Table of contents
How we vet every listicle
Every agency featured on Web Tonic passes our 84-point editorial review before a single listicle goes live. This is how we vet each pick:
Verified client outcomes: We require real case studies with measurable KPIs — revenue, ROAS, CPA, retention — tied to the exact category being ranked. No cherry-picked wins, no unverifiable numbers.
Independent reputation: We cross-check Clutch, Google, G2, and Trustpilot ratings, and screen for review-bombing or suspicious patterns. Only operators with a consistent, verifiable track record make the cut.
Beyond that, every listing goes through a quarterly re-audit. We check 84 criteria across 6 pillars to make sure it still holds up — here are some of the checks we run:
A Shopify development agency designs, builds and maintains stores on Shopify and Shopify Plus. The work spans theme and section development, custom apps and checkout extensions, and headless storefronts built on Hydrogen for brands needing full front-end control. A large share of engagements are replatform migrations from Magento or WooCommerce that must protect catalogue data and search rankings, and most relationships continue afterwards as retainers covering conversion work and speed engineering.
We compared 21 agencies on verifiable signals: named clients, published case-study metrics, disclosed offices and whether pricing appears anywhere public. Sixteen of the 20 external agencies name clients but only 5 publish a rate, so we report the gap.
Which Shopify development agency fits your build?
It tracks your complexity. Domaine, Diff and SDG take enterprise Plus builds and brand-led replatforms; Arctic Grey, Avex and Electric Eye handle mid-market theme and app work; Fuel Made, Netalico and Blue Stout suit retainer-led ongoing development and conversion engineering.
1. SDG
About: SDG has been Shopify's enterprise partner since the platform's earliest days in 2006, building for brands like Apple, Netflix, Gap, and Barnes & Noble. It specializes in large-catalog enterprise replatforms and mission-critical builds that most agencies decline. Its differentiator is two decades of unbroken platform tenure and Shopify's own Platinum Partner endorsement for the most complex enterprise rescues.
Key Services: Enterprise Shopify Plus development, Zero-downtime replatforming, Headless & composable commerce (Hydrogen/Oxygen), Systems & data integration (ERP/OMS/PIM/CRM), UX design & design systems, Post-launch analytics, SEO, and CRO
Industries Served: Retail & apparel, Beauty, Media & entertainment, Consumer electronics, B2B distribution
Notable Clients: Apple, Netflix, Gap, Barnes & Noble, Glossier
Locations: New York, USA, Remote (distributed team)
Pricing: No public rate card; quoted per scope
Great For: Enterprise retailers, Global multi-brand groups, Complex catalog migrations
Website: SDG
2. Web Tonic
About: Web Tonic builds Shopify storefronts for brands it also runs acquisition for, which changes what gets prioritised: page speed, landing page flexibility and clean tracking come before decorative animation. The team handles theme and section development, replatform migrations and post-launch conversion work, then hands the store to the same people buying its traffic. For deep enterprise integration programmes across ERP and PIM estates, the specialist commerce engineering firms below carry more bench, and we will tell you when that is the honest answer.
Key Services: Growth Marketing, Paid Social, PPC, Meta Ads, SEO, Google Ads, Snapchat Ads, Amazon Ads, Reddit Ads, TikTok Ads, TikTok Shop, GEO-AEO, Webflow Design, Shopify Design, WordPress Design, UGC, Social Media Management, Pay Per Click Management, Marketing Analytics, Analytics Implementation & CDPs, Performance Branding, Performance 360° Audit, Programmatic Ads, OOH Ads, HR Marketing
Industries Served: eCommerce, SaaS, B2B, Construction Professionals, Home Services, SMEs, Health Spa & Wellness, Retail, Legal & Judicial Services, Food & Beverages, Pets, Fitness, Family & Children, Finance & Insurance, Travel, Non-Profits & Organizations, Furniture & Decoration
Notable Clients: WorldRemit, Jack & Jones, Ardene, L'Oréal, Sendwave, Nestlé, Airbnb. Serve Fortune 500 companies and smaller fast-paced startups.
Locations: HQ in San Francisco with notable offices in New York, Chicago, Miami, Toronto, Montreal, Dubai, Singapore, Sydney and more. Offices on five continents.
