Ever stumbled upon a sleek online store and wondered, “Is this a Shopify store?” Whether you’re seeking design inspiration, analyzing competitors, or simply curious about the technology behind a website, there are telltale signs that can reveal if a site is powered by Shopify. 

In this guide, we’ll explore 10 easy ways to tell if a website is using Shopify. Get ready to become a Shopify detective, and let’s get started!

Why Is It Important To Know If A Website Is Built With Shopify?

Identifying whether a website is built with Shopify can be surprisingly valuable for a variety of reasons:

• Understanding Platform Capabilities: Knowing that a site uses Shopify helps in understanding Shopify’s features, integrations, and limitations.
• Platform Comparison: For web developers or businesses planning to launch an online store, identifying Shopify-built websites allows them to assess how Shopify compares to other eCommerce platforms.
• Competitive Analysis: Knowing which platform your competitors use can provide insights into their technology stack, marketing strategies, and potential strengths or weaknesses.
• Theme and Design Inspiration: Recognizing that a website is using Shopify helps web designers or developers explore the design trends, user experience flows, and conversion-focused layouts in the Shopify theme ecosystem.
• Access to Shopify Apps and Tools: Knowing that a website is built on Shopify gives you an idea of what tools or apps they may be using to optimize their store (e.g., for SEO, social proof, customer engagement), which can provide inspiration for your store.
• Marketing and SEO Insights: Shopify handles SEO in specific ways, such as URL structures and mobile optimization. By knowing that a website uses Shopify, digital marketers can assess SEO performance and marketing strategies, like cart abandonment tools or email marketing integrations.
• Customer Experience: Evaluating a Shopify website can give insights into the potential customer experience and purchasing flow, helping businesses improve their own sites.
• Troubleshooting and Support: If you’re experiencing issues with your own Shopify store, identifying similar stores can help you find solutions or connect with merchants facing similar challenges.

How To Know If A Website Is Shopify: Basic Methods

If you’re trying to determine whether Shopify powers a website, there are several easy ways to do so. Here’s a breakdown of basic methods to check if a site is built on Shopify:

Check the Website URL

One of the easiest and most direct ways to identify a Shopify store is by looking at the website’s URL. When a store is set up on Shopify, it is given a default URL structure that includes the myshopify.com subdomain.

Look at the URL in your browser’s address bar. If the URL follows the format storename.myshopify.com, the website is undoubtedly a Shopify store.

However, keep in mind that many Shopify stores use custom domains, so this method isn’t foolproof.

View the Website Footer

Many Shopify stores display a “Powered by Shopify” message in the footer section. This message typically appears in stores that use one of Shopify’s default themes or have not removed the branding. 

Scroll down to the bottom of the webpage and check the footer section for any mention of Shopify. Look for phrases like “Powered by Shopify” or “Built with Shopify.” If this text is present, the site is likely running on Shopify.

However, please note that more advanced stores often customize or remove this element from their footer.

Add /admin After the URL

Shopify stores have a unique login system that allows store owners to access their store’s admin dashboard. The admin login page for any Shopify store is located by appending /admin to the end of the website’s URL. If the store uses Shopify, this URL will redirect to the Shopify login page.

In your browser, add /admin to the end of the URL of the website you want to check. For example, if the site is https://yourstore.com, go to https://yourstore.com/admin. If it redirects to a Shopify login page, the website is built on Shopify.

Analyze the Website URL Structure

Shopify stores typically use a consistent URL structure with specific keywords, such as “collections,” “products,” and “pages.” If you come across a URL like https://www.examplestore.com/products/product-name, the presence of the “products” keyword points to a Shopify-built site.

Use Avada’s Shopify Theme Detector

Avada’s Shopify Theme Detector is a free tool that can quickly identify the theme used by a Shopify store. It allows you to input the website’s URL and check whether it’s using a Shopify theme and which one it is in a matter of seconds. 

If the tool shows you that the website you want to check uses a Shopify theme, then that store is built with Shopify. 

This tool can be helpful not only for identifying Shopify stores but also for discovering the theme a store uses, which can give you insights into your store’s design choices.

Look for Shopify’s Default Checkout

Shopify’s checkout process has some distinctive features that can reveal whether a website is using the platform. Shopify checkout pages often include specific buttons, such as “Continue to Shipping” and “Continue to Payment,” along with a structured, minimal design.

To check it, add a product to the cart and proceed to checkout. If the checkout page contains Shopify-specific elements like the “Continue to Shipping” and “Continue to Payment” buttons, or a simple, two-step process for shipping and payment, the website is using Shopify’s checkout system.

