Shopify Software Reviews

“reliable storefront”

Pros

It is a fully managed platform from a software standpoint and it consistently does what it's supposed to do. Everything runs reliably without hosting headaches, random code issues or downtime getting in the way.

Cons

It definitely feels expensive especially when you can set up a comparable WooCommerce store for almost nothing. I'm also not a fan of how checkout customization is tied to their pricing tiers. On top of that the templating uses its own language built around the platforms variables which adds another layer to learn.

“helpful support”

Pros

Built in payment processing is really convenient and the free themes are a nice bonus to get started with. Their customer service team has also been helpful whenever needed and the platform feels safe and dependable overall.

Cons

The app costs can get a bit pricey and I really wish there were an option to run multiple automatic discounts at the same time.

“Online selling made simple”

Pros

Getting a store online feels very easy so shop owners can make the move with very few problems. It also includes a range of more advanced features that are genuinely useful without making the platform feel overly complicated.

Cons

Pricing can feel a bit high for brand new stores though that concern tends to fade pretty quickly once orders start coming in and the quality of the software starts to show.

“beginner friendly”

Pros

It is an excellent ecommerce platform for beginners! It offers a wide range of free addons and payment options and the interface is very simple to use and figure out. Being able to add Facebook channels has been a big advantage because it gives our products more visibility and we can customize the store the way we want in a short amount of time.

Cons

Issue is that the mid tier and advanced plans are expensive and being limited to only 5 accounts feels somewhat restrictive.

“user friendly design”

Pros

Everything about the software feels very user friendly from the clean layout to how simple it is to figure out. The app works really well whether you stick with the free version or upgrade to a paid plan and it's easy to use either way. Another big plus is the 24/7 support team which is always available when needed.

Cons

One problem is that they add their own processing fee on top of the fee already charged by the payment processor.

“Convenient process”

Pros

Setting up a store and getting it live only takes a few hours which makes the whole process very convenient.

Cons

A lot of the add ons and plugins don't seem to be thoroughly vetted so the quality can feel inconsistent.

“All in one”

Pros

Working with a few ecommerce clients who use this platform, I've seen how simple and efficient it makes selling online. A couple of them even moved their blogs over from Wordpress which says a lot. It's really turning into a one stop shop for web design and online stores.

Cons

Since it was originally built for ecommerce, the blogging side still isn't as advanced as some dedicated platforms. That said I've noticed it getting better over time and it seems clear they'll keep improving that area.

“I like the theme coding”

Pros

Being able to customize the provided themes with code is easily one of the biggest advantages of it. Even without being a highly advanced developer, I can still get things done because their support team is there to walk me through every step whenever I need help.

Cons

One issue I hope they improve soon is more detailed sales tracking along with a better way to clearly identify whether an order is fraudulent. That said they do offer a decent solution for fraud checks. It's not perfect or the ideal setup but it still gives me some peace of mind.

“customer service impressed”

Pros

I genuinely love the platform! More than anything though, their customer support is what really won me over. The team they bring on is well trained, incredibly friendly and consistently helpful. When I was first setting things up I called quite a lot and one of their "gurus" always had the answer and was pleasant every single time, no matter how often I reached out :) That level of support has stayed consistent to this day and at least for now I feel like I'm a customer for life! I'm planning to open a second store within the next year and I'll definitely be using the platform for that one too!

Cons

My only real complaint is that I wish there were some kind of storage or archive for items and pictures I delete. Every now and then I change my mind about removing a product and it would be really helpful if I could just restore the listing somehow instead of having to rewrite all the copy from scratch.

“good for basic retail”

Pros

A solid out of the box ecommerce website builder that can have a store live within just a few days.

Cons

Once our business expanded, we needed more from the platform. It couldn't or wouldn't improve the core functions and it feels too dependent on third-party app developers, probably because it doesn't want to compete with them. Beyond a basic retail website, there really isn't a practical middle option unless you move up to the enterprise version.

“accessible store setup”

Pros

The platform is organized in a very accessible way and it makes it possible to build a really beautiful online store. The customization options are excellent and the tips they provide have been genuinely helpful especially when making transitions from one step to the next.

