Shopify Free Trial Limitations (2023) Trial Vs Paid Plan

Shopify’s free trial only has one big catch: no sales. Yeah, that sounds like a bummer, but it’s not the end of the world. While it might limit your free trial experience, it’s still possible to jumpstart your online store with what you’ve got. And the best part? You can make your store fully functional for just $19 and access every feature you need.

So, what’s the deal with the free trial? I’m here to break it down for you and give you some tips on how to make the most of it. Read on to find out more.

Shopify Trial Vs Paid Plan

The Shopify free trial is a great way to get started with building your online store- you can fully build it from the ground up in every way. However, it’s not all bells and whistles; you’ll run into a couple of bumps along the way.

Let’s talk about what limitations you’ll have to face compared to using the paid trial before we get to talking about how you can make the most out of the trial.

Restricted Customization of Checkout Page

The checkout page is the moment of truth for your customer. It’s where they decide whether to complete their purchase or abandon their cart.

When you’re on a free trial, you’ll be stuck with generic and uninspiring checkout designs.

With a paid plan, though, you have complete control over the checkout page’s look and feel, which allows you to create a seamless and personalized experience that can elevate your brand and increase conversions.

Limited Access to Professional-looking Themes

Aesthetics matter. Your online store’s theme can make or break your customers’ first impression.

Your theme options are limited during a free trial, making it challenging to create a professionallooking storefront.

In contrast, a paid plan offers an extensive selection of premium themes that you can customize to match your brand’s personality and create a visual identity that sets you apart from the competition.

Absence of Advanced Reporting Tools

Data-driven decisions are like the hidden backbone of each business, so they’re incredibly important.

With the free trial’s basic reporting tools, you’re only scratching the surface of your store’s performance.

However, a paid plan lets you have access to advanced reporting tools that provide in-depth insights into your sales, traffic, and customer behavior.

These insights empower you to make informed decisions and optimize your business for growth.

Inability to Recover Lost Sales

Abandoned carts are a lost revenue opportunity. Unfortunately, a free trial doesn’t offer any recovery solutions to win back those lost sales.

A paid plan does, though – you can set up automated abandoned cart recovery emails that remind customers of their forgotten items and incentivize them to complete their purchase.

This can significantly increase your revenue and reduce your cart abandonment rate.

Inability to Offer Gift-giving Options

With a free trial, you can’t offer gift cards, which can be a missed opportunity to build customer loyalty.

You get that benefit with the paid plan, too. You can enable gift-giving options and give your customers the ability to purchase and send gift cards to their loved ones. As a result, your store’s reputation will grow quickly through word of mouth.

No Support for Selling on Multiple Channels

Your customers are everywhere, and your store should be too. A free trial will lock you out from selling anywhere except for your Shopify store.

However, a paid plan gives you the freedom to sell on multiple channels, including Facebook, Instagram, and Amazon. This feature allows you to reach a wider audience and maximize your sales potential.

Inability to Manage In-person

Juggling both online and in-person sales can be challenging, but with a paid plan, you get to use Shopify’s POS system. You can’t use this powerful tool during a free trial.

Essentially, the POS system integrates your online and offline sales channels into one central location.

Using it can streamline your operations and help you provide a better customer experience.

Basic Shipping Options Only

Shipping can be a pain for both you and your customers. With a free trial, you’re limited in your shipping options.

Meanwhile, a paid plan means that you can set up complex shipping rules, including real-time shipping rates and shipping rate calculations based on weight, destination, and order value, which can help you save time and money.

Limited Support

Running an online business can be challenging, and you need support when things go wrong. With a free trial, you’re on your own more often than not.

A paid plan up your priority and get you access to Shopify’s 24/7 support team of experts who can help you with any technical issues or questions you may have. Since you’ll have support whenever you need it with the paid plan, you can rest easy without worrying about running into any potential issues.

Final Thoughts

The Shopify free trial is a great way to get started with the platform and see if it’s the right choice for your eCommerce store. While the trial does come with some limitations, it’s still a great opportunity to explore the platform and start setting up your store.

During the trial period, you won’t be able to accept payments or make sales, but you can still add products, customize your store’s design, and experiment with different features and apps.

While it’s important to keep in mind the limitations of the free trial, it’s also worth remembering that Shopify offers excellent customer support and superb features to help you get started. With the right planning and preparation, the Shopify free trial can help you get started on the right foot and set you up for success in the long run.

Shopify Free Trial Limitations: Trial Vs Paid Plan