Pricing: Starting at USD $3,000 per month. Flexible and scalable plans at any time according to your enterprise needs. Book a call to learn more.
Great For: Mid-market to enterprise-level businesses requiring ongoing, on-tap growth and performance marketing services.
Website: Web Tonic
3. Diff
About: Diff calls itself Shopify's longest-standing partner agency and focuses on high-performing commerce experiences for established brands. It blends design and development under one roof rather than handing off between disciplines. Recent work includes unifying nine separate storefronts for Rocky Brands into a single Shopify Plus operation.
Key Services: Shopify Plus design & development, UX strategy, Custom backend integrations, Multi-storefront consolidation, Digital strategy, Conversion-focused redesigns
Industries Served: Footwear & apparel, Consumer goods, Outdoor & lifestyle, Multi-brand retail groups, DTC
Notable Clients: Rocky Brands
Locations: United States, Remote (distributed team)
Pricing: No public rate card; quoted per scope
Great For: Multi-brand retail groups, Established DTC brands, Storefront consolidation projects
Website: Diff
4. Domaine
About: Domaine was formed by the 2023 merger of Tomorrow Agency and Half Helix and calls itself the world's largest independent Shopify design and development practice. It specializes in large-scale replatform migrations (including from Salesforce Commerce Cloud) and unified commerce systems for global brands. The agency reports 750+ Shopify sites launched and over $5B in GMV across its portfolio.
Key Services: Enterprise Shopify Plus migrations, Multi-brand architecture, Internationalization & Shopify Markets, CRO & personalization, SEO competitive audits, Agentic commerce / AI search optimization
Industries Served: Jewelry & accessories, Furniture & home, Fashion & apparel, Beauty, Enterprise multi-brand retail
Notable Clients: Timex, Arhaus, Ulla Johnson, r.e.m. beauty, Fresh Cut Paper
Locations: New York, USA, Los Angeles, USA, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Pricing: No public rate card; quoted per scope
Great For: Enterprise replatforms from SFCC/Magento, Global multi-brand retailers, Furniture & home enterprise brands
Website: Domaine
5. Arctic Grey
About: Arctic Grey is a multi-award-winning Shopify Plus design and development firm that has supported more than 1,000 Shopify stores across D2C, B2B, wholesale, and POS. It sells both full custom builds and an on-demand 'Bulk Hours' model for smaller design/dev tasks, and reports over $5.5 billion in online sales generated for merchants. Case studies include unifying Lids' multi-brand retail footprint on Shopify.
Key Services: Custom Shopify theme design, New store development, Figma-to-Shopify builds, Platform migrations (BigCommerce, NetSuite, WooCommerce, Salesforce, Magento), ERP integrations, CRO & A/B testing
Industries Served: Sporting goods & headwear, Fashion, Wholesale & B2B, POS/omnichannel retail, DTC
Notable Clients: Lids
Locations: United States, Remote (distributed team)
Pricing: On-demand 'Bulk Hours' packages | quoted per scope for full builds
Great For: Multi-brand retailers, Migration-heavy projects, Merchants needing on-demand dev hours
Website: Arctic Grey
6. Avex Designs
About: Avex is a NYC-based Shopify Plus agency that pairs ecommerce technology modernization with retention marketing and growth strategy. It works across strategy, design, engineering, and CRM/CRO for brands scaling past their existing tech stack. Named clients span AriZona Beverages, KHAITE, quip, Equinox, FILA, and TYR.
Key Services: Shopify Plus migrations, UX optimization & CRO, Systems integrations, Retention marketing & loyalty, Subscription strategy, Technical assessments
Industries Served: Beauty & fashion, Fitness & wellness, Beverage, Consumer electronics, Sporting goods
Notable Clients: AriZona Beverages, KHAITE, quip, Equinox, FILA
Locations: New York, USA, Remote (distributed team)
Pricing: No public rate card; quoted per scope
Great For: Fashion & beauty DTC brands, Brands needing retention + dev together, Legacy stack modernization
Website: Avex Designs
7. Netalico
About: Netalico is a Miami-based Shopify Plus Premier Partner that positions itself as a hands-on, merchant-focused development partner rather than a high-churn vendor. It builds and migrates stores on Shopify Plus, BigCommerce, and Magento, and was featured in Shopify's enterprise blog for AI-assisted migration work. Its named clients include Oatly, Feetures, and Big Green Egg.
