Checked November 2026 against shopify.com and the Shopify Help Center. Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you sign up through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Shopify lets you build a store before you pay for it. Right now that means a few free days to set things up, then a low starter price while you open and make your first sales. This guide explains exactly how the trial works, what your first year really costs, and a day-by-day plan so you don't waste the free days.
The Shopify free trial at a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How long is the free trial? | 3 days |
| Do I need a credit card? | No, only an email address to start |
| What does it cost after the trial? | $1 a month for the first 3 months on most plans |
| What then? | The plan's standard price: Basic $39, Grow $105 or Advanced $399 a month (US, monthly billing) |
| Can I sell during the free days? | No. The store starts in private mode and checkout is off until you pick a plan |
| Can the trial be extended? | No. Shopify doesn't extend or reset trials or promotional pricing |
Trial length and promotions can change, and they vary by country and by when you create your account. Shopify's own free trial help page says so too, so check the offer on the sign-up page before you start.
How the Shopify free trial works
- Sign up with your email. No card needed. Shopify asks a few questions about your business and creates your store.
- Build during the free days. Your store is in private mode, so only you can see it. You can pick a theme, add products, set up payments and shipping, and install apps.
- Pick a plan before the trial ends. This is the step that turns checkout on. If you don't, the store pauses until you do. Nothing you built is lost.
- Pay $1 a month for 3 months. On most plans, this is when you open the store, take real orders and learn what sells.
- Move to standard pricing. From month 4 you pay your plan's normal monthly price, unless you change or cancel it.
How to start your free trial
- Go to the Shopify free trial page and enter your email address.
- Answer the short questions about what you sell and where. They shape the setup guide in your admin.
- Create your account and choose your store name. You can add your own domain later.
- You land in the Shopify admin with a setup guide. Start with the 3-day plan below.
What you can and can't do during the trial
You can
- Choose and customise a theme, including themes you upload yourself
- Add products, collections, pages and navigation
- Set up payments, shipping, taxes and store settings
- Install apps (app charges start on your first bill after the trial)
- Switch between plans: the new plan applies straight away, and billing starts when the trial ends
You can't
- Take real orders: checkout stays inactive until you choose a paid plan
- Show the store to the public: it stays in private mode, like a password page
- Get more free days: Shopify doesn't extend trials
Your 3-day launch plan
Three days is short. Use them to get the store ready, so the cheap months are spent selling, not setting up.
Day 1: look and feel
Pick a theme that fits what you sell, not just one with a pretty demo. Our guide on how to choose a Shopify theme for your niche walks you through the questions to ask. Then add your logo, colours and fonts, write a clear homepage headline, and set up your main menu. If you want to compare designs first, you can click through live demos of every eComify theme before you commit.
Day 2: products and pages
Add your first 5 to 10 products with good photos, honest descriptions and prices. Group them into collections. Write the pages every new shopper looks for: About, Contact and FAQ. Add your shipping, returns and privacy policies.
Day 3: ready to sell
Set up your payment provider and shipping rates. If you want to offer free shipping, see how to set up free shipping over a threshold. Check your taxes and store currency, place a test order, and then pick your plan so checkout is ready when you open.
What your first year actually costs
Here's the subscription cost for the first 12 months if the $1 offer applies to the plan you pick, with monthly billing and US prices:
| Plan | Months 1–3 | Months 4–12 | First year total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $3 | 9 × $39 = $351 | $354 |
| Grow | $3 | 9 × $105 = $945 | $948 |
| Advanced | $3 | 9 × $399 = $3,591 | $3,594 |
That's the Shopify plan only. Budget for these too:
- Apps. Paid apps bill separately, starting with your first invoice after the trial.
- A theme. Free themes cost nothing. Paid themes are usually a one-time purchase.
- A domain. Usually a small yearly fee.
- Payment fees. Card processing fees apply to every sale. If you use a third-party payment provider instead of Shopify Payments, Shopify adds a fee of 2% on Basic, 1% on Grow and 0.6% on Advanced.
Yearly billing is cheaper at standard prices: Basic $29, Grow $79 and Advanced $299 a month (US). Once you know the store is working, it's worth switching.
Which plan should you pick?
- Basic suits most new stores and solo owners. Start here unless you already know you need more.
- Grow adds up to 5 staff accounts and lowers the third-party payment fee to 1%. It's worth it once you have a small team or steady sales.
- Advanced adds up to 15 staff accounts, live third-party shipping rates and region-specific store settings. It's for larger, international stores.
You can change plans later from Settings > Plan, so don't overthink it on day 3.
When the trial ends
To keep your store
- In your Shopify admin, go to Settings > Plan.
- Click Choose plan (on a paused store it may say Pick a plan).
- Choose your plan and billing cycle, and add your payment details.
If you do nothing
Your store pauses at the end of the trial. Nobody can buy from it, but your products, theme and settings are kept. Pick a plan whenever you're ready to carry on.
To close the store
Go to Settings > Plan and click Cancel trial (or Cancel plan if you've already chosen one). If you picked a paid plan, you need to do this yourself to stop the charges. Charges already made during the promotional months aren't refunded.
Mistakes to avoid
- Spending the free days choosing a theme. Shortlist two or three themes beforehand, and try their demos before you sign up.
- Installing lots of apps on day 1. Each one can add a monthly charge after the trial, and many slow your store. Start with your theme's built-in features.
- Forgetting to pick a plan. Checkout stays off until you do, even if the store looks finished.
- Waiting until everything is perfect. The $1 months are the cheapest time to open, test prices and learn from real shoppers.
FAQ
Is Shopify free to use?
Only during the short free trial. To sell, you need a paid plan. The starter offer brings the first months down to $1 a month on most plans.
Do I need a credit card for the Shopify free trial?
No. You start with an email address. You add payment details when you choose a paid plan.
Can I extend my Shopify free trial?
No. Shopify doesn't extend or reset trials or promotional pricing. If the trial ends before you're ready, your store simply pauses until you pick a plan.
Does the $1 offer cover apps and themes?
No. It covers your Shopify plan subscription. Paid apps, paid themes and domains are billed separately.
What happens to my store if I don't pay after the trial?
It's paused. Your work is kept, and you can pick a plan later to carry on where you left off.
Ready to start?
Have a theme shortlist and a few products ready, then start the trial and follow the 3-day plan above. You'll open your store during the $1 months instead of still setting it up.
