📋 Quick Answer:
Shopify’s $1/month for 3 months trial is a promotional offer available to new merchants that provides full access to the platform — including store setup tools, product listings, payment processing, and app integrations — for just $3 total over the trial period. After 3 months, standard pricing applies (starting at $39/month). To claim it, visit the official website and sign up as a new merchant.
Table of Contents:
What Is the $1/Month Trial?
- What’s Actually Included
- How to Claim the Offer (Step-by-Step)
- Which Plan Does the Trial Apply To?
- How to Make Your Store Profitable
- 90-Day Action Checklist
- What Happens After the Trial?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Final Verdict
👉 Activate the $1 Trial here: Exclusive Trial
What Is the Shopify $1/Month Trial?
The offer periodically allows new merchants access to the full platform for just $1 per month for the first three months. Instead of paying the standard $39/month for the Basic plan, new users pay a flat $1/month — totaling $3 over the entire trial period.
This offer is specifically aimed at people who are just getting started with e-commerce and want to test the platform before committing to a full subscription. It’s not a limited-feature demo — you get the same tools that established Shopify merchants use every day.
The catch? It’s for new accounts only. If you’ve had a store before, you’re typically not eligible. The offer also tends to cycle in and out of availability, so it’s worth checking the current promotions page directly.
💡 Plain language version: You pay $1/month for 3 months. That’s $3 total to build, test, and potentially launch a real online store. After the trial, normal pricing kicks in.
👉 Activate the $1 Trial here: Exclusive Trial
What’s Actually Included
The trial isn’t a stripped-down sandbox. New merchants on the $1/month deal get access to everything available on the standard Basic plan — which covers the vast majority of what a new store needs.
| Feature | Included? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Online Store + Website | ✓ Yes | Custom domain, themes, pages |
| Unlimited Products | ✓ Yes | Physical and digital products |
| Shopify Payments | ✓ Yes | Cards, PayPal, BNPL |
| 2 Staff Accounts | ✓ Yes | Invite a partner or VA |
| 24/7 Customer Support | ✓ Yes | Live chat and email |
| App Integrations (4,000+) | ✓ Yes | Email, dropshipping, reviews |
| Abandoned Cart Recovery | ✓ Yes | Built-in email recovery |
| Blog & Content Pages | ✓ Yes | Great for SEO content |
| Transaction Fees | 2% fee | Waived with Shopify Payments |
👉 Activate the $1 Trial here: Exclusive Trial
In short: you can build a fully functioning store, list real products, accept real payments, and generate actual revenue during the trial period. This isn’t a “preview mode” — it’s the real thing at a heavily discounted entry price.
How to Claim the Offer (Step-by-Step)
Claiming the $1/month deal is straightforward, but there are a few things to keep in mind to make sure you actually land on the promotional rate.
1
Go to Shopify’s official website
Visit shopify.com directly. The promotional offer is usually prominently displayed on the homepage or pricing page. Avoid third-party links that might redirect you to different offer terms.
2
Click “Start free trial” or the promotional CTA
Look for a banner or button that specifically mentions the $1/month offer. If you don’t see it immediately, navigate to the Pricing page — the promotional option should appear as the default for new accounts.
3
Create a new Shopify account
Enter your email address and create a password. Use an email that has never been associated with a Shopify account. If you’re starting fresh, this is no issue.
4
Answer the onboarding questions
Shopify will ask what you’re planning to sell and your current revenue stage. Be honest — this personalizes your dashboard and does not affect your eligibility for the offer.
5
Select a plan and confirm billing
When prompted, you should see the $1/month promotional rate applied to the Basic plan for the first 3 months. Add your payment details — you’ll only be charged $1 at the start of month one.
6
Confirm the discount before checkout
Before completing setup, verify your billing summary shows $1/month for months 1–3. If you see $39/month instead, contact Shopify support before proceeding.
👉 Activate the Shopify $1 Trial here: Shopify Exclusive Trial
Which Shopify Plan Does the Trial Apply To?
