Shopify was started 2006 and quickly became an industry leader. The idea of creating a better shopping cart started with three owners of a snowboard business who weren't happy with the available options. Today, the platform helps over 175,000 online stores sell both digital and physical products. Read our Shopify review below.
OverviewPart of what makes Shopify such an attractive option is that fact that it so features rich. From day one, you will have everything you need to design and launch an online store. The design features are easy to use so that even beginners can customize their storefront. As work your way up from entrepreneur to global business mogul, the software will grow with you. It is very flexible, and the tools are perfect for any size business.
Who is Shopify Designed For?
Anyone. Every shopping cart platform comes with certain flaws, but Shopify comes closer to perfection than any other option. It provides a well-rounded program that is can be used to sell both digital and physical products. Whether you already have a website, or you are looking to expand a brick and mortar storefront, Shopify can help.
While other programs try to stand out by offering an area of focus such as marketing or design, Shopify strives to hit all areas. It stands out by doing a little bit of everything and doing it all well. Instead of reinventing the wheel, they just built the best wheel possible. This approach has earned them a reputation for performance and excellence.
If you don’t like your Shopify experience, you can cancel at any time. They don’t provide any refunds, but you don’t have to worry about cancellation fees.
Shopify Plus – Enterprise eCommerce Solution
If you’re a big player looking for an enterprise eCommerce solution that can handle high volume sales, Shopify Plus is an unbeatable choice. This eCommerce platform processes billions of dollars a year. It has the capacity to provide the buying experience your customers expect.
Global brands like Budweiser and Tesla use the Shopify Plus platform. It’s cloud-based and fully hosted, with 7,000 CPU cores and 200 terabytes of storage. The distributed platform drives down IT costs to a fraction of traditional setups. You don’t have to worry about the consequences of being popular. The cost of bandwidth, rack space, and transaction fees are a thing of the past.
Social media has become one of the biggest sales platforms. Shopify Plus makes it easy to sell your products on any of the most popular social networks. You’ll focus on selling, instead of running an eCommerce platform.
Sit back and handle thousands of orders per minute. You’ve got the 24/7 dedicated support of Shopify powering your online store.
Why Choose Shopify?
Unless you are looking for a platform with a particular focus, Shopify is a great all-around option. It is reasonably priced. It comes with everything you need and provides a solid foundation for starting and building a store.
No matter how big your business grows, you won’t have to worry about switching providers. Shopify can handle any sales volume and offer the inventory and customer management tools you need to run a professional business.
Key FeaturesThe expert reviews tend to mirror consumer reviews. Critics note that while the basic monthly pricing packages are affordably priced, there are hidden costs that can really add up. To enjoy access to all the features that Shopify offers, you will want to sign up for one of the more expensive advanced plans.
In addition to paying for apps and robust features, you may also find yourself shelling out money for transaction fees. While these are fairly standard, they can be problematic for businesses that sell a lot of products at low prices.
Beyond pricing issues, Shopify is widely hailed as a powerful, flexible and robust program that can allow practically anyone to start a business. It is often the first recommendation for small. You can get everything you need all in one place and design a store without having to hire a professional developer. Here are just a few favorite features that critics love:
Despite certain flaws, Shopify is overwhelming awarded a perfect score, and customers are very likely to recommend the program to others. Here are some favorite features that users rave about:
Again, those who were aware of what it takes to operate PrestaShop were overwhelming pleased with the program.
Shopify is arguably the most popular eCommerce website builder on the market. However, that doesn’t mean it is flawless. Perhaps the most common complaints against Shopify involve overall cost and inventory management tools.
While Shopify is competitively priced, you can end up spending quite a bit of money on apps and add-ons. The program is fully functional out-of-the-box, but you may want to customize your site with additional features that come with a price tag. For startups who are working on a limited budget, the costs of investing in features may not be an option.
In general, Shopify is known for ease of use, but there seem to be a lot of complaints concerning management tools. Adding product options, canceling orders and monitoring inventory levels can be unnecessarily complicated.
Design & CustomizationShopify offers the most beautiful and professional looking themes. Their designs are clean, modern and perfect for selling any product type.
