Shopify Lite Review: Start Selling Easily Online
Are you thinking about selling online but worried about the costs? Shopify Lite offers a simple solution for just $9 a month. It gives you the tools you need to sell products easily, whether on your own website or social media. Let’s explore how Shopify Lite can change the way you sell online.
Key Takeaways
- Shopify Lite offers a low-cost entry at $9 per month compared to average e-commerce costs of $20 to $250.
- This plan supports one staff account, enabling streamlined operational management.
- Enjoy a 14-day free trial to explore Shopify Lite’s functionalities before committing.
- Shopify Lite’s unique features include a buy button, shopping cart, and mobile-friendly cart for easy selling online.
- The dashboard provides valuable insights, including social media selling earnings and sales channel performance.
Introduction to Shopify Lite
Shopify Lite is a great way for small businesses and entrepreneurs to start with e-commerce. It costs only $9 a month, making it an affordable choice for those new to online sales. You can sell on social media or your own website easily with Shopify Lite.
This plan lets you sell as many products as you want. It helps you manage your stock and set prices well. It’s perfect for small business owners on a budget. Using Shopify Lite is a wise move that can boost your sales.
Shopify Lite makes it easy for small businesses to enter the online market. It may not offer as many custom options or advanced features. But, it’s great for those new to e-commerce or experienced entrepreneurs looking to start selling online.
What is Shopify Lite?
Shopify Lite is a great e-commerce solution for those who want to sell products without a full online store. It costs $9 a month and lets you add e-commerce to your website or social media. You can use the Shopify Buy Button for easy sales, and it works with Facebook Shop and for in-person sales too.
It’s perfect for small businesses, social media sellers, or anyone needing simple e-commerce tools. You get unlimited products, basic analytics, and a simple setup. It’s not like managing a full website.
New merchants can’t sign up for Shopify Lite anymore. It’s now replaced by the Shopify Starter Plan, which has similar features. If you’re looking into e-commerce, Shopify Lite can make selling easier and keep costs down. You can also boost your product listings with professional product editing and uploads to make sure you’re seen and sold.
Feature | Shopify Lite | Shopify Starter | Shopify Basic |
---|---|---|---|
Monthly Cost | $9 | $5 | $25 |
Transaction Fee | 5% | 5% | 2% |
Unlimited Products | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Point of Sale | Yes | No | Yes |
Customer Support | 24/7 | 24/7 | 24/7 |
Analytics | Basic | Basic | Advanced |
Pricing of Shopify Lite
Shopify Lite is known for its affordable e-commerce solution, costing just $9 a month. It lets you sell as many products as you want using the Shopify Buy Button. This makes it a great choice for new entrepreneurs and small business owners. The shopify lite pricing is great, but remember to think about the transaction fees too.
Shopify Lite charges a 2.9% fee plus 30 cents for online sales. In-person sales have a slightly lower fee of 2.7%. If you use third-party payment gateways, an extra 2% fee is added to all sales. This pricing makes Shopify Lite a budget-friendly option for starting an online store.
The Shopify Starter plan is even cheaper at $5 a month. It’s good for sellers who just want to sell on social media. When looking at your options, the price can really affect your choice in the e-commerce world.
Key Features of Shopify Lite
Shopify Lite is perfect for businesses of all sizes wanting to sell online. It costs just $9 a month, making it an affordable choice for eCommerce. A key feature is the Buy Button, which you can add to your website. This makes buying secure and easy without leaving your site, improving the shopping experience.
It also works well with social media, especially Facebook Shops. This helps you connect with your audience where they spend most of their time. Even though it doesn’t have all the social media options of higher plans, it still has the basics for selling online.
The mobile point-of-sale app is another great feature for selling in person. It’s perfect for market stalls, pop-up shops, or events. You also get support 24/7 by phone, chat, or email, so you can quickly fix any problems.
Feature | Description |
---|---|
Buy Button | Embed on any site to allow quick purchases directly from existing web pages. |
Facebook Shops Integration | Engage customers directly on Facebook while showcasing products. |
Mobile Point-of-Sale App | Accept payments anywhere, enhancing flexibility for in-person sales. |
Sales Analytics Dashboard | Access your sales data and financial reporting in one place. |
24/7 Customer Support | Reach out anytime for assistance through multiple channels. |
Shopify Lite focuses on the basics and is easy to use. It’s a good choice for businesses wanting to grow online without spending a lot. If your needs change, you can always move to a more detailed plan.
