In recent years, Shopify has become the go-to platform for eCommerce. Due to its simple yet highly functional interface, adding new products and tweaking your online store to your liking has never been easier.
On top of that, the platform is also considered secure and optimized for mobile with its responsive design and fast loading times. For those who wish to tap into the power of the search engine traffic, this is of essential importance.
Shopify’s user-friendliness, integrated features, and intuitive design have made entering the eCommerce space much more streamlined for those who like the business model but may have been turned away by obstacles of technical nature in the past.
But regardless of its perceived simplicity, the platform makes for a powerful foundation for third-party services integration and other forms of customization, thus allowing you to transform it into virtually anything you’d ever need.
And the best part is - thanks to the best Shopify development companies, you don’t have to do it on your own. The only problem is, there are so many of them it’s easy to get lost in a flood of options.
To help you narrow down your search and select the best candidate, we’ve condensed the list down to the top service providers in this industry:
1. eFlair Webtech
eFlair Webtech has been receiving great reviews all across the board ever since starting their digital journey in 2011.. This is due to their level of expertise coupled with a customer-centric approach. In other words, they will take the time to know you to better serve your individual business’ needs. Known for their laser-sharp focus, accuracy, and never missing a deadline, this easily makes them one of the top Shopify development companies in India and the global development space. The Shopify stores they build are designed to stand the test of time and make for a solid foundation for future upgrades and third-party services integration. If at any time you require additional support and maintenance, they’ve got you covered, so you can put your worries aside to focus on making your business the best it can be.
2. Growth Hackers Digital
Growth Hackers Digital will not only build your Shopify store down to your exact specifications, they will also optimize it for SEO and conversion so you will be getting organic traffic from the search engines. This is the traffic that is hungry for the exact kind of products you’re selling. The Shopify stores they develop are known for user-friendliness, fast load times, easy customizability, reliability, and backed by ongoing maintenance and support whenever you need it. All of this easily earns it the honor as one of the top Shopify development companies in India and abroad. The Clutch awards they’ve received over the years are just the icing on the cake, and having worked with some of India’s high-profile clients such as Vahan and ICICI Bank testifies to the quality of their services.
3. Codal
Codal is widely regarded as one of the best Shopify development companies on a global scale. To keep their work at the highest level, they utilize modern approaches, all while keeping in the loop with the latest industry practices. Having been around since 2009 and employing some of the industry’s top talent, this gives them the experience necessary to fully measure up to their clients’ expectations. Their innovative approach to Shopify development has earned them the trust of several clients across the globe, large corporations and small businesses alike.
4. LanternSol
This Ohio-based Shopify development company has been serving their clientele since 2015. Through the consistent quality of their work, they have been able to take their business globally. All of this was made possible due to their belief in integrity, decisive demeanor, and a strategic approach to undertaking projects. In the years they’ve remained active, they’ve amassed enough knowledge and experience to take on the most challenging web-development work, including the kind that directly relates to Shopify.
5. Lounge Lizard
Lounge Lizard is a marketing and web development industry that’s remained in this business since 1998. Apart from catering to your Shopify needs, you are also welcome to take advantage of their SEO and digital marketing knowledge to reach the top spots in Google. The long years spent in this line of business also gives them the confidence to offer mobile app development and custom branding strategy creation services, so versatility is one of their strong points. You can also ask their help with anything PPC, UI/UX, and content creation related.
6. Raven Digital
This Houston-based web development agency is one of the top Shopify development companies in the US and abroad. If you’re looking for concrete and tangible results, you should look no further. Their multinational presence has allowed them to broaden their horizons way beyond the needs of their local market and thus better serve their clients’ needs no matter what challenges they’re facing. Apart from being able to take on anything Shopify development related, they also have the capacity to undertake other IT projects such as process automation, whitelabeling, as well as design and digital marketing services.