The $1/month promotion typically applies to the Basic Shopify plan — the entry-level paid tier. Here’s how it compares to higher plans after the trial ends:
| Plan | Monthly Price (After Trial) | Key Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | $39/month | 2 staff accounts, basic reports |
| Shopify | $105/month | 5 staff, standard reports, lower fees |
| Advanced | $399/month | 15 staff, advanced reports, custom shipping |
For most new store owners, the Basic plan is more than sufficient to get started and begin generating sales. Many successful Shopify stores operated on Basic for their first 6–12 months before upgrading.
How to Make Your Store Profitable During the Trial
Three months is a meaningful window if you use it deliberately. The merchants who walk away from the trial with a functioning business tend to follow a clear sequence: research first, build fast, and market before the store feels “ready.”
Choose the right business model from day one
Your business model shapes everything else — product sourcing, margins, marketing, and how quickly you can get a first sale. The most common models for new Shopify merchants are:
- Dropshipping — No inventory, lower margins, fast to launch. Good for testing product ideas.
- Print-on-demand — No inventory, custom branding, moderate margins (Printful, Printify).
- Digital products — No inventory, no shipping, highest margins. Great if you have expertise to package.
- Your own physical goods — Higher margins and brand control, but requires upfront inventory investment.
👉 Activate the Shopify $1 Trial here: Shopify Exclusive Trial
Pick a defensible niche, not just a popular product
One of the most common mistakes new store owners make is chasing trending products rather than building around a specific audience. A store that clearly serves one type of customer is far easier to market, rank in search, and build trust around than a general store selling everything.
Ask yourself: who is your ideal customer, what problem does your product solve for them, and where do they already spend time online? The answers are your marketing strategy in embryo.
Validate before you fully build
You don’t need a perfect store to test demand. During month one, focus on getting your core product page live, your checkout functional, and at least one traffic source running. A $50 ad test on Facebook or TikTok can tell you more about product-market fit than a week of store design work.
Treat SEO as a day-one investment
The built-in blog and page structure make it reasonably SEO-friendly out of the box. Use your trial to publish content targeting long-tail search queries relevant to your niche. These articles won’t drive significant traffic in week one — but they compound over time, and a single well-optimized post can generate organic traffic for years.
90-Day Action Checklist
🗓️ Month 1 — Build & Validate
- ✓Sign up using the $1/month promotional link
- ✓Choose a niche and define your target customer persona
- ✓Select a clean, fast Shopify theme (Dawn is free and well-optimized)
- ✓Set up your custom domain for credibility
- ✓Add 5–20 core products with compelling descriptions and quality images
- ✓Configure Shopify Payments to accept credit/debit cards
- ✓Set up shipping zones and rates
- ✓Install essential apps: email capture, review tool, upsell widget
- ✓Publish your first 2 blog posts targeting niche keywords
- ✓Run a small paid ad test ($30–$50) to validate product interest
👉 Activate the Shopify $1 Trial here: Shopify Exclusive Trial
🗓️ Month 2 — Optimize & Market
- ✓Analyze your first ad results and double down on what worked
- ✓Set up email automation: welcome series and abandoned cart recovery
- ✓Build a presence on 1–2 social platforms where your audience is active
- ✓Refine product pages based on bounce and conversion data
- ✓Add product bundles or upsells to increase average order value
- ✓Set up Google Analytics and Shopify’s built-in analytics
- ✓Reach out to 3–5 micro-influencers in your niche
- ✓Publish 2–4 more SEO-focused blog posts
🗓️ Month 3 — Scale & Decide
- ✓Review all analytics: traffic, conversion rate, AOV, ROAS
- ✓Identify best-performing products and invest more in promoting them
- ✓Collect and publish customer reviews (social proof is critical)
- ✓Set up a loyalty or referral program if you have repeat buyers
- ✓Decide whether to continue on Basic, upgrade, or pause the store
- ✓If profitable: set up a post-trial budget and paid ad strategy
- ✓If not yet profitable: diagnose whether it’s a traffic, conversion, or product issue
👉 Activate the $1 Trial here: Exclusive Trial
What Happens After the Trial Ends?
