Ecommerce
Editor's Choice· reviewed September 28, 2026
Shopify review
Commerce-first platform for selling online, in person and across channels
Shopify is a hosted ecommerce platform that combines an online store builder, checkout, payments, inventory and order management, and point-of-sale tools in a single admin. Plans run from Basic for solo entrepreneurs and Grow for small teams to Advanced for global reach and Plus for complex businesses, and an extensive app and theme marketplace fills feature gaps. In our editorial view, it best fits merchants whose website exists mainly to sell products.
Best for
- Product-led online stores that plan to scale
- Retailers selling both online and in person
- Brands that want a large app and theme ecosystem
- Merchants in countries where Shopify Payments is available
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Shopify vs alternatives
| Feature | ShopifyReviewed | Wix | BigCommerce |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No (free trial, typically 3 days) | Yes, but can't accept payments | No (15-day free trial) |
| Extra fee for third-party payment providers | Yes, rate varies by plan | None listed | Yes, for non-embedded providers and manual payments |
| Sales-volume limits | No caps listed; Plus may move to a revenue-based fee | None listed | Yes; GMV thresholds trigger upgrades or overage fees |
| Native point of sale | Yes; hardware availability varies by country | Yes; native card payments in US, Canada, UK | Via integrations (e.g. Square, Clover) |
| Abandoned cart recovery | All plans | Yes (Wix Stores) | Growth plan and up |
| Multi-currency checkout | Full features need Shopify Payments | With Wix Payments, PayPal or Stripe | Yes, all plans |
| Store editor | Theme editor | Drag-and-drop editor | Page Builder |
Feature checklist
Not included: Free plan
Free trial instead (3 days as advertised in September 2026; can vary by store location); a paid plan is required to keep selling
Included: Unlimited products
Included: Abandoned checkout recovery emails
Included on all plans
Included: In-person selling (Shopify POS)
Casual in-person selling included with paid plans; POS Pro is a per-location add-on (Plus includes some POS Pro locations)
Included: Built-in payments (Shopify Payments)
Available only in supported countries
Included: Staff accounts
None on Basic; up to 5 on Grow, 15 on Advanced, unlimited on Plus
Included: Local-currency pricing and checkout
Full functionality requires Shopify Payments
Included: Checkout customization
Limited on Basic, Grow and Advanced; fully customizable on Plus
Pros and cons
Pros
- Commerce-first admin keeps products, inventory, orders, discounts and checkout in one place
- Unlimited products and abandoned checkout recovery are included on every plan
- Built-in POS lets one catalog and inventory serve online and in-person sales
- Extensive app and theme marketplace for adding reviews, subscriptions, loyalty and more
- Plan ladder runs from solo sellers up to Shopify Plus for complex businesses
Cons
- No free plan, and the standard free trial is short (3 days as advertised in September 2026)
- An extra transaction fee, varying by plan, applies to orders processed through a third-party payment provider rather than Shopify Payments
- The Basic plan includes no staff accounts, so teams needing their own admin logins must move to Grow or higher
- Paid apps, premium themes and POS Pro can add meaningfully to the monthly cost
Pricing
Shopify has no free plan. As of September 2026 its site advertises a 3-day free trial (no credit card required), sometimes followed by discounted introductory pricing for a set period; Shopify notes trial terms can vary by store location. The main paid tiers are Basic, Grow, Advanced and Plus, with Plus aimed at complex businesses and sold on one- or three-year terms. Billing is monthly or annual, with annual billing lowering the effective monthly rate, and prices are shown in local currency. POS Pro is a per-location add-on, though Plus includes some POS Pro locations. Check the official Shopify pricing page for current prices.
Frequently asked questions
Does Shopify have a free plan?
No. Shopify has no permanent free plan. As of September 2026 its site advertises a 3-day free trial with no credit card required, and Shopify may offer discounted introductory pricing for a set period afterward. Shopify notes that trial length and pricing can vary by store location and signup route, so check the official site before signing up.
Does Shopify charge transaction fees?
Payment processing fees apply to card sales on every plan. Separately, on orders processed through a third-party payment provider, Shopify adds a transaction fee whose rate falls on higher plans. Stores using Shopify Payments aren't charged that extra fee on orders paid through Shopify Payments, Shop Pay or PayPal Express, or on manual methods such as cash or bank transfer.
Can I use Shopify for in-person sales?
Yes. Every paid Shopify plan includes built-in in-person selling features through the Shopify POS app, which runs on a smartphone or tablet with a Shopify card reader where hardware is available. Stores that need staff roles and permissions, returns and exchanges at any location, or professional retail reports can add POS Pro, which is billed per location (Plus includes some POS Pro locations).
Should I choose Shopify or Wix?
Wix is a general-purpose website builder with a drag-and-drop editor and a free plan, though accepting payments requires a premium plan that supports them. It can suit service businesses or content-led sites that also sell products. In our opinion, Shopify is usually the stronger fit when the store itself is the business and you expect your catalog, channels or team to grow.
How does Shopify compare with BigCommerce on fees and plan limits?
Since June 1, 2026, BigCommerce charges self-serve merchants a fee on orders processed outside its embedded payment providers, including manual and offline payments, and its plans have sales thresholds that trigger upgrades or overage fees. Shopify lists no sales caps on Basic, Grow or Advanced but adds a fee when you skip Shopify Payments. Model your expected volume and payment setup on both.
Our verdict
In our editorial view, Shopify is a strong default for merchants whose website exists mainly to sell products, especially if you also sell in person or expect to grow into a team. Its commerce-first admin, native POS and app ecosystem are the main draws. The trade-offs: there is no free plan, Basic has no staff accounts, and paying through a provider other than Shopify Payments adds a fee. For a content-led site with light selling, Wix may suit you better; if you want staff accounts on an entry plan, compare BigCommerce, minding its sales thresholds and payment-provider fees.
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