How to Get Shopify for Free (Legit Methods in 2025)

Is Shopify free in 2025? The answer is no, not entirely, but there are still great limited-access options for new users. Many people assume they can build and run a store for free, but Shopify's trial offers are more about giving you a low-risk way to explore the platform.

In this blog, Shopify Free Trial: How to Get It & Extend It, we'll walk you through the current deals, including the 3-day free trial and the popular $1 for 3 months plan. These offers are especially helpful for beginners who want to test product ideas without a big upfront cost.

Is Shopify Really Free? Breaking Down the Options

If you're wondering whether Shopify is free in 2025, here's the simple answer: No, it's not completely free. But you can still get started without spending much. After a three-day free trial, Shopify provides a three-month subscription for $1. This gives new sellers a chance to explore the platform, set up their store, and test the waters before committing to a standard paid plan.

It's important to understand that this is not a free-forever model. Many users confuse Shopify's trial with platforms that claim to be permanently free, but there are key differences worth noting.

🔍 Free Trial vs Free Forever: What's the Real Difference?

Let's compare these two types of offers:

Shopify's limited-time trial:

• Full access to premium themes, built-in features, and app store
• Ability to test payment gateways, checkout flow, and real-time orders
• Useful for launching MVPs (minimum viable products) or validating ideas
• No long-term contract is required at the beginning

Free-forever platforms like Ecwid Free or Sellfy's free tier:

• No trial deadline, but restricted in features and scalability
• Limited to a handful of products or only digital files
• Fewer marketing tools, weaker branding options
• Less flexibility when growing your business or adding advanced apps

While these free options are suitable for hobby sellers or early experiments, they usually don't support long-term growth or professional branding.

💡 Why Shopify Still Wins (Even If It's Not Fully Free)

Shopify provides more than just a store builder. Even during its trial, you can:

• Set up a complete online store with professional design
• Connect powerful integrations like Printful, DSers, or Klaviyo
• Sell across multiple channels like Facebook, Instagram, and Google
• Use advanced tools such as abandoned cart recovery or discount creation

For example, a beginner testing a t-shirt or custom mug business can launch their store, import products from a print-on-demand supplier, run small marketing campaigns, and even collect first sales, all before paying the full subscription fee.

So no, Shopify isn't entirely free, but its limited-time trial is more than just a sneak peek. It's a practical and low-risk way for serious entrepreneurs to kickstart their businesses with real tools, real integrations, and real potential to scale.

How to Get Shopify for Free (Legit Methods in 2025)

Starting your Shopify store in 2025 doesn't have to break the bank. In fact, there are official ways to access Shopify with little to no upfront cost, giving you a real chance to test the platform before committing to a full plan. Here's how to do it:

Method 1: Sign Up for the 3-Day Free Trial

All new users may try Shopify for free for three days, and the greatest thing is that no credit card is needed. During this period, you can:

• Build your entire online store
• Explore different store themes
• Add products, organize collections, and preview how everything looks
• Test out apps, settings, and backend tools

This trial gives full access to Shopify's main features so you can explore the real potential of your business idea.

Method 2: Continue with the $1/month for 3 Months Deal

Once your free trial ends, you'll have the option to extend your access for Shopify 6 months free trial. This is ideal for anyone looking to keep their store running without immediately committing to the full monthly rate.

During this $1/month period, you still get access to:

• All admin tools, settings, and analytics
• The Shopify app store
• Customer checkout, payment setup, and order processing
• Multi-channel selling options

For only a few dollars, you can run a professional store for 90 days while testing your products, marketing strategies, and target audience.

Bonus Tip: Shopify occasionally runs special promotions, especially in certain regions or through educational and business partners. Here are some examples of what to keep an eye out for:

• Student entrepreneurship programs
• Shopify partner or influencer referral offers
• Localized promotions in specific countries

These deals may include extended trials, additional discounts, or even credit toward your first paid plan. If you're eligible, they can give you even more time to grow your store before making any big financial commitment.

Step-by-Step: How to Start Your Shopify Free Trial

Step 1: Click "Start Free Trial" on the Homepage

Head to Shopify's official website and hit the big "Start Free Trial" button. This kicks off the process and takes you to your store setup.

Step 2: Enter basic business details (or skip them).

You'll be asked a few quick questions, like what you plan to sell or your level of experience. These are optional, so feel free to skip them if you're not ready with those details yet.

Step 3: Choose your Country

Pick your business location so Shopify can adjust currency, tax, and shipping defaults to match your region. It helps streamline setup later on.

Step 4: Create Your Shopify Account

Sign up with your email or log in using Google, Apple, or Facebook. This creates your dashboard, where you'll manage everything.

Step 5: Explore your 3-day trial with full backend access.

