How to Use Shopify Academy: Step by Step Complete Tutorial Guide
By Braincuber Team
Published on May 15, 2026
Shopify Academy is a free online learning platform offering ecommerce training and business courses taught by industry leaders and real-world entrepreneurs. Whether you are setting up your first online store, scaling an existing business, or exploring dropshipping and print-on-demand models, Shopify Academy provides structured, on-demand education to help you succeed in the competitive ecommerce landscape of 2026.
What You'll Learn:
- What Shopify Academy is and who it benefits most
- How to access and navigate the platform effectively
- Course structure, video features, and progress tracking
- Top courses like Instagram marketing and Facebook advertising
- Live workshops and community learning opportunities
What is Shopify Academy?
Shopify Academy is a comprehensive platform for accessing Shopify training and business courses taught by industry leaders and real-world entrepreneurs. These courses help you deal with various challenges like setting up your first online store and even cover product photography and marketing strategies.
The academy offers courses covering hot topics in the industry like dropshipping and print-on-demand. You do not need to have a Shopify store to start learning, though it is recommended to build your store alongside the courses. The content is designed for learners without prior technical knowledge, making it accessible to complete beginners.
Most importantly, Shopify Academy is completely free. It is designed to help entrepreneurs, whether new or experienced in ecommerce, create comprehensive strategies and plans for their online businesses.
Who Benefits from Shopify Academy?
Shopify Academy can be beneficial to anyone at any stage of their ecommerce journey:
Day 1 Beginners
Just starting your ecommerce journey? Shopify Academy walks you through store setup, product selection, and foundational marketing with no prior experience required.
Growing Businesses
Turning a part-time project into a full-time business? Learn scaling strategies, advanced marketing, and operational optimization from successful entrepreneurs.
Scaling Entrepreneurs
Ready to scale? Access advanced courses on Facebook advertising, influencer marketing, and international expansion strategies.
Niche Explorers
Interested in dropshipping or print-on-demand? Specialized courses cover these popular business models with actionable strategies.
Why Choose Shopify Academy?
While there are many courses that can help you establish and grow your online business, Shopify Academy deserves special attention for several compelling reasons:
| Feature | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Expert-Led Courses | Learn from legitimate experienced entrepreneurs who have built successful businesses |
| On-Demand Access | Schedule your learning according to your needs and time, learn at your own pace |
| Live Workshops | Get professional opinions and insights through interactive live sessions |
| Community Support | Get feedback, give advice, and learn from other entrepreneurs building online businesses |
| Completely Free | No cost to access any course, workshop, or community feature |
| No Technical Prerequisites | Courses built for learners without prior technical knowledge |
Step-by-Step Guide to Using Shopify Academy
Create Your Shopify Academy Account
Go to the Shopify Academy website and register for a new account. You do not need a Shopify store to start learning, but having one allows you to apply what you learn in real-time. The registration process is straightforward and takes only a few minutes.
Browse Available Courses
Explore the course catalog to find training relevant to your needs. Courses are organized by topic including Facebook Ads for Beginners, SEO Training, Instagram Marketing, Dropshipping, and Print-on-Demand. Each course shows the instructor, module count, and estimated completion time.
Navigate Course Structure
When you open a course, use the hamburger menu button in the top left corner for course navigation. This shows the complete course structure with modules and lessons. Courses are divided into modules, each dedicated to a specific topic or step in the learning process.
Watch Video Lessons
Video lessons are high quality both visually and audibly. Most courses include Closed Captions (CC) with English subtitles, helpful for non-native English speakers. Use the "Search Video" feature to search within the video transcript, making it easy to find specific topics discussed by the instructor.
Review Lesson Summaries and Resources
After each lesson, review the summary of key points to reinforce your understanding. Each lesson also ends with useful resources so you can learn more or access necessary tools. Take advantage of these recommended tools and templates to accelerate your learning.
Track Your Progress
Shopify Academy provides a neat tracking feature so you can monitor your progress across courses. Use this to identify completed lessons, track remaining modules, and plan your learning schedule effectively.
Join Live Workshops
Register for upcoming live workshops to get direct access to expert instructors. If you miss a live session, you can watch the recorded workshop. Workshops are held almost every month, keeping the content fresh and relevant to current ecommerce trends.
Engage with the Community
Participate in the Shopify Academy community to get feedback, share advice, and learn from other entrepreneurs. The community feature transforms one-way learning into collaborative knowledge sharing, helping you solve specific challenges with peer support.
