Shopify Problems & Issues
Real user-reported problems, complaints, and limitations for Shopify. Based on analysis of 12 signals.
Overall score: 62/100
Issues by Category
Transaction fees on top of monthly subscription
Shopify charges 2.5-2.9% + 30¢ per transaction on credit cards. Additional 0.6-2% fee if using third-party payment gateways. Combined with monthly plans ($29-299), total costs add up quickly for high-volume stores.
Essential features locked behind expensive apps
Many basic functions outsourced to third-party apps that cost extra monthly. Premium apps needed to unlock features stores need. App costs stack up quickly - some merchants pay more in apps than base subscription.
No refunds on fees when orders are cancelled
Shopify no longer refunds transaction fees when orders are cancelled or refunded. This represents huge cost to vendors dealing with returns. Policy change hit merchants without warning.
Chargebacks favor customers - merchants lose goods AND money
Merchants report chargebacks being accepted with funds permanently withdrawn plus additional fees. Customers keep goods and money. Shopify blames banks, payment processors blame Shopify. No real appeal path for merchants.
Data and reporting issues - conversion rates often wrong
Shopify not transparent about uptimes and outages. Platform has issues with basic data and calculations - conversion rates often off by significant amounts. Month-end inventory snapshots take up to 2 weeks to display.
Trustpilot rating 1.5/5 vs G2 4.4/5 - massive discrepancy
Shopify has 4.4/5 on G2 but dismal 1.5/5 on Trustpilot with 86% 1-star reviews. The contrast suggests significant issues with actual merchant experiences vs curated review platforms.
Phone support discontinued in 2025 - AI chatbot barriers
Shopify discontinued phone support in Spring 2025. Users must now convince an AI chatbot to speak to a human. Support described as 'unbelievably bad' even for merchants paying hundreds monthly. Small businesses have no recourse when locked out.
Years-old issues remain unresolved
Some issues have persisted for years without resolution from Shopify. Tech support wait times are long. Unless on highest tier plan ($299+), merchants are effectively abandoned when problems arise.
Limited customization without expensive development
Deeper checkout and backend customization limited unless on higher plans or using custom development. Advanced features like tax/customs calculations locked behind $299/month tier. B2B needs require extensive workarounds.
Inventory management is clunky and limited
Inventory control experience needs improvement - described as very limited and clunky. Updates move features to different areas without notification. Users request emails when changes are made to interface.
No due diligence on merchants - fraud concerns
Shopify conducts no due diligence on its merchants and has no accountability. Consumers report unvetted merchants, potential fraud, non-delivery, and incorrect items with no support when things go wrong.
Social media connectivity could be improved
Users report being less satisfied with social media connectivity. Platform lacks beginner guides in simple terms. AI improvements requested to make things easier. Social selling features need work.
Regret Patterns
Common reasons users regret choosing Shopify.
Transaction fees and app costs exceeded expectations
Signed up for $29/mo Basic plan expecting affordable e-commerce. After transaction fees (2.9% + 30¢ per sale) and 5 essential apps, actual monthly cost exceeded $250. Should have calculated true costs upfront.
Needed support but phone support was discontinued
Critical issue with store affecting sales. Tried to get help but phone support discontinued. Spent hours with AI chatbot before reaching human. Issue took days to resolve. Lost significant revenue during downtime.
Lost money on chargebacks with no recourse
Customer filed chargeback after receiving product. Shopify sided with customer, took funds plus $15 fee. Customer kept product and money. No real appeal process. Realized Shopify protects itself, not merchants.
Discovered no fee refunds on cancelled orders
High return rate business. Discovered Shopify keeps transaction fees on refunded/cancelled orders. Policy changed without clear notification. Lost thousands in fees on orders that didn't complete.
Outgrew Basic plan but Advanced too expensive
Business grew and needed features like duties calculation. These locked behind $299/mo Advanced plan. Gap between $79 Grow and $299 Advanced too large. Stuck paying for apps to fill gaps.
Migrated from Shopify to WooCommerce for control
Needed customizations Shopify couldn't provide without expensive Plus plan. Migrated to WooCommerce. Lost Shopify app investments but gained full control. Wish had started with WooCommerce.
When Shopify Breaks Down
Specific scenarios where Shopify fails or underperforms.
Urgent issue needs support but phone removed
Since Spring 2025, phone support is gone. AI chatbot barriers delay reaching humans. Critical store issues may take days to resolve. Only Plus users ($2,300+/mo) get priority support.
Chargeback filed against merchant
Chargebacks often favor customers regardless of evidence. Merchants lose product, money, and pay $15 fee. Shopify offers no real appeal process. Structural problem with merchant protection.
High return rate business model
Shopify doesn't refund transaction fees on cancelled/refunded orders. Businesses with returns like fashion lose significant money on fees for incomplete transactions. Consider platforms with better policies.
Growing business needs advanced features
Essential features like duties/taxes calculation locked behind $299/mo Advanced plan. Gap between tiers forces either overpaying or using expensive app workarounds.
Need deep customization or checkout modifications
Checkout customization only available on Plus ($2,300+/mo). Backend modifications require developers. Shopify's closed platform limits what you can change without massive investment.
Third-party payment gateway required
Using non-Shopify payment gateway adds 0.6-2% extra fee per transaction. International merchants without Shopify Payments access face significant extra costs.