shipping (Advanced plan feature)
Maximum of 4 locations
Note: The annual billing cycles for both plans provide a 10% discount, and there aren’t other discounts for biennial or triennial plans. If a feature isn’t mentioned above, it aligns with what’s available in the corresponding Shopify plan.
Are There Any Shopify Coupon Codes or Promo Discount Vouchers?
After extensive research, we haven’t found any Shopify coupon codes or promotional discount vouchers. Shopify typically offers promotions and discounts during specific periods or events, such as Black Friday or Cyber Monday.
However, these promotions may vary each year, and it’s recommended to keep a close eye on Shopify’s official website or subscribe to their newsletter to stay updated on any upcoming deals, discount codes, or gift cards.
Additionally, third-party websites or partners may occasionally offer exclusive discounts, so explore those options.
Shopify Free vs Paid: What’s the Difference?
When setting up or upgrading your Shopify store, you can choose between free and paid versions. However, note that Shopify doesn’t have a completely free plan. Instead, it offers a free trial on all plans.
Now, let’s discuss the main differences between the free trial and paid plans to help you make a well-informed decision.
First of All, What is a Shopify Theme?
A Shopify theme is the look and feel of your website, encompassing the colors, fonts, layout, and features. It determines the overall appearance of your online store.
The best part about Shopify’s themes? You can swap them anytime without affecting your product listings and page content.
By default, new Shopify stores come with the Debut theme, suitable for most stores but may feel generic. Many store owners switch to a different theme to align with their brand and meet their specific needs.
Shopify offers a collection of free themes and various paid options.
Paid themes can vary in price, with some available for as low as $17 and others costing over $500. Custom-made themes from developers can have even higher price tags.
Who is Shopify Free for?
A free Shopify theme might be the perfect choice if you’re new to Shopify and have a limited budget. These themes have a user-friendly interface to quickly set up your store without breaking the bank.
They provide a solid foundation for understanding the basics of Shopify and allow you to explore the features your business may need in the future.
They’re particularly suitable if you have a small product range, inventory, and simple eCommerce needs. As your brand grows and your audience demands more features, you may need to add paid apps or upgrade to a paid theme.
Who is Shopify Paid for?
Paid Shopify themes make a great choice for novice and experienced business owners. Despite offering a wide range of features and customization options, they’re still relatively easy to set up.
Additionally, paid themes often come with comprehensive support documentation and excellent customer service for help.
The many features and customizable designs of paid themes make them ideal for users looking to upgrade their online store or those with larger product inventories.
Unlike free themes, paid themes include many built-in features, eliminating the need to buy extra apps for functionalities like countdown banners or filtering and sorting tools.
A paid theme could be the perfect fit if your store has significant eCommerce feature requirements and wants to avoid technical debt and additional costs associated with apps.
So, Which One is Right for You?
When deciding between a paid or free Shopify theme, it’s crucial to consider your needs and budget. Free themes typically offer more basic layouts, sections, and customization options.
On the other hand, paid themes provide more customization and advanced features for a more sophisticated online store. While the upfront cost of a paid theme may seem steep, it’s often a worthwhile investment in the long run.
Considering all these factors, we recommend opting for a paid Shopify theme if you’re serious about selling on the platform.
Paid themes provide more control over the look and functionality of your site. They often come with advanced features and help create a professional and unique online store.
A free theme can be a suitable starting point if you’re on a tight budget, still exploring Shopify, or have simple eCommerce needs.
It’s reliable, optimized for performance, and can be enhanced with additional apps as your business grows.
When choosing a Shopify theme, you should consider performance, design flexibility, available features, customization options, support, reviews, price, and where the theme is sold.
The Shopify Theme Store is a reputable source for quality themes that the Shopify team has reviewed and tested.
Other marketplaces also have attractive options, so explore and choose wisely.
Many who have gone through the process recommend buying a paid one from the start, as it saves them from the recurring app subscription fees and the technical complexities of integrating numerous apps into a free theme.
Shopify Overview: What is Shopify.com & What is Shopify.com Used for?
Shopify.com is a comprehensive e-commerce platform allowing people and businesses to craft, adjust, and control online stores.
It has all the tools and features you need to set up a successful e-commerce business without having any technical knowledge or coding skills.
What Does Shopify Do?
Shopify simplifies starting and running a store by providing a user-friendly interface and many built-in functionalities.
With Shopify, users can create their store, customize templates, add products, manage inventory, process payments, and handle shipping and fulfillment.
The platform also offers marketing and analytics tools to help businesses promote items, attract customers, and make data-driven decisions to improve their work.
