Build your store free with no credit card, then pay just $1/month for your first 3 months on any plan. Here's exactly what's included and how to lock it in.
Shopify’s 2026 model isn’t “test free for a month.” It’s a short, cardless free window to look around, followed by heavily discounted first months once you pick a plan: $1/month for your first three months. Treat the trial as the door and the $1 promo as the runway — together they let you launch, run real traffic, and see actual orders before full price starts.
The trial is a fully functional store. You can add products, choose and customize a theme, set up your domain, and configure payments — everything except keeping it live long-term without a plan. Two things worth knowing:
Full detail in the complete free trial guide and what to prioritize in what to set up during your trial.
When you select Basic, Grow, or Advanced as a new store, Shopify’s standard 2026 promotion applies: $1/month for three months. Three months at a dollar is a genuinely useful runway — enough to launch, drive traffic, and see whether the store converts before full price ($39/month on Basic) kicks in.
Most new stores should take the promo on Basic and upgrade only when the math justifies it. The deep dive lives in the $1-for-3-months deal guide, including what happens at month four.
Activation is usually automatic in the plan-selection flow — charges begin at the $1 promo rate when your trial ends, not before.
Founders who qualify for the 1MBB (1 Million Black Businesses) program can get a 120-day extended trial instead of the standard short one — four full months to build before paying. If that might be you, read the 1MBB 120-day trial guide before signing up through the standard flow, because the entry point is different.
Yes. As of 2026 the trial requires no credit card — just an email or passkey. You only enter billing details later, when you pick a plan to keep the store running.
When a new store selects Basic, Grow, or Advanced, Shopify's standard 2026 promotion applies: $1/month for the first 3 months. After that you pay the normal plan price (Basic is $39/month).
The $1/month for 3 months promo applies to Basic, Grow, and Advanced for new stores. Basic is the right starting point for almost every new store; you can upgrade later with no migration.
Billing continues at the standard plan price — $39/month on Basic. You can downgrade, upgrade, or cancel at any time before renewal.