Shopify Lite vs. Other Shopify Plans
When looking at a shopify lite comparison, it’s key to see how it matches up with other Shopify options. The Lite plan is great for entrepreneurs wanting a cheap way to sell online without needing a full website. It costs $9 a month, but you’ll pay a 2% fee on each sale if you use an outside payment system.
The Basic Shopify plan is $32 a month or $24 yearly. It’s for businesses ready to sell online with more features. You get unlimited products, a website editor with 20 themes, and tools like finding lost sales and grouping customers. Sales online cost 2.9% plus 30 cents.
For businesses growing fast, the Standard Shopify plan is $92 monthly or $69 yearly. It has more admin tools, sales reports, and helps with international sales. It also cuts transaction fees to 2.6% plus 30 cents, which can save money as sales go up.
Here’s a quick look at the main differences in features:
Feature | Shopify Lite | Basic Shopify | Standard Shopify |
---|---|---|---|
Monthly Cost | $9 | $32 ($24 annually) | $92 ($69 annually) |
Unlimited Products | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Website Hosting | No | Yes | Yes |
Transaction Fees | 2% (external), 2.7% (in-person), 2.9% + $0.30 (online) | 2.9% + $0.30 (online), 2.7% (in-person) | 2.6% + $0.30 (online), 2.5% (in-person) |
Support | 24/7 via email and chat | 24/7 via email and chat | 24/7 via email and chat |
The Advanced Shopify plan is for sellers who need a lot of features and the lowest fees. For big businesses, Shopify Plus starts at $2,000 a month. It has tools for automating and managing your business.
Choosing between Shopify Lite and other plans depends on what you want for your business. If you just want to add online sales to an existing site, Shopify Lite is a good choice. But if you aim for a full online store with lots of features, the Basic or Standard plans might be better.
Integrating Shopify Lite with Your Website
Adding Shopify Lite to your website opens up new e-commerce chances. This version of Shopify lets you add a Buy Button easily. This means you can sell without changing your whole website. It’s great for blogs or commercial sites.
You can use Shopify Lite on platforms like WordPress, Squarespace, and Tumblr. This flexibility is perfect for those wanting to boost their site without a full redesign. With Shopify Lite, you can list lots of products, manage orders, and take payments easily from one dashboard.
For social media fans, Shopify Lite makes selling easy on platforms like Instagram and Facebook. You can tag products in posts, reaching over 2 billion users. This makes buying easier and improves the user experience on your social profiles.
Setting up Shopify Lite is quick, making it great for small businesses or individuals selling a few items online. It costs just USD 9 a month or £6.79, which is affordable for those already with a website.
It’s important to have clear store policies to gain customer trust. When adding Shopify Lite, make sure to show these policies. This makes shopping with you more trustworthy and reliable for your customers.
Feature | Description |
---|---|
Buy Button Integration | Adds e-commerce functionality to any existing website. |
Unlimited Products | List as many items as desired on your site. |
Social Media Selling | Integrates with Instagram and Facebook for enhanced sales. |
Monthly Cost | USD 9 or £6.79, making it budget-friendly. |
Quick Setup | Minimal time investment required for integration. |
Utilising Shopify Lite for Social Media Selling
Shopify Lite makes selling on social media easy. It lets you set up an online shop on platforms like Facebook and Instagram. This makes it simple to show off your products and make buying easy for customers, helping your shop get noticed.
Shopify Lite works well with Instagram, turning your account into a shop. You can change your shop’s look with the Shopify Lite Theme Editor. Apps like the Instagram Shoppable Tags app make your shop even more attractive to buyers.
Your shop will look professional and offer secure payment options with Shopify Payments. This means customers can buy directly from Instagram, and you handle the payments easily. Even though customers can’t buy in Instagram, Shopify Lite makes sure you can process payments well.
Shopify Lite has tools to track important sales data. These tools help you make smart choices about your products and marketing. You can see how well your store is doing and connect better with your customers.
