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See FeaturesShopify development services simplify the process of building and maintaining an online store by offering expertise in setup, redesign, app integrations, and ongoing support.
Understanding the cost factors, such as project complexity and developer experience, is crucial when hiring Shopify experts to ensure you get the best value for your investment.
Custom theme development and app integrations are key services that enhance user experience and store functionality, helping businesses stand out and operate more efficiently.
Ongoing maintenance and support are essential for keeping your Shopify store secure and optimized, allowing it to grow and adapt to changing business needs.
Building an online store involves several aspects, from design and navigation to app integrations and more. But all this work can be overwhelming for some business owners, which is why Shopify development services come in handy.
These services help with setup, redesign, app integrations, Shopify Plus development, accessibility, and ongoing maintenance. They help with tasks that are hard for most Shopify store owners to manage alone.
As Shopify continues to grow, so has the number of development services it offers. This article provides an overview of Shopify development services and the hiring process. You’ll learn about various services, pricing factors, and partnership models.
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Shopify development services: At a glance
Shopify development services cover many tasks to help a store look good, work well, and scale with ease. Core services include:
- Shopify store setup and redesign
- Custom theme development and UI/UX
- Ppp integrations and custom functionality
- Shopify Plus and enterprise development
- Shopify store migration
- SEO and performance optimization
- Accessibility and compliance
- Ongoing maintenance and support
Here’s a quick overview of the top Shopify development services to help you find the best option:
| cShopify development service | Service type | Partner tier | Rating from the Shopify directory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avid Brio | Store setup and redesign | Plus | 4.9 (71) |
| Folio3 | Custom theme and UI/UX | Plus | 4.9 (71) |
| Codup | App integration | Plus | 5.0 (2) |
| Swanky | Shopify Plus and enterprise | Platinum | 5.0 (30) |
| C2 Digital | Store migration | Premier | 5.0 (705) |
| Whitecap SEO | SEO and performance optimization | N/A | 5.0 (27) |
| DigitalA11Y | Accessibility (ADA/WCAG) | N/A | N/A |
| Solo Media Group | Ongoing maintenance | Premier | 5.0 (30) |
Understanding Shopify development costs and partnership models
Hiring a Shopify expert can be confusing, especially when you start comparing prices. Developers charge different rates, and every project has its own needs.
It helps to understand what drives costs and which partnership model best fits your business. This section breaks everything down so you know what to expect before choosing among the best Shopify development services.
Key cost factors
Several factors influence how much you will pay for Shopify development:
- Project scope: The more complex the project is, the higher the cost. A small task, like editing a product page, will cost less than a full store build or redesign.
- Developer experience and region: A junior freelancer will charge much less than a senior Shopify developer or a top agency. Rates also differ across countries. Developers in North America and Western Europe typically charge more.
- Theme-based vs. custom work: Using a ready-made theme is more affordable. Full custom design or custom coding is more costly because it takes more effort.
- Integrations and technical complexity: Connecting your store to CRMs, ERPs, or custom apps can increase prices. The more advanced the integration, the higher the development cost.
How much do Shopify developers charge (hourly)?
Hourly pricing is common for small design tasks or fixes. Here’s a breakdown of how different Shopify development experts charge hourly.
| Developer type | Hourly rate ($) | Typical use case |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner | ~$15/hour | Small tweaks, basic theme customization |
| Intermediate | ~$33/hour | Custom theme work, moderate app integrations |
| Expert | ~$95/hour | Large custom builds, advanced integrations, enterprise-level projects |
How much does it cost to build a Shopify store?
The cost depends on whether you want a simple store with a basic setup or a fully customized Shopify store build.
| Store type | Cost range ($) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Basic setup | $500–$2,500 | Using a prebuilt theme, limited products, and minimal customization |
| Custom build | $7,000–$20,000+ | Fully custom theme, complex features, multiple integrations, large product catalog, multi-store setups |
How much does it cost to develop a Shopify app?
