2.1M+
Companies using it
2,109,098 tracked by Enlyft
Report
Should I Use Shopify?
Try Shopify free. Build or grow your business fast with AI. Get more than ecommerce software with tools to manage every part of your business.
Worth it
Worth itBuy it if you are serious about selling online — fastest setup, largest app ecosystem, top-rated by reviewers.
Default choice for online selling: fast setup, huge ecosystem — but fees, app costs, and lock-in add up fast.
Confidence: High
$39/mo
Starting price
Up to $2,000+/mo at Plus tier
Yes
Free trial
No setup fees on paid plans
Up to $2M
Merchant funding
Via Shopify Capital
Value for money
3
Transaction and app fees draw frequent complaints
Ease of use
4
Fast setup; some beginners still overwhelmed
Feature depth
5
Reviews call it the top-rated platform
Security posture
3
Managed core, but recurring CVEs and app breaches
Pros
Cons
- Transaction fees frustrate sellers using outside payment processors
- Third-party app prices spiral; merchants call it out of control10
- Real costs exceed what the pricing page suggests
- Beginners report feeling overwhelmed at the start
Gotchas
- highPaid apps stack monthly on top of your plan; merchants call pricing 'out of control'10
- highA third-party app breach exposed 4,180+ stores; vet apps and enable 2FA⁹
- mediumExtra transaction fees unless you route payments through Shopify Payments
- mediumLeaving means rebuilding your store; switchers cite dev-heavy migration pain
Best for
- Serious DTC sellers
- Non-technical founders
- Online + in-person (POS) retail
- Teams wanting a big app ecosystem
Not for
- Hobby sellers who can't stomach $39/mo plus fees
- Developers wanting full code control — use WooCommerce
- Anyone allergic to per-app subscription stacking
- Tiny catalogs — a free storefront does the job
Pricing
Basic
$39/mo
- Entry full-featured plan
- No setup fees
- Standard transaction rates apply
Plus
$2,000+/mo
- Enterprise scale
- Higher-tier features and security
Security
Managed, hardened core platform — but recurring XSS CVEs and a third-party app breach affecting 4,180+ stores.
- CVE-2026-33244 — XSS in Shopify React-routerCross-site scripting vulnerability disclosed in Shopify's React-router dependency.⁸
- CVE-2026-21884 — high-severity React Router XSSHigh-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in Shopify's React Router stack.
- Consentik app breach exposed 4,180+ Shopify storesA compromised third-party consent app leaked data from thousands of Shopify stores — your app stack is your attack surface.⁹
What users say
Reviews praise fast setup and breadth, while merchants repeatedly complain about transaction fees, runaway app costs, and beginner overwhelm.
“I am just starting out and already feeling overwhelmed with Shopify and the likes”
“I have a Shopify store. Why I dont recommend Shopify”
“Did anyone switch away from Shopify and why?”
Alternatives
Compare Shopify with each alternative.
WooCommerce
Open-source WordPress store; cheaper and more control, more upkeep
Shopify vs WooCommerceBigCommerce
Scaling brands; strong built-in features, fewer paid add-ons
Shopify vs BigCommerceSquarespace / Wix
Simpler, cheaper storefronts for small catalogs
Shopify vs Squarespace / WixFull analysis
Based on ~60 public sources; many review snippets were truncated, so numeric claims favor those fully visible in source text.
Sources
review
- Shopify Review 2026: Is It the Best for Selling Online?websitebuilderexpert.comreview
review
- Shopify Reviews | Trustpilottrustpilot.comreview
- Shopify Pricing 2026 - Real Costs and Hidden Feessherocommerce.comreview
- Shopify Pricing Plans (official)shopify.comofficial
- Shopify Capital (official)shopify.comofficial
- CVE-2026-33244: Shopify React-router XSSsentinelone.comsecurity
news
- The Price of Apps is Completely Out of Control (Shopify Community)community.shopify.comreview
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