Why Use Shopify?
There’s a list of good reasons to choose Shopify for your e-commerce needs:
User-Friendly Interface
Shopify’s interface is intuitive and easy to navigate, making it accessible for users with varying technical expertise.
It simplifies setting up a successful online store, allowing business owners to focus on their items and customers rather than getting caught up in complex technical aspects.
Flexibility and Customization
Shopify offers many customizable themes and templates, allowing users to craft unique and modern storefront that aligns with their brand identity.
It also has extensive customization options, enabling businesses to adjust their store’s appearance and functionality to meet their vision and needs.
Seamless Payment Integration
Shopify integrates with over 100 payment gateways, making it simple for businesses to accept payments from customers worldwide.
Shopify supports major credit cards, digital wallets, and alternative payment methods for a smooth and secure checkout experience.
Scalability
Shopify can meet the needs of businesses of all sizes, from small startups to large enterprises. It offers flexible pricing plans that scale alongside your business growth, allowing you to add features and resources as needed.
But here’s the real kicker. Shopify’s infrastructure can handle high traffic and transaction volumes, ensuring a smooth shopping experience for customers during peak periods.
App Store and Integrations
Shopify has a vast ecosystem of third-party apps and integrations. These apps offer additional features and tools for marketing, customer service, inventory management, analytics, and more.
Users can enhance their store’s capabilities by integrating with popular services like email marketing platforms, accounting software, and social media channels.
Robust Support and Resources
Shopify provides comprehensive support documentation, tutorials, and a dedicated support team to assist users at every step of their e-commerce journey.
The platform also hosts a vibrant community of users and experts who share insights, tips, and best practices, creating a valuable resource for learning and problem-solving.
Security and Reliability
Shopify takes security seriously and protects customer data, transactions, and sensitive information.
The platform is PCI DSS compliant and uses advanced security measures to safeguard against cyber threats.
It also provides reliable hosting, regular backups, and 24/7 monitoring to ensure uptime and minimize disruptions to your online store.
In a nutshell, Shopify.com is a one-in-all e-commerce platform that empowers people and businesses to easily create, customize, and manage their online stores.
How Does Shopify Work?
Although Shopify is packed with features, it’s actually pretty easy to use. So, if you’re new to online stores, don’t worry. You will figure it out quickly. If you need help, follow this step-by-step guide:
Step 1: Sign Up for a Shopify Account
Visit the Shopify website and click on the “Get Started” button. Fill in the required information, including your email address, password, and store name.
Shopify will guide you through the setup process to create your account.
Step 2: Set Up Your Online Store
Once you’ve created your account, you’ll be directed to the Shopify admin dashboard.
Here, you can customize your store’s look by selecting a theme from the Shopify Theme Store or uploading your custom theme.
You can adjust your store’s branding, logo, and colors to match your business identity.
Step 3: Add Products to Your Store
In the Shopify admin dashboard, navigate to the “Products” section and click “Add product.” Fill in the details for each product, including title, description, price, images, and variants (if applicable).
You can also organize your products into collections to make it easier for customers to navigate your store.
Step 4: Set Up Payments and Shipping
Shopify offers various payment gateways you can integrate with your store, such as Shopify Payments, PayPal, Stripe, or other third-party payment providers.
Pick the best payment options for your business and configure the settings accordingly.
Additionally, set up your shipping methods and rates, including options for free shipping, flat-rate shipping, or carrier-calculated shipping based on your preferences.
Step 5: Customize Your Store’s Settings
Explore the “Settings” section in the Shopify admin dashboard to configure additional aspects of your store.
This includes setting tax rates, managing customer accounts, defining shipping zones, and enabling various features like inventory management, email notifications, and cart recovery.
Step 6: Launch Your Store
Before launching your store, preview your website to ensure everything looks and functions as expected.
Take the time to thoroughly test the checkout process, payment options, and overall user experience. Once satisfied, click on the “Publish” button to make your store live and accessible to the public.
Step 7: Manage Orders and Fulfillment
As customers place orders on your Shopify store, you’ll receive notifications in the Shopify admin dashboard.
You can manage and process orders, view customer details, and track inventory levels. You can manually fulfill orders or integrate with fulfillment services or dropshipping apps to automate the process.
Step 8: Customize and Enhance Your Store
Shopify offers a wide range of apps and integrations in the Shopify App Store.
Explore the marketplace to find apps that can extend the functionality of your store, such as social media integrations, email marketing tools, SEO optimization, loyalty programs, and more.
