Shopify is currently offering one of its most aggressive promotional deals ever: new merchants can launch their online store for just $1 per month—a discount that slashes the typical $39/month Basic plan to nearly nothing during the promotional period. This offer provides full access to Shopify’s industry-leading e-commerce platform, making it the lowest-risk entry point for entrepreneurs ready to start selling online.
The promotional pricing typically runs for 3 months through the standard signup, though select affiliate links and regional campaigns offer an extended 6-month version of this deal. Either way, you’re looking at building and launching a complete online business for under $6—a fraction of what competitors charge. Here’s everything you need to know to claim the offer and maximize your first months on the platform.
How the Shopify $1 trial offer actually works
The promotional structure follows a straightforward path. First, you’ll receive a 3-day free trial that requires no credit card—enough time to explore the dashboard, browse themes, and confirm the platform fits your needs. Once the trial ends, your subscription drops to just $1 per month for the promotional period.
This deal applies to Shopify’s three main plans: Basic (regularly $39/month), Grow (formerly called “Shopify,” regularly $105/month), and Advanced ($399/month). Most new merchants opt for Basic, which provides everything needed to launch and run a successful store. The Starter plan at $5/month and enterprise-level Shopify Plus have separate promotional structures.
Eligibility is limited to new users. Your email address cannot be associated with any previous Shopify account. The platform operates in 175+ countries, though certain sanctioned regions are excluded. There’s no special coupon code required—the promotional pricing applies automatically when you sign up through qualified links.
After the promotional period concludes, your plan automatically renews at standard pricing. However, switching to annual billing at that point saves 25%, dropping Basic to $29/month—a manageable cost for established stores.
What you get during the promotional period
Unlike limited “freemium” models from competitors, Shopify’s $1 promotion provides full access to your chosen plan’s features. This isn’t a watered-down trial; it’s the complete platform at a temporary discount.
During these months, you’ll have access to Shopify’s 250+ mobile-responsive themes, including free options like Dawn that rival paid alternatives. The drag-and-drop theme editor requires zero coding knowledge—you can customize layouts, colors, fonts, and homepage sections through an intuitive visual interface. Most merchants can build a professional-looking store in under 60 minutes.
The platform includes Shopify Payments (powered by Stripe), which eliminates the 2% transaction fee charged when using third-party payment processors. You’ll also get integrated inventory management with real-time tracking, customizable shipping configurations, and built-in marketing tools including Shopify Magic—their AI suite that generates product descriptions, email copy, and marketing content automatically.
Perhaps most valuable is access to Shopify’s 8,000+ app ecosystem. While app costs are separate from your subscription, this library covers everything from email marketing (Klaviyo) to reviews (Judge.me) to fulfillment automation. The average successful store uses 4-6 apps to extend functionality.
Multi-channel selling comes standard. You can connect your store to Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Amazon, eBay, Pinterest, and YouTube Shopping—all managed from a single dashboard. Shopify’s data shows that merchants adding a second sales channel increase revenue by 38%, with three channels boosting revenue by 190%.
Setting up your store: a step-by-step walkthrough
Getting started takes minutes. Visit Shopify’s signup page, enter your email address, and follow the guided onboarding process. You’ll answer optional questions about your business (these can be skipped) and create your account password.
Once inside, Shopify provides a 10-step setup checklist covering everything from adding products to configuring payments and shipping. The structured approach prevents overwhelm—you’re guided through theme selection, product uploads, payment gateway setup, and shipping configuration in a logical sequence.
Payment setup deserves attention. Activating Shopify Payments means you’ll avoid the additional transaction fees (2% on Basic, 1% on Grow, 0.6% on Advanced) charged for external processors like PayPal alone. Shopify Payments supports all major credit cards plus Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Shop Pay—Shopify’s accelerated checkout that converts up to 50% better than standard guest checkout.
For shipping, you can configure flat rates, calculated rates based on carrier APIs, or free shipping thresholds. Shopify Shipping, available in seven countries, offers discounts up to 88% on rates from major carriers.
What realistic results look like in your first 6 months
Expectations matter. The average first sale on Shopify happens around day 14, though this varies dramatically based on product, marketing, and niche. Some stores see sales within days of launch; others take weeks of optimization.
