✓ Verified May 2026: We re-checked Shopify's current trial, pricing, Help Center rules, development-store limits, and 1MBB route.
The public trial is still 3 days, with 3 months for $1/month available to eligible new merchants. Older 14-day, 30-day, and 90-day free trials are no longer current. (See our editorial policy)
- Richard, Do Dropshipping
Want to build your Shopify store without rushing and without paying full price right away?
Good news: Shopify still has a few free and low-cost trial options you can use.
In this article, we'll show you the best Shopify free trial options in May 2026, what each one costs, and where the limitations are.
Quick Answer: What is the best Shopify trial in May 2026?
The best Shopify trial option for most new merchants right now is a free 3-day trial + 3 months for $1 each.
You get 3 days to build your store for free, then 3 months at $1/month after choosing an eligible plan. Once you activate the paid promotional plan and set up payments, your checkout can accept real orders.
Whether you're starting your first store or switching from another platform, you'll see the active trial options in one place, including the exact cost and the catch, if there is one.
We updated this guide so you can quickly see which Shopify trials still work and which old offers are no longer worth chasing.
Let's get started!
Shopify free trial: Every option at a glance
Before we go deeper, here's a quick side-by-side of every Shopify trial we'll cover, including the length, cost, and whether it's still live in May 2026:
| Shopify trial deal | Length | Cost | Can you sell? | Live in May 2026? |
| Standard free trial | 3 days | $0 | No, checkout is inactive until you choose a paid plan | ✔ |
| 3-day trial + 3 months for $1 each | 93 days | $3 total | Yes, after choosing the paid promo plan and setting up payments | ✔ |
| Shopify 1MBB program | 6-month discounted Basic plan | $1/month for Basic where eligible | Yes, after joining through 1MBB, choosing the eligible plan, and setting up payments | ✔ Eligible US and Canada merchants |
| Shopify development store (Partner account) | Open-ended | $0 | No real sales, test orders only | ✔ |
| Shopify's Covid-19 response (90-day free trial) | 90 days | $0 | Previously, not current | ✖ Ended |
| 30-day free trial | 30 days | $0 | Previously, not current | ✖ Ended |
| 14-day free trial | 14 days | $0 | Previously, not current | ✖ Ended |
For most new merchants, the 3-day trial plus 3 months for $1 deal is the first option to check.
Here's why that deal is usually the best fit, and where the alternatives still make sense:
Build your Shopify store faster
Free 3-day trial + $1/month for 3 months
- Set up products, payments, checkout, and apps in one place
- Use themes, AI tools, and automations to launch faster
- Start simple, then improve your store as you grow
No credit card required.
Does Shopify have a free trial? (And how long is it?)
Yes, Shopify has a free trial that you can start without entering a credit card.
The exact trial length and promotional offer can vary by country, account, and timing, but Shopify's standard public trial is currently 3 days.
The clock starts on the day you sign up at shopify.com, not on the day you start working on the store.
You can build your store, install apps, upload products, adjust settings, and design your theme during the free trial.
The main limitation is the checkout process: it's inactive until you choose a paid plan and set up a payment provider.
Three days isn't long, and that's where many new sellers get stuck.
The good news? There is usually a simple way to get more time at a very low cost.
Shopify's current promo often lets eligible new merchants add 3 more months for $1 each after the free trial, which is what we'll cover next.
For context on why so many merchants take the leap, Shopify reported that millions of businesses across 175+ countries use the platform, and merchants processed $378.4 billion in GMV in 2025.
You are not testing a small side tool here. You're testing the engine behind one of the biggest ecommerce ecosystems in the world.
Shopify 3 months for $1 per month deal (about 93 days of low-cost access)
For many new merchants, this is Shopify's main offer: a free trial first, then three full months at $1/month after choosing an eligible plan.
If your account shows the 3-day trial plus 3 months for $1 offer, you get 93 days of Shopify access for $3 total.
The regular Basic plan is $39/month in the US when paid monthly, so 3 months at $1 saves you $114 versus paying the normal monthly Basic price for those same three months.
