How do I start a Shopify free trial and what happens when it ends?

Shopify offers a free trial to let you explore its platform before committing to a paid plan. Your trial begins as soon as you sign up, giving you full access to set up your store and test features without any cost.

Step 1: Start your free trial
Visit Shopify Free Trial and enter your email. Click “Start free trial,” answer a few simple questions about your business, or skip them if you want. Then, select your business location and create your Shopify account.

Step 2: Set up your store during the trial
When your store opens, it may have a storefront password or inactive checkout. You can add products, organize them into collections, choose a theme, and explore apps. You can also set up payments to see how orders will work. All your work is saved, even if you don’t select a paid plan immediately.

Step 3: Make the most of your trial
Use the trial period to: add products, create collections, explore Shopify settings like taxes and shipping, set up payment methods, and check the theme and app stores. This helps you understand how your store will look and function when it goes live.

Step 4: Choosing a paid plan
When ready to sell, select a paid plan. Any work you completed during the trial — products, themes, and settings — stays intact. After choosing a plan, your store checkout and in-person sales are activated. If you don’t select a plan, your store is paused until you do.

Other important points
– You can switch between Shopify plans during the trial. The new plan takes effect immediately, but you aren’t charged until the trial ends. – If you add apps during the trial, app-related charges are billed on your next invoice after you upgrade. – Shopify may offer promotional pricing after the trial, depending on your location. – You cannot extend the free trial, but you can deactivate your store anytime. If you cancel during the trial without picking a plan, your account is frozen without charges.

In short, the Shopify free trial is a risk-free way to set up, test, and explore your online store. You can try all features, plan your store layout, and see how it works before choosing a paid plan to start selling confidently.