Cons

There are still a few things I'd like to do with my current theme that just aren't possible. To make those changes, I'd have to switch to a different theme.

“handy tools”

Pros

Adding products is quick and accessible and putting together the website side of the store is just as simple. The sales tax setup is effective and the shipping label system along with the rest of those tools is genuinely very handy.

Cons

A downside is that nearly every store on the platform tends to have the same look. As a web developer and former user, I can usually spot right away when a store is built on this option.

“Best out there!”

Pros

This platform is clearly built around managing and selling products and that's where it really delivers. The backend for handling orders, the checkout experience and the fulfillment workflow are all very easy and simple to work with.

Cons

When it comes to building a more polished site with pages that feel custom, it can be limiting. The homepage gives you a fair amount to customize but beyond that there's not a lot of flexibility unless you have coding skills.

“powerful integrations”

Pros

Right away it stood out for how well it connects with other software to automate admin work like fulfilment, follow up emails and customer service messages. The app store also offers a lot of useful features and adding them is quick and easy.

Cons

Pricing is where it really falls short. The fees are expensive compared with the monthly cost of other CMS platforms and on top of that, it also charges transaction fees which feels unfair. Another frustrating part is that when fraud happens, it tends to side with the customer and penalize the seller.

“Solid seo”

Pros

Doesn't take much time to start working with because the platform is easy to learn and use. Uploading products is simple, installing themes is trouble free and the SEO settings do their job well.

Cons

Biggest downside is the checkout flow can't really be adjusted. There are too many steps between the cart and the final checkout and every extra click or field lowers the chances of a customer finishing their purchase. Unless you're on the enterprise plan which costs around $15000, there's no real way to change that sequence.

“good templates, costly scaling”

Pros

The templates give you a really solid foundation to build from. It also has strong app partners so integrating extra tools and features into the store is very convenient.

Cons

Once the business grows and you move into the plus version the pricing becomes very expensive. Support also falls short of what it should be since they don't really step in to resolve problems or help fix issues effectively. Another limitation is with multiple currencies, it doesn't support pricing the way I need like selling the same product at 20 CAD and 20 USD separately.

“Great platform!”

Pros

Whether you're selling a single product or managing hundreds, the platform scales really well as your business grows! Having something that can keep up long term is a big plus. It's also highly customizable and offers strong integrations which makes it even more useful.

Cons

Honestly I've been very impressed overall and there are barely any issues that come to mind.

“provides tons of options”

Pros

It's simple to use without sacrificing customization and there are plenty of plug ins available to add a wide range of features and options if they aren't already included. If you want to launch quickly, don't have much time to learn a new system, this is probably the best choice.

Cons

Keep in mind how quickly the cost can climb compared with some other platforms. With this you're really paying for convenience and speed. Once you begin adding extra functions and plug-ins, the expenses can stack up fast while alternatives like Wordpress and its plug ins can end up being much cheaper. If keeping costs low is the priority and you have time to invest, another option may make more sense.

“simple selling”

Pros

Adding products to the site is quick and the SEO setup is simple since most of it just comes down to filling in the fields in the product template. You can realistically have your business online within a few weeks and start receiving payouts to your bank account only days after launch. Shipping is also very simple to manage which makes the whole process even better.

Cons

One thing I really wish it supported is using multiple coupon codes at checkout. That would make it much easier to carry in-store promotions over to online sales. It's difficult to run a large in-store sale with different discount levels like 20% off pants, 25% off tops and 30% off shoes and then mirror that same setup online. Google Promotions also prefers a required code for offers in their program. Being able to stack or allow multiple discounts would make this process much more practical. At the moment that's really the only downside for us.

“Flexible themes”

Pros

Compared with Wordpress, this is much simpler to work with! The plugins are easier to customize and keep updated and there are plenty of themes that usually don't need big changes. It works really well for both beginners and more advanced users and overall it feels very reliable.

Cons

Choosing the right plugins can take a bit of time. There's also a monthly fee but considering what the service offers, it feels worth paying.