Shopify Software Reviews

“valuable tool”

Pros

Running an online store with this has been a really positive experience because it manages to be very user friendly without feeling overly basic! I can build a store that looks polished, professional and does everything I need without having any technical or design background. At the same time if I want to customize things further, I can use HTML and CSS which gives me more control over the templates and keeps me from feeling boxed in by the default options. Another big advantage is that it works as a complete all in one platform. I don't have to purchase separate web hosting or install extra software since everything is handled within their system. The value is also excellent because the SaaS model avoids big upfront costs and the monthly pricing feels very reasonable for what you get. My favorite part by far is their payments since I don't have to think about transaction fees or deal with a separate provider if something goes wrong. If someone is launching an online store, I honestly think this is the best software to start with!

Cons

Even though it covers almost everything in one platform, it has been frustrating that some fairly basic features still need a separate app to work like adding reviews and ratings to my store. That has been more of a trouble than it should be. I'm also not a fan of the way reporting is locked behind the more expensive plans because that feels like something all users should have access to especially since it is just AI.

“launching a store in minutes”

Pros

I was able to start completely from scratch and have my own store built within minutes. Most of the integrations are already in place too so in most cases there's no real need to stress about third-party services or extra setup.

Cons

From where I stand customer support has room for improvement. I've heard it used to be much better when the platform first started.

“Stood out to me!”

Pros

The interface is really easy to use and there are tons of plugin apps available that help your site stand out compared to other platforms.

Cons

Any development work you need is only free up to a certain point but it's still worth paying for if you don't know how to code.

“quick launch”

Pros

Doesn't take long to get a store live thanks to the awesome templates. They make the setup process very easy and having web hosting built into the platform is a big plus. It means I don't have to juggle separate domain or hosting providers when putting my storefront together.

Cons

Features like gift cards and professional reporting which feel pretty standard and really should come with every pricing tier, are locked behind the more expensive plans. That leaves you having to upgrade or pay for one of their add-on apps while some competing platforms already include those features in their basic plan.

“great mobile themes”

Pros

It connects nicely with the other platforms I use especially Stitch Labs and Ship Station. There's also a wide selection of attractive themes and most of them are responsive so they look right on mobile devices. It also works well with most payment processing software.

Cons

Pricing is on the expensive side. It also no longer integrates with MailChimp which is disappointing. Another limitation is that they don't allow payment processing for vaping products. On top of that the website response times could be improved.

“my thoughts”

Pros

One of the biggest strengths is the template system especially for advanced users who want to customize the site's look and feel. If you're a developer trying to launch an online store without spending too much, this is easily one of the best options out there. And if coding isn't your thing, there's still a large theme marketplace to choose from.

Cons

The theme store can be a little pricey and if you purchase a theme, there's always a chance your shop could end up looking very similar to some other random store online. That's pretty normal with off-the-shelf themes, of course but it's still worth keeping in mind if you or a client care a lot about unique branding.

“solid ecommerce foundation”

Pros

It covers all the core pieces needed to launch an ecommerce site. A big plus is that it takes a lot of the compliance burden off your plate. You can begin with a basic theme and still get full access to the templates which gives you room to customize things the way you want.

Cons

It is missing a model template concept. For example I'd want a base product with attributes like length, width, flow and speed, then create multiple models from it that keep those same attributes with different values. Also certain features such as pass through authentication, aren't included in the lower tier plans. That's especially useful when you're trying to connect an existing website to an online store.

“flexible design”

Pros

Building a store with it feels very flexible since I can either create everything from scratch or begin with one of their templates and customize it to fit exactly what I want. Also their App Store has plenty of useful apps that simplify different tasks and also help guide customers toward completing their visit on the site.

Cons

Sometimes the back end office can feel a bit outdated to work through but their customer service does a very good job of helping you figure things out and pointing you in the right direction.

“simple to work with”

Pros

There's a massive knowledge base available and since most developers already know the platform well, it's usually not hard to find help or get things done.

Cons

One thing that still surprises me is that you can't bulk edit product descriptions or create templates for that task.

“quick integration for existing sites”

Pros

Getting it into an existing website is very easy and doesn't take much effort.

Cons

If your website is custom designed, the setup can be a bit more challenging.

“affordable”

Pros

Compared with other online shopping platforms, this costs less which makes it a better option budget wise. Another thing I really appreciate is that the management panel can be operated from a mobile phone so handling the store on the go is very convenient.

Cons

The free trial only lasts 14 days and that really isn't enough time to fully explore and understand all of the features.

“Good tool”

Pros

The wide range of mobile apps really helps with managing everything whether the business is retail, online or both.

Cons

Free template options could use better design choices since some of them feel a bit limited visually.