The deal usually applies to Basic, Grow, and Advanced. It does not usually apply to Shopify Starter or Shopify Plus.
Always check the checkout page before subscribing, because Shopify says trial length and promotional pricing can vary by store location, timing, and eligibility.
Here's the part many blog posts skip:
Once you activate the paid promotional plan and set up a payment provider, your checkout turns on.
That means you can take real orders and process real payments during the $1/month period.
If you're trying to test a product idea or run your first ad, that matters. It is the difference between 'I built a store' and 'I can actually take orders.'
Some new merchants may also see Shopify's Rewards Promotion, which gives eligible stores subscription credits based on sales during the first six months after signing up for a plan.
Shopify says this promotion is in early access and is only available to certain merchants, so treat the numbers shown in your own Shopify admin or checkout as the source of truth.
In Shopify Help Center's USD example, the caps are $5,000 for Basic, $7,500 for Grow, and $10,000 for Advanced.
You can earn 1% back on transactions processed through Shopify Payments and 0.5% back on transactions processed through other payment providers, up to the plan cap (Shopify Help Center).
Click here to start your Shopify trial and check the current $1/month offer.
Tip: Want a deeper breakdown of the deal before signing up? Check out our Shopify 3 Months for $1/Month deal page here.
Shopify 1MBB: A discounted route for eligible Black-owned businesses
Shopify's longest special-offer route is currently tied to the 1 Million Black Businesses (1MBB) initiative, a partnership between Shopify and Operation HOPE.
In the past, 1MBB was often described as a 120-day Shopify trial.
The current Shopify 1MBB page now frames the offer as Shopify Basic for $1/month for the first six months, alongside Operation HOPE's business support resources.
Before signing up, check the current 1MBB application page and the Shopify checkout screen.
The exact offer may change, and Shopify currently presents the 1MBB offer as available only to eligible merchants in the US and Canada.
The program focuses on Black-owned businesses, but always confirm the current rules on the application page before you sign up.
The program also includes business education, coaching, and support for small-business development, so it is worth checking if you qualify.
Check the current Shopify 1MBB program page here.
Can you extend your Shopify free trial?
No, Shopify does not currently extend free trials or reset promotional pricing periods.
That is different from some of the older advice you may still see online. In the past, some merchants asked Shopify support for more trial time, but Shopify's current Help Center says free trial extensions are not possible.
If your 3-day free trial ends before you choose a paid plan, your store will be paused until you choose a plan.
Your products, theme, and settings are preserved, but customers cannot buy from the store while it is paused.
If you need more time before launching, your practical options are simple: use the $1/month promo if it is available, choose the Pause and Build plan after you are on a paid plan, or deactivate the store and come back later.
Can you get a Shopify free trial for 30 days?
No, not as a current public Shopify offer.
Shopify used to offer longer free trials, including a 14-day trial and occasional 30-day promotional trials, but the current public trial setup is different.
You'll find dozens of articles and YouTube videos still pushing "30-day Shopify free trial" or "60-day Shopify free trial" links.
Most of those links go nowhere, redirect to the standard trial, or show whatever current promotional offer Shopify is running in your country.
Don't waste time chasing those links.
Can you get a Shopify free trial for 90 days?
Not for free anymore.
But the $1/month deal can give you roughly 93 days of access for $3 total, if the offer is available to your account.
The real free 90-day trial existed only briefly. A few months after Covid-19 hit, Shopify announced a free 90-day trial for all new merchants to help small businesses move online.
That promo ended in 2020 and was not brought back as a standard public free trial.
If a current article or YouTube tutorial promises a 'free 90-day Shopify trial,' it is usually referring to the $1/month plan and calling it free.
Shopify pricing after the trial
Once your free trial or $1/month promotional period ends, you move to Shopify's regular pricing unless you change, pause, or deactivate your plan.