7. ELEKS
ELEKS is one of the best Shopify development companies with a proven track record of working with Fortune 500 clients. Not only will they be your partner on the road to digital transformation, but also evaluate your challenges on an individual basis and offer their consultation. Their offices are scattered all over the world, so getting in touch with them is easy. To supplement their Shopify development offerings, they can also help you out with product design, cyber security services, software and app development, blockchain solutions, cloud computing, machine learning, and other services.
8. Pivofy
Since 2014, Pivofy has consistently ranked among the best Shopify development agencies. Their primary objective is to work with small, medium, and large businesses to help them scale their Shopify operations. Not only will they make sure your Shopify store employs the best industry practices, but also optimize it for conversion. To date, the company has developed countless Shopify stores for clients all over the globe. Thanks to their innovative approach, they will become your go-to business partner for anything eCommerce related.
9. Kanda Software
If you’re facing regulatory or development challenges with your Shopify store, Kanda Software is the answer to your prayers. Their dedicated team of experts keeps on studying the latest eCommerce trends to keep in the loop with the best industry practices. They will help keep your store compliant with the regulatory guidelines as well as optimized for sales and conversion. Due to their diligent and ongoing communication with their clients, you can rest assured every detail will get implemented as per your exact requirements. Overall, Kanda Software is one of the best options if the safety of your intellectual property is a concern.
10. RNF Technologies
Having been around for more than a decade has earned RNF Technologies the recognition of being one of the best Shopify development companies in existence today. Their vision is to build strong fundamentals for a business to operate on rather than delivering a one-time service and calling it a day. To complement your business’ needs, they also offer cutting-edge mobile and web development services. They serve multiple industries, including the likes of healthcare, gaming, logistics, and eCommerce.
11. Quantum Mob
Quantum Mob outshines its competition by focusing on pure stability of their end-product. Working with companies of all sizes, it’s their aim and vision to provide a quality solution at any budget level. The list of industries they work in stretches far and wide, covering areas like advertising, healthcare, and finance. Being in business since 2016, this Canadian company houses some of the industry’s best Shopify designers and developers and they consider themselves to be firm believers in the power of Agile methodology. Together, they produce some of the finest e-business products in this space that are reliable and bug-free.
12. Digital Silk
Digital Silk places an emphasis on creating a first class digital experience for their clients - the list features well-known industry names and Fortune 500 companies like Microsoft, HP, Amazon and others. They use their expertise to help their clients get more exposure in the digital landscape. For each individual project, they will sit down with you to discuss your individual needs. After that, a dedicated team consisting of the best Shopify designers and developers will start chipping away at it until the work is done, all while generating measurable reports every step of the way to know exactly where you stand. Not only can they help you with your Shopify challenges, but also by developing cutting-edge software and apps as well as helping you get more exposure through marketing.
13. Evestar
Founded by Lolita Petrossov and headquartered in the US, Evestar specializes in anything eCommerce related. This includes web and creative design, development, digital marketing, and other ways to help your Shopify store become a success. Working with smaller brands and established enterprises, the company has a proven formula for scaling your business. Using a data-driven approach, this talented Shopify agency will communicate with you at every stage of the project, delivering measurable results that leave no room for guesswork.
14. Rootstrap
The combination of creativity, dedication, and expertise is what makes Rootstrap one of the best Shopify development companies to work with on your next digital project. Having worked with recognized industry names like Google, this company will do what it takes to help you achieve your business goals and make your venture a profitable endeavor. Or, if you’re already crunching some decent numbers, they promise to help you double your revenue. And when you’re ready to take your eCommerce business to the next level, they supplement their core services with app development, AI, chatbot development, machine learning, and blockchain technology.
15. SmartSites
Specializing in web design, SEO, PPC, digital marketing and of course Shopify, SmartSites will lend you a helping hand with all things digital. Founded by Michael and Alex Melen in 2011, this quickly became one of America’s most prolific and fastest growing companies that operates in the digital space. Their philosophy of over rather than under delivering has netted them nothing but stellar reviews during the years of their activity, thus easily earning themselves the honor of ranking among the top Shopify development companies in today’s market.
