We use Shopify as one of our main e-commerce platforms for our supplements. We chose to use this platform because of it's variety of (semi) easy to use features, connectivity, and trusted partners (such as ReCharge and NoFraud). Shopify allows us to easily sell to our retail customers without the hassle getting too complex with backend code, especially security related. It's admin user interface is simplistic and easy to use for our CSR's on everyday orders.
Pros
It's base security and integration with trusted security partners (such as NoFraud) is a game-changer when it comes to reliability and a "hands off approach" for our IT department. The up-time is also very good.
It offers a wide range of verified plugins that are (for the most part) easy to install and use for any specific scenario you're looking for.
It's Analytics area in the admin is actually nice and offers a wide variety of reports that you can run.
Cons
They nickel and dime you for everything. They also purposely do not add very "typical" features to their core because they want you to purchase plugins (which they get a cut of each month).
Unless you're willing to pony up and pay for Shopify plus, they lock you out of the checkout page code (so, no installing apps there, either).
Their UI sometimes will randomly freeze or not allow you to update something. The only thing we've figured out in those cases is just to wait 30 minutes.
You can't get too "cute" with wanting complex functionalities (esp if there's not a plugin that does exactly what you're wanting to do).
Likelihood to Recommend
Shopify is perfect for companies who are looking to run a simple-to-medium base e-commerce system and aren't looking to get too fancy with integrations. Those companies, though, that have more complex integrations (especially with checkout) might be better off using another e-com system out there where you have access to the full core code.
I manage an online store and used Shopify to sell products.
Pros
Marketing
Online store appearance
Cons
Digital downloads
Multiple digital download options
Likelihood to Recommend
It completely depends on the product they might be selling. If they are selling services or physical products, then Shopify might be recommended. However, if they are selling digital products, like me, specifically products that have variants, also like me, I would not recommend them because the interface and require plug-ins are suboptimal for these purposes.
We use Shopify with a number of our clients e-commerce websites. It's an extension of whatever our chosen CMS is for the project. As an agency, we operate in a few different ways - sometimes we manage the software on behalf of our clients, other times we implement and then train our clients on how to manage the software for themselves. In both instances, Shopify is our go-to solution.
Pros
Easy to use backend
Customizable for product management/display
Cost effective
Cons
Basic requests for store management are not out of the box. Shopify puts a lot of stock in their apps and app partners to bring some of the features that I expected to be out of the box. I've used Shopify for multiple clients and ran into roadblocks for each when we were unable to do basic things. Sometimes the apps are free and it's no big deal. Other times you have to pay for another service to do something as basic as set up stock out reports and notifications.
Their support/team communication is poor. Again, working on multiple stores with license on all their levels and the support was consistently unresponsive or unhelpful.
If you're a partner managing multiple stores, the log-in between the partner dashboard and your individual stores is confusing. I'm often found in a loop searching for the right place to log in because you can't access the stores you are a partner on in the same way as the other Shopify stores. Seems minor, but it's a frustrating thing I encounter often.
Likelihood to Recommend
Shopify has low barriers to entry so it's a great store for new businesses and small to medium size businesses who have a limited product amount and are interested in building a site from scratch that is centered around the buying experience. However, if you're a larger to enterprise company and want to incorporate an e-commerce element to your site, then they are still a possible solution but be prepared to hire a firm to help you implement and connect to your site in a seamless way because without a developer, it's near impossible.
We are a marketing and website development agency for eCommerce businesses, so a large majority of our clients have a Shopify website. Shopify is very easy to use for start ups and small businesses that want to sell products online. We help them either develop their site to improve conversion rate, or we employ marketing tactics to help them generate more revenue.
Pros
Shopify is very easy to use for agencies and business owners alike. It has a modern look and feel and is user-friendly.
Building and updating the online store is also very easy with page templates and themes.
The Shopify app marketplace is expansive and trustworthy, so it's helpful for customizations for unique business cases.
Cons
Shopify analytics and reports could be more in-depth. The report builder isn't very flexible, and there's a lot of reports that seem feasible but you still can't create, such as a report of sales by product tag or collection.
Shopify creates some unique issues for SEO that are annoying. For example, every tag you create, also creates an extra URL for every collection, so you get dozens if not hundreds more URLs that can be indexed and thus deemed as duplicate content.
The biggest issue with Shopify is their new checkout extensibility. The benefits of it are not very clear, and it creates major headaches for marketing tracking, having to use a different style of javascript for tracking, and it renders Google Tag Manager preview mode useless. It is much harder to track conversions and test marketing tags.
Likelihood to Recommend
Shopify is a great tool for small businesses that want to grow an eCommerce store. It is also very useful if that business plans to work with agencies that can help with some of the nuances, like marketing tracking and development.
It is not as suitable for enterprise-level or large ecommerce businesses for some of its limitations with SEO, marketing tracking, and reporting.
