Shopify E-Commerce

If you’re in the UK and want to start selling online, you might have heard of Shopify. It’s known for being quick to set up, simple to manage, and full of features to help you grow a shop from scratch. In this review I’ll go through what Shopify offers, how much it costs, what tools you get, and where it might fall short. The aim is to give you a clear picture so you can decide if it suits your business idea.

Shopify overview: key features and updates

Shopify is not just a basic site builder. It’s a full package that gives you an online shop, payments, stock control, marketing tools, in‑person selling (POS), and reporting all in one place. This means you don’t need to juggle lots of different systems. There is usually a free trial and a low‑cost starter period so you can test it before committing. Shopify has a strong reputation for fast checkout, 24/7 support, and reliable uptime, which is vital during busy sales periods like Christmas or Black Friday.

The platform works in over 170 countries and has thousands of apps to expand features such as subscriptions, loyalty programmes, and shipping services. There’s also an AI Store Builder that can generate a starter shop just from a short description of what you sell. This makes it quicker for beginners to get going, especially if you don’t have design skills.

Shopify pricing (UK) and payment fees

Pricing is clear in pounds and is available monthly or yearly. Here’s a look at the main UK plans if you pay yearly:

• Basic: about £19/month, aimed at solo sellers.
• Shopify/Grow: about £49/month, for small teams or growing shops.
• Advanced: about £259/month, for larger brands.
• Plus: a premium plan, much higher in cost and usually quoted in US dollars, aimed at enterprise‑level sellers.

Payment fees explained: When you use Shopify Payments, you avoid the extra third‑party fees charged on outside gateways. Card processing rates differ depending on your plan and whether sales are online or in person. If you use a different provider like PayPal or Stripe, an additional fee applies, ranging from 0.6% to 2% depending on plan.

Example in practice: If your shop sells £50 products and just a few extra buyers finish checkout because of Shopify’s smoother process, that extra revenue could easily cover the fees. It’s important to run the numbers for your margins before you commit so you know how much each plan actually costs you.

Shopify checkout, speed, and uptime

The checkout is often called Shopify‘s biggest selling point. It’s designed to reduce friction and make sure more customers finish their orders. Many reports suggest that conversion rates are better compared with other platforms. You also get hosting included with very high uptime targets. This means fewer outages and more consistent service. Security is also managed for you – Shopify handles PCI DSS compliance, which means payment details are kept safe. These factors could help your store stay online and reliable, even during heavy traffic periods.

Shopify design, themes, and apps

Building a site is done with a drag‑and‑drop editor. There are lots of themes, both free and paid, and most are mobile friendly. The Shopify App Store has over 8,000 apps covering things like reviews, loyalty points, shipping labels, SEO, and subscriptions. This flexibility means you can start small and keep adding features as you need them.

Example of growth: Imagine a small UK gift shop starting with a free theme and the Basic plan. They might later add an email marketing app (£10–£30/month), a review tool (£5–£20/month), and a shipping tool. Although the extra costs add up, the return from higher sales and smoother operations could make it worthwhile.

Shopify POS and selling in person

For businesses that also sell face‑to‑face, Shopify POS keeps everything connected. Your stock levels update in real time across online and offline channels. This is useful if you sell at markets, pop‑ups, or physical shops. Tap to Pay on Android is now available in the UK, which means you can take contactless payments straight from your phone without buying extra kit. For those who prefer hardware, Shopify also sells card readers and terminals designed for UK sellers. This gives flexibility depending on how you want to take payments.

Shopify taxes, VAT and selling abroad

Taxes are often tricky, but Shopify tries to simplify them. In the UK, you can switch on VAT collection in Settings → Taxes and Duties. This makes it easier to charge the right VAT at checkout. If you sell overseas, Shopify can also show duties and import taxes at checkout. That way, customers abroad know the total landed cost before they buy. This can reduce the number of parcels refused at delivery and lower refund requests.

Shopify Tax is free up to a certain revenue level (for example, the first £100,000 in sales) and then charges apply above that. For many small businesses, this means no extra tax cost until you grow larger.

Shopify AI tools

AI is built directly into the platform. Shopify Magic can write product descriptions, headlines, blog posts, and even quick customer replies. The AI Store Builder goes further by creating a full starter shop from just a few words about what you sell. This is handy if you don’t have the time or skills to design a full site. Developers also get regular updates that add more advanced tools, useful for those who want to customise checkout or build unique storefronts.

Shopify pros and cons

Pros:

• Trusted checkout and fast performance with strong hosting.
• Easy website builder with drag‑and‑drop design and many themes.
• Huge App Store for extra features, letting you customise your shop.
• In‑person sales tools like POS and Tap to Pay that work in the UK.
• VAT support and international duties tools built in.
• AI helpers like Shopify Magic and AI Store Builder make setup easier.

Cons:

• Costs can add up quickly once you start using paid apps and themes.
• Extra fees apply if you don’t use Shopify Payments for transactions.
• Some advanced customisation may require coding knowledge (Liquid) or hiring a developer.

Shopify who it’s best for

• People in the UK starting their first online shop who want something simple but reliable.
• Growing small businesses that need strong checkout and reports.
• Brands that want to sell online and in person without juggling stock across systems.
• Anyone who values having support and hosting managed for them rather than doing it themselves.

Shopify alternatives I’d consider

• WooCommerce: best if you already use WordPress and want full control with plugins.
• BigCommerce: better for built‑in features and fewer add‑ons.
• Squarespace: great for design and content‑focused sites that also want simple ecommerce.
• Wix: good for low‑budget shops that don’t need advanced features.

Each alternative has its own pricing and trade‑offs, so it’s worth comparing if Shopify feels too expensive or complex.

Shopify FAQs (UK)

Is Shopify a website builder or an ecommerce platform?
It’s both. You can build your site and also run payments, stock, and apps all in one.

How much does Shopify cost in the UK?
From about £19/month on the Basic plan. Higher plans go up to over £250/month, and there is also an enterprise‑level Plus option.

Is hosting included and is it fast?
Yes. Hosting is part of the package and aims for very high uptime.

Does Shopify really have better checkout conversion?
Shopify claims its checkout performs better than many other systems, though actual results depend on your shop and audience.

Can I take in‑person payments in the UK?
Yes. You can use Shopify POS, card readers, or Tap to Pay on supported devices.

What about UK VAT and international duties?
You can set up VAT for UK sales and also show overseas buyers their full landed costs at checkout.

Can I grow from small to large on Shopify?
Yes. Many sellers start small and stay on Basic or Grow, while others move up to Advanced or Plus as they scale.

Verdict: my Shopify score

Score: 4.7/5 for UK sellers who want a website builder that can grow into full ecommerce. Prices are clear in pounds, fees are listed upfront, and the biggest strengths are checkout performance, reliable hosting, VAT and duty tools, POS, and built‑in AI features. If you’re starting small but have plans to grow, Shopify is still a smart option because it covers both beginners and scaling businesses.