Apps require heavy testing and ongoing updates. The price increases with features and complexity.
| App type | Cost range ($) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Simple app | $3,000 – $10,000 | Simple apps with basic features |
| Complex app | $30,000 – $100,000+ | Custom app with features like AI, complex functionality, and multiple integrations |
Common Shopify partnership models
Shopify development services offer various partnership models tailored to specific types of projects.
| Model | Best for | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed price | Defined projects | Ideal for migrations, specific theme builds, or one-time features |
| Monthly retainer | Ongoing maintenance | Covers updates, bug fixes, performance improvements, and small enhancements every month |
| Staff augmentation / dedicated team | Large businesses and enterprises | Extends your in-house team with dedicated developers for complex or large-scale projects |
Best for: Shopify store setup and redesign
If you’re launching a new store, you might need Shopify store development services. These services can help you with setting up products, Shopify themes, navigation, checkout, and payments.
They can also handle store redesign, improving your store’s look, speed, and performance.
Avid Brio
Avid Brio is an agency that offers Shopify ecommerce development services covering detailed and hands-on setup.
It can create homepage layouts and build a unique collection filtering that fits your brand’s needs. The team tests every part of the store with multiple revisions. They make sure images load fast, pages work on mobile, and the site is launch-ready.
If you’re just starting, Avid Brio can help you set up core settings, including shipping, taxes, email notifications, and SEO basics. The agency can also help you choose the right store theme based on your products and industry.
With its Shopify development services, Avid Brio can help improve product categorization, fix confusing navigation, and refine page layouts.
Best for: Custom theme development and UX/UI
Custom theme development involves creating a store design that’s unique, branded, and performs well. A custom theme is built from scratch to match your brand style, product type, target audience, and conversion goals.
This makes your store stand out and gives customers a smooth shopping experience. If you want full control over your store layout, visuals, and user flow, you’ll have to leverage custom Shopify development services.
Folio3
Folio3 is a trusted Shopify partner that delivers custom digital solutions for both small brands and large enterprises. The agency has proven B2B expertise and Shopify Plus development services. It handles theme development and advanced customization work.
It helps businesses streamline complex operations by building fully customized Shopify stores. The agency also creates custom sections, dynamic layouts, and optimized navigation that improve how customers explore products.
For businesses expanding into global markets, Folio3 builds themes that support multiple regions and localized experiences. It also provides advanced B2B Shopify development services, including gated content and specialized catalog views.
Best for: App integrations and custom functionality
With app integrations, you can extend your Shopify store’s functionality, whether through third-party apps or custom code. Many stores use integrations to handle tasks like shipping, inventory syncing, marketing automation, reviews, subscriptions, and payment options.
Leveraging Shopify app development services can help integrate custom functionality into your store to improve customer experience.
Codup
As a certified Shopify website development services agency, Codup handles API integration and app development for brands wanting to extend their store’s capabilities.
Codup helps businesses connect their store to Shopify apps like CRMs, ERPs, email marketing tools like Omnisend, inventory systems, and more. It also builds custom features when a brand needs something that isn’t provided by an existing app.
The agency also helps ecommerce brands customize existing apps to better match unique store needs. Plus, it helps businesses choose the right apps for growth based on their goals and technical setup.
Providing exceptional Shopify development services, Codup delivers tailored technical solutions that support long-term scalability.
 | A dog accessories and lifestyle Shopify brand, Dukier, wanted to improve its customer journey and increase revenue. The brand integrated Omnisend to automate and personalize its email and SMS marketing campaigns. This gave customers a more connected experience from the first visit to repeat purchases. As a result, Dukier saw a 525% revenue growth attributed to Omnisend. Read the full success story here. |
Best for: Shopify Plus and enterprise development
Growing brands often need more flexibility than what a regular Shopify plan can offer and Shopify Plus can help with that. The plan is built for enterprise-level businesses that handle high volumes of traffic, orders, and complex operations.
Shopify Plus gives them more control over their storefront, advanced automation, and integration options.
Enterprise projects often require custom workflows, multi-store setups, international expansion, and strong backend integrations. This requires tailored Shopify Plus development services that can handle this level of scale and complexity.
Swanky
Swanky is a top full-service Shopify Plus agency for enterprise brands. It focuses on large-scale Shopify Plus builds and complex replatforming projects.
The agency works with high-volume merchants that need strong performance, custom design, and stable global infrastructure. It handles advanced requirements like multi-currency setups, custom checkout flows, detailed automation, and deeper system integrations.
