Shopify is an all-in-one e-commerce platform that allows you to build, launch, and manage your online store. If you are interested in trying out Shopify, then you can sign up for a free trial. In this post, I’ll go over what happens when your Shopify trial ends and how you can continue using Shopify.
How Shopify Trial Works in 2023
When you sign up for the Shopify trial, you will have the ability to create a store and start working on it right away. Your store will have either a storefront password or an inactive checkout by default, but you can remove the password or activate your checkout by choosing a paid plan. If you add apps to your store during the trial, any app-related charges will be included on your next invoice.
What Happens When Shopify Trial Ends
When the Shopify trial period ends, you will need to choose a monthly plan to continue using the platform. If you do not select a monthly plan, your store will be paused and you will not be able to work on it until you choose a paid plan. If you do not choose a pricing plan, you do not need to take any action to cancel your Shopify account. Your account will be frozen, and you won’t be charged for anything when your trial expires.
Can I Pause My Shopify Store And Not Pay?
No. While you have the option to temporarily halt your Shopify store, you still have to pay a subscription fee, albeit a lower one. The “Pause and Build” option allows you to keep your online presence intact while disabling the checkout feature. This means that while you can still make changes to your products and store through the Shopify admin, customers won’t be able to make purchases.
As for how to pause, simply go to the Plan page in the Settings section of your Shopify admin and choose the “Pause and Build” option. Your monthly subscription fee will be reduced to a mere $9, giving you a cost-effective way to take a break from running your store without losing access to it entirely.
How To Reactivate A Paused Shopify Account
Reactivating a paused Shopify account is simple and straightforward. If you have selected the Pause and Build plan before, you will need to select a new plan as your old plan is no longer valid. Here are the steps to reactivate your Shopify account:
- Log in to your store as the store owner
- From your Shopify admin, go to Settings > Plan
- Click Pick a plan and choose the plan that is best suited for you
- Review the plan details and click Start plan
- Your store will now be reactivated and ready to start selling again.
- If you have set up a password for your store while it was paused, you can also remove your online store password once you have reactivated your account.
It is important to note that when you reactivate your store, you will need to enter your credit card details to reactivate your account. Before reactivating your account, make sure to pay any outstanding charges that you might have. This especially applies to stores that got frozen for missing the subscription bill.
How Do I Delete Inactive Shopify After Trial?
If you have a trial Shopify account that you no longer want to use, you can cancel your subscription and deactivate your Shopify store. After deactivating your store, you will not have access to your Shopify admin and your store will no longer be accessible to customers.
Here are the steps to deactivate your Shopify store:
- Log in to your store as the store owner
- From your Shopify admin, go to Settings > Plan
- Click Deactivate store
- Confirm that you want to deactivate your store
It is important to note that Shopify Support cannot deactivate your store for you. You will need to deactivate your store yourself. Before deactivating your store, make sure to pay any outstanding charges that you might have.
After deactivating your store, you will not be able to create a new store using the same myshopify domain. However, you can create a new store with the same name, but with a unique myshopify domain.
How Long Is Shopify Free Trial In 2023
The Free Trial in 2023 lasts for just 3 Days, which may not seem like enough time to fully experience all that Shopify has to offer. If you’re wondering, “Can I extend my trial with Shopify?” – you can’t. But there’s still good news. If you’re looking to dip your toes in the water and test the platform’s features, Shopify has still got you covered with their Starter Plan.
For only $1 a month, you can enjoy a taste of what Shopify can do for your business. Keep in mind, this plan doesn’t include access to a Shopify Online Storefront or support for Shopify Point of Sale, but it’s still a fantastic way to sell your products effectively through social media. And the best part? You can take advantage of this low price for up to 3 months before it goes up to the regular rate of $5.
What’s Included In The Trial
When you sign up for Shopify’s free trial, you’ll be able to experience a wide range of features that will help you get started with setting up your online store. The trial gives you the ability to build and customize your store, and even though your store has either a storefront password or an inactive checkout by default, you can easily activate it by choosing a paid plan.
Here’s what you can expect from Shopify’s free trial:
- Storefront customization: You can customize the look and feel of your store to match your brand, add products and pages, and even set up a blog.
- Product Management: You can manage your products and inventory, and even add and edit product descriptions, images, and pricing information.
- Mobile optimization: Your store is optimized for mobile devices, ensuring a smooth shopping experience for your customers.
- App store access: You can access the Shopify App Store and add apps to your store, although any app-related charges will be included on your next invoice.
Limitations of the Shopify Trial
The Shopify free trial offers a great way to test out the platform, but does come with a couple of limitations. Let me give you a brief overview of them.
- No Selling Capabilities: You won’t be able to sell your products or services until you choose a paid plan and activate your checkout. This means that your storefront password will remain in place and your checkout will remain inactive until you upgrade.
- App Charges: While you won’t be charged any subscription fees during your trial period, any charges related to apps added during the trial will be included on your next invoice.