What are Shopify designers & developers?
Shopify designers and developers will get your Shopify store to the next level by designing custom templates, adding additional functionality, connecting it to third-party services, and optimizing it for higher sales and conversion. If you’re just starting out in the world of eCommerce, they can help you set up your online store without needing to know anything about servers, domains, hosting, or how to write a single line of code - just sit back and let these industry professionals do the work for you.
By doing so, you will be able to allocate more time to make your Shopify store a success rather than having to jump through technical hoops. After all, you should be focusing on fulfilling orders, monitoring stock, promoting your store, and keeping up with the latest trends. Why not let the best Shopify development companies take the workload off your shoulders?
Why are all upcoming brands/businesses on Shopify?
There are many reasons why so many online brands are flocking to Shopify. Ease of use is the first that comes to mind - Shopify’s platform is easy to navigate and manage through a simple and intuitive interface that’s simple to grasp even if you’re a complete newcomer to the world of eCommerce. Since it’s a one-stop solution, it includes hosting, content management, and security features all under one roof, thus saving you an enormous amount of time.
It also allows you to apply a custom theme at the click of a button. The platform is reliable, secure, easily scalable, and comes with 24/7 support. Moreover, its users often praise it for fast loading times and SEO friendliness. Keep in mind about 50% of web traffic comes from smartphones nowadays, so it’s important to keep things mobile-friendly. As luck would have it, Shopify stores are 100% mobile optimized by design and you’re free to pick from a vast array of mobile-centric themes that take things ever further!
What services do Shopify design agencies provide?
The industry’s best Shopify designers and developers boast themselves with a rich portfolio of services, all designed to help you reach your eCommerce goals in the most efficient manner possible.
If you don’t have a Shopify store already, they will build it from the ground up. If you do have one but you’re looking for conversion optimization, SEO tweaks, a custom template, 3rd party services integration, additional functionality or customization, a Shopify design and development agency has got you covered.
After being acquainted with the power of Shopify, webmasters and business owners often start looking for a way to migrate to the platform from their previously-used eCommerce solutions such as Magento. As luck would have it, Shopify migration is another service you can take advantage of to ensure nothing gets stuck in the technical pits of the process.
Keep in mind that, at some point, your Shopify store will require upgrades or maintenance. If you delay this for too long, security vulnerabilities may arise or an important function could stop working. Therefore, if you don’t have the technical know-how to do it on your own, you’re going to need someone to lend you a helping hand.
How much do Shopify developers charge for their services?
Since the price Shopify developers charge depends on several different factors, there is no universal answer. It’s recommended to ask them directly, ideally before the project is underway.
In general, the following will play a role:
- Where the company is based
- The scope of the project
- Functionality requested
- Pricing model (project or hourly)
- How long the implementation will take
- etc.
If you’ve agreed to being charged an hourly rate and you’re working with a US Shopify development company, this is likely to be anywhere between $50 - $150 an hour. On the flipside, working with a Shopify development company India could reduce the costs to $25 - $50 an hour.
For project-based Shopify design and development costs, see the list above. Depending on what you’re looking to implement, a one-time fee for the entire project could range anywhere between $500 - $15.000.
The hiring of Shopify developers - what does the process look like?
Every company has its own approach and methodology. But the common denominator all the best Shopify development companies seem to share is taking the extra time to sit down with you to discuss your individual requirements and needs. Overall, the process is rather straightforward and everything is explained by visiting a company’s official website. Once you’ve studied the process and agreed on the price, their development team will start working on the project and keep you in the loop on anything development-related.
What type of business should invest in Shopify development?
A Shopify store is the perfect solution for selling any type of product, physical and digital alike. It’s also an incredibly suitable choice for smaller businesses that may not have the budget to have a dedicated team of in-house IT professionals at their side.
Not only is Shopify simple to manage and update to begin with, you can also count on 24/7 support in the event you need additional guidance.