Install and configure the apps that align with your business needs to enhance your store’s capabilities.
Step 9: Monitor and Analyze Your Store’s Performance
Use Shopify’s built-in analytics and reporting tools to track your store’s performance. Gain insights into sales trends, customer behavior, and other key metrics.
This information can help you make informed decisions to optimize your marketing strategies, product offerings, and overall business growth.
Step 10: Provide Customer Support and Grow Your Business
Ensure excellent customer support by promptly responding to inquiries and addressing any issues. Shopify provides various customer support channels, including email, live chat, and phone support.
Leverage marketing tactics like email campaigns, social media promotions, and content marketing to drive traffic to your store and attract new customers. Continuously evaluate and refine your strategies to grow your business.
Following these simple steps, you can successfully set up, launch, and control your first online store using Shopify’s powerful eCommerce site.
Shopify Features List
As we already mentioned, Shopify is feature-rich. Here’s a summary of the main ones we’ll touch upon below:
1-Click upsells
Landing page builder and Shopify templates
Abandoned cart email
Digital products
Personalized products
Product export/import
Product search
Ratings & reviews
Real-time shipping rates/tracking
Reward points
SEO tools
Subscription/recurring
Zoomable product images
Upselling & cross-selling
- Themes
If you’re interested in learning more about the features of this popular platform, here’s a breakdown of each one:
1. 1-Click Upsells
The 1-Click Upsells feature in Shopify allows you to offer extra products or upgrades to customers during checkout. This feature is highly beneficial as it helps increase the average order value and revenue.
By displaying relevant upsell options to people at the right moment, you can encourage them to add more items to their cart and make extra purchases, increasing your profits.
2. Landing Page Builder and Shopify Templates
While Shopify’s built-in store builder is robust, it lacks a drag-and-drop landing page builder. However, third-party apps like Shogun can be integrated with Shopify to provide a simple way to create landing pages.
Landing pages play a vital part in targeted marketing campaigns, as they allow you to craft highly focused pages to convert visitors into customers.
With the help of a landing page builder, you can create catchy and modern landing pages without coding or design skills.
3. Abandoned Cart Email
The Abandoned Cart Email feature enables you to automatically send emails to people who have left items in their shopping carts without completing the purchase.
This feature is a powerful tool for recovering potentially lost sales.
By sending personalized and timely reminders, you can encourage customers to return to your store and complete their purchases.
While this feature is limited to the Shopify and Advanced Shopify plans, it’s a great way to re-engage with customers and increase conversions.
4. Digital Products
Shopify allows you to sell digital products alongside physical goods, expanding your product offerings and catering to customers who prefer digital content.
You can upload and sell digital products through your Shopify store, Whether e-books, music, videos, software, or other downloadable items.
This feature opens up new revenue streams and allows you to reach more people.
5. Personalized Products
The ability to offer personalized products is a significant advantage provided by Shopify.
Many appreciate the option to customize products with custom designs, engravings, or monograms, adding a personal touch and making the item special.
By offering personalized products, you can make your online store stand out and deliver a personalized shopping experience for your customers.
6. Product Export/Import
Shopify simplifies the management of product catalogs by allowing you to import and export product data using CSV files.
This feature is especially useful for businesses with many products or those migrating from another platform. You can quickly and efficiently update or add items by importing data in bulk or exporting data for analysis or backup purposes.
7. Product Search
Shopify offers built-in search functionality that allows customers to find products easily on your website. However, note that the default search engine isn’t as advanced as some third-party alternatives.
Review third-party apps in the Shopify App marketplace if you have a large inventory or need better search capabilities. This can help enhance the search experience for your customers, ensuring they can find the products they’re looking for in no time.
8. Ratings & Reviews
The Product Reviews app provided by Shopify allows you to integrate customer reviews and ratings into your product pages. This feature can help you build trust and credibility with potential customers.
Positive reviews and ratings serve as social proof, influencing purchase decisions and boosting sales. You can enhance customer trust, improve SEO, and boost conversions by enabling customers to leave reviews and display aggregate review scores.
9. Real-Time Shipping Rates/Tracking
Shopify integrates with major shipping carriers, providing real-time shipping rates and allowing customers to track their packages.
This feature ensures transparency and convenience in shipping, resulting in a positive customer experience. Customers can see accurate shipping costs during checkout, reducing cart abandonment due to unexpected shipping fees.
Additionally, providing tracking information lets customers stay informed about their orders’ progress, leading to increased customer satisfaction.
10. Reward Points
Shopify’s app store offers various loyalty and reward programs that you can integrate into your store.
