Shopify is one of the most popular eCommerce platforms due to its accessibility and ease of use. Many people are sold on this eCommerce solution because even beginners can set up their shops in an instant, which is a highlight of many Shopify reviews.
However, the platform’s various features can even be leveled up to build fully customizable websites as well. Read on for a more in-depth discussion in our Shopify website review to see if this solution is right for you.
Shopify is often rated as one of the top eCommerce platforms. As a hosted type of solution, no software is required. You do not need to buy a domain as it runs on its own servers and has a host of tools to launch your site from the get-go.
| Website | https://www.shopify.com/ |
| Features | Customizable StorefrontStore ManagementSEO and MarketingShopping CartProduct Management AnalyticsWeb HostingMobile Apps24/7 Support |
| Pricing | Shopify Lite - $9/monthBasic Shopify - $29/monthShopify - $79/monthAdvanced Shopify - $299/monthShopify Plus - Custom pricing model |
| Number of Templates | There are 10 free templates, with two to three variations for each. You also have the option to pay for themes. There are 71 paid themes, with variations for each as well. |
| Apps and Integrations | Yes |
| ECommerce Tools | Yes |
Shopify’s features cover every possible aspect needed for your online store. Here is a list of their features and what they can do for your eCommerce shop.
| Service | Description |
| Customizable Storefront | Shopify’s customizable storefront includes over 70 themes, HTML and CSS access, mobile commerce, a bespoke domain, blogging section, and expert assistance if needed. |
| Store Management | Through Shopify’s store management, you can navigate refunds, dropshipping, profiles, and groups. You can also manage customer accounts, choose from numerous templates, update inventory, and fulfill orders. |
| SEO and Marketing | Shopify’s SEO and marketing features include sitemap generation, SEO optimization and best practices, discounts and gift cards, product reviews, and social media selling and integration. |
| Shopping Cart | Through Shopify’s shopping cart features, you can implement or accept over 100 payment gateways, automatically calculate shipping rates or taxes (or deploy free shipping options), be protected with SSL certification, and recover customers’ abandoned carts. |
| Product Management | You can manage all aspects of your products on Shopify with inventory management, import/export features, product organization and variations, digital product purchasing and downloading, and subscriptions and product tags. |
| Analytics | Using Shopify’s analytics, you can integrate with Google Analytics, have a dashboard of all your movements, and have reports on your exports, products, traffic, and referrals. |
| Web Hosting | Shopify’s web hosting has SSL certification, unlimited bandwidth, email forwarding, automatic upgrades, and level-1 PCI compliance. |
| Mobile Apps | Through Shopify’s mobile app, you can fulfill orders, have a mobile dashboard, contact customers, manage your inventory, and sync all your Shopify data. |
| 24/7 Support | Shopify offers 24/7 support through forums, help centers, a support team, documentation, experts, and more. |
| Pros | Cons |
| Has a huge selection of templates and designs for your online store, which can also be customized. | Content that is not necessarily for eCommerce is difficult to customize on your online store. |
| Fully hosted on its own servers, making sure that you do not have to think about maintenance or server glitches. | You do not have free rein or full authority over your store since it is hosted on Shopify’s servers. |
| Offers 24/7 customer support in case of emergencies. | Other pages of your store do not have the most SEO-friendly URL structures. |
| The Shopify App Store offers 2000+ plug-ins or apps that you can integrate on your site to add new functions or features. | The plug-ins and apps are not built-in compared to several other eCommerce platforms. |
| Shopify has its own payment processor called Shopify Payments, which has no transaction fees. | If you do not use Shopify Payments, you will have to pay for transaction fees alongside your chosen payment processor. |
Although Shopify is a great one-stop shop, it is not always ideal for all users. Here are some people who can benefit the most from Shopify:
All-in-all, Shopify remains one of the leading eCommerce solutions for a reason. If you are looking for basic eCommerce features, Shopify has these already. Basic plans, however, may end up becoming pricier due to plug-ins and apps. Transaction fees may also hike up your budget for your eCommerce store.
Although it may take some time to get used to, both small business owners and bigger business owners can make the most out of using Shopify as an eCommerce platform. Another great thing about Shopify is that you can sell in multiple channels as well to make the most out of your sales.
Here’s more information about Shopify as an eCommerce platform!
Shopify is a good eCommerce platform, even for beginners as they have 24/7 customer support. Over time, you can also build and improve your shop with apps and plug-ins and can get the hang of using its backend features.
Shopify offers a 14-day free trial for those who want to sign up and want to test the waters before deciding on a paid plan.
Using Shopify’s 14-day free trial, you can set up your eCommerce store. Afterward, you can choose a paid plan which starts at $9/month.
You do not need any business licenses to set up a store and sell on Shopify.
Here are some alternatives to Shopify, in case you are interested:
Before deciding on an eCommerce platform like Shopify, be sure to check out other alternatives and articles. You can have a look around our site here on Page Kits for more reviews!
