Shopify Software Reviews

“has everything you need”

Pros

Launching an online store with this platform gives you a strong head start. The platform is built to cover nearly everything needed to grow an e-commerce business and start selling online. There are plenty of templates to choose from so it's possible to create the kind of storefront you want and the third party app integrations help you accomplish most of what you need.

Cons

Getting started can be a bit confusing at first and the platform is proprietary which creates some limitations. If you don't know how to code, you'll likely need to pay someone to make changes that the templates can't handle. It also means that moving your store to another platform later really isn't an option. Even as a web developer who works with WordPress every day, I found full customization to be difficult and costly. You're also restricted to the plugins available in this platform and compared with WordPress, there are far fewer choices with many of those options being fairly expensive.

“package tracking done right!”

Pros

Right after I started using the app, it quickly became one of the most convenient ways to keep up with my packages. It's much more useful for tracking than UPS, USPS or FedEx on their own. Everything is kept in one place and I get regular updates about what I ordered and when it's supposed to arrive. Honestly it turned out to be much better than I expected before I downloaded it.

Cons

Every now and then, I run into trouble tracking a package in the app whether it's an error from the company sending it or just me not fully understanding how to use every part of the app yet. Even with that, my overall experience has been very positive. I've been using it for a few weeks now and I definitely don't regret downloading the app and relying on it to track all of my packages.

“ALL in one”

Pros

Launching a first online business feels much more manageable with this platform. Being able to handle everything in one place, from the site backend to inventory tracking and shipping, keeps the whole operation organized and organized.

Cons

I'd love to see more customized app recommendations based on the business along with additional options to improve subscription marketing.

“has a lot of options”

Pros

Whenever I need a plugin for a specific feature, the platform's app sttore usually has exactly what I'm looking for which makes it very reliable.

Cons

The tech stack ot uses can be limiting when it comes to making an online store look exactly the way a client wants.

“best one out there!”

Pros

As an ecommerce CMS, it feels hard to beat. It's easy enough for people without much web design knowledge and for experienced designers it's even more accessible with a backend that's clean, clear and simple to figure out.

Cons

Every now and then, maybe around 5% of the time, it takes a bit longer than expected to track down a specific function.

“store setup made simple”

Pros

Getting a store up and running with this platform is very easy. The platform gives you a helpful walkthrough so setting everything up on your own feels manageable. It also doesn't require any coding which makes things much more convenient. On top of that, it feels secure and the responsible disclosure program adds extra confidence that user information is being taken seriously.

Cons

I haven't really run into any major downsides yet since it covers pretty much everything I need. That said some features are definitely locked behind paid plans and I do think the trial should come with a few more credits for a limited time.

“good features for growing sales”

Pros

Running a store this platform feels very easy and it comes packed with useful tools for business owners like creating coupons and discount codes. One of the biggest advantages is how well it connects with different social media apps which helps boost engagement. It's also really helpful that you can follow up with customers who leave items behind in abandoned carts.

Cons

If you want a very specific design with heavy customization, you'll likely need a decent budget to hire experts. Another downside is that there are only 10 free theme templates available.

“launch a store in a day”

Pros

Takes less than a day to get a site up and working which is the most valuable part for me. With Oberlo, adding products to the store is quick and the Kit helps push out marketing almost immediately. It brings every part of running a business together in one well-packaged system so you can basically launch everything in a single day.

Cons

The cost starts to feel like a problem if that first sale doesn't come within the first month. I really wish there were more support around helping new stores land that initial sale because at that stage it would have given me a lot more confidence in growing the business.

“online store up and running fast”

Pros

It was incredibly quick to launch a store with it!The setup process is very easy and you can realistically start selling online within an hour. That speed is probably the biggest advantage it has over many other CMS platforms.

Cons

Because it is such a large platform serving so many stores, the site can slow down at times when traffic is heavy on your store or across the system. That's one of the trade-offs of being on a shared platform although it can still be worth it for the benefits you get.

“plenty of resources”

Pros

Starting out as a first time user was very manageable because the layout is easy and simple to follow. There are also tons of helpful resources available which makes it easier to learn the platform and grow your business over time.

Cons

Pricing feels a bit expensive in my opinion especially for a brand-new business that is only just getting started.

“simple setup”

Pros

Quite easy to use and whenever the platform itself is missing a feature, there's usually an app available to fill that gap. Those apps are not always free but at least the options are there.

Cons

One frustrating part is the lack of a scan form for the post office which makes things harder than they should be. They also keep saying certain features are on the way but that has been the case for years.

