Can You Open a Shopify Store for Free?
Can you open a Shopify store for free? Yes, with a 3-day trial and a $1 per month promotion for new users. This guide explains exactly what each option includes, what you can and cannot do during the free period, and the cheapest way to launch a live Shopify store.
Shopify Development Services gets this question from new sellers Can You Open a Shopify Store for Free? every week. The short answer: yes, you can start for free, but you cannot sell during the free period. Once you pick a plan, follow the complete Shopify store setup guide to configure your store correctly before launch.
This guide covers every low-cost Shopify option available right now the 3-day trial, the $1 per month offer, the Starter plan, and what each one actually lets you do.
The Honest Answer: Shopify Is Not Permanently Free
There is no permanently free Shopify plan. Every source that says ‘you can open a Shopify store for free’ is referring to the free trial, not a free plan that lasts forever.
What Shopify offers is a 3-day free trial with no credit card needed. After 3 days, you pick a paid plan. The cheapest paid plan is $5 per month. Most store owners who want a full online store go with the Basic plan at $25 per month.
There is also a current promotion where new users pay $1 per month for the first 3 months before switching to regular pricing. This is the lowest-cost way to actually run a live, selling Shopify store.
What the 3-Day Free Trial Gives You
The 3-day free trial is 100% free. No credit card required at signup. You get full access to Shopify’s admin panel and can build everything inside your store during this time.
Here is what you can do during the 3-day trial:
- Choose and install a theme
- Add products with images, descriptions, and prices
- Set up collections and navigation
- Configure shipping rates and delivery zones
- Install apps from the Shopify App Store
- Set up your store policies and legal pages
- Connect a custom domain if you already have one
Here is what you cannot do during the 3-day trial:
- Accept real customer orders checkout is password protected
- Process payments from buyers
- Go live publicly without removing the password page
The trial is designed for building, not selling. Use those 3 days to set up your store fully so you are ready to launch the moment you pick a plan.
Ready to build your Shopify store but not sure where to start? Shopify Development Services builds complete Shopify stores in 5 to 7 working days theme, products, payments, and launch. Message us on WhatsApp: +92 332 2790455 free quote within 2 hours.
The $1 Per Month Offer: Best Way to Start Cheap
After the 3-day trial, Shopify currently offers $1 per month for the first 3 months on any paid plan. This means you can run a fully live, selling Shopify store for 90 days at $3 total.
During this period you get everything the paid plan includes active checkout, real payment processing, order management, and customer emails. There is no restriction on the number of products or orders you can take.
After the 3-month promotion ends, the plan switches to regular pricing: $25 per month for Basic, $65 per month for Grow, or $399 per month for Advanced.
Shopify Plan Options: What Each One Costs and Includes
Current pricing for all plans is listed on the Shopify pricing page. Here is a clear comparison of what matters for new store owners:
Plan | Cost | Checkout Active | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
3-Day Trial | Free | No | Building and testing the store |
Starter | $5/month | Yes | Selling via social media links only |
Basic | $25/month | Yes | Full online store, new sellers |
Grow | $65/month | Yes | Growing stores needing reports |
Advanced | $399/month | Yes | High volume stores |
$1 Promo | $1/month x3 | Yes | Anyone starting now — best deal |
The Starter Plan: Cheapest Way to Keep a Live Store
The Shopify Starter plan costs $5 per month and keeps your checkout permanently active. This is the cheapest ongoing plan Shopify offers.
The Starter plan is designed for social selling sharing product links on Instagram, WhatsApp, TikTok, Facebook, and similar platforms. Your buyers click a link, land on a product page, and checkout through Shopify.
What the Starter plan does not include:
- A full online store homepage that customers can browse
- Product collections or category pages
- Staff accounts
- A blog
- Theme editing
If you want a proper online store where customers can browse products, search, and navigate you need the Basic plan at $25 per month. The Starter plan only works well if social media is your primary sales channel and you only need product checkout links.
What About Pakistan-Based Store Owners?
The 3-day trial and $1 per month offer are available to store owners in Pakistan. Signup requires an email address only no credit card is needed for the trial.
For the paid plan, you can use an international debit or credit card, or arrange payment through a service like Payoneer or Wise if you do not have a card that accepts international billing.
One important note: Shopify Payments is not available for stores based in Pakistan. You will need a third-party payment gateway. JazzCash, Easypaisa, and COD options can be integrated separately for customers buying within Pakistan.
How to Make the Most of the Free Trial
Three days is not much time, but it is enough to fully build a store if you come prepared. Here is how to use the trial efficiently:
- Sign up and skip the optional setup questions. Go straight to your admin.
- Install your theme first. Dawn is the most popular free theme. Install it and customize colors and fonts.
- Add your products. Upload images, write descriptions, set prices.
- Set up collections to organize your products into categories.
- Configure shipping zones and rates under Settings.
- Add your return policy, privacy policy, and terms under Settings then Policies.
- On day 3, pick your plan and activate checkout. Your store goes live immediately.
Everything you build during the trial transfers to your paid plan. Nothing is lost when you upgrade.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you open a Shopify store for free?
Yes, Shopify offers a 3-day free trial with no credit card required. You can build your full store during this period add products, install a theme, configure shipping, and set up payments. However, checkout is disabled during the trial, so customers cannot place orders until you activate a paid plan.
Is there a permanently free Shopify plan?
No. Shopify does not have a permanently free plan. The cheapest ongoing option is the Starter plan at $5 per month, which lets you sell through social media links. For a full online store where customers can browse and checkout, the Basic plan starts at $25 per month. If you are just starting, the $1 per month for 3 months promotion is the most cost-effective entry point.
What is the Shopify $1 per month offer?
New Shopify merchants can access any paid plan for $1 per month during their first 3 months. This gives full access to a live, selling store active checkout, payment processing, unlimited products, and order management. After 3 months, the plan switches to regular pricing starting at $25 per month for Basic.
Can Pakistani store owners use the Shopify free trial?
Yes. The 3-day free trial and the $1 per month promotion are available for store owners in Pakistan. Signup requires only an email. For payment after the trial, an international debit or credit card is needed. Keep in mind that Shopify Payments is not available in Pakistan, so a third-party payment gateway must be set up separately.
What can I not do during the Shopify free trial?
During the 3-day free trial, your store is password protected and checkout is disabled. Customers cannot browse your live store or place orders. You can build everything inside the admin products, theme, collections, shipping, policies but the store only goes public and accepts orders after you activate a paid plan.