Shopify

What is Shopify?

Shopify is a hosted ecommerce platform that enables businesses to build, manage, and scale online stores without requiring server infrastructure or technical setup. Founded in 2006, it serves as a complete commerce operating system, handling storefront design, inventory management, payments, shipping, and customer communications through a single dashboard.

The platform operates on a subscription model with tiered pricing starting at a free trial, then progressing through Basic ($39/month), Shopify ($105/month), Advanced ($399/month), and Enterprise plans with custom pricing. Merchants can accept payments via Shopify Payments, Shop Pay, or third-party processors. The system supports selling across multiple channels including web storefronts, social media marketplaces (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok), the Shop app ecosystem (which reaches 250+ million shoppers), point-of-sale systems for physical retail, and B2B platforms through Shopify Markets for international expansion. Shopify's checkout converts at industry-leading rates, with Shop Pay integration reportedly increasing conversion by up to 50% compared to guest checkout.

The platform includes Sidekick, an AI assistant built into the admin that identifies growth opportunities and automates repetitive tasks like inventory tracking, order processing, and customer segmentation. The Shopify App Store provides 21,000+ integrations for specialized functions—from email marketing to advanced analytics. Developers can build custom storefronts using Hydrogen, Shopify's headless commerce framework, or access APIs and tools through Shopify.dev. The platform publishes 150+ updates twice yearly through Shopify Editions, and supports AI-driven agentic storefronts that enable product discovery and checkout directly within chat interfaces.

Shopify serves a wide range of customers from solo entrepreneurs to enterprise brands including Glossier, Stanley, Mattel, and Steve Madden. The company also offers Shopify Capital, pr