Did you know that 90% of online stores fail within the first few months? With the right tools, yours doesn’t have to.

The Shopify free trial offers a risk-free way to explore Shopify’s powerful features and see if it’s the right fit for your business. For three days, you can test-drive everything Shopify has to offer, from designing your store to adding products and setting up payments.

And here’s the best part: after your free trial, you can continue using Shopify for just $1 a month for the next 90 days. It’s a low-cost way to build momentum and start generating sales.   Among business subscription trials available today, this stands out as one of the most affordable ways to test e-commerce platforms while building momentum and starting to generate sales.

Let’s get started!

How long is Shopify Free Trial?

The standard Shopify free trial lasts for 3 days. You can extend this trial for an additional 90 days for only $3. This means you can enjoy a total of 93 days to explore Shopify’s features and build your online store before committing to a paid plan.

How To Get A Shopify Free Trial in 2025 (Step-by-step)

Step 1: Visit Shopify Sign-up Page

First up, go to Avada’s exclusive Shopify sign-up page, fill in your email, and hit the “Start free trial” button.

The link will take you straight to the Shopify official sign-up page and activate Avada’s Starter kit (which includes CRO checklists, 2-month access to Avada’s paid apps, and exclusive discounts for top-rated Shopify apps and themes)

Step 2: Provide your Business Details

Shopify will ask you a few questions to get a sense of your business, like the type of business, what products you’re selling, and your sales channels.

You can skip these questions by clicking “Skip all” and set up later in the Shopify admin.

Step 3: Select Your Business Location

This step will affect essential store functionalities like default shipping rates, shipping discounts, payment gateways, and taxes.

Step 4: Create your Shopify ID

The final step is to set up your Shopify ID (account) using your email address or Apple, Facebook, and Google account.

Step 5: Enjoy Shopify 3-day Free Trial

Now, you have successfully signed up! Let’s look at how you can extend it to 3 months for just $1 — a perfect way to buy more time to build, test, and grow your store without rushing. Ready to get started? Unlock Your 3-Month Trial for $1/Month.

How to Extend Your Free Shopify Trial to 90 Days for $3

After your standard 3-day Shopify free trial ends, you can continue for just $1 per month for the next three months. By subscribing to this limited-time offer, you can start selling on Shopify and accept customer payments.

Follow my steps below to unlock a Shopify 90-day trial:

1. Click “Select a plan” from the Shopify dashboard in the upper right corner.
2. Choose one among five Shopify plans that best suits your needs. Here, I will choose the Basic Shopify plan as an example.
3. Fill in your payment details, check the info in the right column, and click “Subscribe.”

You are good to go! By paying only $1 per month for the next three months, you can enjoy extra time and access to all the features of your chosen plan to optimize your business and start making money.

So, what features are in the Shopify free trial? The answer is in the next section! We’ve got you covered — keep reading to explore everything you can take advantage of.

What does the 3 days free + 3 months for $1/month offer include?

The Shopify 3 months $1 offer features include additional benefits compared to the standard trial:

• Listing an unlimited number of products.
• Handling unlimited traffic with unrestricted bandwidth.
• Personalizing your store with your own brand assets.
• Protecting transactions with fraud analysis.
• Generating orders manually as needed.
• Creating discount codes to attract customers.
• Implementing custom pricing strategies.
• Recovering abandoned carts to increase sales.
• Managing staff access and permissions.
• Using analytics for business insights.
• Accessing detailed financial reports.
• Engaging customers with email marketing tools.
• Relying on 24/7 customer support.

From my real experience, I’ve worked with different ecommerce platforms, but Shopify has stood out for its simplicity, power, and scalability. 

When I signed up using Avada’s exclusive link, I spent the first 3 days doing the essentials:

•  Set up my store’s branding and layout
•  Added a few test products
•  Connected our Avada Email Marketing app to build a simple welcome email flow
•  Used the built-in checklist to optimize basic SEO and conversions

Once I upgraded to the $1 for 3 months plan, I had time to go deeper:

•  Ran my first email campaign
•  Connected a payment gateway and did a test checkout
•  Tried out some free and discounted apps for upselling and product reviews

For just $1, I basically had a “sandbox” to launch and grow with no pressure. If you’re thinking of giving Shopify a try, this offer gives you more than just “trial time”—it gives you a head start with real tools and impact.