Key Services: Shopify Plus development, UX strategy, Platform migrations, Technical debt remediation, Ongoing optimization retainers, International & hospitality commerce
Industries Served: Food & beverage, Hospitality & luxury, Footwear & apparel, Outdoor & home goods, International commerce
Notable Clients: Oatly, Feetures, Big Green Egg
Locations: Miami, USA, Remote (distributed team)
Pricing: No public rate card; quoted per scope
Great For: Brands with technical debt to fix, Food & beverage DTC, International/hospitality brands
Website: Netalico
8. Shero Commerce
About: Shero Commerce is a Shopify Premier Partner founded in 2009-2010 that focuses on complex Shopify Plus builds — B2B/DTC hybrid commerce, ERP/OMS/CRM integration, and performance optimization. It has built hybrid B2B and DTC operations on Shopify since before Shopify Plus had native B2B features. Named clients include Archer Roose, Swag Golf, STX, and Regal Cinemas.
Key Services: Shopify Plus development, B2B commerce & wholesale portals, ERP/OMS/PIM integration, Custom apps & API development, Shopify SEO & AEO, Conversion rate optimization
Industries Served: Sporting goods, Wine & beverage, Entertainment & cinema, Manufacturing & distribution, B2B wholesale
Notable Clients: Archer Roose, Swag Golf, STX, Regal Cinemas
Locations: Red Hook, New York, USA, Finland (remote presence)
Pricing: No public rate card; quoted per scope
Great For: B2B/DTC hybrid operators, Manufacturers & distributors, Complex ERP integration projects
Website: Shero Commerce
9. Praella
About: Praella is a Great Place to Work-certified, award-winning Shopify Plus agency that shifted from Magento/WooCommerce/BigCommerce work to become Shopify-exclusive after Shopify Plus launched. It focuses on lifecycle revenue optimization, UX/app development, and long-running strategic partnerships rather than one-off projects. It reports 1,000+ projects launched and clients including Crunch Labs, Billie Eilish Fragrances, BattlBox, and TULA Skincare.
Key Services: Shopify Plus design & development, Web and app development, Systems integrations (NetSuite, IFS), B2B accelerator programs, Lifecycle revenue optimization, Strategy & growth consulting
Industries Served: Beauty & skincare, Subscription boxes, Fitness, Entertainment & toys, B2B/wholesale
Notable Clients: Crunch Labs, Billie Eilish Fragrances, BattlBox, TULA Skincare, Wahoo Fitness
Locations: United States, Remote (distributed team)
Pricing: No public rate card; quoted per scope
Great For: Subscription & DTC brands, Beauty brands needing lifecycle CRM, Long-term retainer relationships
Website: Praella
10. Blue Stout
About: Blue Stout describes itself as the longest-standing CRO-focused firm in the Shopify Plus Partner program, combining conversion analysts, brand designers, and Shopify Plus engineers. Since 2011 it has designed, launched, and supported eight-figure ecommerce brands, with a Speck Shopify Plus migration among its published case studies. Its work centers on pairing data-driven A/B testing with design and development rather than treating them separately.
Key Services: Conversion rate optimization, Shopify Plus design & development, A/B testing programs, Brand-focused UX design, Platform migrations, User research
Industries Served: Consumer electronics accessories, DTC apparel, 8-figure ecommerce brands, Health & wellness, Lifestyle
Notable Clients: Speck
Locations: United States, Remote (distributed team)
Pricing: No public rate card; quoted per scope
Great For: 8-figure brands wanting CRO-led design, Migration + optimization combined, Data-driven design teams
Website: Blue Stout
11. Electric Eye
About: Electric Eye is a boutique, performance-driven Shopify Plus agency based in Columbus, Ohio, founded in 2016 as one of the earliest Shopify Experts in the region. It focuses on design, development, and ongoing optimization for DTC brands rather than one-and-done launches, and migrated Giordano's DTC site off a legacy platform. Shopify's own partner directory highlights its clear, defined process for Plus merchants.