Shopify Lite also has a simple way to manage your stock. You can keep track of what you have, set up automatic updates, and get alerts when you’re running low. You can also create special deals and campaigns to draw in more customers.
Shopify Lite is a great choice for small businesses starting to sell online. It’s easy to use and offers a 14-day free trial. With it, you can start selling on social media without spending a lot at first. This can help your business grow in today’s digital market.
How to Set Up Shopify Lite
Setting up Shopify Lite is easy and lets you start selling online quickly. First, sign up for your Shopify Lite account at just $9 a month. This plan gives you the key tools you need for selling without being too complicated.
After setting up your account, fill in your business details. The interface is easy to use, even if it seems a bit complex at first. Then, add your products. You can upload them manually or use a CSV file, giving you flexibility in managing your stock.
Organising your products into collections makes them easier to find and embed on your site. Add the Shopify Buy Button to your website to make buying easy for customers. This feature lets customers buy without leaving your page, making shopping smoother.
The Shopify Lite plan offers great features like selling on Facebook and using Facebook Messenger. It also gives you basic analytics to track sales and see what customers like. This helps you improve your sales strategy.
Shopify Lite also supports selling in person with its POS app. This lets you take payments anywhere. As your business grows, you can think about moving to more advanced plans.
Accepting Payments with Shopify Lite
Starting your online business with Shopify Lite means you need to know about payment options. Shopify Lite offers many ways to pay, making sure you can meet different customer needs. Shopify Payments is a key feature that lets you take credit and debit cards easily.
Shopify Payments makes payment processing easy without needing a third-party service. This makes taking payments simpler. You can accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover, among others, in person. You can also swipe, use a chip, or enter card details manually, making it easy for customers.
Shopify’s fees for transactions are competitive, keeping costs down. For instance, the Basic plan charges 2.9% + $0.30 for domestic credit card transactions. Fees change depending on the plan you choose, giving you options based on your business size and needs.
For added security, all Shopify Payments accounts need two-step authentication. This makes sure your transactions are safe. The platform also has fraud analysis tools like AVS and CVV to protect your business.
If you want to offer contactless payments, Shopify Lite supports Apple Pay and Google Pay. This meets customer needs for quick and easy payments. Shopify Lite gives you a strong base for handling payments, whether online or in person.
For more info on setting up in-person payments, see the Shopify guide on Shopify Payments for POS.
Pros of Using Shopify Lite
Shopify Lite is great for those who want to sell online without spending a lot. It costs just $9 a month, making it perfect for startups and small businesses. This price is much lower than other options.
Shopify Lite also offers unlimited product listings, so you can show as many items as you like. This is great for businesses with a lot of products. You can keep your website looking the way you want while still using Shopify’s e-commerce tools.
It also lets you sell directly in social media bios using Linkpop. This is a big plus for businesses that are big on social media.
Shopify Lite also provides 24/7 support through live chat and email. This means you can get help anytime you need it, helping your business grow smoothly. The support is there for both quick questions and detailed help, making your experience better.
“Shopify Lite not only saves costs but also empowers entrepreneurs to flourish in the digital landscape.”
Shopify Lite also gives you tools to see how your sales are doing. These reports and analytics are very useful for making smart choices. For new online sellers and influencers, Shopify Lite is a great choice. It helps you sell online fast and grow your business quickly.
Cons of Using Shopify Lite
Shopify Lite has some drawbacks to consider. It has nice features, but there are also limitations that might stop some people from using it.
One big thing to think about is the lack of a full online store. Shopify Lite lets you sell online, but you can’t have a full store on Shopify. This no storefront option means it’s not good for those who want a bigger online presence.
- The plan only has one admin login and one employee login, which can be a problem for businesses with many team members.
- Using Shopify Payments costs 5% per transaction, which is more expensive than the higher plans.
- Buying things online with a credit card costs 2.9% + 30c, but buying with a mobile device costs less at 2.7% + 0c.
- To sell on social media, like Instagram, you need to upgrade to a more expensive plan, adding to the limitations.