Moreover, Swanky offers Shopify development services that support brands with custom feature builds and scalable store architecture. The team manages complex ERP and CRM integrations. Lastly, it helps brands with long-term optimization to improve conversions and customer experiences.
Best for: Shopify store migration
Many brands choose to migrate to Shopify because they want a platform with a simpler backend.
Shopify store migration involves taking everything from your current platform and rebuilding it inside Shopify. You transfer your products, collections, customers, orders, theme settings, and key content.
Because migration involves both technical work and careful planning, it’s best to use Shopify web development services with strong experience in end-to-end transitions.
C2 Digital
C2 Digital is a premier Shopify Partner, known for its hands-on migration services and deep Shopify Plus expertise. The agency helps brands move from major platforms like Magento, BigCommerce, and WooCommerce to Shopify with minimal downtime.
The team focuses on accuracy. It ensures product data, customer accounts, and order history are moved safely.
As part of its migration process, C2 Digital maps data fields from the old platform to Shopify to prevent errors in product variants and other settings.
C2 Digital also handles theme adjustments, app setup, and custom feature configurations to match the store’s original function.
Best for: SEO and performance optimization
Search engine optimization (SEO) improves brand visibility by ensuring your content, structure, and keywords match what people search for. When paired with store optimization, this helps your Shopify store perform better.
Performance optimization involves improving site speed and Core Web Vitals, which Google uses to rank web pages.
Investing in Shopify development services here can pay off by driving more traffic and improving conversions.
Whitecap SEO
Whitecap SEO is a standout agency with proven expertise in Shopify-focused search engine and site optimization. It specializes in technical and on-page SEO for ecommerce sites.
Its experts dig into core web vitals, page speed, URL structure, and schema markup to improve site health and user experience.
Whitecap SEO also helps you attract targeted traffic with its Shopify search engine marketing solutions. It can help with content optimization, link building, and technical fixes.
Beyond this, the agency also helps build SEO strategies that match your brand goals and long-term growth plan. It also offers migration support so you don’t lose SEO value when you move platforms.
Best for: Accessibility (ADA/WCAG)
A successful online store is easy for every shopper, even those with disabilities, to navigate. Accessibility ensures this through clear navigation, screen reader compatibility, smooth keyboard navigation, and more.
Shopify development services also involve accessibility, including audits, remediation, ongoing monitoring, and training. It fixes issues like missing alt text, confusing page structure, inaccessible buttons, and overwhelming forms.
Some partners also combine accessibility with other Shopify development services like optimization for better compliance and conversion.
DigitalA11Y
DigitalA11Y is a leading Shopify accessibility partner with expertise in ecommerce store optimization for ADA and WCAG compliance. Its Shopify development services include accessibility audits, consulting, training, design upgrades, and targeted remediation.
The team comprises IAAP Certified specialists with advanced knowledge of accessible design and testing. The agency has delivered 100+ accessibility training sessions for various types of ecommerce businesses.
DigitalA11Y also provides specialized Shopify development services like writing descriptive alt text for images. The agency helps create transcripts and captions for audio and video content. It also annotates designs for easier accessible development.
These Shopify development services help stores make content usable for people with disabilities, helping improve user experience.
Best for: Ongoing maintenance and support
Keeping your Shopify store running smoothly goes beyond just a great launch. Ongoing maintenance helps ensure your website stays secure, up to date, and optimized as your business grows.
This includes regular updates to your theme, apps, and plugins, as well as monitoring and fixing security issues and bugs before they affect customers. Maintenance can also cover performance improvements like page load times and checkout flows.
Solo Media Group
Solo Media Group specializes in Shopify development services focused on maintenance and support for growing stores. The agency offers monthly retainer packages that cover theme updates, app management, security monitoring, performance optimization, and more.
It also helps with regular backups, speed, and performance audits, and quick resolution of technical issues. Solo Media Group also guides ongoing enhancements, helping stores leverage new Shopify features or improve conversion pathways.
Solo Media Group also helps brands stay stable during growth by monitoring how new traffic, promotions, and product launches affect store performance. The team reviews analytics to spot unusual drops in speed or conversion and steps in before issues escalate.
