Shopify Buying Guide: Everything You Need to Know

Your Guide to buying the best Shopify

Overview

Shopify is a powerful e-commerce platform that makes it easy for businesses to create and manage their online store. With Shopify, you can build a beautiful store in minutes and start selling products and services to customers around the world. This buying guide will give you the information and advice you need to make an informed decision about which Shopify plan is right for your business. We’ll discuss the different plans and features available, pricing, support options, and more. Plus, we'll offer tips on how to get the most out of Shopify and make the most of your online store.

Key features

  1. Store Setup - Before purchasing Shopify, shoppers should consider the setup process for their store. This includes understanding the cost of Shopify, the various plans available, and the features each plan offers. Additionally, shoppers should consider the design and customization options available for their store, as well as the payment and shipping options available.
  2. Marketing - Shopify offers various marketing features that help shoppers advertise and promote their products. Shoppers should consider whether the tools and features Shopify provides are suitable for their particular needs. Additionally, shoppers should think about the strategies they will use to market their products via social media, email, or other channels.
  3. Analytics - Shopify provides analytics to help shoppers track their progress and understand their customers. Shoppers should consider whether the data Shopify provides is comprehensive enough for their needs. Additionally, shoppers should consider whether the reporting features offered are customizable enough to provide meaningful insights.
  4. Support - Shoppers should consider the level of customer support offered by Shopify. This includes the variety of support channels, the availability of support agents, and the quality of the documentation provided. Additionally, shoppers should consider the level of technical expertise required to use the platform effectively.

See the most popular Shopify on Amazon

Important considerations

Pros

  • Ease of Use: Shopify offers an intuitive and user-friendly interface, making it easy to design and customize a store.
  • Supported Payment Gateways: Shopify supports a wide range of payment gateways, allowing customers to make purchases seamlessly.
  • Secure Checkout: Shopify provides secure checkout options with industry-leading security protocols.
  • Mobile Ready: Shopify is optimized for mobile devices, allowing customers to access their store from any device.
  • Flexible Store Design: Shopify offers a wide range of design options, allowing store owners to customize their store to reflect their brand.
  • Third-Party Integrations: Shopify offers hundreds of third-party integrations, allowing store owners to add additional features and functionality to their store.
  • 24/7 Support: Shopify provides 24/7 customer support, ensuring store owners can get help when they need it.

Cons

  • Costs - Shopify can be expensive for small businesses, especially those just starting out. They offer different plans, but the more features you need, the more you will pay. Additionally, there are additional costs associated with plugins, apps, and payment gateways that are required to get the most out of the platform.
  • Ease of use - Shopify is generally easy to use, but it can take some time to get used to the platform and learn how to set it up. Additionally, more advanced features may require some coding knowledge and experience.
  • Platform Limitations - Shopify has a limited range of features compared to other eCommerce platforms. These may include limited payment gateways, limited shipping options, and limited design options.
  • Tech Support - While Shopify offers excellent tech support, it can be slow at times and may not be able to provide the help you need.

Best alternatives

  1. WooCommerce - A popular eCommerce solution for WordPress-powered online stores.
  2. BigCommerce - A hosted eCommerce platform that offers powerful features for growing businesses.
  3. Volusion - An all-in-one eCommerce platform with tools for product management, payments, and more.
  4. 3DCart - An eCommerce platform with built-in marketing and SEO tools.
  5. Magento - An open-source eCommerce platform with a flexible architecture and powerful scalability.

Related tools, supplies, and accessories

  • Shopify Payments - A payment processor designed for use with Shopify that allows merchants to accept credit cards, debit cards, and other payment methods.
  • Shopify Shipping - A shipping management system that allows merchants to create custom shipping labels, generate packing slips, and track orders.
  • Shopify POS - A point-of-sale system that allows merchants to take payments in-store, online, or on-the-go.
  • Shopify Apps - Third-party add-ons that can be added to your Shopify store to further customize and extend the functionality and features of your store.
  • Shopify Theme - A customizable design template for your Shopify store that includes a pre-built layout and color schemes.
  • Shopify Analytics - Built-in analytics that allow merchants to track store performance, customer behavior, and product sales.

Common questions

  1. What is Shopify? Shopify is a cloud-based, multi-channel ecommerce platform designed for small and medium-sized businesses. It offers a variety of tools to help entrepreneurs start, grow, and manage their businesses.
  2. What features are included in Shopify? Shopify offers a comprehensive range of features, including store design, product management, payment processing, shipping, returns, and customer management. It also provides a variety of marketing and analytics tools to help businesses reach their customers and better understand their performance.
  3. How much does Shopify cost? Shopify has several pricing plans, ranging from $29/month to $299/month. The cost of each plan depends on the features and services included.
  4. What type of payment processing does Shopify offer? Shopify supports a wide range of payment processors, including PayPal, Stripe, and Apple Pay.
  5. What type of customer support does Shopify offer? Shopify offers 24/7 customer support by phone and live chat, as well as an extensive knowledge base and online community.
  6. What type of hosting does Shopify use? Shopify uses a secure cloud-based hosting platform, which ensures that your store is always up and running.
  7. Does Shopify offer any mobile apps? Yes, Shopify offers several mobile apps that allow you to manage your store on the go.
  8. Does Shopify offer any discounts? Yes, Shopify offers discounts to businesses who sign up for their annual plans.

Trivia

In 2009, Shopify founders Tobi Lütke, Scott Lake, and Daniel Weinand launched the company's first product, an online snowboard store. While the store was not successful in the traditional sense, it became the launching point for Shopify, as the founders realized the potential of their platform to power other online stores. They then pivoted the company to focus on the ecommerce platform that we know today.1

Disclaimer: This buying guide was not created by humans, and it is possible that some of it's content is inaccurate or incomplete. We do not guarantee or take any liability for the accuracy of this buying guide. Additionally, the images on this page were generated by AI and may not accurately represent the product that is being discussed. We have tried to convey useful information, but it is our subjective opinion and should not be taken as complete or factual.