Free and Premium Themes
There are over 100 free and premium themes to choose from. Around 10 are entirely free, and the rest range in price from $80 to $150. Just select the theme you like and use the dashboard to add your logo and change colors. You don’t need any coding or design experience to get started and customize your store.
Admin Interface
Once you log-in, you will see a dashboard with side navigation. This makes it easy to view standard categories and find your way around. There are also shortcuts for commonly used features. You won’t waste time scrolling through each section and searching for the right button.
Granted, if you don’t have any experience with the backend of programs, there is a learning curve. You will master features as you go, though. The main point is that the dashboard is intuitive. After a few hours of exploring, you will have the hang of it.
Customer Storefront
Perhaps even more significant than the backend is the client’s experience. You want to be able to create a stylish and user-friendly storefront that is easy to navigate. Shopify will allow you to do just that. In fact, this is where they shine. Your storefront will look great and offer optimal functionality. This means that customers are more likely to browse and make a purchase.
Page Customization
Even the free themes allow you to customize your storefront. You can adjust colors, add images and products, adjust sizing, add menus and just about anything else. The drag and drop editor is perfect for beginners. There is no need for any coding experience to get started. If you do prefer making changes through the code, you can access both HTML and CSS. The choice is up to you.
Mobile and Responsive Sites
All of Shopify’s themes are fully responsive and mobile ready. You won’t have to worry about building a separate mobile site. Customers can view your store and make purchases from any device, and your website will still look great.
Social Media Integration
Integrating all your social media accounts is simple. In fact, you can even add “Buy Now” buttons to your Facebook and Pinterest accounts so that customers can make purchases on the spot. If you don’t see what you need in the dashboard, you can visit the app store to integrate a new program.
Design Services
If you want help with a particular area of your website and your business, you can hire a Shopify expert. Their system works a little bit differently than other platforms. You choose the type of expert you are looking for and browse through your options. Shopify curates a list of top rated experts. You can choose from
As you look through the list of experts, be sure to check out the customer reviews. As for pricing, it varies pretty widely. In some cases, you can get help for as little as $25, but most projects that will make a significant impact will cost around $500.
Features & Tools | Feature | Overview |
| Online Store Setup | Super easy. Shopify is fully hosted so that you can purchase a domain and use their servers. Adding products and customizing your site is also easy even if you are a beginner. It is arguably the most user-friendly option on the market. |
| Bandwidth and Storage | You get unlimited bandwidth and storage with every plan. |
| Shopping Cart Plugins and Add-ons: | If you do want to add a function to your store, you can visit the app store. It includes thousands of plugins that can help expand your website. |
| Order Management | Returning customers can create an account, which will help you manage orders. It also allows you to view order history and help target customers with special promotions. |
| Inventory Management | All your inventory information will be automatically synced. You can also view and generate reports on inventory levels. Track product performance according to size, color or accessories. Shopify allows you to organize your inventory any way you want and will even implement a low-stock freeze so that you don’t sell products you don’t have in-stock. |
| Shipment Tracking | Customize shipping options and tax information. Shipping rates are shown in real-time from major carriers. You can track packages and generate tracking numbers for your customers. |
| CRM | Customers can checkout as a guest without having to create an account. However, loyal customers can create an account, which will help them track orders. This feature will also help you create promotions and offer relevant products. |
| Shipping and Tax Calculators | These functions are automatically built-in to your site. |
| Templates and Themes | Not only are the templates stylish and professional, but they are also easily customizable. Choose from 100+ free and premium themes. |
| Integrations and Add-ons | Integrating additional functions just takes the push of a button. Shopify makes it easy to modify your theme and upgrade your site. |
| Mobile eCommerce | All the themes are fully responsive. Shoppers can view your site on any size device. You can also manage your store from any location with your mobile device. |
| Web Hosting | Shopify offers full web hosting. You can purchase a domain name through them and use their servers to host your site. |
| App Store | The app store includes over 1,100 tools. Choose from marketing, accounting, social media and other programs. A lot of options are free, and others are available for a small fee. |
| Blogging | Shopify comes with a built-in blogging feature. This is an ideal way to build your online presence and connect with potential customers. |