I'm using Shopify in my organization for my online E- Commerce platform. Shopify helps us to showcase our products properly in a very good manner and [it's fully] customizable. Shopify is the best E-Commerce platform to sell the products. Shopify helps us to get maximum sales and to reach maximum number of target audience. Shopify has a very good analytics and [gives] ideas [on] how to do the marketing of the products that we have added in the website. We can add many products easily. And Shopify [doesn't] require any coding skill. Anyone with basic website knowledge can develop the website. This is a major advantage of Shopify.
Pros
Easy product adding
User friendly interface
Best website theme management
Easily categorizing of products
Very good analytics
Supports most of the apps to integrate
Cons
Theme installation section
Product re editing sections
Size chart updating section
Theme header editing section
Likelihood to Recommend
The major [advantage] of Shopify is that we can use Shopify for showcasing our E-Commerce platform. That is 1-We can easily add many products very easily. 2-Can easily customize the website theme as per our [requirements]. 3-Best [user-friendly] interface. 4-Best website analytics and much more. For these Shopify is the best platform. But for bulk uploading, Shopify takes some more time to complete the upload. This is the only thing that Shopify can improve. Rest all other features are fantastic.
Shopify is used in our organization for selling our different types of products. It is used only by the sales department and we have never faced any problems with Shopify before. It's very easy to Shopify for all types of E-commerce and it is the better platform for categorizing the products and the categories.
Pros
Collections
Themes
Catalogs Management
Orders processing
Tags
Menu
Cons
Tags
SKU
HSN code section
Themes
Likelihood to Recommend
Shopify is the best platform for categorizing & showcasing all the products in a good way. Once we have to showcase more than 300+ products in 20+ collections with the help of Shopify only we completed that website, Because of Shopify we could make all the collections, tags, and Vendors in a better way and faster, I appreciate the Shopify team for making a wonderful software.
Shopify gives us everything we need to create and maintain an online store, including software that’s already built, hosting, plug-ins and apps (like SEO plug-ins) to help our sites grow. One of the things that makes Shopify so competitive is its compatibility with various options for making money. They give you everything you need to advertise your products and make sales online.
Pros
ready to use right out of the box
fast load times
compatibility with facebook and google ads
optimized checkout
professional looking website that's easy to use and maintain.
e-commerce store 24/7
almost unlimited features, themes, and apps.
You won't need to hire someone to build your store.
Cons
hard to customize by code
hard to track checkout events with google tag manager
pricing is high compared to other e-commerce platforms
Likelihood to Recommend
Shopify is a tool that can be used without any setup. You just need to add products, prices, and shipping methods. Connecting to advertising platforms is as easy as adding a line of text and setting up analytics tracking is the same. Shopify has some monthly costs that are not so high, but they can hurt your profits in the end. You must also take into account the commissions of payment gateways.
We define the products incredibly well; Shopify reinforces every interaction with a natural process in business to the point of making us feel secure. The sales department found a natural ally to increase revenue with Shopify, benefiting when innovating and meeting expectations of all our potential customers.
Pros
I use Shopify to create a great marketing strategy.
Right out of the box it has a very attractive and fluid interface.
It is fast and secure for doing business.
It adapted quickly to my business needs because it is simple to set up.
Cons
I would like to know the offers in more detail and with more appreciation at the first instance without the need to make so many clicks.
Likelihood to Recommend
I recommend Shopify; it is excellent for doing business online with the necessary discretion. It helps us to understand the world of online business. If you intend to make a marketing strategy, you should include this software. It is accurate and beneficial.
Everything about this tool is absolutely awesome. It has helped our team tremendously to create an eCommerce store and build out a page with a variety of different products that we can offer. The integrations are super easy and it does not require a lot of coding.
Pros
Shopify is easy to set up and does not require a lot of work upfront.
The templated themes are awesome and look very clean and professional.
The support team is super helpful and can assist in almost any effort.
Cons
Shopify could be a little less code intensive for customizations.
The pricing is a bit high just compared to other platforms out there, but it definitely is better.
More solutions for non-eCommerce sites since they are wonderful to deal with.
Likelihood to Recommend
I would definitely recommend using Shopify for any eCommerce website. I have not come across a better solution than this.
VU
Verified User
Manager in Sales (Marketing & Advertising company, 11-50 employees)
Shopify is an e-commerce platform we routinely recommend to some of our small to mid-sized food + beverage brand clients for integrating with their own websites to set up online sales for the first time.
Pros
Easy setup for the un-tech-savvy.
Allows for contact info capture to build customer lists for later communications.
Allows for easy setup of promo code discounts.
Cons
Shopify charges a transaction fee if not using Shopify Payments
Additional features mean additional costs.
Other e-commerce options may provide greater inventory management features.
Likelihood to Recommend
Shopify is especially well-suited to the first-timer getting started with an e-commerce store. Setup & integration with your own website is easy even for the internet un-savvy.