These programs allow you to reward customers for their purchases, referrals, or other actions, fostering customer loyalty and increasing retention.
By implementing a reward points system, you can incentivize repeat buys, encourage customer engagement, and cultivate a loyal customer base. This feature helps drive customer loyalty, ultimately leading to higher sales and revenue.
11. SEO Tools
Shopify provides basic SEO features that enable you to optimize your store for search engines. You can customize title tags, meta descriptions, and ALT tags for your product pages, improving their visibility in search engine results.
Shopify automatically generates your XML sitemap and robots.txt file, aiding search engine crawlers in indexing your website.
However, exploring third-party SEO apps in the Shopify App marketplace for more advanced SEO capabilities and comprehensive optimization can further enhance your store’s search engine visibility and organic traffic.
12. Subscription/Recurring
If you offer subscription-based products or services, Shopify offers features to manage recurring payments, subscription plans, and customer billing details.
This functionality streamlines the management of subscription-based businesses; you can automate recurring payments and provide a smooth customer experience.
With Shopify’s subscription features, you can efficiently handle subscriptions, track billing information, and ensure a reliable revenue stream.
13. Zoomable Product Images
Shopify allows you to showcase high-resolution product images that customers can zoom in on. This feature lets customers examine product details closely, enhancing their confidence and reducing purchase hesitation.
High-quality and zoomable product images better understand the product’s features, textures, and overall quality, increasing trust and improving conversion rates.
14. Upselling & Cross-Selling
With Shopify, you can implement upselling and cross-selling strategies to maximize sales. By recommending related products or offering upgrades and add-ons, you can entice customers to increase their order value.
Upselling suggests higher-priced alternatives or upgrades, while cross-selling suggests complementary or related products.
These techniques increase revenue per customer and enhance the overall shopping experience by providing additional value and convenience.
Note: The availability of certain features may vary depending on the plan you choose.
Shopify offers Basic Shopify, Shopify, and Advanced Shopify, each with different levels of functionality and support. Consider your business needs and goals when selecting a pricing plan that aligns with your requirements.
15. Themes
As we already discussed, there are free and paid Shopify themes.
One of the key differences between free and paid Shopify themes lies in their design. Generally, paid themes offer more design options and customization capabilities than free themes.
While a free theme provides a standard layout with limited font and color choices, it may not offer enough options to make your store stand out.
On the other hand, a paid theme provides many customization options, enabling you to create a unique and tailored experience for your customers.
Unique design elements can help you make your site stand out from other eCommerce websites.
Cost
As the name suggests, free themes don’t require any upfront payment, and you can download them directly from the Shopify Theme Store.
However, remember that customization options and additional features may require you to install apps, which can increase your monthly costs.
On the other hand, paid themes come with a price tag, but they often include advanced features right out of the box.
These features are optimized for speed and performance, eliminating the need for extra apps and potentially saving you money in the long run.
Loading speed also matters as it can influence user experience and search engine rankings. Free themes load fast because Shopify optimizes them. They also have fewer components to load. However, this doesn’t mean that paid themes aren’t fast.
Paid theme creators understand the importance of fast-loading sites and ensure their themes meet those expectations. So, read reviews, seek customer feedback, and test the theme yourself.
Ease of Use
Regarding ease of use, free themes aren’t complex. On the contrary, they’re simple because they offer fewer options and customizations. They’re essentially “what you see is what you get.”
On the other hand, paid themes may have a steeper learning curve due to their many customization capabilities.
However, these customizations allow you to make paid themes unique and match your products and brand.
Moreover, paid themes often come with documentation and beginner guides to help you make the most out of your theme.
Lastly, some popular paid themes often have blogs with reviews and tutorials, making usage and customization even easier.
Customer Support
Free and paid themes from the Shopify Theme Store include documentation and direct support. However, if you decide to buy a paid theme from a third-party platform or a custom theme from a developer, you must ensure that the source offers some support.
Shopify Pros and Cons
When choosing the right platform for building your website, you must consider the pros and cons to make a well-informed decision. Here are the advantages and disadvantages of Shopify.
Shopify Advantages
Shopify has many advantages for individuals and large corporations. Here’s a review of some of the greatest benefits of Shopify:
User-Friendly Interface
Shopify is super easy to use, making it accessible to users of all technical skill levels. The intuitive admin dashboard allows you to navigate through the platform effortlessly.
Attractive and Responsive Templates
Shopify offers a wide range of professionally designed templates; they’re visually appealing and fully responsive. This ensures your online store looks great and functions well on various devices, including mobile, desktop, and tablets.