Key Services: Shopify theme design & development, Platform migrations, Data-driven optimization, Ongoing site support, Custom Shopify apps, Speed & performance tuning
Industries Served: Food & restaurant DTC, Apparel, Consumer goods, Regional retail chains, DTC startups
Notable Clients: Giordano's
Locations: Columbus, Ohio, USA, Remote (distributed team)
Pricing: No public rate card; quoted per scope
Great For: Boutique/independent brands, Regional retail chains migrating to DTC, Ongoing optimization retainers
Website: Electric Eye
12. Groove Commerce
About: Groove Commerce is a full-service ecommerce agency founded in 2007 offering design, development, SEO, PPC, and email/SMS under one roof for Shopify, Shopify Plus, BigCommerce, and Magento merchants. It positions itself against 'siloed agencies' by cross-training its team across disciplines. A published case study shows a +25% Shopify revenue lift for children's apparel brand Bonnie Jean through managed services.
Key Services: eCommerce design, Shopify development, B2B ecommerce solutions, eCommerce SEO, Email & SMS marketing, Site support & maintenance
Industries Served: Children's apparel, B2B distribution, Consumer goods, Multi-platform retailers, DTC
Notable Clients: Bonnie Jean
Locations: United States, Remote (distributed team)
Pricing: No public rate card; quoted per scope
Great For: Brands wanting dev + marketing in one team, B2B ecommerce operators, Managed-services support contracts
Website: Groove Commerce
13. Silk Commerce
About: Silk Commerce (rebranded from Silk Software in 2023) is an Irvine, California-based agency founded in 2007 that builds on Shopify Plus, Adobe Commerce, and BigCommerce for B2B manufacturers, distributors, and DTC brands. It leans into AI-era commerce tooling including its own ShopHive and Portl products alongside traditional development and CRO services. Client testimonials on-site include Gildan and TireHub.
Key Services: Shopify Plus development, Web design, Conversion rate optimization, B2B marketplace builds, Digital transformation consulting, TikTok Shop integration
Industries Served: Apparel manufacturing, Automotive parts & tires, B2B distribution, Global expansion brands, Manufacturing
Notable Clients: Gildan, TireHub
Locations: Irvine, California, USA, Remote team (US, China, Malaysia, Hong Kong)
Pricing: No public rate card; quoted per scope
Great For: B2B manufacturers & distributors, Brands expanding globally, Multi-platform comparisons (Shopify vs Adobe Commerce)
Website: Silk Commerce
14. Elogic Commerce
About: Elogic Commerce is a 2009-founded agency with deep production experience across both Shopify Plus and Adobe Commerce, which it uses to give merchants an honest platform comparison rather than a one-platform pitch. Its Shopify Plus practice centers on B2B native features, ERP integration (NetSuite, SAP S/4HANA, Microsoft Dynamics 365), and Shopify Markets rollouts. A named case study, the PetHQ wholesale portal, serves 1,400+ wholesale users and added $1.1M in new B2B revenue in year one.
Key Services: Shopify Plus B2B development, ERP integration (NetSuite, SAP, Dynamics), Platform migrations (Adobe Commerce/BigCommerce to Shopify Plus), Custom app & checkout extension development, Internationalization & Shopify Markets, Ecommerce architecture audits
Industries Served: Pet products & wholesale, Manufacturing, B2B distribution, Multi-market international brands, Enterprise B2B
Notable Clients: PetHQ
Locations: United States, Remote (distributed team)
Pricing: No public rate card; quoted per scope
Great For: Wholesale/B2B portal builds, ERP-heavy enterprise projects, Multi-platform migration decisions
Website: Elogic Commerce
15. Envision.io
About: Envision.io is a small, founder-led Shopify agency that has built Shopify websites for more than a decade, working with hundreds of store owners on design, migrations, and ongoing optimization retainers. It positions itself as more than an order-taker, pushing back with creative suggestions to find growth opportunities clients didn't ask for. It is a Shopify Select Partner and names testimonial clients including Wiley's Wish, Matriark Foods, and Yellow Leaf Hammocks.