“all customer details in one place”

Pros

Having everything centralized makes daily work much better! I can quickly pull up customer details, past orders, new orders and product SKUs without jumping between systems. It gives us all the key information we need to run the business in one place. It also helps a lot when customers enroll in auto-ship for our products since we can easily locate their accounts and support them when needed.

Cons

We still run into a number of problems with Recharge and LoyaltyLion which are add ons connected to this platform. They can be pretty slow at times or even knock us out of production which ends up making our work harder instead of helping us move faster.

“my review”

Pros

It is one of the best known platforms for online stores and it's usually one of the first names that comes up when someone wants to launch a shop. The pricing feels reasonable and having the option to use a custom URL is a huge plus for branding. Getting a store up and running is very easy and the platform is quick to set up. The features are well laid out, detailed and simple to understand. Also the design and overall appearance are attractive which really helps a new shop look polished right from the beginning. Overall it is a strong option for anyone wanting to start an online business. There are lots of alternatives out there but this one is definitely worth considering.

Cons

Bringing in traffic is mostly up to you. If you're starting without an existing audience or customer base, it can take quite a while before you notice real progress or begin making sales. You have to keep posting, sharing, promoting and spreading the word so people can actually discover your store. When I launched my first online shop on the platform, I was completely new and didn't have many social media followers yet. Because of that it took a lot of time, patience and effort just to start getting views. Considering the pricing and how much work I had to put into promotion, I eventually felt it made more sense to begin on a marketplace like Etsy where there's already built in traffic and at least some chance of getting seen while growing your social media presence. It works very well when people are already searching for your shop but if you're just getting started, it's important to know that being discovered will take time and consistent effort.

“part of my routine”

Pros

Working with this platform is part of my everyday routine so I rely on it constantly. It consistently provides accurate information on credit cards, refunds and chargebacks and the payment records are always detailed and clear.

Cons

Starting off was a bit confusing because the platform didn't feel very user friendly at first and there were plenty of terms we didn't understand. Still once we contacted customer support for help, they were helpful.

“polished results”

Pros

Even without prior experience it's possible to build a professionallooking store. The platform comes with integrated ecommerce features, useful tools and reports, built in credit card processing and hundreds of add ons that make it simple to customize the look and feel of the shop.

Cons

Credit card processing can be revoked without warning or for reasons that aren't always clear. Also some features feel overpriced for what they offer and the interface can be a bit slow when loading.

“built in ecommerce”

Pros

Having eCommerce already built into it is a huge plus for my clients. They really appreciate being able to check their stats, track sales right from their phone and reach customer service 24/7 when they need help. Support is genuinely helpful with site related issues and the POS system is simple to use while connecting naturally with the website.

Cons

Something to watch out for is that adding apps after the theme is already set up can sometimes create problems or break code. It's usually fixable but it's still smart to keep a designer available or at least have customer support within reach.

“Complete powerhouse!”

Pros

Running an online business feels much more manageable because it really serves as a complete hub for ecommerce. Since the platform is so widely used, connecting it with popular site builders like WordPress or Wix is very easy. We used this platform for our main website to sell after school programs and summer camp classes and it handled that setup really well. Because those were non physical products, it was simple to make sure no taxes or shipping fees were applied and we could also customize and update our site content directly through the main platform.

Cons

I don't have any real complaints. It's very user friendly and whenever help is needed, customer support is available and responsive.

“Soo good!”

Pros

One of the biggest advantages of this software is how accessible it is! Even people without much e-commerce experience can use it comfortably. It works really well for businesses of any size and the added ability to manage multiple warehouses is a huge plus. The support that comes with the plus version has also been excellent and whenever I run into problems or need help finding the right app solution, their team consistently points me in the right direction.

Cons

my associates sometimes get confused when UX changes are rolled out gradually. It does not really bother me personally but in daily work the platform can suddenly look a bit different during those updates and I end up having to explain that this is just part of how a large platform like this gets updated.

“standout support”

Pros

From the beginning it feels packed with useful apps and they have plenty of options. A lot of them come with a free plan and the paid ones are usually quite affordable for the value they add to an online store. Compared with WordPress and WooCommerce, it is much simpler to set up and configure. The themes are genuinely impressive including some free ones and the documentation for beginners is extensive. That documentation is actually where I learned most of what I know about the platform. They also provide a free mobile app for store management, available on both iOS and Android which is a real advantage over WordPress with WooCommerce. Also it often gives new users advertising coupons! The last time I used it I got a $200 USD Google AdWords coupon! Another big plus is the customer support. They offer help by phone, chat, Twitter and email and the support agents are very well trained. You can ask them almost anything and the best part is that support is available 24/7 without long waits.

Cons

If you do not use their payments, they charges an additional 2% fee on the total transaction amount.