Abandoned Cart Recovery
Shopify provides sophisticated abandoned cart saving functionality, even on the most affordable plan. This feature helps you recover lost sales by sending automated emails to customers who abandon their carts, encouraging them to complete their purchases.
Ideal for Dropshipping and Print on Demand
Shopify is excellent for businesses involved in dropshipping or print-on-demand.
The platform seamlessly integrates with popular dropshipping apps and facilitates easy management of inventory and fulfillment processes.
Comprehensive Tax Calculation Tools
Shopify’s automatic tax calculation tools are robust and save merchants valuable time and effort. The platform handles tax calculations based on location, eliminating the need for manual calculations and reducing administrative burdens.
Multi-Currency Selling
Unlike many competing platforms, Shopify allows for true multi-currency selling. This enables you to sell products in different currencies, expanding your reach and making international sales more convenient for customers.
Multilingual Capabilities
Shopify allows you to create versions of your store in up to 20 different languages. This feature benefits businesses targeting diverse customer segments and expanding into global markets.
Shipping Discounts
Depending on your country, Shopify offers generous shipping discounts if you utilize their built-in “Shopify Shipping” service. This can help reduce shipping costs and improve overall profitability.
Versatile “Buy Button”
The Starter plan includes the “Buy Button” feature, enabling you to easily integrate a shopping cart into any website or online presence. This allows for a seamless shopping experience for customers, regardless of where they encounter your products.
Built-in Email Marketing Tool
Shopify provides an email marketing tool allowing you to send up to 10,000 emails monthly for free. This helps you engage with your customer base, promote products, and drive sales without needing a separate email marketing service.
Comprehensive Point-of-Sale Options
Shopify’s point-of-sale system is robust and offers a wide range of features. Whether you have a physical retail location or participate in pop-up events, Shopify provides the tools to manage in-person sales seamlessly.
Excellent Product Categorization
Shopify handles the creation and application of product categories effectively. This allows you to organize your inventory efficiently, making it easier for customers to navigate and find what they want.
Extensive App Ecosystem
Shopify boasts a vast marketplace of third-party apps and integrations. These apps can extend the core functionality of your store, allowing you to add features such as social media integration, advanced analytics, and more. However, note that some apps may require additional costs.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Features
Shopify offers good built-in SEO features that can help improve your store’s visibility in search engine results. Unlike many hosted store builders, Shopify also lets you use popular SEO tools like Yoast to optimize your store.
AMP Versions of Product Pages
With the help of third-party apps (which may involve additional costs), Shopify enables the creation of Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) versions of product pages. This helps improve mobile browsing speed and enhances the user experience.
No Transaction Fees (Excluding the Starter Plan)
Except for the Starter plan, Shopify doesn’t charge transaction fees if you use their built-in payment processing system, Shopify Payments. This can lead to significant cost savings for businesses.
Wide Range of Payment Gateways
Shopify supports numerous external payment gateways, allowing you to offer customers various payment options. This flexibility can improve the shopping experience and cater to different customer preferences.
Free Trial and Discount for Annual Payments
Shopify offers a free trial period, allowing you to test the platform without submitting credit card details. Additionally, if you pay for a yearly plan upfront, Shopify provides a generous discount, reducing overall costs.
Shopify Disadvantages
No platform is perfect, including Shopify. Here’s a breakdown of some of the cons of Shopify you should consider before making a final choice:
A Limited Number of Free Themes
Shopify provides a relatively small selection of free themes (12) compared to some competing online store builders. However, there’s a wide range of paid themes if you want more customization options.
Product Variant Limitations
While you can create up to 100 variants for a product, these variants can only involve up to 3 product options. You may need to purchase a third-party app if you require more complex variant configurations, such as additional product options.
Reliance on Apps for Key Functionality
Some essential functionalities you might expect to be included by default require the installation of third-party apps. This can add complexity to store setup, increase costs with app subscriptions, or potentially impact site performance.
Complex Custom Field Setup
Adding custom fields, such as text boxes or file upload options, can be unnecessarily complicated on Shopify. This may require using apps or workarounds, adding extra complexity to the process.
Reporting Limitations on Lower-Tier Plans
Full reporting functionality is only provided on more expensive Shopify plans. If you’re on a lower-tier plan, you may have limited access to detailed reports and analytics, hindering in-depth performance analysis.
Limitations of Shopify Payments
Shopify’s built-in payment processor, Shopify Payments, is only available for users in certain countries. If you’re not eligible for Shopify Payments, you’ll need to use a third-party payment gateway, which may incur transaction fees.
