What we liked
Pros
- The gold standard for online stores
- Multi-channel selling: web, social, marketplaces, POS
- 8,000+ apps extend every part of the store
Keep in mind
- Overkill for a site that isn't primarily a store, and transaction fees apply unless you use Shopify Payments.
Score breakdown
Shopify pricing in 2026
Shopify starts at $29/mo. Free option: 3-day trial. As with most services in this category, the advertised rate typically assumes annual billing — check the renewal price and current promotions before committing.
Who is Shopify for?
Shopify is our pick for serious e-commerce stores. If your website's job is selling products, Shopify outclasses every general-purpose builder — inventory, payments, taxes, shipping, and abandoned-cart recovery are all first-class.
How Shopify compares
Our top-rated website builders pick overall is Wix (9.7/10). Also consider Squarespace (9.4/10). See the full website builders comparison for all 6 ranked services side by side.
Frequently asked questions
Yes — Shopify scores 9.2/10 (Very Good) in our independent testing and ranks #3 of 6 in our website builders comparison. It stands out as the pick for serious e-commerce stores.
Shopify pricing starts at $29/mo. Free option: 3-day trial. Check current promotions on their site, as introductory rates change frequently.
The strongest alternatives are Wix (9.7/10) and Squarespace (9.4/10). See our full website builders comparison for all 6 ranked options.