- Store Pause: If you don’t choose a pricing plan at the end of your trial period, your store will be paused and you won’t be able to continue working on it until you choose a paid plan.
Click here to view Shopify Trial Limitations in depth here!
Tips to Get the Most Out of the Free Shopify Trial
Shopify is packed with features to help you build and run your online store like a pro! Take advantage of your free trial period and make the most of it by following my simple tips:
- Get a Feel for Product Display: Add a few of your products to the platform and pay attention to the way they appear on your online store. Make any necessary adjustments to ensure they display correctly and attractively.
- Organize Your Products: Use the Collection feature to categorize your products in a way that makes sense for your business. This will make it easier for customers to find what they’re looking for.
- Choose Your Payment Method: Decide if you want to use Shopify Payments or a third-party payment provider that’s supported by Shopify. Set up the payment method of your choice so you’re ready to start accepting payments.
- Learn the Ropes of Settings: Take a look at the Settings page in your Shopify admin and familiarize yourself with how to configure taxes, shipping, and other sales channels. Understanding these settings will make it easier for you to run your store.
- Explore Themes and Apps: Visit the Shopify Theme Store and the Shopify App Store to see what’s available to customize your store and add new features. Find inspiration and see what other entrepreneurs have done to make their stores stand out.
By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to making the most of your free trial and setting yourself up for success on the Shopify platform.
How Much Is Shopify After The Trial?
So, you’ve explored the free trial period and now you’re ready to take the next step with Shopify. But what’s the cost, you might ask? Let me give you a brief overview of all plans and their benefits, so you can make an informed decision on what’s the best fit for your online business.
- Starter Plan ($1 for 3 months, then $5): The Starter plan is ideal for new merchants starting out and looking for a simple and affordable option. It offers competitive transaction fees, a customizable Spotlight theme, business performance tracking through reports, and support for international commerce. However, it doesn’t come with an online store or Shopify POS and it offers only a solo account, none for staff.
- Basic Plan ($19): Basic Plan provides merchants with a comprehensive online store solution, including unlimited products, multiple sales channels, website building tools, and features like discount codes, abandoned cart recovery, and gift cards. This plan also comes with 2 staff accounts.
- Shopify Plan ($49): This plan enhances the previous plan by offering professional reports, discounted credit card rates, better shipping discounts, and international pricing and domains. It is a step up for growing businesses looking to improve their online presence. The Shopify Plan also comes with 5 staff accounts.
- Advanced Plan($299): This one takes your online store to the next level with an advanced report builder, third-party shipping calculations, improved shipping and credit card rates, and individual product pricing for international sales. Ideal for high-volume businesses looking to maximize their online sales. Users can also affordably grow their team with this plan, as it gets offers 15 staff accounts.
- Shopify Plus (on quote): Designed for enterprises, Shopify Plus provides a complete e-commerce solution, including optimized checkouts, enhanced product pages, localized shopping experiences, advanced shipping rates and discounts, and more customization tools. It offers everything from the previous plans plus more, making it the ultimate solution for large businesses looking to grow their online presence. The best thing? You get unlimited staff accounts with this plan.
FAQs
Q: Can I cancel my Shopify plan at any time?
A: Yes, you can cancel your Shopify plan at any time without incurring any cancellation fees. Simply go to your Shopify account settings and select “Cancel Plan” to end your subscription.
Q: Does Shopify charge a cancellation fee?
A: No, Shopify does not charge a cancellation fee. You can cancel your plan at any time without any additional charges, unless you have paid apps that you still need to pay for.
Q: Can you use Shopify for free?
A: Sort of. You can try out the features, but you can’t actually sell anything.
Q: Can I cancel a Shopify store but keep my domain name?
A: Yes, you can cancel your Shopify store and keep your custom domain name. You will need to transfer the domain to a new provider, but your unique web address can still be used for another website.
Q: Does closing the Shopify store delete it?
A: No, closing your Shopify store does not delete it. Your store will be placed in “closed” status, and you can reactivate it at any time by upgrading to a paid plan. However, note that your store data may be deleted after a certain period of inactivity.
Q: Do I need to copyright my Shopify store?
A: Copyright law automatically protects original works of authorship, so you don’t need to register your Shopify store to receive copyright protection. However, registering your copyright with the government can provide additional legal benefits and protection.
Q: What happens if I don’t pay my Shopify payment?
A: If you don’t pay your Shopify payment, your store will be suspended, and your customers will no longer be able to access it. To reactivate your store, you’ll need to pay the overdue amount and resume your monthly subscription.
Final Thoughts
Remember, it’s essential to think about your next moves after the Shopify trial ends if you want to secure the success of your eCommerce site. The price of Shopify plans vary, so make sure to select the best one for your needs.
Just make sure you understand the process and potential implications if you choose to pause or terminate your account. If you keep going with the platform though, it can be a strong tool to help you grow and flourish in the world of eCommerce if you have the appropriate plan and approach.