Transaction Fees With Third-Party Payment Gateways
If you choose to use a third-party payment gateway instead of Shopify Payments, you won’t be able to avoid transaction fees. This can impact your profit margins, especially if you process a high volume of transactions.
Image Aspect Ratio Requirements
Shopify requires product images to have the same aspect ratio to display neatly alongside each other. This can be restrictive for businesses with varying image sizes and dimensions.
Ethical Concerns With Dropshipping
When using dropshipping apps, ensuring the ethical production of the goods you sell can be challenging. Research and due diligence matter when picking reliable suppliers and maintaining ethical practices.
GDPR Compliance Complexities
Achieving GDPR compliance, particularly regarding cookies, may require using a third-party cookie banner app. This adds an extra step and potential cost to ensure your store aligns with data protection regulations.
Expensive or Limited Real-Time Carrier Quotes
If you don’t use Shopify Shipping or live in a country where it’s unavailable, providing real-time carrier quotes to customers can be expensive or require purchasing a yearly plan.
Lack of Screenshots in Support Materials
Shopify’s support materials, while extensive, don’t always include screenshots to illustrate the features being explained. This may make it slightly more challenging for users to grasp certain concepts or processes
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Shopify Site Builder Complaints & Praise (Shopify Seller Reviews From Real Customers)
When examining Shopify user reviews across various online platforms, including review websites, forums, and social media, consider both the negative and positive feedback to get a complete picture of the platform’s strengths and weaknesses.
Here’s what most Shopify reviews say:
Negative Reviews
Negative Shopify website builder reviews often touch upon a few common complaints.
One recurring concern is the pricing structure, with some users finding it relatively expensive, particularly when factoring in additional costs for apps and themes.
While Shopify offers various pricing plans for different business needs, some users may find the overall cost higher than expected.
Another aspect highlighted in negative reviews is the limited customization options within certain templates.
Some users express frustration when encountering design limitations and find it challenging to achieve their desired website aesthetics. This can be a drawback for businesses with specific branding requirements or a need for extensive customization.
Additionally, some negative reviews mention a learning curve associated with using Shopify, especially for beginners new to eCommerce and website building.
While Shopify strives to provide a user-friendly platform, some users may find navigating the features and settings initially overwhelming.
However, it’s important to note that Shopify offers extensive documentation, tutorials, and customer support to assist users in overcoming these challenges.
Praise
On the other hand, Shopify also garners significant praise from many users. Positive Shopify reviews often emphasize the platform’s user-friendly interface and ease of use.
Many users appreciate the intuitive website builder that allows them to create professional-looking online stores without requiring advanced technical skills or coding knowledge.
The availability of a wide range of attractive and responsive themes is frequently highlighted as a positive aspect, enabling businesses to create visually appealing and functional websites.
Furthermore, users often express satisfaction with Shopify’s robust features and capabilities.
The platform offers essential tools for inventory management, secure payment options, and seamless integration with various sales channels, such as social media platforms and marketplaces.
This comprehensive suite of features simplifies running a successful online business and contributes to positive user experiences.
It’s important to acknowledge that individual opinions may vary; the overall sentiment regarding Shopify can differ based on specific business needs and expectations.
Reading a diverse range of Shopify user reviews provides valuable insights into the experiences of real customers, allowing prospective users to assess the platform’s strengths and weaknesses more comprehensively.
If you’re considering using Shopify, it’s advisable to conduct thorough research by exploring multiple sources of feedback, including Shopify reviews from real customers.
This in-depth analysis will help you make a well-informed decision that aligns with your business goals and requirements.
Review of Shopify Website Builder Support
Shopify offers good customer support.
In fact, Shopify understands the importance of assisting when needed, and they have implemented a comprehensive support system.
The best part? You can contact Shopify experts anytime, any day of the week. This means that regardless of your time zone or when a problem arises, you can contact their support team for help.
This round-the-clock availability sets Shopify apart from other e-commerce builders within typical 9-5 work hours.
Shopify provides support through various channels to cater to different preferences and needs.
These channels include phone support, live chat support, social media support, email support, and a community forum.
Whether you prefer speaking directly with a support agent, engaging in a live chat session, or seeking help from the community, Shopify offers multiple avenues to get assistance.
Additionally, Shopify has a comprehensive Help Center as a valuable resource for finding information and troubleshooting common issues.
The Help Center contains a wealth of articles, guides, and tutorials that cover a wide range of topics, allowing users to find answers to their questions independently.
