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Shopify Pricing 2026: How Much Does It Really Cost to Run a Store?

Naj Ahmed 5
Articles Ecommerce Reviews Ecommerce Selling Advice Shopify

Shopify pricing starts at $5 per month for the Starter plan, and can go as high as $2,300+ per month depending on the plan you choose.

After testing Shopify for over 100 hours and launching multiple stores across different plans, I can confidently say this platform is built for serious ecommerce growth.

But it doesn’t come cheap—and the listed prices are just the start. Between monthly plans, apps, and hidden fees, your actual Shopify cost can vary a lot.

In this breakdown, I’ll walk through everything you need to know about Shopify pricing, including core plans, hidden fees, what each plan includes, and how to avoid spending more than you need to.

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Shopify Free Trial 2026: Everything You Need to Know Before You Launch

Naj Ahmed
Articles Shopify

Shopify offers a free 3-day trial, followed by 3 months at just $1 per month. During the trial, you can build your store, test all features, use Shopify’s new AI website builder, and prepare to start selling — without needing to commit to a full-priced plan upfront.

In this guide, we’ll break down exactly what the Shopify free trial includes, how to make the most of it, and why their new AI website builder makes launching a store faster and easier than ever.

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Brevo vs SendGrid: Which One Should You Use for Your Ecommerce Business?

Bogdan Rancea
Articles Email Marketing

Brevo and SendGrid are two leading email platforms used by ecommerce businesses around the world.

Whether you're looking to send transactional emails, automate marketing campaigns, or build customer journeys, both tools can support your goals, but they take very different approaches.

After spending time testing and researching both platforms, I found that Brevo is the better option if you want an all-in-one marketing platform that includes transactional emails by default.

On the other hand, SendGrid is better suited for businesses that need a dedicated email infrastructure for transactional messaging, and have developer resources available.

Below, I’ll compare both tools across key areas like pricing, email features, automation, deliverability, and ease of use to help you make the right choice for your store.

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What the Universal Commerce Protocol Means for Ecommerce in 2026

Bogdan Rancea
Ecommerce

The Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) is a new open standard developed by Google, Shopify, and other major ecommerce players to enable AI agents and digital platforms to interact directly with merchant systems. It allows them to perform product discovery, create carts, initiate checkout, and handle post-purchase support — all without needing to visit a traditional ecommerce website. This protocol is set to reshape how ecommerce operates, particularly as AI agents become central to online shopping experiences.

As consumer behavior shifts toward voice assistants, AI-powered search tools, and autonomous shopping agents, ecommerce businesses need to understand what the Universal Commerce Protocol is, how it works, and what changes it will force across the ecommerce stack. Let’s explore the practical and strategic implications of UCP for merchants, platforms, and ecommerce developers.

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How To Set Up TikTok Shop With Printify (Even If You’re Not in the US)

Bogdan Rancea
Articles Print on Demand

When I first looked into selling print-on-demand products through TikTok, I thought it would be a straightforward process. TikTok is booming for ecommerce right now, and Printify is one of the easiest POD platforms to launch with.

But connecting the two? It turns out there are a few hoops to jump through, especially if you're not based in the US.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the exact steps I used to set up TikTok Shop with Printify as a US-based seller.

I’ll also share the best workarounds I found if you’re outside the US and still want to sell print-on-demand through TikTok.

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Best Ecommerce Platforms for Print on Demand (2026)

Bogdan Rancea
Articles

With over 300 hours spent researching and testing the top ecommerce platforms for print on demand, our in-house team and I have shortlisted the best options for sellers looking to launch or grow a POD business.

Shopify stands out as our top recommendation, offering powerful selling features, smooth POD integrations, and a scalable setup that works for both beginners and experienced store owners.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the pricing, integrations, pros, and drawbacks of each platform, so you can confidently choose the one that fits your goals.

Our Top Picks for Print on Demand Ecommerce Platforms

Shopify – Best for scaling a dedicated POD brand WooCommerce – Best for full customization and SEO Etsy – Best for instant audience and low-cost entry BigCommerce – Best for built-in ecommerce features Squarespace – Best for branded and design-focused stores Wix – Best for beginners launching small catalogs Square Online – Best for in-person sellers adding ecommerce

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Best Shopify Apps in Germany: My Essential Picks for Selling Smarter in 2026

Bogdan Rancea
Articles Shopify

Running a Shopify store in Germany isn’t just about making sales. You’re operating in one of the most regulated ecommerce environments in Europe, where compliance with financial rules, strict privacy laws, and customer expectations can make or break your success.

Over the past year, I’ve tested dozens of Shopify apps tailored for the German market. Some worked great. Others didn’t fit the local expectations or failed to meet legal requirements.

The apps I’m recommending below are the ones I trust the most: tools that make my life easier as a store owner and actually deliver what they promise.

Each app solves a specific problem: from creating DATEV-compliant exports for your accountant, to showing trust badges that German buyers look for before making a purchase. I’ve gone deep into pricing, features, and use cases so you can decide exactly what fits your store.

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How Much Does It Cost to Start a POD Business?

Bogdan Rancea
Articles Print on Demand

When I first looked into starting a print-on-demand business, I thought I could launch it without spending a single dollar.

Technically, you can start for free, but let me be honest, if you want it to look like a real business, and not just a random hobby, you’re probably going to spend somewhere between $50 and $500 in your first month.

That includes everything from samples and listings to your store setup and marketing.

The good news is, compared to other business models, the startup cost is still very low.

But there are choices to make that affect how much you’ll spend upfront. In this article, I’ll break it all down based on my experience and research, including the platforms, tools, and real costs that most people don’t talk about.

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Taylor Print on Demand Review: Is It a Smart Choice for Ecommerce Sellers?

Bogdan Rancea
Articles Print on Demand

Taylor OnDemand is a lesser-known name in the print on demand (POD) industry, but it’s not new to printing.

In fact, Taylor Corporation has been around for decades and operates behind the scenes for some of the largest brands in North America. So when I came across Taylor’s print on demand solution, I was curious to see how it performs compared to popular POD platforms like Printful or Printify.

In this review, I’ll take you through everything I discovered during my research into Taylor’s POD capabilities, from product range and integrations to pricing and performance.

If you’re trying to figure out whether Taylor is the right print on demand partner for your ecommerce business, this guide will help you decide.

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Tapstitch Review: A Smart Print-on-Demand Option for Real Clothing Brands

Bogdan Rancea
Articles

If you’re serious about building a clothing brand and not just selling novelty t-shirts, then choosing the right print-on-demand partner is critical.

Over the years, I’ve tested a variety of platforms, but most of them tend to lean toward quantity over quality. That’s why Tapstitch immediately caught my attention.

Tapstitch markets itself as a fashion-first print-on-demand provider. It is geared toward sellers who care about the quality of their blanks, the way designs are printed, and how the product actually feels in customers’ hands.

In this Tapstitch review, I’ll walk through everything I’ve learned by testing their service, from product quality and pricing to fulfillment times and integrations, so you can decide if it fits your business.

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