Maximizing the Shopify Free Trial: Tips for Success

Here’s how to make the most of this “Shopify 3 months for $1 each” extension:

• Experiment with Different Themes: Explore and test the best Shopify free themes from the Theme Store to find the best look for your brand.
• Integrate Top Apps: Shopify’s App Store offers free and paid apps to expand your store’s functionality. Use this trial period to explore tools that simplify your workflow and attract more customers.
• Optimize SEO with SEMrush: Use SEMrush to research keywords for your products during the trial period to gain an early advantage.
• Leverage Shopify Magic: Use Shopify Magic AI tools to create compelling product descriptions, optimize content, and generate marketing materials without hiring expensive copywriters.
• Build Your Customer Base: Use Shopify’s built-in marketing tools like email campaigns, discount codes, and abandoned cart recovery to drive early sales.
• Leverage Data & Analytics: Try Shopify’s advanced reports and insights to track your performance and optimize your sales strategies

Shopify Free Trial for Black-Owned Business – 120-Day Tree Trial (Shopify 1MBB Free Trial) 

As part of diversity and inclusion in e-commerce trials, Shopify and Operation Hope have created the One Million Black Business & Black Entrepreneurship Initiative (1MBB). The Shopify free trial for black-owned business offers an extended 120-day free trial period for all eligible merchants. 

If you are a Black entrepreneur looking to start your business, this exclusive offer is still open! It gives you four months of free access to all Shopify features, helping you launch and grow your online store without upfront costs.

How to get Shopify free trial 120 days, follow these simple steps:

• Step 1: Visit the 1MBB initiative official page
• Step 2: Click “Join the Program” to register
• Step 3: Accept the email invitation
• Step 4: Set up your profile
• Step 5: Get exclusive resources and start your four month Shopify free trial. 

How to Set Up a Shopify Store in Shopify 3 Days Free

Before the free Shopify trial ends, most Shopify store owners make the most of the opportunity to explore the platform’s features and test how well it fits their business goals. I will share a few real experiences from setting up my first products to experiment with apps and themes.

Step 1: Set Up Store Basics 

After signing up, you will be directed to your Shopify admin. Here, you will familiarize yourself with the Shopify dashboard.

• Go to Settings > General to add your store name, contact email, and legal address. 

• Fill in billing information for your Shopify store and click the “Save” button. 

• Next, in the Store defaults section, choose a default currency for your store listings by clicking “Change store currency” and “Change currency formatting.” 

• After filling out the store information, hit the “Save” button to proceed. 

Step 2: Add Products

Once your store’s basic setup is in place, it’s time to bring it to life by adding your first products — the heart of any successful Shopify store.

• Go to the Products section in the Shopify dashboard and click “Add Product.”

• Upload product images, write compelling descriptions, set prices, and add variants (e.g., sizes or colors).

• Scroll down to the Search engine listing section and optimize your product pages by using SEO-friendly titles and relevant keywords to help customers find your products more easily.

• If using dropshipping or print-on-demand, integrate apps like Printful to import products automatically.

Related posts: 

• How to add a Collection to a page in Shopify
• How to Create & Manage Manual Collections on Shopify
• How to Create a Collection URL with Sort By Link in Shopify

Step 3: Customize your Store Design 

Now that your products are in place, it’s time to shape the look and feel of your brand. During the 3-day free trial, you can fully customize your Shopify store design to match your business identity — no coding required.

From your Shopify admin, go to Online Store > Themes, choose a free theme like Dawn, and click “Customize.” You’ll be able to:

• Edit your homepage layout
• Add branding elements like logos, colors, and fonts
• Adjust product and collection page designs
• Create a smooth navigation menu for a better shopping experience

• After finishing the customization, choose “Save.”

💡 Pro Tip: Keep your design clean, mobile-responsive, and conversion-focused. First impressions matter!

See more: 

• How to Customize Shopify Themes | The Ultimate Guide
• 10 Best Free Shopify Themes for Your Shopify Store
• Top 9 Free Premium Shopify Themes for Boosting Sales

Step 4: Set Up Payments and Shipping

With your store design ready, the next step is to ensure your customers can place orders smoothly — that means setting up payments and shipping.

Set Up Payment Gateways

• Go to Settings > Payments

• Enable Shopify Payments (available in supported countries) to accept credit cards with no third-party fees by clicking “Activate Shopify Payments.”

• Click “Activate PayPal” to connect PayPal (automatically set up with your Shopify email).

• Add alternative methods like Cash on Delivery, manual bank transfers, or Buy Now, Pay Later options.

Tip: Test the checkout with a fake payment gateway to make sure everything works before launch.

Set Up Shipping Rates

To ensure a smooth fulfillment process and clear expectations for your customers, you’ll need to set up your shipping rates properly. Shopify gives you full control over where you ship, how much you charge, and how delivery details appear at checkout.

• Head to Settings > Shipping and Delivery

• Define your shipping zones (e.g. local, national, international)
• Set flat rates, free shipping, or real-time carrier rates
• Add delivery times and custom messages to boost buyer confidence

If you’re dropshipping, apps like DSers or Spocket often manage shipping settings automatically based on supplier info.

>> Read more: 

• How to Use Spocket With Shopify: A Comprehensive Guide
• Spocket vs. Shopify: Everything You Need to Know 

Step 5: Launch Your Store

Before going live, it’s essential to test and unlock your store to ensure everything runs smoothly.