Key Services: Shopify store design & build, Migrate-to-Shopify services, Optimization & support retainers, Conversion rate optimization, Technical SEO, Ongoing store support
Industries Served: Food & beverage, Home goods, Outdoor & lifestyle, Small-to-mid DTC brands, Nonprofits/social enterprise
Notable Clients: Wiley's Wish, Matriark Foods, Yellow Leaf Hammocks, Forni, ACTIVÍA Products
Locations: United States, Remote (distributed team)
Pricing: No public rate card; quoted per scope
Great For: Small-to-mid DTC brands, First-time Shopify migrations, Brands wanting a hands-on founder-led team
Website: Envision.io
16. We Are Underground
About: We Are Underground has worked with Shopify since 2008 and is best known as a premium Shopify theme developer, with themes like Testament, Fashionopolism, and Vantage used by tens of thousands of merchants. Beyond selling themes, it offers bespoke theme modifications and larger custom development projects with in-house support. It differentiates on nearly two decades of platform-specific theme engineering rather than broad agency services.
Key Services: Premium Shopify theme development, Bespoke theme modifications, Online Store 2.0 section builds, Theme support & maintenance, Custom development projects, Theme licensing
Industries Served: Fashion & apparel, Food & beverage, Home goods, Independent DTC brands, Multi-vertical retail
Notable Clients: Not publicly named — case studies are anonymised by category
Locations: United Kingdom, Remote (distributed team)
Pricing: Theme licenses from USD $0 (free themes) to ~$350 one-time | custom dev quoted per scope
Great For: Merchants wanting a proven premium theme, Brands needing theme customization, not a full rebuild, Budget-conscious launches
Website: We Are Underground
17. Sultans
About: Sultans is a Vancouver-based Shopify Plus agency specializing exclusively in replatforming enterprise direct-sales (MLM) businesses onto Shopify. Its niche is integrating commission engines, building custom back-office CRM and party-planning tools, and creating distributor-first experiences — work most generalist Shopify agencies have never touched. Founded in 2020, it has grown to roughly 25 people focused entirely on this one vertical.
Key Services: Direct-sales (MLM) Shopify replatforming, Commission engine integrations, Custom back-office/CRM builds, UX for distributors & consultants, Shopify consulting, Data migration & QA
Industries Served: Direct sales / MLM, Social selling, Beauty & wellness distributors, Party-plan retail, Entrepreneurial brand networks
Notable Clients: Not publicly named — case studies are anonymised by category
Locations: Vancouver, Canada, Remote team (Brazil, UK, India, Chile)
Pricing: No public rate card; quoted per scope
Great For: Direct-sales/MLM organizations, Brands needing commission engine integration, Distributor-facing back-office builds
Website: Sultans
18. Flux
About: Flux is an Australia-based Shopify Plus agency that has built 150+ Shopify stores since 2012, working with brands scaling from roughly $5M to $100M+ in revenue. It positions its engineering around being 'found' by both people and AI search agents, pairing commerce engineering with AI/AEO visibility work. Named projects include Cambridge Clothing's multibrand rollout and 2XU's global DTC partnership.
Key Services: Shopify Plus development, Headless engineering (Hydrogen), Shopify Plus migrations, B2B on Shopify Plus, Systems & integrations, AI search / AEO optimization
Industries Served: Apparel & sportswear, Global DTC brands, Multibrand retail groups, Food & beverage, International expansion brands
Notable Clients: Cambridge Clothing, 2XU, Byron Bay Cookie, Quad Lock, Starward
Locations: Cambridge, Australia, Remote (distributed team)
Pricing: Fixed-price builds; no public rate card
Great For: International/multibrand DTC brands, Scaling $5M-$100M+ brands, Headless + AI-search focused builds
Website: Flux
19. Conversion
About: Conversion is a San Francisco-based, pay-on-results agency that pairs Shopify development (including headless Hydrogen builds) with growth marketing, positioning itself around a 'grow 40% in 4 months or you don't pay' model. It has launched 200+ Shopify brands since 2018 and reports over $184M in tracked client revenue. Its differentiator is bundling store development with paid media, SEO, and lifecycle marketing under one accountable, results-based contract.
