Micky, which e-commerce platform is the best?
I still get that question every week.
When we talk about e-commerce, there is one platform that constantly stands out from the crowd – Shopify.
I have worked with e-commerce for more than 15 years, and I have to admit: there is nothing better.
Let’s dive into why I still believe you should start on Shopify.
What Is Shopify?
Shopify is an e-commerce platform that allows anyone to create and manage their own online store.
With a user-friendly interface and a wealth of features, Shopify enables you to sell products online, on social media, and in physical stores. But it’s not just that – Shopify offers a scalable solution that grows with your business.
I know some people think Shopify is expensive, but all platforms has a cost. It’s far better to pay more to get started than to focus too much on the price.
Why Choose Shopify?
Ease Of Use
One of Shopify’s greatest advantages is its ease of use. You don’t need to be a technical guru to get started. With an intuitive drag-and-drop builder, you can easily design your store, add products, and manage orders.
Get Started With Shopify
Start your free trial on Shopify today and experience for yourself how easy it is to build your own webshop! Shopify offers a 14-day free trial, so you can explore all the features and see how the platform can help your business grow.
- You don’t need any technical knowledge: With Shopify’s user-friendly interface, you can set up and design your store without any technical background. The drag-and-drop builder makes it easy to customize your store to your needs.
- Professional themes: Choose from a wide range of fully customizable professional themes. Whether you sell fashion, electronics, or handmade goods, Shopify has a theme that fits your niche.
- Integrated payment solutions: Shopify supports all popular payment methods, so your customers can pay the way they prefer. With Shopify Payments, you can accept credit cards directly in your store.
- Scalability: Whether you start with a few products or have thousands, Shopify can handle it. The platform is designed to grow with your business.
- 24/7 support: Shopify’s support team is available around the clock to help with any questions or challenges. You are never alone when you run your store with Shopify.
Customization Options
Shopify offers a wealth of themes and apps that allow you to customize your store to your specific needs. Whether you sell clothing, electronics, or handmade goods, there is a theme that fits perfectly with your business.
I also really like Shopify’s philosophy. Their ability to stick to their core and put users first.
Their story is inspiring – watch the video here:
Scalability
Another big advantage of Shopify is its scalability. The platform can handle everything from small stores with few products to large businesses with thousands of items. Shopify grows with your business, meaning you never have to worry about switching platforms.
Many of the largest online stores in the world use Shopify.
Integrated Payment Solutions
Shopify supports a wide range of payment solutions, including credit cards, PayPal, and even cryptocurrencies. This makes it easy for your customers to pay the way they prefer.
Shopify Payments – Don’t Overlook It
One of the most crucial factors for success in e-commerce is offering payment methods that are familiar and trusted by your customers.
Shopify Payments is an integrated payment solution that makes it easy to accept various payment methods directly in your Shopify store. This includes credit cards, digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay, as well as local payment methods.
When you offer payment methods that are popular in your customers’ region, you increase their trust and comfort in shopping at your store. Many customers will abandon a cart if they cannot find their preferred payment method. This can drastically affect your conversion rate.
For example, many customers in Denmark prefer to pay with MobilePay, while German customers might prefer Sofort or Giropay.
By integrating these local methods through Shopify Payments, you can ensure a seamless payment experience for your customers, reducing cart abandonment and increasing your overall conversion rate.
Shopify vs Other Platforms
Shopify vs WooCommerce
WooCommerce is a popular solution for those who already use WordPress. Although WooCommerce offers flexibility, it requires quite a bit of technical knowledge to set up and maintain. Shopify, on the other hand, is an all-in-one solution that takes care of hosting, security, and maintenance, so you can focus on selling.
Shopify vs Magento
Magento is known for its advanced features and scalability, but it can be challenging to use for those without technical expertise. Shopify offers a more user-friendly experience without compromising on functionality. I have worked quite a bit with Magento myself – and it always requires a programmer.
Shopify vs BigCommerce
BigCommerce and Shopify offer similar features, but Shopify has a clear advantage when it comes to ease of use and design options. Shopify’s app store is also more extensive, giving you more tools to enhance your store.
Shopify vs Squarespace vs Wix
When comparing Shopify with Squarespace and Wix, the differences become even more apparent.
Squarespace and Wix are excellent tools for building beautiful websites, but they lack the depth and specialization that Shopify offers in e-commerce.
Shopify’s advanced features, such as advanced inventory management, integrated payment solutions, and comprehensive reporting tools, make it the obvious choice for serious e-commerce businesses.
My Own Conclusion
After looking at the many advantages of Shopify and comparing it with other platforms, it is clear that Shopify is the best webshop platform on the market. I have never seen anyone disappointed after switching to this platform.