| SEO and Marketing | Easily add keywords, meta tags, and descriptions and optimize your pages. Additional marketing tools allow you to track product performance and customer behavior to create targeted sales and promotions. Social media integration also provides an excellent way to market your business. |
| Newsletters | Shopify comes with newsletter and email templates. You can quickly create marketing blasts and abandoned cart notifications. Customize the template for a consistent look that aligns with your website. |
| Security | Enjoy the protection of 256-bit encryption and free shared SSL certificates. These are the same security measures that are used by banks, so you can feel confident that your site is secure. They also offer automatic backups, and the servers are regularly upgraded to prevent hacks. While competitors typically charge for this level of protection, it is all included for free with your Shopify account. |
| PCI Certification | Shopify is Tier 1 PCI compliant. |
| Content Creation | With a WYSIWYG editor, blogging features and easily customizable themes, creating and adding content couldn’t be easier. |
| Gift Certificates | Customers can purchase gift cards and certificates. |
| Payment Options | Choose from over 70 different payment gateways. All major credit cards are accepted and new currencies like Bitcoin can also be used. |
| Reports | Use Google Analytics to track your website performance and gain insight into your traffic. You can also view reports on inventory levels, sales numbers, and product performance. These tools allow you to get a full picture of the strengths and weaknesses of your business. |
| Site Statistics | You can track practically every aspect of your website and even produce comparative reports to follow trends. |
Plans & Pricing Want to try before you buy? Shopify offers a 14-day free trial. No credit card required. If you want to sign up for a plan, there is no need to worry about hidden fees. Both are setting up your site and canceling your account are entirely free of charge. You only have to pay for your monthly package.
Discounts
You can pay on a monthly basis or pay up front for a discounted price. Get 10% for a 1-year contract or 20% off for a 2-year contract.
Affordability
Not only does Shopify offer some of the lowest prices, but they also provide the most bang for your buck. Most sites charge for unlimited storage and bandwidth and SSL certificates. With Shopify, all these features are included in every package.
Shopify Lite – $9/month
Sell on social media, in person, or on an existing website with Shopify Lite.
Basic Shopify – $29/month
Lite features + build a home for your brand with your very own online store.
Shopify – $79/month
Additional features include gift cards, professional reports, and abandoned cart recovery.
Advanced Shopify – $299/month
Additional features include advanced report builder and real-time carrier shipping.
The Basic Shopify plan is more than enough to get you started. You can always upgrade to the Shopify plan if you find that the additional features would be helpful.
Customer Support When it comes to customer support, Shopify provides you with plenty of help options. No matter what plan you purchase, you can contact help 24/7 by
They also offer an extensive knowledge base full of FAQs, user guides and tutorials. Community forums are also a great way to get in touch with other users and participate in discussions.
If you are a newcomer to the world of eCommerce, be sure to check out the E-commerce University where you can study a broad range of topics related to creating a successful online store.
Finally, be sure to visit Shopify’s blog on a regular basis. Their posts are informative and well-written.
When you contact Shopify customer support, you can expect a quick and competent answer. Their representatives are friendly and responsive.
If you email help, you can expect an respond to the same day. You won’t have to waste time waiting for customer support to help you solve a problem.
Ease of Use Shopify is a step above the rest when it comes to ease of use. The admin interface is easy to navigate and user-friendly. It won’t take you long to become familiar with the different functions and how to use them. You can even customize how your products are organized to make inventory management even easier.
The main reason Shopify has been such a success is because it is perfect for both novices and experts. It offers a fully flexible and scalable design that can fit any size business and grow with you. You have complete control over your website, and you can customize any features using CSS, HTML or the drag and drop editor.
The feature rich design is geared towards creating a superior user experience for both you and your customers. Shoppers will enjoy the modern look and functionality of your website. Even small businesses can create a practical shopping experience that encourages browsers to become loyal customers.
If you run into problems, the editor’s help section can help you get quick answers to common questions. You can also contact Shopify’s support team.
Conclusion There simply isn’t a better option on the market. Shopify is by far the most comprehensive, user-friendly, feature rich and affordable shopping cart platform. Any drawbacks are minimal and don’t compare to the flaws of other programs.
Shopify comes as close to perfection as any program thus far. The even better news is that they are continuing to adapt to market changes and incorporate new features.
When you invest in Shopify, you can feel confident that you are working with an innovative who will continue to lead the pack in the foreseeable future.
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