However, don’t make the mistake of thinking that it’s meant for smaller businesses exclusively. In fact, large enterprises are known for using it to sell their products, and the list includes big industry names such as Red Bull, The Economist, Lindt, Nescafe, and many others.
If you’re running an online store that sells products with lots of variation (such as clothing where there are multiple sizes and colors to choose from), the Shopify platform lets you list these with ease. Of course, you can also create single product online stores with zero hassle.
Although Shopify has essential built-in functionality that allows you to generate coupon codes, list free shipping and similar, Shopify development will come in handy if the type of business you’re running requires extra customization or additional features that serve a particular need.
How to choose the best Shopify developers for your business?
When choosing the best Shopify designers and developers for your online store, you need to ask yourself a couple of questions:
- Do they have a stunning portfolio?
- Are they receiving lots of positive reviews?
- Are they good at communicating?
- Does their approach utilize the latest technology?
- Do they offer ongoing support after the project has been completed?
The bottom line is, don’t be afraid to shop around. After narrowing down the list to the most worthy contenders, you may very well find that certain providers are a better match for your company’s needs. In the end, it all comes down to your individual requirements.
What to look for in a Shopify company?
While pricing is and always will be a factor in your decision-making process, never base your decision on pricing alone. Keep in mind the Shopify developers you choose will be your long-term business partners, so it’s important to also look at other factors and make your decision wisely.
Aside from the obvious (great reviews, rich portfolio, and similar), you should primarily be looking at how the company makes you feel when collaborating with them. Are you getting the impression that you’re just another brick in the wall and they’re feeding you a copy-paste solution, or are they willing to take the time to get to know you personally and thus better accommodate your project needs?
These are the kinds of things you can expect from the very best Shopify development companies out there. Ongoing maintenance and support is the next important thing on the list. Always ask in advance whether it’s included in the price or if they’ll charge you extra for it. At the end of the day, you’re more than likely going to need it at some point and it’s generally better to let the original developers do it because they know the technical aspects of your Shopify store inside and out.
If you’re about to pick a Shopify development company but are torn between multiple different choices, it’s a good idea to check if their portfolio includes something similar to what you’re looking for. That way, you’ll know for sure they have the experience necessary to make your vision come to life and you can simply point out that particular solution in their portfolio as an example of what to aim for during development.
Conclusion
Since your Shopify store is the central hub of your business, it’s important to lay a solid foundation from the very beginning. That’s why you should never be satisfied with anything less than the top Shopify development companies when searching for a trusted business partner. By reading this helpful guide, you should now be equipped with the knowledge on how to qualify them and what to expect.
FAQs
Before inking the deal with the Shopify development company you’ve laid your eyes on, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the industry’s essentials. Some are general questions we’ve provided the answers to below, while others are the kinds of questions you’re better off asking the company directly as part of your research.
What is Shopify development?
Shopify development either makes improvements to your existing Shopify store (conversion optimization, extra features, added pages, and so forth) or creates one from scratch. As part of their services, Shopify developers can also help you migrate from other eCommerce platforms (Etsy, WooCommerce, Wix, and others) to Shopify.
Depending on your budget and needs, they may throw in extra services such as A/B testing to help determine what works best based on concrete data.
What big brands use Shopify?
Shopify has been the go-to eCommerce platform of choice for numerous brands and companies, big and small. Among the most well-known ones you’ll see using it are:
- Fitbit
- Red Bull
- Whole Foods Market
- Lindt
- The Economist
- Heinz
- BBC
- Nescafe
- David Beckham
- The New York Times
As you can see, the list includes recognizable Fortune 500 names. If Shopify is good enough for them, it’s good enough for anyone!
What are the benefits of using Shopify?
Shopify has solidified itself as the most popular eCommerce platform thanks to:
- Ease of use
- Security
- Stability
- Customizability
- Mobile-friendliness
- Built-in features
- Support
In simple terms, those who don’t want to waste time on technical hurdles can enjoy a stable and secure platform that lets you customize it on the fly and add additional features depending on your needs. In essence, Shopify allows you to build a powerful eCommerce empire without knowing anything about hosting, domains, or how to write a single line of code.