Once inside, you'll have full access to build your store. You can design your theme, upload products, explore apps, and see how Shopify works from the inside.

Setting Up Your Store for Free

Your Shopify free trial gives you full access to the tools needed to launch a real business. This is your chance to build your store from the ground up and test how everything works without spending anything. Whether you're launching a product brand, a dropshipping shop, or a digital storefront, here's how to make your setup process smooth and productive.

Explore Your Shopify Dashboard

As soon as you log in, you'll be taken to your main admin dashboard. This is the control panel where everything happens. Take a few minutes to:

• Click through the side menu: Products, Orders, Customers, Analytics
• Visit the Settings section to adjust the store name, language, and currency
• Set your time zone and business location so shipping and taxes are calculated correctly

👉 This is also where you'll find tips and checklists to help guide your setup journey.

Add Products and Organize Them into Collections

Start uploading your products by going to the Products tab:

• Add titles, images, prices, and descriptions
• Write clear and SEO-friendly product descriptions using keywords your customers might search
• Assign product types, vendors, tags, and variants (like size or color)

Then, create Collections such as:

• "New Arrivals"
• "Summer Sale"
• "Best Sellers"
• "Under $50"

Collections help you organize your store and improve the customer browsing experience.

Read more:

• How to Add Products to Shopify? 
• How to Add a Collection to a Page in Shopify?
• How to Add Products to Featured Collection on Shopify

Pick and Customize Your Theme

Go to Online Store > Themes and explore Shopify's Theme Store. There are both free and paid themes to choose from. All themes are mobile-responsive and customizable.

Once you choose one:

• Use the drag-and-drop theme editor to rearrange homepage sections
• Customize colors, fonts, buttons, and banners
• Add a logo and homepage slideshow or featured products

Example: If you're launching a minimalist skincare brand, go for a clean, airy theme and soft color palette.

Looking to design your store like a pro? 

Try EComposer, a top-rated Shopify page builder. Its drag-and-drop tools make it easy to design custom product pages, landing pages, or even your entire homepage. Perfect for beginners or anyone who wants full creative control.

TRY SHOPIFY LANDINGPAGE BUILDER

Set Up Your Domain Name

Your domain is your online identity. While your store will have a temporary Shopify link at first (like your-store.myshopify.com), you can:

• Buy a custom domain through Shopify (like www.yourstorename.com)
• Or connect an existing domain from a provider like GoDaddy

Having a branded domain adds trust and makes your store look professional even before launch.

Set Up Payment and Shipping Options

Go to Settings > Payments to set up how you'll get paid. Shopify supports:

• Credit/debit cards
• PayPal
• Cash on Delivery and bank transfers are examples of manual payment options
• Regional gateways depending on your country (like Momo, GrabPay, etc.)

Next, go to Settings > Shipping and Delivery:

• Add delivery zones (domestic, international)
• Set flat rates, free shipping, or real-time carrier rates
• If drop shipping, sync rates through your supplier app

Example: For domestic orders above $50, you may provide free delivery; for overseas sales, you might charge a fixed fee.

Read more:

• Top 14 Essential Shopify Shipping Apps
• Shopify Test Payments: The Ultimate Guide!

Browse the Shopify App Store for Extra Features

Even during the free trial, you can explore and install apps from Shopify's app marketplace. These apps help you:

• Email marketing campaigns (e.g., Klaviyo, Mailchimp)
• Add customer reviews (e.g., Judge.me, Loox)
• Automate dropshipping (e.g., DSers, Spocket)
• Add pop-ups, live chat, or bundling tools

Tip: Start with only 1–2 essential apps so your store runs smoothly while you're testing.

How to Cancel Shopify Free Trial

If you decide that Shopify isn't the right fit for you during the trial, canceling is quick and hassle-free. The best part? As long as you don't choose a paid plan, you won't be charged anything.

Here's how to cancel your free trial before it ends:

1. Log in to your Shopify admin account
2. Go to Settings in the bottom-left corner
3. Click on Plan
4. Select Cancel trial or Deactivate store
5. Follow the prompts to confirm the cancellation

Once completed, your store will be deactivated, and you won't be billed at all.

💡 Important Note:

If you haven't selected a paid plan or entered any billing information, there's no automatic charge after the trial ends. Your store becomes inactive.

This gives you the freedom to test Shopify with zero financial risk. Try it, explore the features, and if it's not right for you, walk away without paying a cent.

Conclusion

While Shopify isn't completely free, its 3-day trial combined with the $1 for 3 months offer gives new users a real chance to build, test, and launch a store with minimal risk. This deal is one of the most cost-effective ways to explore Shopify's powerful features without making a full financial commitment upfront.

This is the ideal moment to launch your internet business if you've been considering doing so. Use the trial to explore templates, add products, connect apps, and see if Shopify fits your goals.