I'm setting up my first online shop today, and I'm super excited, but I'm also totally confused. Shopify's description didn't really tell me much about what the plans include. Does the starter plan include everything you need to list products and sell from the website? I'm going to be linked through TikTok and Instagram. I guess what I'm asking is, will I actually be able to run a basic shop off of the $5 starter plan?
Starter Plan: Home Page Order of Products
Does the Shopify Starter plan work?
what exactly does Shopify's $5 starter plan have? is it good for beginners?
Built a Headless Shopify Store on a $5 Starter Plan. No Sales Yet. What Am I Doing Wrong?
Can I build a full website with the Shopify Starter Plan?
No. You don’t get a customizable storefront or access to Shopify’s theme editor. You’re limited to basic pages and a Shopify-hosted product page with your branding on a subdomain (e.g., yourshop.myshopify.com). If you need a full website, you’ll need to upgrade to the Basic plan or higher.
Can I sell digital products with Shopify Starter?
Yes, you can sell digital products—even on the Starter Plan. Just set up the item in your admin without shipping requirements (uncheck “This product requires shipping”). To deliver the files, you can use Shopify’s free Digital Downloads app, which sends download links to customers automatically after purchase.
Can I upgrade later without losing my store data?
Absolutely. You can upgrade to any of Shopify’s higher-tier plans at any time. Your products, customer information, and order history will stay intact. Upgrading also unlocks features like discount codes, custom domains, and marketing tools.