Are you looking for Shopify pros and cons to help you decide if it’s the right platform for your online store?
According to the latest survey reports, Shopify powers over 5.23 million active online stores across more than 175 countries, marking a 5% increase from the previous year.
Shopify is popular because it’s easy to use, can grow with your business, and offers many helpful tools. That’s why many new business owners and well-known brands choose it.
But like any platform, Shopify has both pros and cons!
In this guide, we’ll look at the important Shopify pros and cons so you can decide if it’s the right platform for your online store.
Why Choosing the Right eCommerce Platform Matters
Your eCommerce platform isn’t just a piece of software – it’s the foundation of your entire online business.
From how you manage inventory to how your customers experience checkout, everything hinges on the platform you choose.
Shopify is undoubtedly one of the most popular options.
But just because it’s popular doesn’t mean it’s perfect for everyone.
Let’s dive into the Shopify pros and cons you truly can’t afford to ignore.
The Pros of Using Shopify
Let’s get started!
1. Beginner-Friendly and Easy to Use
One of Shopify’s biggest strengths is its ease of use.
Whether you’re a solopreneur or a small team, you can get a professional-looking store up and running without touching a line of code.
- Drag-and-drop builder
- Intuitive admin dashboard
- Step-by-step store setup wizard
You don’t need to hire a developer just to launch your store, which saves you time and money in the early stages.
2. Beautiful, Mobile-Responsive Themes
Shopify offers a wide variety of themes, both free and paid.
All are mobile-optimized by default, ensuring that your store looks great on any device.
- 100+ themes available
- Easily customizable
- Built-in mobile responsiveness
You can also use the Shopify Theme Editor to tweak your design without needing advanced technical knowledge.
3. Secure and Reliable Hosting
With Shopify, you don’t need to worry about setting up hosting or managing security certificates.
Shopify takes care of it all:
- Free SSL certificate
- 99.99% uptime
- Level 1 PCI compliance
This gives peace of mind to both you and your customers, especially when handling sensitive data.
4. Built-In Payment Gateway (Shopify Payments)
Shopify offers Shopify Payments, which lets you accept credit cards without setting up a third-party gateway.
- No additional transaction fees with Shopify Payments
- Supports multiple currencies
- Integrates with Apple Pay, Google Pay, and more
You can also connect third-party processors like PayPal or Stripe if you prefer.
5. Scalability for Growth
Whether you’re just starting out or scaling to hundreds of thousands in monthly revenue, Shopify grows with you.
- Supports everything from solo shops to enterprise-level brands
- Performance remains solid as traffic grows
- Shopify Plus is available for high-volume businesses
This makes Shopify a long-term solution for serious entrepreneurs.
6. Powerful App Store
Shopify’s App Store offers over 8,000 plugins to extend your store’s functionality—from marketing tools to customer service chatbots.
- SEO, email marketing, upsell tools
- Inventory management, accounting integrations
- Dropshipping and print-on-demand support
You can tailor your store to suit your exact business needs.
The Cons of Using Shopify
1. Monthly Costs Add Up
While Shopify is affordable at first glance, costs can accumulate over time:
- $19/month for Basic plan
- $49/month for Grow plan
- $299/month for Advanced plan
- $2,300/month for Plus plan
Add theme purchases and paid apps, and your monthly bill can quickly exceed expectations.
Pro Tip
Be strategic with the apps you install – many offer overlapping features you may not need.
2. Limited Customization Without Code
Shopify is easy to use, but its simplicity can also be a limitation.
For deep customization, you may need to hire a developer familiar with Liquid, Shopify’s proprietary coding language.
- Layout changes beyond the theme editor require code
- URL structures can’t be changed
- Some design limitations
If custom branding is a top priority, you may find Shopify a bit restrictive.
3. Transaction Fees (If Not Using Shopify Payments)
If you don’t use Shopify Payments, they charges additional transaction fees on top of payment processor fees.
This can eat into your margins, especially for high-volume stores using alternative gateways.
4. App Dependency
While the app store is a major pro, it can also be a crutch.
- Many basic features (e.g., reviews, subscriptions) require apps
- Each app adds cost and complexity
- Apps can slow down site speed
Over-reliance on third-party apps can lead to a fragmented and inefficient tech stack.
5. SEO Limitations
Shopify offers good SEO features, but it’s not as flexible as WordPress or other platforms.
- Forced URL structures (e.g.,
/collections/or/products/) - Limited control over blog functionality
- Redirects and canonical tags sometimes need manual setup
If content marketing is a major part of your strategy, you may find Shopify’s SEO tools lacking.
Shopify: Who It’s Best For
Despite its drawbacks, Shopify is a fantastic choice for many entrepreneurs.
Here’s who it’s best suited for:
- Beginners: Anyone launching their first online store
- Dropshippers and POD Sellers: Thanks to easy integrations
- Retailers with Physical Locations: Shopify POS is seamless
- Brands Looking to Scale: Built to grow with your business
Shopify Alternatives to Consider
If Shopify’s cons are dealbreakers, consider these alternatives:
| Platform | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| WooCommerce | Full control & customization | Self-hosted; more technical |
| Squarespace | Creative, visually-driven stores | Limited eCommerce tools |
| Wix eCommerce | Simpler stores with budget constraints | Easy drag-and-drop, limited scalability |
Each platform has its strengths—choose based on your business goals, tech comfort, and budget.
Is Shopify Right for You?
Shopify is an excellent platform, but not a one-size-fits-all solution.
Choose Shopify if:
- You want to launch quickly without coding
- You need a reliable, secure hosted solution
- You’re okay with app-based extensions
Look elsewhere if:
- You need full customization without limits
- You want complete control over SEO
- You’re looking to avoid monthly platform fees
Pro Tip
Take advantage of Shopify’s free trial to explore its features firsthand. This hands-on experience will help you assess whether the platform aligns with your business needs and goals.
Conclusion
Choosing the right platform is a big decision, but the good news is, you don’t have to commit blindly.
Shopify offers a free trial, so you can test it yourself before making the leap.
Before you start, ask yourself:
- What’s my budget for monthly fees and apps?
- How much control do I need over design and code?
- Will I scale quickly, or am I focused on a niche?
By understanding the Shopify pros and cons, you’re better equipped to start your online store with confidence, or explore the alternative that suits you better.
Get in touch with us today if you need help with Shopify. Alternatively, if you’re looking to maintain and scale your Shopify store, check out our Shopify Maintainance Plans.
Our Portfolio
IGT Law
HogBox
Power Law Firm
Lester Dominic
Beckiowens
Holistic Natural Health Experts
Alix Dunn
Net Concepts
Grow Strong Teams
Kite Child
Vest right
Cody Bjugan
Maine beds
Dr2Dr Coaching
Dr. Leslie Korn
Integral Somatic Psychology
Organic Intelligence | Trauma Safe
NeuroAffective Touch
Build a Website to Lead in Your Niche
learn the 7 proven steps to build a website to
lead in your niche
Free & No Obligation
✅ Trusted by 500+ businesses
🔒 100% Privacy. No Spam Ever.
About
Komal
Is Your Website Working Hard As You Do?
Our Free Audit Checks Everything From Performance
To SEO, Giving You A Road Map To Success
Free & No Obligation
