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If you were searching for online business opportunities, you might’ve watched a YouTube video about starting an online store on Shopify and asked yourself: “Does Shopify host websites?” Or, “How much does it cost to start an online store on Shopify?!” Well, fortunately for you, this is what I’m about to share with you!
In short, Shopify will act as your cloud-hosted e-commerce solution. This will allow you to easily create a professional-looking store, display your products and take payments from your customers from as low as $29/month.
In this article, we are going to discuss exactly what Shopify is used for, what it does, and how you can leverage this platform to start your very own online business!
If you find this post inspiring and useful, share it with your friends, please! (Virtual high fives and awkward hugs to all my sharers out there!)
Shopify Hosting
To start an online store, you obviously need a company to host your website. And when it comes to eCommerce website hosting, there are two main options available for you; Shopify or a self-hosted website on WordPress using a viable web hosting like Bluehost.
So, what makes Shopify a better option for selling online? Let’s figure out this together.
Where Is Shopify Hosted?
Shopify is hosted on the clouds! It’s a cloud-hosted company that is located in the USA, and while all the data centers are in the USA, most of the actual website content will be hosted on their content delivery network (CDN). The thing that will boost your website’s speed and performance for all customers, no matter where they are located in the world!
Does Shopify Host Your Site?
Yes, it does! Shopify will act as your eCommerce hosting solution and host your website on the cloud. This will allow you to start an online storefront with little to no coding or technical skills, sell your products online, and take payments from your customers. In short, it’s an all-in-one eCommerce platform!
20 Advantages & Benefits Of Shopify Hosting
- Blazing fast servers
- Hassle-free setup
- Super beginner-friendly
- Any domain name
- Free themes
- Higher scalability
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Level 1 PCI compliance
- Content delivery network
- Instant updates
- Unlimited email forwarding
- Awesome reporting system
- Low barrier to entry
- Trusted by over 1,000,000 sellers
- Affordable subscription packages
- Supportive of the dropshipping model
- Drag and drop easy to use website builder
- No crash on big events like Black Friday
- Capable of handling your marketing, sales, and payments
- A variety of apps and tools to increase the features and functionalities
Related: Is Shopify For Dropshipping Only? (You Need To Know This!)
How Many Websites Does Shopify Host?
There’s no exact number of how many websites Shopify hosts at the moment! But, as seen on the Shopify homepage, there are over 1,000,000 businesses in 175 countries around the world that have made over $200 billion USD in sales using Shopify.
Shopify Hosting Cost
When starting your online store, knowing your Shopify hosting cost will help you study the cost of each opportunity you have, so you can pick the most viable option for you and for your business!
How Much Does It Cost To Host A Website On Shopify?
The average cost of hosting a website on Shopify is $29 per month! Shopify has three different subscription plans, but the basic plan of $29/month could be more than enough, especially if you’re just starting out. Also, you can always upgrade as you go along and as your business grows, with no obligations!
Shopify’s paid subscription packages are:
- Basic Shopify – $29/month
- Shopify – $79/month
- Advanced Shopify – $299/month
Each of the above plans has its own features, functionalities, and fees! This ultimate Shopify pricing guide will come in handy if you want to learn more about each plan’s features.
It has an infrastructure and panel that are easy to use, and an innovative drag-and-drop page builder that allows you to create the store of your dreams without any technical experience.
Everything within the platform is customizable, from integrating your own domain name to adding a professional theme, and everything in between.
Yup, Shopify hosting is costlier than most regular web hosting companies like Bluehost, but it has everything you literally need to start selling online, anywhere.
Shopify Domain-Related Questions
Does Shopify Host Domain Names?
Yes, it does! Shopify will act as a host for your domain and for your online store, and it makes it easy for you to set up an unlimited number of forwarding email addresses to the destination of your choice (ex. sales@yourdomain.com).
Related: Does Shopify Give You A Domain? (A Quick Illustrated Guide)
Can I Host Shopify On My Own Server?
Since Shopify is web-based eCommerce software and a self-hosted solution, you can’t host it on your own server or download and install it on your local PC! By leveraging Shopify, you need no other hosting services or servers, as your website will be hosted on their servers with unlimited bandwidth!
Should I Buy My Domain Through Shopify?
When you buy a domain name through Shopify, the cost would slightly be higher than purchasing one through an external domain registrar like Namecheap and integrating it manually! But, the configuration and setup are completely automated. You can also use email forwarding, manage subdomains, and add international domains.
The average cost of domains on Namecheap is $8.88, or you can find unique deals from as low as a dollar sometimes, but you would need to configure it yourself and adjust the DNS records with your Shopify store manually.
A Shopify hosting domain, on the other hand, involves an average cost of $15-$18, but the setup, configuration, and integration are done for you!
How To Transfer A Domain To Shopify
To transfer a domain to Shopify, you need to go to your Shopify panel, click online store in the left menu, and then Domains. Here’s a full tutorial by Shopify on how to do that!
Conclusion
It’s obvious that each new website or store needs web hosting. By going with an eCommerce solution like Shopify, you will be able to kickstart your business with no hassle.
Today, questions like “Does Shopify host websites?” are becoming asked more frequently as more people are flocking towards starting online businesses to replace their sucky jobs.
Shopify is a solid company and it literally has everything you may need to start selling online, everywhere. Whether it’s a physical product, digital product, or service, Shopify has something to serve your business with.
If you want to learn how you can start your very own Shopify store without paying big bucks to some “guru”, I’ve created for you a FREE 8-video mini-course to educate you exactly on that.
Grab your Shopify 14-day free trial and follow along with me to the course. See you there 🙂
I hope that this post has added something to your knowledge. If so, share it with your friends, please! (Virtual high fives and awkward hugs to all my sharers out there!)
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Cheers,
Odeh Ahwal