When your three months at $1/month conclude, Shopify automatically transitions your account to standard plan pricing — typically $39/month for Basic, billed monthly. Your store, products, customer data, and settings remain fully intact. Nothing gets deleted.
You have a few options at this point:
- Continue on Basic ($39/month) — If your store is generating revenue, this is straightforward. Once your monthly sales exceed a few hundred dollars, the platform easily pays for itself.
- Pause your store ($9/month) — Shopify’s “Pause and Build” plan lets you keep your store data without paying full price while you refine your strategy.
- Cancel and export your data — If Shopify isn’t the right fit, you can export all your products, customers, and order data before cancelling. You own your store data.
⏰ Tip: Set a calendar reminder 2 weeks before your trial ends. Review your analytics and make a deliberate decision about whether to continue, pause, or upgrade — rather than getting auto-billed without a plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Shopify $1/month trial available right now?
Shopify has run this promotion on-and-off since 2022. The best way to confirm current availability is to visit shopify.com directly. If you see the offer on the homepage or pricing page, it’s live for new sign-ups.
Do I need a credit card to sign up?
Yes. Shopify requires a payment method when you activate the $1/month trial. You’ll be charged $1 at the start of your first month. If you cancel before month four, you won’t be charged at the full rate.
Can I make real sales during the $1/month trial?
Yes. The trial is a fully functional store with real payment processing. You can accept real orders from real customers and receive payouts to your bank account. Standard Shopify Payments transaction fees apply.
What’s the difference between the free trial and the $1/month trial?
Shopify previously offered a 14-day free trial with no payment required. The $1/month for 3 months promotion replaced this in many markets, offering a much longer runway (90 days vs. 14 days) at a minimal cost. The $1/month trial gives you significantly more time to set up and validate your store.
Is Shopify good for beginners?
Shopify is widely considered one of the most beginner-friendly e-commerce platforms available. It handles hosting, security, and payment processing out of the box, with no coding required. Its app ecosystem lets you add advanced features as you grow without needing a developer.
Can I use the $1/month offer more than once?
No. The promotional pricing is tied to new accounts only. Each email address can only claim it once. Creating multiple accounts to repeatedly claim the offer violates Shopify’s terms of service.
What are the best niches to start with on Shopify?
There’s no single “best” niche — but the most consistently successful ones tend to have passionate audiences, repeat purchase potential, and clear problem-solving products. Popular examples include pet products, outdoor and fitness gear, home organization, sustainable goods, and hobby-specific merchandise. The key is understanding your target customer deeply, not just chasing trending products.
Final Verdict: Is the Shopify $1/Month Trial Worth It?
For anyone seriously considering starting an online store, the answer is straightforwardly yes. For $3 total, you get 90 days of full access to one of the world’s most robust e-commerce platforms. That’s enough time to build a store, test products, drive traffic, and determine whether a particular business model and niche has legs — all before committing to a standard monthly subscription.
👉 Activate the $1 Trial here: Exclusive Trial
The trial doesn’t guarantee profitability. No platform does. But it removes the financial friction of the early experimentation phase, which is exactly when most people abandon the process. The merchants who succeed with Shopify during this window treat the trial as a real business launch, not a casual experiment — they research their market before signing up, move quickly on the technical setup, and spend most of their energy on marketing and sales rather than endlessly tweaking their theme.
If you’ve been on the fence about starting an e-commerce store, a $3 entry point is about as low as the barrier gets. The real cost is time and effort — both of which are entirely up to you.
Ready to Start Your Store?
Claim the $1/month offer directly on Shopify’s official website while it’s available.
This article is informational only. Offer availability and pricing may change. Always verify current terms at shopify.com before signing up.