Shopify

Shopify is a cloud-based e-commerce platform that businesses use to run online stores, from small brands to international enterprise setups.

Shopify is a SaaS system (software as a service): hosting, security, updates and scaling are handled by Shopify, and merchants pay a monthly fee plus transaction costs. The feature set covers the entire commerce stack: product management, checkout, payments, shipping, POS for physical retail and an app ecosystem with thousands of extensions.

The big difference from self-hosted systems like Shopware, Magento or WooCommerce: there are no servers, no security patches and no version upgrades to manage yourself. In exchange, you operate within Shopify's framework, for instance its URL structure or the standardized checkout. For most merchants that trade is clearly worth it: less operational overhead, more focus on product and marketing.

Shopify is customized through themes (Liquid), apps and APIs. That covers nearly every commerce model, from a simple D2C store to complex architectures with ERP integration, B2B pricing logic and multiple markets. For enterprise requirements there is Shopify Plus, with extended features and higher limits.

Shopify development

Frequently asked questions about Shopify

How much does Shopify cost?

The cost is made up of the monthly plan, payment fees per transaction and potentially apps and a theme. Shopify Plus targets larger merchants. Current prices are listed on the official Shopify pricing page at shopify.com/pricing.

Who is Shopify a good fit for?

From startups to enterprise merchants. Shopify is especially strong for brands that want to grow fast without running their own infrastructure. Highly individual edge-case processes require apps or custom development.

Related terms

Shopify Plus
Shopify Plus is Shopify's enterprise plan for larger merchants, with extended capabilities such as B2B, checkout customization, more automation and higher API limits.
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Theme
A theme is the design and frontend framework of a Shopify store: it defines the layout, sections and user experience of the storefront.
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Shopify App
Shopify apps are extensions that add functionality to a store, from reviews to search, bundles and ERP connectors.
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Store Migration
A store migration is the move of an online store to a new platform, from Shopware, Magento or WooCommerce to Shopify, for example, including data, design and integrations.
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