Featured Course: Grow Your Business with Instagram
One of the standout courses on Shopify Academy is "Grow Your Business with Instagram" by Gretta van Riel, one of Australia's top young serial entrepreneurs. With 16 million combined followers on Instagram and $1M in ecommerce sales in a single day, Gretta brings real-world expertise to this comprehensive course.
Course Structure
The course is divided into four modules, each dedicated to a specific step in understanding Instagram with a business mindset. Before diving into the modules, Gretta provides an overview and instructions on setting up your Instagram business account and auditing your Instagram page.
| Module | Content |
|---|---|
| Module 1 | How to Build an Engaged Following on Instagram - Instagram algorithm fundamentals, engagement factors, relevancy, relationships, timeliness, and profile searches |
| Module 2 | Content Strategy and Optimization - Creating compelling content, posting schedules, and engagement tactics |
| Module 3 | Advanced Growth Techniques - Hashtag strategies, collaboration methods, and analytics interpretation |
| Module 4 | How to Make More Sales with Influencer Marketing - Macro vs micro-influencers, finding the right influencers, and workshop sessions with real entrepreneurs |
Pro Tip: Workshop Sessions
The most valuable part of each module is the workshop at the end where Gretta sits down with entrepreneurs from different businesses and business models to provide personalized advice and strategies. These real-world case studies are incredibly engaging and provide actionable insights you cannot get from theory alone.
Key Platform Features
Shopify Academy includes several features designed to enhance your learning experience:
High-Quality Video Production
Professional audio and video quality ensures clear learning. Closed captions available for accessibility and non-native English speakers.
Video Transcript Search
Search within video transcripts to quickly find specific topics or concepts discussed by instructors. Saves time when reviewing course material.
Lesson Summaries
Every lesson ends with a summary of key points, making it easier to retain information and review critical concepts before moving forward.
Resource Library
Access recommended tools, templates, and tutorials at the end of each lesson to apply what you have learned immediately.
Other Notable Courses
Beyond the Instagram course, Shopify Academy offers several other high-value courses taught by industry experts:
| Course | Instructor | Focus Area |
|---|---|---|
| Facebook Advertising | Ezra Firestone (CEO, Smart Marketer Inc.) | Beginner to advanced Facebook ad strategies |
| Dropshipping | Corey Ferreira | Complete dropshipping business model guide |
| Print-on-Demand | Adrian Morrison | Building a print-on-demand business from scratch |
| SEO Training for Beginners | Shopify Experts | Search engine optimization fundamentals |
Is Shopify Academy Still Relevant in 2026?
The short answer is yes. While the ecommerce world is constantly changing and you can find information across the internet, Shopify Academy remains valuable for several reasons:
Professional Knowledge: Basic knowledge provided by Shopify experts like Gretta van Riel is indeed valuable when you first embark on your ecommerce journey. The courses are taught by practitioners who have built real, successful businesses, not just theorists.
Regular Updates: Shopify Academy offers workshops almost every month, which keeps the content engaging and relevant to current trends. As your business grows, you can proceed with more advanced courses covering topics like branding, marketing strategy, and shipping and fulfillment.
Structured Learning Path: Unlike scattered internet resources, Shopify Academy provides a structured curriculum with clear progression from beginner to advanced topics. The course format with summaries and resources after each lesson ensures you retain and can apply what you learn.
Important: Supplement with Current Resources
While Shopify Academy provides excellent foundational knowledge, ecommerce trends and platform features change rapidly. Supplement your academy learning with current blog posts, community forums, and the latest platform documentation to stay up to date with the most recent changes and best practices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Shopify Academy free to use?
Yes, Shopify Academy is completely free. All courses, workshops, and community features are available at no cost to help entrepreneurs at any stage of their ecommerce journey.
Do I need a Shopify store to use Shopify Academy?
No, you do not need a Shopify store to start learning. However, it is recommended to create one so you can apply what you learn in real-time as you progress through the courses.
Who teaches the courses on Shopify Academy?
Courses are taught by industry leaders and real-world entrepreneurs like Gretta van Riel (16M Instagram followers), Ezra Firestone (CEO of Smart Marketer), and Corey Ferreira, all of whom have built successful ecommerce businesses.
How often are new courses and workshops added?
Shopify Academy offers live workshops almost every month, with recordings available afterward. New courses and updated content are added regularly to keep pace with ecommerce trends and platform changes.
What topics does Shopify Academy cover?
Shopify Academy covers store setup, Facebook advertising, Instagram marketing, SEO, dropshipping, print-on-demand, product photography, branding, marketing strategy, and shipping and fulfillment.
Need Help Building Your Shopify Store?
Our experts can help you implement what you learn from Shopify Academy, customize your store, and optimize your ecommerce strategy for maximum conversions.