Shopify Free Trial: How It Works and What Happens When It Ends

That start date is the detail that catches most people out. Sign up on a whim on Friday and only start building weeks later, and you've used up part of your trial. Here's how the Shopify trial works, according to Shopify's own help centre.

Shopify free trial at a glance

Question	What Shopify says
When does it start?	When you first sign up, not when you start working on your store
Which plans can I test?	Several, including Basic, Grow and Advanced
How long is it?	It varies. Shopify points you to its site for the current length and offers
Can it be extended?	No. Shopify says it's not possible to extend the trial
What if I don't choose a plan?	Your store is paused until you choose one
Do I lose my work?	No. Products, designs and settings are kept when you choose a plan

Stores built with an AI tool get longer

Here's one most guides miss. Shopify says that if your store was created with an AI tool or a vibe code partner, it starts with a free trial of 4 months at the moment. You can build and test during that time, and if your trial ends before you choose a plan, the store is paused, just like the standard trial.

What you can and can't do during the trial

You can set up almost everything. Shopify suggests adding a few products, organising them into collections, configuring taxes and shipping in Settings, and browsing the Theme Store and App Store.

What you can't do is open fully to customers. Shopify says a trial store starts in private mode, or with its checkout switched off. To let customers place orders, you either switch off private mode or turn on checkout by choosing a plan. If you're testing with real orders, Shopify also says you need to set up a provider to accept orders first.

How to start a Shopify free trial

1. Go to Shopify's site, enter your email address and click Start free trial.
2. Answer the setup questions about your business, or choose Skip All.
3. Create your Shopify account. Your trial starts now.
4. Add products, pick a theme and set up shipping while the clock runs.
5. Choose a plan in Settings when you're ready to open to customers.

Switching plans during the trial

You can try different plans without waiting. Shopify says that if you switch plans during your trial, the new plan takes effect immediately, but the plan doesn't start until the trial ends. If your store is on a promotional trial, Shopify says plan changes work differently, and the promotional rate continues until the trial ends.

Cancelling during the trial

Shopify gives two different answers here, depending on what you've done:

• If you haven't chosen a plan, you don't need to do anything. Shopify says your account is frozen.
• If you've already chosen a plan before the trial ends, you need to pause or deactivate your store yourself to cancel.

This matters if you picked a plan early to get started. Leaving it alone won't cancel it.

Monthly or annual after the trial

When you choose a plan, Shopify asks you to pick a monthly or annual cycle. Shopify says the annual option is taken for the full year upfront and works out lower each month, while month to month usually works out higher each month. If you're still testing the idea, monthly keeps your options open.

Before your trial ends

Use the time to get the basics right, because the trial won't come back. My guides on changing your store name on Shopify and adding a page on Shopify cover two jobs most new store owners need to do in week one.

Promotional rates after the trial

Shopify's offers page says it might run promotional rates on monthly plans for new merchants, such as a reduced rate for a set period after your free trial ends. If your store is on one of these, Shopify says the admin shows the promotional rate during the trial rather than the standard plan rate. Check which one you're looking at before you decide, because the promotional rate ends after its set period.

Shopify is also clear that its support team can't extend trials or reset promotional rates, so there's no point asking for more time.

My verdict on the Shopify free trial

Don't sign up until you're ready to build, because the trial starts the day you register and Shopify won't extend it. Build your products and pages first, test a couple of plans, and only choose one when you're ready to open. If you pick a plan early and then change your mind, remember you have to pause or deactivate the store yourself.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the Shopify free trial?

Shopify says the length varies based on different factors, and its site shows the current trial length and any offers. Stores created with an AI tool or vibe code partner currently get 4 months.

When does the Shopify free trial start?

Shopify says your free trial begins when you first sign up, not when you start working on your store.

Can I extend my Shopify free trial?

No. Shopify says it's not possible to extend the duration of your free trial, and it doesn't reset free trials.

What happens when my Shopify trial ends?

If you haven't chosen a plan, Shopify says your store is paused until you choose one. Your products, designs and settings are kept.

Can customers place orders during the Shopify trial?

Not until you open the store. Shopify says a trial store starts in private mode or with checkout inactive, and you open it by choosing a plan.

How do I cancel Shopify during the free trial?

If you haven't chosen a plan, Shopify says no action is needed and your account is frozen. If you have chosen one, you need to pause or deactivate your store.