Key Services: Shopify store development, Headless Hydrogen builds, Shopify SEO, Conversion rate optimization, Paid social & PPC, Retention & lifecycle marketing
Industries Served: DTC ecommerce, Healthcare/wellness verticals, Beauty, Consumer goods, Subscription brands
Notable Clients: Not publicly named — case studies are anonymised by category
Locations: San Francisco, USA, Remote (distributed team)
Pricing: Pay-on-results model; no upfront retainer required
Great For: Brands wanting dev + growth marketing bundled, Performance-based pricing seekers, Post-launch CRO-heavy engagements
Website: Conversion
20. Fuel Made
About: Fuel Made is one of the original Shopify Plus Partner agencies, operating since 2011, and is also a Klaviyo Master Elite partner, giving it unusually deep expertise pairing store development with email/SMS retention. It runs a monthly subscription support model called Fuel Made On Tap for ongoing design, dev, and email work rather than one-off projects only. Named clients include Supply, Beardbrand, Umbra, Figs, and Briogeo.
Key Services: Shopify design & development, Klaviyo email & SMS marketing, Conversion rate optimization, Subscription-based support retainers, A/B testing, Custom theme development
Industries Served: Men's grooming & shaving, Home goods, Medical apparel/scrubs, Beauty, DTC subscription brands
Notable Clients: Supply, Beardbrand, Umbra, Figs, Briogeo
Locations: United States, Remote (distributed team)
Pricing: From USD $2,300/month (Shopify Plus, multi-year contract)
Great For: Brands wanting dev + email/SMS combined, Subscription-based ongoing support, Mid-market DTC brands
Website: Fuel Made
21. Digital Silk
About: Digital Silk is a full-service web design and development agency (founded 2010) offering Shopify, Shopify Plus, WordPress, and custom-stack development alongside branding and marketing services. Its ecommerce practice covers new builds, redesigns, migrations, backend architecture, and long-term technical optimization for brands across many verticals. It publishes over 1,000 builds shipped across B2B, ecommerce, and enterprise clients.
Key Services: Shopify web design, Shopify theme development, Ecommerce migrations, Custom feature development, SEO & PPC, Branding & rebranding
Industries Served: Corporate & B2B, Consumer goods, Healthcare & medical, Manufacturing, Law & finance
Notable Clients: Not publicly named — case studies are anonymised by category
Locations: Miami, USA, New York, USA
Pricing: No public rate card; quoted per scope
Great For: Brands wanting branding + Shopify dev together, B2B companies new to ecommerce, Multi-industry generalist needs
Website: Digital Silk
Quick Comparison Table
| Agency | Key Specialty | Starting Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. SDG | Enterprise replatforming since 2006 | Quote-based | Enterprise-scale Shopify rescues |
| 2. Web Tonic | Full-Service Performance Marketing | USD $3,000/mo | Mid-market to Enterprise |
| 3. Diff | Multi-storefront consolidation | Quote-based | Brands unifying multiple stores |
| 4. Domaine | Large-scale enterprise replatforming | Quote-based | Global enterprise brand migrations |
| 5. Arctic Grey | On-demand Shopify dev hours and migrations | Quote-based | Migrations and ongoing dev capacity |
| 6. Avex Designs | Growth and retention-driven Shopify builds | Quote-based | DTC brands modernizing legacy stacks |
| 7. Netalico | Fixing underperforming/technical-debt stores | Quote-based | Merchants inheriting a messy tech stack |
| 8. Shero Commerce | B2B/DTC hybrid Shopify Plus builds | Quote-based | Manufacturers running B2B and DTC together |
| 9. Praella | Lifecycle revenue optimization on Shopify Plus | Quote-based | Brands wanting an ongoing dev partner |
| 10. Blue Stout | CRO-first Shopify Plus design & dev | Quote-based | Brands prioritizing conversion over looks |
| 11. Electric Eye | Boutique performance-driven Shopify builds | Quote-based | DTC brands wanting a dedicated team |
| 12. Groove Commerce | Full-service dev and marketing agency | Quote-based | Merchants wanting dev and marketing together |
| 13. Silk Commerce | B2B manufacturer & distributor commerce | Quote-based | Manufacturers comparing Shopify vs Adobe Commerce |
| 14. Elogic Commerce | B2B/ERP-heavy Shopify Plus builds | Quote-based | B2B brands needing deep ERP integration |
| 15. Envision.io | Founder-led boutique Shopify builds | Quote-based | Small-to-mid brands wanting personal attention |
| 16. We Are Underground | Premium Shopify theme development | From $0 (theme) / Quote-based (custom dev) | Merchants wanting a proven theme |
| 17. Sultans | Direct-sales (MLM) Shopify replatforming | Quote-based | MLM/direct-sales businesses moving to Shopify |
| 18. Flux | Headless and AI-search Shopify Plus builds | Quote-based (fixed-price builds) | Scaling brands wanting headless plus AI |
| 19. Conversion | Pay-on-results dev and growth bundle | Performance-based (no upfront fee) | Brands wanting dev and growth bundled |
| 20. Fuel Made | Shopify dev plus Klaviyo retention | USD $2,300/month | Brands wanting dev and email together |
| 21. Digital Silk | Full-service branding and Shopify dev | Quote-based | Brands wanting branding plus Shopify dev |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I choose a Shopify agency for my project?
