How to Get the Shopify 1 Dollar Per Month Deal: Complete Tutorial
Launching a Shopify store no longer has to cost a fortune upfront. Shopify's $1 per month promotion lets new merchants run a fully functional store for just a single dollar a month during the first three months, the perfect low-risk way to build, test, and start selling before committing to full pricing. But the deal has specific terms, eligibility rules, and a correct activation path, and getting any step wrong can cost you the discount. This complete tutorial is a step by step beginner guide to claiming the Shopify $1 per month deal correctly, understanding exactly what it includes, and budgeting wisely for what comes after.
What You'll Learn:
- Exactly what the Shopify $1 per month deal includes and excludes
- Who is eligible and which countries are excluded
- Step by step instructions to activate the deal correctly
- Regional pricing across the US, UK, Canada, EU, and Australia
- What happens after three months and how to save 25% with annual billing
- Realistic monthly budget once the promo ends
What Is the Shopify $1 Per Month Deal?
The offer gives new stores 3 days free, then $1 per month for the first three months on any standard Shopify plan. After the promotional window, the plan reverts to its regular monthly price. It is designed to remove the financial barrier to getting started, so you can set up your store, add products, and even make your first sales for next to nothing.
The $1 rate can be applied to any of the three standard plans. Here is what each one normally costs once the promotion ends:
| Plan | Promo Price | Regular Price (US) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $1/month | $39/month | New and solo merchants |
| Shopify | $1/month | $105/month | Growing businesses |
| Advanced | $1/month | $399/month | Scaling stores needing reports |
What's Included and What's Not
Included During the Promo
Full plan access with hosted checkout and payment processing, Shopify App Store access, customer support, and custom domain connectivity.
Not Included
Shopify Plus features, transaction fee waivers, and any paid app subscription costs. App fees are always billed separately from your plan.
Monthly Billing Only
The $1 rate applies only to monthly billing. If you switch to annual billing during the promo period, you forfeit the discount. Wait until after the three months to switch to annual and save 25%.
Who Is Eligible?
The deal is reserved for genuinely new customers. To qualify, you must meet these conditions:
New Accounts Only
You must use an email address never previously linked to any Shopify account. Reusing an old email will show standard pricing instead of the $1 deal.
One Store Per Offer
The promotion applies to one store per offer. You cannot stack it across multiple stores under the same account.
Supported Region
Nearly all countries qualify except Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, and specific Ukraine regions (Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk).
How to Claim the Shopify $1 Deal: Step by Step
Follow these five steps exactly. The order matters, especially starting from a partner link and choosing monthly billing before the trial ends.
Open the Offer Landing Page
Start from a Shopify partner offer link, not Shopify.com directly. The $1 deal is partner-exclusive, and visiting Shopify.com on its own may display only the standard free trial without the promotional pricing.
Enter Email and Start the Free Trial
Enter a fresh email address never used with Shopify and start the 3-day free trial. No credit card is required at this initial stage, so you can explore risk-free first.
Skip Setup and Reach the Dashboard
Skip the optional setup questionnaire and proceed straight to your Shopify admin dashboard. You can complete store setup later, the priority now is selecting a plan within the trial window.
Select a Standard Plan on Monthly Billing
Before the 3-day trial ends, choose Basic, Shopify, or Advanced and make sure you select monthly billing. Choosing annual billing here forfeits the $1 promotional rate entirely.
Add Payment and Confirm
Add a payment method to finish. Shopify charges $1 for month one and automatically continues the $1 rate for months two and three. After that, standard pricing resumes unless you cancel.
Regional Pricing
The promotional rate is one unit of your local currency. Here is how the deal and the regular Basic plan price compare across major regions:
| Region | Promo Price | Regular Basic |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $1 USD | $39/month |
| United Kingdom | £1 GBP | £25/month |
| Canada | $1 CAD | $51/month |
| European Union | €1 EUR | €36/month |
| Australia | $1 AUD | $56/month |
What Happens After the Three Months
When the promotion ends, standard pricing resumes automatically. This is the moment to decide whether to stay monthly or switch to annual billing. Switching to annual saves 25%, bringing the Basic plan to $228 per year, the equivalent of roughly $19 per month, versus $39 on monthly billing.
Promo (months 1-3): $1 / month
Monthly billing: $39 / month
Annual billing: $228 / year (~$19 / month, saves 25%)
If you decide Shopify is not for you, your store data remains accessible if you cancel, and reactivation is possible anytime. Cancelling after month one prevents charges for months two and three, so there is no penalty for stepping away early.
Plan a Realistic Budget
The $1 plan covers your Shopify subscription, but a working store usually needs a few paid apps. Real merchants report planning for $100 to $200 per month total, including apps, once promotional periods end. Additional app expenses typically run $0 to $50 per month for essentials like email marketing and review tools beyond the base subscription.
Key Insight:
Treat the three-month $1 window as a launch runway. Use it to build your store, install only the apps you truly need, and start driving sales, so that by the time standard pricing kicks in, your store is already generating revenue to cover the cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Shopify $1 per month deal real?
Yes. New stores get 3 days free, then pay $1 per month for the first three months on any standard plan (Basic, Shopify, or Advanced) using monthly billing.
Can I cancel the Shopify $1 deal anytime?
Yes, including during the promo. Cancelling after month one prevents charges for months two and three, and your store data stays accessible for later reactivation.
Does Shopify Plus qualify for the $1 deal?
No. The $1 pricing applies only to Basic, Shopify, and Advanced plans. Shopify Plus is enterprise tier and starts at around $2,300 per month.
Why should I use a partner link for the deal?
The $1 offer is partner-exclusive. Going directly to Shopify.com may show only the standard free trial without the $1 pricing, so start from a partner offer link.
What happens after the three months end?
Standard pricing resumes automatically (Basic is $39/month in the US). Switching to annual billing beforehand saves 25%, bringing Basic to about $19/month billed yearly.
Need Help Launching Your Shopify Store?
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About the author
Odoo Practice Lead, Braincuber Technologies
Leads the Odoo practice at Braincuber. Has delivered Odoo ERP implementations, NetSuite/Tally migrations, and Shopify–Odoo integrations for US mid-market and D2C brands. Owns scoping, data migration, and go-live for every Odoo engagement.