Here is the US monthly pricing for Shopify's main plans:
- Shopify Starter: $5/month (sell via social and links, no full online store)
- Basic: $39/month (full store, the most common starting plan)
- Grow: $105/month (more staff accounts and better rates)
- Advanced: $399/month (advanced reports and lower rates)
- Shopify Plus: From $2,300/month on a 3-year term, or from $2,500/month on a 1-year term
Pay annually and save 25% on Basic, Grow, and Advanced.
Pricing can vary by country, currency, billing cycle, and plan eligibility, so always check Shopify's pricing page before choosing a plan.
For a deeper look at which plan fits your stage, check out our in-depth Shopify pricing plans guide.
How to make the most of your Shopify trial
Three days fly by if you walk in cold.
So before you click the signup link, line up the boring stuff first.
Here's the pre-trial checklist we recommend for every new store:
- Decide which products you want to sell, and have at least five ready to upload.
- Pick your store name and domain.
- Sketch your branding: logo, color palette, and a one-line value proposition.
- Have product images ready or a plan to get them.
- Know which payment gateway you'll use. Shopify Payments is enabled by default in supported countries.
- Pick a Shopify theme before you start building.
Once those decisions are made, the store build goes much faster.
One small catch: if you install paid apps during the trial, their charges may appear on your next invoice.
Here's a tip many beginners miss:
Use Shopify's built-in AI tools to speed up the setup.
Shopify Magic can help with product descriptions, page copy, and other store content. Sidekick can also help, where it is available on your account.
If you want a full step-by-step guide, follow our complete guide to starting a Shopify store from scratch here.
It walks through:
- Coming up with your product idea
- Choosing a fulfillment method
- Picking a Shopify plan
- Finding a supplier
- Defining your ideal target audience
- Designing and branding your store
- Installing the right Shopify apps
- Setting up your payment gateways
- Picking a marketing channel and going live
What happens when the Shopify trial ends?
There are two possible outcomes, depending on what you did during the trial.
If you didn't pick a paid plan before the free trial ends, your store is paused until you choose a plan.
That means customers cannot buy from the store, but Shopify preserves your store data, products, and settings so you can continue later.
If you've already picked a plan, billing starts after the free trial ends.
If you were eligible for promotional pricing, you may pay the promotional price for the set promotional period before moving to the standard price.
If you deactivate your store, Shopify guarantees that your store information will be preserved for two years in case you decide to reopen it.
Either way, Shopify won't delete your store immediately when the trial ends. You can come back, log in, and choose a plan to continue.
For the full breakdown, check our in-depth article on what happens when your Shopify trial ends.
Shopify trial vs other ecommerce platform trials
Wondering how Shopify's trial compares with other platforms?
Here's how the major ecommerce platforms compare on trial length and what you can do during them:
| Platform | Trial or starter option | Card required? | Sell during trial? | Plan starts at |
| Shopify (with $1/month deal) | 3-day free trial, then 3 months at $1/month if eligible | No for the free trial, yes when choosing a paid plan | No during the free trial, yes after choosing the paid promo plan and setting up payments | $39/month for Basic in the US when paid monthly |
| BigCommerce | 15-day free trial | No | Yes, trial is fully functional | $39/month |
| Wix ecommerce | Free site builder, then a 14-day money-back guarantee on paid plans | Yes for paid ecommerce plans | Yes on a paid ecommerce plan | Varies by country and billing cycle |
| Squarespace Commerce | 14-day free trial | No | No, trial sites can't accept payments | Varies by country and billing cycle |
| WooCommerce | No hosted trial, free open-source plugin | N/A | Yes, once hosting and payments are set up | $0 plugin, hosting fees apply |
| Ecwid | Starter plan available | Depends on the plan | Yes, within plan limits | $5/month Starter plan in many markets |
If you want a free or low-cost solution, Ecwid and WooCommerce are worth considering, but they come with different trade-offs around hosting, product limits, and setup work.
If you want a hosted ecommerce platform with real Shopify features, Shopify's $1/month promo is still one of the strongest low-cost options, as long as it's available for your account.
Shopify free trial FAQs
Still have questions? Here are the ones we get most often:
How do you cancel the Shopify free trial?