When I advise companies on choosing an e-commerce platform, this is why I always recommend Shopify.
With its ease of use, scalability, and extensive customization options, Shopify is the obvious choice for anyone who wants to run a successful online business.
Additional Advantages Of Shopify
Shopify Login
Shopify makes it easy for you to log in and manage your store from anywhere. With a secure login process, you can quickly access your sales data, manage products, and much more. It’s also easy to manage multi-level access, so your team, regardless of level, can have access.
Shopify Support
Shopify offers excellent customer support, which is available 24/7.
Whether you have technical questions or need help optimizing your store, Shopify’s support team is always ready to help. In my experience, their support team is actually quite good – especially if you have the plus version.
Most other tech companies of this size are nowhere near that level of support.
Shopify SEO
One of the most important factors for success in e-commerce is visibility in search engines. Shopify is optimized for SEO, which means it makes it easier for your products to be found online. With built-in SEO tools, you can optimize your product pages and blog posts for better rankings in search engines. And it’s really easy to make changes and optimize – unlike many other platforms where it requires technical assistance.
Shopify App Store
Shopify’s App Store offers thousands of apps that can help you with everything from marketing and sales to inventory management and customer service. These apps allow you to add extra functionality to your store and enhance the customer experience.
It’s a bit like plugins for WordPress (WooCommerce) – but I think Shopify is much better at maintaining quality standards.
FAQ: How to get started with Shopify
Should I start my online store on Shopify or use something else?
If you’re trying to start an online store without dealing with technical setup, Shopify is usually one of the easiest ways to do it.
It’s built to get you from idea to live store quickly, without needing development skills.
At the same time, it can scale with your business as it grows, which is why a lot of people start there.
There are alternatives, but most of them require more technical setup or ongoing maintenance.
How much does it actually cost to start a Shopify store?
Besides the monthly subscription, you’ll usually have costs for apps, payment processing, and maybe some basic setup or design.
A lot of beginners underestimate how important it is to think in terms of total setup cost instead of just the platform fee.
It’s not expensive in itself, but it’s not “free to run” either.
The real question isn’t what it costs – it’s whether it can make you money.
How long does it take to launch a Shopify store from scratch?
Technically you can set up Shopify in a few hours, but a real store that’s ready to sell usually takes a couple of weeks.
Most of the time isn’t spent on the platform itself, but on building product pages, writing content, and preparing assets.
If everything is ready beforehand, you can move very fast. If not, that preparation phase is what slows things down.
What do I need before launching a Shopify store?
At a minimum, you need a clear product, solid product descriptions, good images, and a simple checkout flow.
You don’t need everything to be perfect, but you do need the basics to feel trustworthy and understandable.
A lot of people delay launch because they focus on details that don’t actually impact sales.
A simple store that converts is always better than a complex one that confuses people.
What are the most common mistakes when starting a Shopify store?
The biggest mistake is overcomplicating things from day one.
Too many apps, too many features, and too little focus on actually getting sales. You don’t need a perfect store. You need one that can actually sell.
The best stores start simple, get a few sales, and build from there.
What Shopify apps do I actually need when starting out?
Most beginners use way more apps than they actually need.
The right approach is to only install apps that solve a specific problem you already have.
Every app adds complexity, cost, and can affect performance, so less is usually better in the beginning.
Start minimal, then add tools only when you clearly understand what’s missing.
How important is design for a Shopify store that needs to sell?
Design matters, but not in the way most people assume.
It’s less about looking “fancy” and more about being clear, trustworthy, and easy to navigate.
If customers understand your product and can buy it without friction, the design is already doing its job.
Usability usually matters more than aesthetics when it comes to conversions.
Can I build a strong brand on Shopify or will it just look like a generic store?
Shopify doesn’t limit your brand – you do.
The platform gives you the structure, but your branding, content, and product presentation determine how it feels.
Some stores look generic, but that’s not because of Shopify, it’s because of execution.
The best stores feel like real brands, not templates.
Can I scale a Shopify store internationally without switching platforms later?
Yes, Shopify is commonly used for international scaling.
You can handle multiple markets, currencies, and payment methods without rebuilding everything.
But the platform doesn’t create scale on its own – it just makes it possible.
Growth still depends on your marketing, operations, and strategy.
What should I focus on in the first 90 days after launching a Shopify store?
The goal in the first 90 days is not perfection – it’s learning what actually works.
That means getting traffic, testing products, and understanding customer behavior. Most insights come from real data, not assumptions.
No store gets good in theory. It gets better once people actually use it.
This is what people ask me again and again when they’re starting an online store. If you’ve got these covered, you’re already ahead of most.
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