According to Shopify’s SEO Senior Specialist Arthur Camberlein, most stores “start to see SEO results within 3-6 months.” By months 5-6, organic traffic typically shows consistent upward momentum, and products begin ranking for transactional keywords.
Revenue potential varies widely. Case studies show a custom apparel store reaching profitability within 4 months using targeted Facebook ads. An eco-friendly products business crossed $10,000 monthly revenue within 6 months by leveraging Instagram influencers. A t-shirt shop documented £1,500 in sales with 5,000 visitors during their first half-year.
The key differentiator isn’t the platform—it’s marketing execution. Successful first-6-month merchants typically invest in learning social media advertising, email list building, and basic SEO. These skills, combined with Shopify’s infrastructure, create the foundation for sustainable growth.
During Black Friday/Cyber Monday 2024, Shopify processed $11.5 billion in merchant sales—a 24% year-over-year increase. Notably, 16,500 first-time entrepreneurs made their very first sale during that weekend, and 67,000 merchants recorded their highest sales day ever.
Why Shopify dominates e-commerce platforms
With 5.6+ million live stores and a 28-30% share of the US e-commerce platform market, Shopify has established clear category leadership. But market share alone doesn’t explain why merchants choose it over alternatives like WooCommerce, BigCommerce, or Squarespace.
Ease of use consistently ranks highest in merchant surveys. G2 rates Shopify’s usability at 8.9/10, while Capterra gives the platform 4.5/5 stars across 6,500+ reviews. The learning curve is shallow—most beginners master the basics within an afternoon. Compare this to WooCommerce, which requires WordPress familiarity and technical maintenance, or Magento, which demands dedicated development resources.
Scalability separates Shopify from simpler builders like Wix or Squarespace. The same platform powering your $1/month startup store runs billion-dollar brands. Gymshark built a $1.4 billion valuation on Shopify after migrating from Magento. SKIMS (Kim Kardashian’s shapewear brand) achieved a $3.2 billion valuation. Kylie Cosmetics, valued at $1.2 billion, handles 200,000+ simultaneous visitors during product launches without crashing.
Enterprise giants including Netflix, Tesla, Pepsi, Red Bull, and Sephora operate Shopify-powered stores. This isn’t a platform you’ll outgrow.
BigCommerce offers comparable features with no transaction fees but carries a steeper learning curve and smaller app ecosystem (1,200+ vs. Shopify’s 8,000+). WooCommerce provides maximum customization for WordPress users but requires self-hosting, security management, and technical expertise. Squarespace delivers superior design templates but lacks Shopify’s multi-channel capabilities and scalability.
Frequently asked questions about the Shopify $1 offer
Is the $1 offer really unlimited features? Yes. Unlike competitor “lite” plans, Shopify’s promotional pricing grants complete access to your chosen plan. You can sell products, accept payments, and run a fully operational store.
What happens if I cancel during the promotional period? No refund is issued, but your store data is preserved. If you reactivate later, you’ll return to standard pricing—the promotional rate cannot be reclaimed.
Can I apply this offer to multiple stores? No. The promotion is limited to one store per new account. Attempting to create multiple accounts violates Shopify’s terms of service.
Do apps cost extra during the promotional period? Yes. While your Shopify subscription is $1/month, third-party app fees are billed separately at their standard rates. However, many excellent apps offer free plans for new stores.
Is there a catch? The main consideration is pricing after the promotional period. Basic jumps to $39/month (or $29/month with annual billing). Factor this into your business planning—ensure you’re generating revenue before the discount expires.
Taking action: your next steps
The Shopify $1 promotional offer represents the lowest-risk entry into e-commerce available today. For the cost of a coffee, you get months of access to the platform powering billions in global commerce.
If you’ve been waiting for the “right time” to launch your online store, this is it. Start your Shopify trial here, explore the theme library, upload your first products, and configure your checkout. The promotional clock starts only after your 3-day free trial ends—giving you time to ensure the platform fits before committing even $1.
The merchants who built billion-dollar brands on Shopify all started somewhere. Many started with promotions exactly like this one. The difference between them and the countless entrepreneurs who never launched isn’t talent or timing—it’s simply that they began.