For those on the Shopify Plus plan, advanced specialist support is provided. You can access your dedicated support agent to assist you with more complex or specific issues.
However, even on the most affordable price plans, 24/7 help is available, ensuring all users can access support whenever needed.
In summary, Shopify’s customer support is highly regarded, with a variety of support channels available, round-the-clock assistance, and a comprehensive Help Center.
Whether you prefer phone support, live chat, email, or self-help resources, Shopify provides a range of options to address your needs and ensure a positive customer support experience.
Is Shopify Worth it? Final Points
So, is buying a Shopify store worth it? Well, it ultimately depends on each business’s needs and goals. However, considering the platform’s extensive features, user-friendly interface, and comprehensive support options, Shopify offers significant value for online entrepreneurs.
The ease of use and intuitive design makes it accessible to individuals without technical expertise, allowing them to set up and manage their online stores. This saves time and resources that can be redirected toward other aspects of the business.
Shopify’s attractive and responsive homepage and templates boost the visual appeal of online stores, contributing to a positive user experience and increasing the likelihood of conversions.
The platform’s ability to support various business models, such as dropshipping and print-on-demand, allows entrepreneurs to explore different avenues and expand their product offerings.
The advanced functionalities, including abandoned cart recovery, automatic tax calculation, multi-currency selling, and localization options, streamline operations and save merchants valuable time and effort.
Furthermore, the extensive app ecosystem offers the flexibility to extend and customize the store’s functionalities according to specific needs.
Shopify’s customer support is highly regarded, with 24/7 assistance available through various channels. This level of support is rare among e-commerce platforms and can be invaluable in resolving issues and providing guidance when needed.
However, it’s important to consider potential drawbacks.
The limited number of free themes and the potential need for additional apps to access certain advanced features may incur additional costs. Transaction fees for third-party payment gateways and higher fees for the Starter plan should also be considered when evaluating the overall cost.
Whether Shopify is worth the investment depends on your budget, business needs, and long-term goals.
Entrepreneurs should carefully weigh the benefits and drawbacks, consider their unique needs, and assess how Shopify aligns with their business strategy.
By conducting thorough research and potentially exploring the platform’s free trial, businesses can decide whether Shopify is the right choice for their online store.
If Shopify doesn’t meet your specific business requirements, there’s a list of Shopify alternatives worth considering. Take a look and make a wise pick.
Our Final Shopify Rating
We would give Shopify a 4.9 out of 5.
Shopify FAQs
Is Shopify the Best Website Builder?
Shopify is a leading platform in the eCommerce industry because, unlike other web builders, Shopify is focused on eCommerce. This specialization enables Shopify to offer many tools and functionalities tailored to the eCommerce experience. Managing product listings, inventory, processing payments, and handling shipping logistics – Shopify has it all.
Moreover, Shopify is excellent for newbies! It has a user-friendly and intuitive dashboard and straightforward navigation.
So, it’s suitable for users with varying levels of technical expertise.
With flexible templates and a drag-and-drop editor, users can create visually appealing and professional-looking websites without extensive coding knowledge.
Shopify’s extensive app store is also worth highlighting.
The platform offers various third-party integrations and extensions, allowing users to enhance their online stores with additional functionalities.
Whether you require advanced analytics, marketing tools, or integration with third-party platforms, Shopify’s app store provides numerous options to tailor your website to your specific needs.
Additionally, hosting and security matter and Shopify excels in these areas.
Shopify hosts your website as a hosted platform, ensuring reliable performance and security. This eliminates the need for users to manage server infrastructure and handle technical aspects, enabling them to focus on growing their businesses.
With robust security measures like SSL encryption and PCI compliance, Shopify protects sensitive information and transactions, fostering trust and confidence among merchants and customers.
In terms of payment processing, Shopify has a great system, Shopify Payments, which seamlessly integrates with the platform.
This streamlines the payment process for customers and simplifies financial management for merchants.
Shopify also supports a wide range of external payment gateways, allowing businesses to offer multiple payment options to their customers.
While Shopify excels in many areas, it’s essential to consider individual requirements and preferences when determining the best website builder.
Budget, scalability, design flexibility, and target audience should all be considered. Exploring alternative website builders and comparing their features against Shopify can help make a more informed decision.
In conclusion, Shopify’s dedicated focus on eCommerce, user-friendly interface, extensive app store, reliable hosting and security, and robust payment processing options position it as a strong contender for the title of the best website builder.
However, determining the best option ultimately depends on your business’s unique needs and goals. Thorough research and evaluation are crucial to ascertain if Shopify aligns with your specific requirements and preferences.
