Shopify does not have a free plan for running an online store, but it has one of the cheapest ways to start one. In October 2026 the offer in the US is simple: 3 days free with no card, then $1 a month for your first 3 months. That is about $3 for roughly three months of building and selling.
Here is how the offer works step by step, what you pay when it ends, and how to plan your first 90 days so you have real sales data before you commit to a full-price plan.
Contents
What the Shopify free trial includes
The current offer has two parts:
- 3 days free. You sign up with an email address. No credit card is needed.
- $1 a month for 3 months. When the free days end you pick a plan and keep going for $1 a month. Shopify shows this as “Extend your trial for $1”.
During the trial you get the same core tools as a paid store: the full theme editor, unlimited products, the checkout, the Sidekick AI assistant, discount codes, email marketing and access to the Shopify App Store. The $1 offer usually applies to the Basic and Grow plans on monthly billing; Shopify shows the exact terms on the plan selection screen.
Start your Shopify trial
3 days free, no card needed. Then $1 a month for your first 3 months.
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How to start the trial
- Open the Shopify free trial page and enter your email address.
- Answer the short setup questions (what you sell, where you sell). They only tailor the setup guide.
- Pick a theme, add a few products and set your store name and currency.
- Before the 3 days end, choose a plan to continue at $1 a month.
- Connect Shopify Payments, set shipping rates and remove the store password when you are ready to sell.
What you pay after the $1 period
After the three discounted months, your plan moves to its normal price. US prices on the pricing page in October 2026:
| Plan | Billed monthly | Billed yearly | Online card rate (Shopify Payments) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $39 / mo | $29 / mo | 2.9% + 30¢ |
| Grow | $105 / mo | $79 / mo | 2.7% + 30¢ |
| Advanced | $399 / mo | $299 / mo | 2.5% + 30¢ |
| Plus | from $2,300 / mo | Contract | 2.25% + 30¢ |
If you use a payment provider other than Shopify Payments, Shopify adds a third-party transaction fee of 2% on Basic, 1% on Grow, 0.6% on Advanced and 0.2% on Plus. Our full Shopify pricing guide breaks down every fee.
A 90-day plan for the trial
1Days 1 to 3: build
Pick a free theme, add 5 to 10 products with real photos and descriptions, write your shipping and return policies. Sidekick and Shopify Magic can draft product descriptions; edit them in your own voice.
2Month 1: launch
Choose a plan for $1, connect payments, place a test order, then open the store. Share it with friends, your social accounts and any existing customers.
3Month 2: test traffic
Try one paid channel with a small budget, or focus on organic content. Track which products get views, add-to-carts and sales.
4Month 3: decide
You now have real numbers. If the store sells, switch to yearly billing to save 25%. If it does not, change the product, the offer or the channel before paying full price.
Common trial mistakes
- Spending the free days on theme tweaks. Products, prices and policies matter more than fonts.
- Installing too many apps. Paid apps are billed separately and keep charging after the $1 period.
- Buying a premium theme too early. Shopify’s free themes are fast and good enough to test demand. See our honest Shopify review for what is worth paying for.
- Paying yearly on day one. Use the cheap months to prove the store works first.
Still deciding between platforms? Compare Shopify vs Etsy and Shopify vs WooCommerce before you start.
Try Shopify for $1 a month
Build your store free for 3 days, then keep going for $1 a month for 3 months.
Affiliate link. Dijipedya may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.
Frequently asked questions
Is Shopify free to try?
Yes. You can start a 3-day free trial with just an email address. After that, Shopify typically lets you continue for $1 a month for the first 3 months before regular plan pricing starts.
Do I need a credit card for the Shopify free trial?
You do not need a card to start the 3-day trial. You add payment details when you pick a plan to continue with the $1 offer.
What happens after the Shopify $1 for 3 months offer ends?
Your store moves to the regular price of the plan you chose. In the US that is $39 a month for Basic billed monthly, or $29 a month billed yearly.
Can I cancel Shopify during the trial?
Yes. You can close the store at any time from the admin. If you cancel during the free days, you are not charged.
Can I sell during the Shopify free trial?
You can build the store, add products and set up payments during the trial. To take real orders you need to choose a plan and remove the store password.
Is there a free Shopify plan?
There is no permanent free plan for an online store. Shopify does offer a $0 Agentic plan for listing products in AI shopping channels, where you only pay fees when you make a sale.
More Shopify Guides
Sources: Shopify pricing. Prices were checked in October 2026 and can change; confirm the current numbers on each vendor’s pricing page before you buy.