Separate the two jobs first. A brand-led rebuild is a design problem with engineering attached; a replatform or B2B build is an engineering problem with design attached, and few agencies are genuinely excellent at both. Then check recency: ask for two stores launched in the last year in your category and open them on a phone. Finally ask who does the work. Sixteen of the twenty external agencies here name clients, so you can verify claims directly, which makes this one of the easier categories to due-diligence.
What does a Shopify build cost?
Specialist Plus development agencies bill roughly USD $150 to $300 per hour, and a full enterprise Plus build commonly lands between USD $50,000 and $120,000 or more. Mid-market theme customisation work sits well below that, and ongoing retainers start a few thousand dollars a month, with one agency here publishing a rate from USD $2,300 monthly. Only five of the twenty external agencies publish anything at all. Price the post-launch retainer at the same time as the build, because that is where multi-year cost actually accumulates.
What is the difference between a theme build and headless?
A theme build works within Shopify's Online Store 2.0 front end, which means faster delivery, lower cost and merchandisers who can edit pages without a developer. Headless replaces the storefront with a custom front end on Hydrogen or the Storefront API, giving total design and performance control at the price of a permanent engineering dependency. Most brands do not need headless. The honest test is whether your differentiator is a front-end experience Shopify's theme layer genuinely cannot express, rather than whether headless sounds more advanced.
How long does a Shopify project take?
A focused theme customisation runs four to eight weeks. A full brand rebuild is usually three to four months, and an enterprise replatform with catalogue migration, B2B logic and ERP integration runs four to six months or longer. The migration timeline is dominated by data and redirects rather than design: mapping the catalogue, preserving order history and building a redirect map that protects search rankings. Build in a parallel staging period and do not schedule a launch inside your peak trading window.
Does it matter where the agency is based?
Less than in most categories. Nearly every agency here runs a distributed team, and several deliberately staff across multiple continents for coverage. What matters is timezone overlap for standups and enough handover discipline that work continues when your day ends. Local presence earns its premium on large replatforms where stakeholder workshops and merchandising training happen in person. For everything else, weight portfolio quality in your category and the clarity of the post-launch support agreement above the office address.
Choosing a Shopify Development Agency
Name the real job before you brief anyone. Rebuild, replatform, B2B layer or ongoing conversion work are four different engagements with four different shortlists. Buyers who lead with the job get comparable proposals; buyers who ask for a Shopify website get four proposals that cannot be compared at all.
Verify the recent work, not the reel. Most agencies here name clients publicly, so open those stores, test them on a phone and check load speed yourself. A portfolio page proves the engagement happened; the live site proves what was actually shipped and whether anyone maintained it.
Get the migration plan in writing. Catalogue mapping, order history, redirect strategy and a rollback path. Search rankings are the thing most commonly damaged in a replatform, and the damage appears weeks after launch when the invoice is already paid.
Contract the retainer with the build. Stores need continuous work, and the worst position is a launched site with no committed engineering. If you want a store built by the team also accountable for the traffic hitting it, see our web development work, read our latest analysis, or book a call.