Ask The Owner Via The Contact Information

If you’re still uncertain after trying the other methods, one straightforward approach is to contact the website owner directly. Many e-commerce websites have a Contact Us page or a support email where you can inquire about the platform they are using. This can be especially useful if you’re trying to learn more about the website for collaboration or competitive analysis purposes.

How To Check If A Website Is Using Shopify: Advanced Methods

Right-click and Inspect Element

One of the most reliable ways to check if a website uses Shopify is through the browser’s “Inspect” tool to examine the HTML and other resources loaded on the page. 

Right-click anywhere on the website and select “Inspect” (or press Ctrl + Shift + I on Windows or Cmd + Option + I on Mac).

What to Look For:

• Mentions of Shopify in the code: Search for terms like “Shopify” or “cdn.shopify.com” by using the Ctrl + F search function within the inspect panel.
• Shopify-specific classes or assets: Look for links to Shopify’s CSS files, often ending in “/assets/shopify.css” or other asset files served from Shopify’s CDN (e.g., “cdn.shopify.com”).

Check Whois Lookup

Performing a Whois lookup can give you additional information about the website’s hosting provider, which may indicate if it’s using Shopify. Websites built on Shopify may display “Shopify Inc.” as the registrant or have Shopify-related details in the domain information.

To do a Whois lookup, use online tools like Whois.com or ICANN Lookup. Simply enter the website’s URL, and the tool will display information like the hosting provider and registration details.

Use Browser Extensions & Online Tools

Several browser extensions and online tools can quickly detect if a website is using Shopify.

• Wappalyzer: A popular browser extension that identifies the platform used to build a website, including Shopify. Once installed, click the extension icon while on the website, and it will display Shopify if detected.
• BuiltWith: An online tool that provides information about the platform used by a website, including whether it’s powered by Shopify.

How To Tell If A Website Is Shopify: Additional Considerations

While there are various methods to check if a website is using Shopify, there are additional factors that can complicate the process. Here are some important considerations to keep in mind:

• Customizations: Some Shopify stores undergo heavy customizations, such as unique themes or personalized coding, making them harder to recognize. These changes can obscure typical Shopify features like the URL structure or checkout page, creating a distinct user experience that resembles a different platform.
• Third-Party Apps: Shopify’s vast app ecosystem lets store owners modify their site’s layout, checkout, and other elements. These modifications can hide Shopify’s default features, making it harder to identify the platform.
• False Positives/Negatives: No method for identifying a Shopify site is 100% foolproof, so there may occasionally be mistakes when identifying Shopify sites, especially with highly customized or modified stores.
• Confusion with Other Platforms: Other eCommerce platforms, like BigCommerce or WooCommerce, share similar design elements and checkout flows, leading to confusion. Custom domains and third-party payment gateways can also obscure platform identification, making it important to use multiple methods for verification.

Bottom Line

Identifying whether a website is built on Shopify is easier than you might think. By using these 10 methods, from inspecting the site’s code to leveraging online tools, you now know how to tell if Shopify is behind the platform. Whether you’re looking to gain insights as a business owner or simply out of curiosity, these steps will help you confidently recognize Shopify-powered sites with ease.

FAQs

Can a Shopify website hide its platform?

While Shopify websites can customize their appearance and structure to a great extent, it’s challenging to hide all traces of the platform. Even with advanced customizations, certain telltale signs like Shopify’s CDN URLs or its default checkout page layout often remain visible, making it possible to identify Shopify-based stores with the right tools.

Is there a difference between Shopify Plus and regular Shopify sites in terms of detection?

Shopify Plus, the enterprise version of Shopify, shares the same underlying architecture as regular Shopify sites. This means that even though Shopify Plus sites may have more advanced features and customizations, they can still be detected using the same methods as regular Shopify sites, such as checking the code for Shopify assets or using tools like Wappalyzer.

Can Shopify stores have custom domain names?

Yes, Shopify allows stores to use custom domains, which may hide the platform’s default “.myshopify.com” URL. However, other clues such as Shopify’s CDN URLs or a checkout page with “/checkouts/” in the URL structure can still reveal that the site is built on Shopify, even if the domain is customized.

Does Shopify have a default checkout page format?

Yes, Shopify’s checkout page has a distinctive format and URL structure, often including “checkout.shopify.com” or “/checkouts/”. While stores can customize the design of the checkout process, the underlying structure remains recognizable, making it one of the easiest ways to identify a Shopify website.

Can I identify a Shopify store by looking at the payment options?

Shopify stores typically offer a wide range of payment gateways, including Shopify Payments, PayPal, and credit card options. Although payment gateways alone may not confirm a website is using Shopify, the combination of multiple gateway options and the typical Shopify checkout flow (especially with Shopify Payments) can serve as a clue.