If you have not chosen a paid plan yet, you do not need to do anything. When the free trial ends, your account is frozen or paused, and you are not charged.
If you already chose a paid plan during the trial, go to your Shopify admin, open Settings > Plan, and deactivate or cancel the store before billing continues.
What happened to the 14-day free Shopify trial?
Shopify previously offered a 14-day free trial, but that is no longer the default public trial. The current public setup is a shorter free trial, often followed by promotional pricing such as 3 months at $1/month for eligible new merchants.
Is there a free Shopify trial for 50 orders?
No, the old 50-order workaround used to be connected to Shopify Partner development stores, but development stores are now used only for testing and development.
You can still build development stores as a Shopify Partner, but they cannot process real transactions. To take real orders, the store must be transferred or upgraded to a paid plan.
Are there limitations to the free Shopify trial?
Yes. During the standard free trial, your checkout is inactive until you choose a paid plan and set up a payment provider.
You can still build the store, add products, test settings, explore themes, and install apps during the free trial. Just remember that paid app charges can appear on your next invoice.
Can you get Shopify free for 4 or 6 months?
Not as a standard public Shopify offer. Shopify's current public route is usually a free trial plus 3 months at $1/month, if the promo is available for your account.
Eligible 1MBB merchants may see Shopify Basic for $1/month for the first 6 months, but this is a special program offer, not the standard Shopify free trial.
Is there a special Shopify free trial for dropshipping?
No. There is no separate Shopify trial only for dropshippers. Dropshippers use the same Shopify trial and promotional pricing options as other new merchants.
The upside is that dropshipping apps like DSers, Zendrop, and Spocket can be installed during setup, so you can build most of the store before paying the regular Shopify plan price.
Does Shopify have a vacation mode?
Shopify does not call it vacation mode, but the Pause and Build plan serves a similar purpose for eligible paid stores.
Your storefront can stay online for browsing, but checkout is deactivated until you reactivate it. Shopify says your store must be past the free trial period and on a paid plan to use Pause and Build.
Can I start selling on Shopify during my free trial?
Not on the free trial alone. Shopify says the checkout is inactive until you choose a paid plan and set up a payment provider.
With the $1/month promotional plan, you can start selling after you activate the paid promo plan and configure payments.
Is there a Shopify unlimited free trial?
No. Shopify does not offer an unlimited free trial.
The closest thing is a Shopify Partner development store, which has no time limit but is for development and testing only. It cannot process real transactions.
Do I need a credit card to start the Shopify free trial?
No. You can start the standard Shopify free trial without entering a credit card.
You need to add billing details when you choose a paid plan, including the $1/month promotional plan if it is available to your account. That is also when your checkout can be activated.
Will my data be saved if I let the trial expire?
Yes. If your free trial ends before you choose a paid plan, Shopify pauses the store until you pick a plan. Shopify says your store data, products, and settings are preserved.
If you deactivate a store, Shopify guarantees that its information will remain available for two years in case you decide to reopen it.
Turn this guide into an AI checklist
Click your favorite AI tool below to get a short summary and step-by-step checklist based on this article.Prefer ChatGPT? Open this guide in ChatGPT with a pre-filled prompt (most readers start here).
Conclusion
That's every Shopify free-trial option in May 2026, including live offers, expired offers, and special routes that apply only to certain merchants.
For most new store owners, the best option is still simple: start with Shopify's standard free trial, then use the 3 months for $1/month offer if it appears for your account.
That gives you time to build your store, test products, set up payments, install the right apps, and launch without paying the regular monthly price right away.
If you're eligible for a special program like 1MBB, check the current application page first. The current 1MBB offer is framed as discounted Shopify Basic access, not a standard free trial.
And remember, you can try Shopify for free without entering a credit card.
Once the free trial ends, you'll need to choose a paid plan to keep building, selling, and using checkout.
Curious how people are starting Shopify stores without holding inventory? Check out our beginner's guide to dropshipping here.
Have a question we didn't cover? Drop it in the comments below.
Want to learn more about Shopify?
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