“So customizable”

Pros

If you're looking to jump into the direct-to-consumer world, this is absolutely the place to do it! You can realistically have a store live, functioning and ready to take transactions in about 10 minutes, as long as you're reasonably comfortable with computers or the web, have a bank account and something to sell. When it comes to getting started, it's hard to top this option! There are hundreds of attractive themes available and not all of them are even limited to the site since plenty of outside theme shops exist too. It gives you a really nice balance of flexibility and automation so you can make your products and branding look polished without accidentally wrecking the whole site. And if you know a bit of HTML/CSS, the customization potential opens up even more. On top of that the app store has just about every add-on you can think of if you need features that aren't built in whether that's pop-ups, loyalty programs or wholesale pricing.

Cons

At first managing a large catalog with lots of variants like colors and sizes under each SKU felt kind of outdated. To it's credit though, their incredibly fast chat support has clearly paid attention to user feedback and they've made catalog editing far better than it used to be. There are now lots of filters on the backend to narrow down products and bulk editing is available for almost everything from titles to inventory to weight which helps a lot. The one thing that still really bothers me is the app pricing model. Nearly all of the apps come with recurring subscription fees and that gets frustrating fast when you depend on several of them. I'd much rather pay a one-time license than keep stacking monthly charges like $3 for an email list manager, $16 for wholesale pricing tiers and $5 for abandoned cart recovery. Before long, it turns into a costly, ongoing trouble.

“store launched in hours!”

Pros

Barely any time to get a store live! You can realistically be up and running in less than two hours using the free themes. If you want something more advanced, there are paid themes available starting around $10 and going up to about $400 for a fully featured, polished design. There also seems to be an app for just about any problem you run into and the community is very active and helpful when you need support or advice.

Cons

Costs can climb pretty quickly if you start adding too many apps you don't really need since paying $3-4 per month for each one adds up before long.

“built to sell online”

Pros

It really feels like it was created by people who understand selling. The setup is easy and the platform is built to help you sell effectively while also being easier to discover online.

Cons

There isn't a lot to complain about. Small limitations do come up now and then but there's usually an app that can solve them. The only bigger restriction is that you can't customize the checkout layout unless you're on the plus version.

“Effective plugins”

Pros

Running on a SaaS model, this is very user friendly. Customization is easy with the Liquid templating engine and the app/plugin ecosystem is strong enough to add new features within minutes. Since it handles the infrastructure, there's no need to worry about hosting at all. Even something as advanced as a multivendor marketplace can be installed and set up in a day at most.

Cons

Because it's a SaaS platform, you don't really have control over the software which means moving to another service provider isn't an option in the usual sense. You're basically locked into their ecosystem. On top of that lower-tier plans don't give access to checkout page control so you're limited to whatever it already provides.

“powerful store builder for sellers”

Pros

Whether you're a designer, jewelry maker, musician or entrepreneur, this platform gives you a practical way to launch an online store and start selling products or services. It also offers plenty of ideas and guidance for growing a business. I appreciate that it supports many business models including physical goods, digital products, rentals, classes and lessons, as well as services and consultations. Another strong point is the range of digital marketing tools available for creating, analyzing and running marketing campaigns.

Cons

Business owners can't really publish their own vlogs and blogs on it. It's also not the best fit for companies serving millions of customers since it seems more suitable for small and medium-sized businesses. The search functions could be much better, as it doesn't feel very efficient. On top of that, the cost can add up quickly because it depends a lot on paid add-on apps.

“user friendly”

Pros

Within about two days, we had an online store up and running for a client including integrating it into an existing website and training the client on how to add new products. It is user friendly and comes with plenty of advantages.

Cons

It doesn't seem to have any hosting in South Africa which can cause slower load times on websites that use the platforms embeds.

“perfect fit for small shops”

Pros

Running a small business means handling almost everything ourselves and this turned out to be the right choice for building and managing our online store without outside help. It's very simple to use and keeps daily store management easy.

Cons

One limitation is that it doesn't let you have a multilingual online store.

“strong security”

Pros

Moving around the back end is easy even for someone new to it. The security features are really solid and the templates can be customized without needing any programming skills.

Cons

A lot of the strongest features are locked behind the more expensive plans and on the lower-tier plans you often have to depend on paid apps to add the extra functions you need.

“fast setup”

Pros

Support is one of the stronger parts: if you get stuck it's usually possible to reach someone from their team and they also provide helpful documentation and manuals. Setting up payment methods, adding products and managing shipping is pretty accessible and having built in options to print shipping labels makes sending merchandise much more convenient. The free themes also make it simple to customize the appearance of the store without much trouble. The 15 day free trial is useful as well and if you already have a strong launch plan and an audience ready to buy, it's realistic to cover your first monthly payment within the first week because the store can be launched quickly. Another big plus is that security is already handled for you.

Cons

The pricing is acceptable but at $29 to $179 per month, it doesn't feel like the most budget friendly option especially compared with platforms like WordPress where I know I could build something similar for less. Another downside is that you're locked into their platform if you want to keep your store there, you can't just move everything elsewhere freely. Once you're established migrating away is possible but it has to be done gradually and it can take quite a bit of time.