Is Shopify Legit?
When considering the legitimacy and safety of a platform like Shopify, it’s important to address common concerns and questions such as “Is Shopify a scam?” and “Is Shopify safe?” First and foremost, it’s important to establish that Shopify is a legitimate company that has been in operation since 2006.
Over the years, Shopify has gained the trust of millions of entrepreneurs and businesses worldwide, facilitating their online ventures and supporting their growth.
When it comes to whether Shopify is a scam, it’s crucial to clarify that Shopify itself isn’t a scam. It’s a legitimate platform enabling people and businesses to create and manage online stores.
However, it’s worth noting that, like any online platform, there may be scams or fraudulent activities perpetrated by individuals or companies who misuse the Shopify platform.
It’s important to exercise caution and conduct thorough research when engaging with third-party sellers or services within the Shopify ecosystem.
In terms of safety, Shopify takes security seriously. The platform employs robust security measures to safeguard sensitive information and transactions.
It utilizes SSL encryption to protect data transmission, ensuring customer information remains secure.
Additionally, Shopify is Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) compliant, which means it adheres to strict security standards in handling payment information.
These security measures create a safe environment for businesses and customers using the platform.
It’s important to note that while Shopify provides a secure platform, the overall safety of using Shopify also depends on the actions and practices of individual merchants.
Businesses should implement security measures, such as using strong passwords, regularly updating software and plugins, and being cautious of phishing attempts or suspicious activities.
Is Shopify a Good Place to Sell?
Shopify is a great place to sell products and services online. It offers many features and tools that empower businesses of all sizes to create and manage their new online stores effectively. With Shopify, you can access templates, secure payment options, seamless order management, and robust marketing and analytics capabilities.
The platform’s scalability allows businesses to grow and expand their operations easily. Shopify also integrates with various sales channels, including social media platforms and marketplaces. Therefore, you can easily reach a broader audience.
Overall, Shopify provides a solid foundation for successful online selling.
Is Shopify Free to Use?
While Shopify offers a free trial period for new users to explore the platform’ features, it’s not entirely free to use in the long term. After the trial period ends, select a pricing plan that suits your business needs. Shopify offers different pricing tiers, starting from the basic plans and scaling up to advanced options for larger businesses.
Each plan has different features, and the cost varies accordingly. We suggest reviewing the pricing structure and selecting a plan that aligns with your business goals.
Is Shopify Good for Beginners?
Shopify is a perfect platform for beginners who want to dip their toes into eCommerce. The user-friendly interface and many tools make setting up and managing a successful online store relatively easy, even for people with little or no technical experience.
Shopify offers a wide range of professionally designed templates and a drag-and-drop editor. So, newbies can create modern and functional stores without coding knowledge.
Lastly, the platform provides extensive documentation, tutorials, and a supportive community, enabling beginners to learn and grow their businesses effectively.
Is Shopify Easy to Use?
Yes, Shopify is designed to be user-friendly and accessible, making it relatively easy for beginners and experienced users. The platform offers a straightforward and intuitive interface, allowing users to navigate and manage their online stores. Shopify provides a range of customizable templates, making creating a visually appealing storefront simple.
It offers a seamless product and inventory management system, intuitive order processing, and secure payment options.
Additionally, Shopify’s backend interface is well-organized and user-friendly, providing users with a comprehensive dashboard to manage various aspects of their store.
Shopify prioritizes ease of use to ensure a smooth and hassle-free user experience.
Is Shopify Good for Small Business?
Yes, Shopify is a great choice for small businesses. The platform caters to businesses of all sizes, including small enterprises. Shopify offers affordable pricing plans that suit the budgets of small businesses while still providing a comprehensive set of features and tools to run an online store effectively.
It offers a user-friendly interface, customizable templates, and a range of marketing and sales tools to help small businesses establish their online presence, reach customers, and drive sales.
Shopify’s scalability also allows small businesses to grow and expand their operations as they succeed. With a user-friendly nature and tailored features, Shopify is a reliable solution for small businesses looking to establish and thrive in the online marketplace.
Is Shopify Reliable?
Shopify has built a strong reputation in the industry and has been trusted by millions of businesses worldwide. It provides stability, uptime, and reliable performance. Moreover, it can handle high traffic volumes and transactions, ensuring that your business remains accessible and operational at all times.
Additionally, Shopify provides secure and reliable hosting, backup systems, and customer support to address any technical issues that may arise.
With a great track record and commitment to reliability, Shopify offers a dependable platform for businesses to build and grow their online presence.