• Place a Test Order: Simulate a real purchase to check that your checkout, payment, and fulfillment processes are working as expected. This helps you catch any issues before customers do.
• Unlock Your Store: To officially launch, you’ll need to remove the password protection by clicking “Remove password” in the Launch your online store section. 

Once everything is smooth, click “Go Live” to start selling. To attract your first customers, consider promoting your store through social media campaigns or email marketing. Shopify makes this easy with built-in integrations — and with apps like Avada Email Marketing and Avada SEO Suite, you can automate email flows, boost engagement, and improve your store’s visibility right from day one.

While Shopify’s 3-day free trial is a great way to get a quick look at the platform, it’s simply not enough time to explore all its core features. One major limitation is that you can’t enable the checkout feature, which means you’re unable to accept actual customer orders during the trial. This is where the $3 for 3 months deal becomes valuable.

With more time, you can dive into Shopify Analytics to assess store performance and optimize your user interface based on visitor behavior and feedback. You’ll also have the opportunity to set up email marketing campaigns to start building relationships and driving traffic.

As your store matures, you can take advantage of features like abandoned cart recovery, test different product and shipping prices, and even consider upgrading to a more advanced plan that better suits your business goals. 

In short, the $3 plan offers a low-risk, high-value way to fully experience Shopify—and actually build something sustainable.

So, what comes next after you’ve made the most of your $3 trial? Let’s explore what happens after the 3-month trial ends and how to keep your momentum going.

What Happens After 3 Months Trial?

Once the Shopify 3-month trial period ends, your Shopify account will automatically switch to a paid subscription based on the Shopify plan you’ve chosen:

• Shopify Starter – $5 per month
• Shopify Basic – $39 per month
• Shopify Plan – $105 per month
• Shopify Advanced – $399 per month

A Look Back at Shopify’s Trial Periods

Over time, Shopify has offered various free trials to cater to different sellers. These included 14-day, 30-day, 60-day, and even 90-day options. While all of them aren’t available anymore, here’s a quick look back at the free trials Shopify once offered:

Shopify 14-Day Free Trial

Shopify used to provide the standard 14-day free trial, but in November 2022, they shifted to a 3-day free trial and made it the new standard free trial period.

Shopify Free Trial 30 Days

Shopify used to offer a 30-day free trial when you signed up for an account. Now, there is a Shopify trial $1 special deal that extends the initial trial period to a whole month, giving you more time to explore the platform.

Shopify 60 Days Free Trial

In 2019, the Shopify 60-day trial was introduced as part of a marketing campaign. Only certain partners could offer this deal to their customers rather than making it open to the general public. This deal has since been discontinued.

Shopify Free Trial 90 Days

Shopify’s 90-day free trial was launched shortly after the pandemic outbreak as part of Shopify’s COVID-19 Response to support its merchants. However, this special offer concluded in June 2020.

Shopify 1 Month for $1

Previously, merchants could extend their 3-day standard free trial with a special “Shopify 1 dollar 1 month” deal. However, this special deal was discontinued in November 2024 and replaced by the Shopify $1/month for 3 months deal, reducing the initial cost for merchants.

Shopify Unlimited Free Trial

Only Shopify Partners, like agencies or developers who build stores for clients, can enjoy the Shopify unlimited free trial. However, these are not meant for personal use or launching an online store.

The Shopify Partners Program offers an exclusive benefit where Shopify Partners, like agencies or developers who build stores for clients, can enjoy the Shopify unlimited free trial. However, these are not meant for personal use or launching an online store.

How to Cancel Shopify Free Trial?

You can cancel your Shopify free trial at any time. You can follow my steps below:

1. From your Shopify dashboard, click on “Settings” at the bottom right corner of the screen.
2. Select “Plan” from the left sidebar menu.
3. Once you are in, select the “Cancel Trial” option.
4. Select a reason for closing your store and click “Continue.”
5. Select a reason for closing your store and click “Continue.” Then, select “Deactivate Store” from the popup menu.

When you cancel your Shopify free trial, keep these in mind:

• Your store setup stays safe.
  • Any products, settings, or changes you made won’t be lost.
  • If you come back later, you can pick up where you left off.
• No charges during the free trial.
  • If you don’t choose a paid plan within the 3-day free trial, your account will freeze automatically.
  • You don’t need to do anything to avoid charges.

FAQs:

Final Thoughts

That’s how you can start a Shopify free trial and extend it up to 93 days. Shopify free trial is a remarkable opportunity for entrepreneurs and businesses looking to explore Shopify’s comprehensive suite of tools and features without any financial commitment.

With the Shopify 90-day trial, you get ample time to set up your store, test different strategies, and even start making sales—all for just $1 per month after your initial 3-day free period. Don’t miss out on this incredible offer to kickstart your e-commerce journey!