How to find and hire your Shopify development partner
Finding the right Shopify developer is easier when you know where to look and what to evaluate. Here’s a rundown of what you need to focus on.
Where to look
- Shopify Partner Directory: If you want to hire Shopify developers, it’s best to start here. Every agency or freelancer listed here has been reviewed by Shopify, so you know you can trust them. Use filters to narrow your search by service type, location, and other criteria:
- Vetted agency lists and directories: Some well-known page builder platforms, like Gempages and PageFly, maintain a list of trusted Shopify agencies. They can be a good source if you want developers who already work with the tools you plan to use.
- Freelance platforms: Platforms like Upwork or Toptal offer access to a large pool of Shopify developers. Choose based on your budget, project, and required skill level. On Upwork, you can view developers’ profiles to decide who meets your expectations:
What to look for
When deciding on who to partner with for Shopify development services, consider the following factors:
- Portfolio quality: Review the agencies’ past work to evaluate their expertise level and see if it aligns with the look and function you want
- Reviews and testimonials: Look for honest feedback from real clients and pay attention to reviews from similar businesses
- Communication style: Your Shopify developer should be able to communicate ideas simply and help you think through decisions
- Domain expertise: Choose an agency that offers Shopify development services that suit your specific industry
- Tech stack familiarity: Check if they already work with the apps and systems you plan to use, including marketing tools like Omnisend or your backend system
- SEO/CRO awareness: Beyond store setup and design, choose Shopify experts who know how to optimize your store for search engines and improve conversion rates
What does the typical Shopify development process look like?
Although every project is unique, the development process for Shopify stores often follows a general step-by-step workflow:
- Discovery and strategy: The developer gathers information about the Shopify development services you need and reviews current systems to create a solid project plan
- Design and UX/UI: Wireframes and visual mockups are created to define your store’s look and feel
- Theme and feature development: Your Shopify store is built, usually on a development store, with custom features and functionality according to your plan
- App integration and setup: Essential apps, including marketing tools like Omnisend, are installed to automate key functions like emails and SMS
- Data migration and content: Products, customers, orders, and blog posts are moved from your old system to the new store
- Testing and QA: The store is tested for bugs, mobile responsiveness, browser compatibility, speed, and accessibility
- Launch and go live: The store goes live, redirects are set up, and the site is closely monitored to ensure everything works smoothly
- Post-launch support: After launch, the developer transitions your store to a maintenance plan to handle updates, fixes, and ongoing support
Conclusion and next steps
The right Shopify development services can help ensure that your store is properly set up and customized to your needs.
Everything from initial setup to a unique design and even ongoing maintenance is handled so your store runs seamlessly.
Now is the perfect time to connect with a Shopify expert who can get your store fully optimized for growth. Enhance marketing and keep customers engaged with Omnisend’s automated email and SMS campaigns.
FAQs
Yes, you can hire Shopify experts, certified partners, agencies, or freelancers to build your store. They offer several Shopify development services, including setup, design, ongoing maintenance, and more.
Their rates depend on the project and experience. Small tasks like theme tweaks may cost a few hundred dollars. A full store build with custom features can range from $2,000 to $20,000 or more.
The Shopify development process involves these steps:
— Discovery and strategy
— Design and UX/UI
— Theme and feature development
— App integration and setup
— Data and content migration
— Testing and quality assurance
— Store launch
— Post-launch maintenance and updates
The cost for hiring a Shopify expert can be hourly or project-based. Hourly rates often range from $50 to $150. Meanwhile, full project builds typically start around $2,000 and can go much higher depending on complexity.
Shopify Plus is an enterprise-level platform with advanced features for high-volume stores. Development includes custom checkout options, improved scalability, and integrations that support complex business operations.
Shopify Plus development usually involves larger scope projects, access to advanced checkout options, and support for high-volume or international sales. Standard Shopify, on the other hand, focuses on small to medium-sized stores.
Basic apps can cost a few thousand dollars, while complex custom ones may cost $10,000 or more. Custom apps work great when you need functionality that existing apps don’t provide.
Charges labeled “Shopify” on your statement can include subscription fees, app payments, or merchant processing fees. This depends on the services you use.
Shopify itself doesn’t charge for development beyond its subscription fee. Additional costs come from hiring developers, designers, or third-party apps.
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