What are the benefits of hiring a Shopify developer?
A Shopify developer will make you a professionally looking eCommerce store that is consistent with your brand’s image, appearance, and philosophy. Since they’re tech-savvy with coding and speed optimization, they will build a responsive page that pulls your customers in like a magnet (and not drive them away like a slow and sluggish website would). In this industry, having your online store perceived as trustworthy is more important than ever - a lack of trust kills sales.
On top of that, Shopify developers know all about how to make your online store SEO optimized, so you’ll have the best possible chances of success at attracting organic traffic from the search engines that will drive sales even while you sleep. Last but not least, hiring a pro to develop your Shopify store lets you focus on other aspects of running your business such as sourcing suppliers, planning out your marketing strategy, and better serving your target audience.
What does your process look like? What do you need from me to get started?
To ensure the process runs smoothly, make sure to initiate an open dialog with your developer and inquire about the exact steps - it’s important that the both of you are on the same page and they won’t mind you asking.
A typical development process usually consists of the following phases:
- Planning
- Prototyping
- Production
- Testing
- Launch
- Maintenance
Since different Shopify development companies may choose to take a slightly different approach, these are by no means set in stone - take them as rough guidelines instead.
What are the post-development services?
After the work is done, your Shopify store will be good to go and ready to start driving sales. At some point down the line, keep in mind it will require upgrades and maintenance, so you should ask your provider whether these are included in the price. If not, ask them what it would cost to apply them.
As you get more experience using your new Shopify store, you may also find the need to implement additional functionality or integrate 3rd party services. This is another way to reach your online store’s true potential and the best Shopify development agencies can certainly help you get there.
You can also opt to have your store redesigned at a later point if the old design no longer serves you. Those who wish to increase their search engine traffic will also be inclined to seek out SEO services to optimize their pages. This includes having a Shopify expert naturally incorporate keywords with a decent search volume, optimizing the page load times, and making your store mobile-friendly.
What tools/plugins do you use?
If you’re not looking for a general cookie cutter type Shopify store, you’re probably going to want to incorporate custom functionality to better serve your particular needs. Unless you’re tech-savvy enough to install your own plugins, kindly as your Shopify developer to install them for you. If you don’t know the exact name of the plugin, simply describe what kind of functionality you’re after, and they will be able to recommend a suitable solution. While you’re at it, ask them what tools they’ll be using during development so you’ll know exactly what you’ll be getting.
What is your experience level?
Would you be comfortable entrusting the future of your eCommerce business to an amateur? If the answer is no, you should ask your chosen Shopify development service provider about their level of experience. If you’re not fully satisfied with their answer, you can also check their portfolio yourself or see what kind of reviews they’re getting. It should be quantifiable or measurable: the number of years they’ve been doing this or the number of clients they’ve had over the years. In other words, anyone can claim to have plenty of experience, but can they back it up with concrete numbers?
What payment gateways does the platform support?
If you want to accept payments in your online store, it’s crucial to integrate a payment gateway. As luck would have it, Shopify has its own payment gateway that accepts credit cards. This means you won’t have to integrate a third-party solution unless you want to, thus saving you lots of hassle. However, you may have other reasons to use another payment gateway which a Shopify developer can help you integrate. The options include Paypal, Stripe, WorldPay, Verifone, Opayo, Klarna, Authorize.net and others.
Will our store be mobile responsive?
Short answer: yes! Shopify’s platform offers several templates that are designed to be responsive and mobile-friendly. People usually ask this question since they know that 50% of their traffic is likely to come from mobiles. Therefore, having the Shopify store optimized for smaller smartphone screens becomes increasingly important. You can take your concerns to your chosen Shopify developer who will make sure to recommend the most suitable theme for the purpose.
This article was written in cooperation with Srikar Srinivasula