Even with its drawbacks, Shopify Lite is still a good choice for those on a budget who don’t need a full storefront. But, it’s important to know about these drawbacks before picking a plan for your business.
Shopify Lite for Small Businesses and Dropshipping
Shopify Lite is great for small businesses and dropshipping. It costs just $9 a month. This makes it easy to start selling without spending a lot. It helps you quickly switch to dropshipping and manage sales well, even without a big storefront.
Shopify Lite makes selling easy. It has a POS toolkit and a Buy Button for direct sales. The dashboard gives insights for better decisions. You can try it for free for 14 days before paying.
Shopify Lite has fair fees. It charges 2.9% + $0.30 for online sales and 2.7% + $0.30 for in-person sales. This is good for businesses that sell a lot. The real-time syncing with platforms like Facebook is a big plus for small e-commerce.
Explore the integrated CRM capabilities of Shopify Lite. These features help improve customer relationships. You can use Facebook Messenger for automated support and chat.
Shopify Lite is a smart choice for small businesses starting with dropshipping. It lets you make invoices, manage payments, and give a personal shopping experience. All this is at a low cost. It helps small business owners sell better and connect with customers more effectively.
Customer Support and Resources Available
Shopify Lite offers top-notch service with a strong support system. It’s key for tackling any issues or questions you might have. Shopify aims for customer happiness by providing a detailed help center and various support options.
Shopify’s support stands out with 24/7 email help, so you’re never on your own. The retail and Shopify POS teams are ready to help day and night. Phone support is also there for specific needs during certain hours. Here’s a quick look:
Service | Availability |
---|---|
Email Support | 24/7 |
Phone Support for Shopify POS | Monday – Friday, 9am – 4pm EST |
QuickBooks Desktop POS Inquiries | Monday – Friday, 6am – 6pm PST |
Using the help center’s resources can make your Shopify Lite experience better. It has guides, tutorials, and tips for common problems. Those who use these resources often find they can get more out of Shopify Lite.
Live chat can also boost customer interaction and sales. Studies show that quick responses can increase sales by 69%. Live chat helps build a strong connection with customers, making them more likely to buy.
Shopify Lite: Real-World Use Cases
Shopify Lite has become a key tool for many businesses wanting to boost their online presence. Shopify lite examples show how different businesses use it to better their operations. These businesses get from 71,000 to over 1.12 million visitors each month, proving Shopify Lite’s power in increasing sales.
Ghia, a brand of non-alcoholic drinks, worked with Adgile Media Group and Shopify Lite. Their campaign saw a huge 91% increase in conversions, showing how well Shopify Lite works with smart online strategies. Lulus, a fashion brand, also saw great results, with a 47% boost in return on ad spend using Meta’s Advantage+ shopping campaign with Shopify Lite.
Brands like Sharma Brands have also seen big wins. They teamed up with Feastables and hit record sales and engagement in just 24 hours. This shows how quick and smart moves can lead to amazing results.
- Traffic Levels: Stores get from 71,000 to over 1.12 million visitors each month.
- Page Speed: Times vary from 630ms to 3.73s, making for a better user experience.
- Apps Utilised: Most stores use five to seven apps to boost their features.
- CDN Providers: Fast load times are ensured with Cloudflare, jsDelivr, cdnjs, and Unpkg.
Shopify Lite’s flexibility lets stores have custom themes. Many successful stores pick unique designs, like the free Supply theme and Debut theme. With a 78% lift in homepage visits and big gains in brand awareness, Shopify Lite is proving its worth in e-commerce.
Conclusion
Shopify Lite is a great choice for those starting in e-commerce without spending a lot at first. It costs just $9 a month, making it the cheapest in the Shopify range. It has the basic tools you need to sell online, even if it doesn’t have all the fancy features of the pricier plans.
This platform helps you connect with customers through tools like Live Chat on Facebook Messenger, discounts, and custom orders. These tools make selling online easier and improve your sales process. Plus, you get support 24/7 by email and live chat, so you’re never alone as you start your business.
Starting your e-commerce journey with Shopify Lite is a smart move. It meets your current selling needs and lets you grow later in the Shopify world. You might also look into other options, like the Depsell AI Website Builder. This adds more flexibility and design choices to your online sales.