The Shopify trial and Make links here are affiliate links, so Nitroapps may earn a commission at no extra cost to you (our affiliate policy).
What does Shopify's $1 offer include?
Shopify's US pricing page, read November 10, 2026, offers 3 days free, then $1 a month for 3 months. Starting the trial needs no credit card. The $1 months begin once the free days end, if you've picked a plan. After that, the plan's standard price applies, such as $39 a month for Basic.
Sources — Shopify's US and Ireland pricing pages · the Help Center page on the free trial and billing changes · Make's Shopify app docs · read November 10, 2026. We describe the terms those pages state. We didn't open a test store for this guide.
The offer isn't fixed. The Help Center says trial length and promotional pricing depend on when you create your account. They can also vary by store location. Treat the figures here as today's, and confirm them on your signup screen.
Two clocks: the free days and the $1 months
The free trial starts when you sign up. It doesn't wait for you to start building. Your store opens in private mode, with checkout switched off.
To take orders, you choose a paid plan or switch off private mode. You also need a payment provider set up. Pick a plan during the free days and charges still wait until those days end.
Clock one — the free days · starts at signup · can't be extended, per the Help Center.
Clock two — the promotional months · start when the free days end, if a plan is chosen · don't reset or extend.
Miss the end of clock one without a plan and the store is frozen. Nothing is lost. Your products and settings are kept until you choose a plan.
Which plans the promo covers
The Help Center says the free trial lets you try Basic, Grow and Advanced. Shopify's pricing FAQ says most plans start at $1 a month for the first 3 months. Plus is the clear exception.
| Plan | US standard monthly price | Billed yearly (per month) | Covered by the $1 promo? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $39 | $29 | Trial plan; the promo shows at signup |
| Grow | $105 | $89 | Also a trial plan; check signup |
| Advanced | $399 | $359 | A trial plan too; check signup |
| Plus | From $2,300 | 1- or 3-year terms | No, per the Help Center |
Read the signup screen closely. It's the only place that shows the exact offer for your account. Screenshot it, so you have the terms on file if a bill looks wrong later.
Starter doesn't appear in that list. The Help Center says it isn't available to new stores. So the cheapest plan you can pick now is Basic.
Switching plans or billing during the promo
Plan changes during the promo follow their own rules. The billing page spells them out. Here's the short version.
Changing tier — takes effect at once · the promo price carries on until the original end date · the new plan's standard price starts after.
Monthly to yearly — takes effect after the promo ends · the full annual amount is charged upfront at that point.
Moving to Plus — the promo doesn't carry over, because Plus isn't covered.
That yearly switch is easy to misread. You keep paying the promo rate until it ends. Then the whole year bills in one charge. Put the end date in your calendar now.
Apps still bill during the trial
The $1 covers the Shopify plan only. App charges from the trial show up on your first invoice, per the Help Center. That includes subscription and usage charges. Paid apps follow their own pricing, so read each listing.
We'd stick to free apps until the store is close to launch. Our guide to trimming Shopify app costs shows which recurring charges to question first.
What to build in the free days, and what can wait
Free days — choose a theme · add a few products · set taxes and shipping · connect a payment provider.
$1 months — real product photos · store policies · a custom domain · a full test order.
The free days are short, so spend them on settings that are slow to change. Theme choice and payment setup come first. Photos can wait a week.
Planning to automate? Wait until a plan is chosen. Make's documentation says its Shopify app needs a paid Shopify account. Once you're on the $1 plan, you can build a Make scenario on the trial store and try it on sample products.
Make's free plan includes 1,000 credits a month, per its pricing page. That's enough to try a small flow. Our Make and Shopify workflow guide has ideas to start from.
Leaving before the promo ends
If you never chose a plan, there's nothing to cancel. The account simply freezes when the free days end. That's the cheap way out.
If you did choose a plan, you have to deactivate the store yourself. The Help Center says charges from the promotional period aren't refunded. Any outstanding balance is billed when you cancel.
Shopify won't extend the promo or reset it. Support can explain your terms but can't change them. Plan the build around the dates you were given.
A checklist for the last month of the promo
Billing — read Settings, then Plan, for the end date · decide on monthly or yearly · check the full price of your plan.
Storefront — remove the password · place a real test order · check every page on a phone.
Costs — list each app charge · add the plan's standard price · compare it with what the store has sold.
If the numbers don't work yet, be honest about it. Paying full price for a store that isn't ready is the expensive option. Deactivating early is a fair call too.
Questions about the Shopify trial
Do I need a credit card for the Shopify free trial?
No. Shopify's free-trial and pricing pages say the 3-day trial needs no credit card. You add payment details when you choose a plan.
Can I extend the Shopify trial or the $1 months?
No. The Help Center says Shopify doesn't extend or reset free trials or promotional pricing.
What happens after the 3 months at $1?
You pay the standard price of the plan you chose, on the billing cycle you set. If you switched to yearly, the full year is charged upfront.