If you’re starting an ecommerce business or want to revamp your current website on the Shopify ecommerce platform, there’s a lot you can do on your own with Shopify themes. But, if you’re not a technical person, you’ll need to hire a Shopify developer to get the job done for you.
Before we look at the list of best Shopify developers, we’ll examine how to make the choice, and what you should look for before starting your ecommerce website project.
How to Choose a Shopify Developer
With so many web design and development services out there, it’s hard to know which one is best for your project. After all, the answer comes down to a few things:
- Your Project Details – Custom software development or Shopify app development is more intense than making adjustments to an out-of-the-box Shopify theme.
- Your Budget
- Your Timeline
You’ll pay more for an in-depth project, or for something with a rush deadline. As you choose your developer, the price may be a major factor, but it shouldn’t be the only factor.
Before you start, make sure you have:
- An idea of what you’re looking to accomplish. There’s a big difference between a fully developed custom theme and tweaking an existing one. The clearer your guidelines, the easier it will be to get quotes from Shopify development services. It helps to browse other online stores to provide a frame of reference about what you’re looking for.
- A basic idea of what you can spend. This helps ensure you can afford what you’re asking for but helps keep the project in line with your budget requirements and expectations while you connect with potential developers. As you set the budget, consider the features that you must have and what you would like to have. Then, you can decide if you can spend more on all the bells and whistles. You can expect to pay anywhere from $1,500 to $3,000 for a small project; up to $5,000 for a medium-sized project, and up to $20,000+ for larger-scale projects.
What to Look For
- Solid Portfolio: Any reputable Shopify professionals or digital marketing firm will have a portfolio of projects they’ve done in the past. You can use it to gauge whether their style is in line with what you’re looking for. Visit the websites that catch your eye to make sure they match the portfolio and haven’t been redone by another developer. If you don’t see an ecommerce store in their portfolio, move on.
- Great Communication Skills (and Timely Responses): Once you reach out to a developer, pay attention to how they communicate and how fast they answer. You’ll be interacting with your developer quite a bit for the duration of the project, so responses should be clear and timely.
- Testimonials/References from Past Customers: If you don’t see testimonials from past customers on an agency’s website, this is a red flag. If you get to where you want to connect with the developer to get a quote, ask for references you can follow up with. Reach out to a few of the references to get an idea of what it was like to work with the company.
- Satisfaction Guarantee: To ensure you get a quality product, the web development company should offer some kind of satisfaction guarantee. If those details aren’t clearly displayed on the website, ask for details about what’s offered when you contact the company.
Questions to Ask
When you interview candidates, ask questions such as:
- What’s your experience level with projects like mine? Does it fall within one of your areas of expertise? Do you have specific examples you can give me for similar projects?
- What tools do you use? Do they rely solely on email communication, or will they provide access to a project management tool?
- What does your process look like? What do you need from me to get started?
- What kind of post-development services are offered?
Best Shopify Development Companies
Doing the research is the most important part of finding the right Shopify development company for your needs. We hope to make it easier for you with this list.
Whole Design Studios
Specialty: Design and Development, Ecommerce Marketing, Consulting
Whole Design Studios, based out of London, UK, is a team of Shopify experts. They offer an array of services to help Shopify store owners, from building stores and redesigning themes to SEO, ads management, and more.
EtherCycle
Specialty: Design and Development, Consulting, Established Businesses
EtherCycle is a premiere Shopify design and development firm. What makes them different from other firms, however, is their focus on “independent, stable businesses” that sell private label products. The niche focus allows them to provide quality ecommerce solutions to clients.
Orbit Local
Specialty: Design and Development, Ecommerce Marketing
Of course, we had to put our own agency on this list, since helping businesses is what we do. Co-founded by Ecommerce CEO’s founder, Darren DeMatas, Orbit Local is a full-service digital agency. Our passionate team can build and customize your Shopify website, help with your ecommerce strategy, and more. Our services aren’t limited to Shopify – we also work with WordPress websites.
EngineScout
Specialty: Ecommerce Marketing
EngineScout, an ecommerce marketing agency based in Melbourne, Australia, offers full-service web design and custom website development.
Hawke Media
Specialty: Marketing
Hawke Media is a digital agency that offers design and development, PR and media buying, and more. While not specifically targeted at helping you build your online store, their digital marketing services include Shopify stores.
We Make Websites
Specialty: Shopify Plus Design and Development
We Make Websites or WMW, is a web development agency with a focus on Shopify Plus (the enterprise-level plan) for international businesses. They have over 10 years of experience working with Shopify Plus design and development.
Webinopoly
Specialty: Design, Development, Ecommerce Marketing
Webinopoly is a web design agency that specializes in Shopify, BigCommerce, ecommerce, mobile app development, and more. Whether you’re a Shopify or Shopify Plus user or looking to migrate to the service from another ecommerce solution, they can help.
RedStage
Specialty: B2B Ecommerce, End to End Ecommerce
If your company is in the B2B ecommerce space, RedStage could be the right partner for your Shopify store. They offer development, migration support, mobile optimization, conversion optimization, and more.
Visiture
Specialty: Ecommerce Marketing
Visiture is an ecommerce marketing agency. If you need to bring more customers to your ecommerce store, they can help with a variety of services, including development, content marketing, and more.
LoungeLizard
Specialty: Design and Development, Marketing
Lounge Lizard is a full-service agency that will help you with all aspects of your Shopify store. As a certified Shopify partner, they’re well-versed in the ecommerce builder.
Williams Commerce
Specialty: Design and Development
Williams Commerce is an agency focused on a variety of ecommerce platforms, including Shopify and BigCommerce. They make it possible to build your online store on your choice of platform, using an approach that works well with any of their partners.
MinionMade
Specialty: Shopify Plus, Ecommerce Strategy, Marketing
Based in New York, Minon Made is an agency of creators, focused on building websites for fellow creators. In addition to Shopify services ranging from theme design and development to ecommerce store setup and marketing, they offer strategy and consulting services.
Abby Rose Design (ARD)
Specialty: Shopify Plus, Design
The ARD agency has been a certified Shopify expert for more than 10 years. They can help you start from scratch or migrate you to Shopify from another platform.
The Snow Agency
Specialty: Web Development, Marketing, Social Media Advertising
The Snow Agency is a marketing firm that offers a variety of services for ecommerce businesses, including web and creative development, social media marketing, media buying, and more.
AyOkay
Specialty: Design, Development, Marketing
AyOkay is an Indianapolis agency that offers strategic, creative, and development services. Whether you use Shopify or another platform to host your ecommerce site, AyOkay can help.
Sleepless Media
Specialty: Shopify Plus, Branding, Marketing
Sleepless Media is a team of Shopify experts based in Northern California. Though they specialize in the enterprise Shopify product, their services are useful for any brand looking to use the ecommerce solution.
Space48
Specialty: Ecommerce Design, Development, Marketing
A UK-based agency with locations across the globe, Space48 is focused solely on building ecommerce websites. What started in 2008 as a Magento ecommerce agency has grown to include additional services for Shopify users.
Carson
Specialty: Design, Development
Carson is a database of Shopify experts that helps you find someone to complete your project. Once you sign up and provide the details of your project, experts will provide free estimates. You’re under no obligation to hire anyone.
Guidance
Specialty: Ecommerce Development, Marketing
Guidance is an ecommerce agency that offers Shopify experts, in addition to Magento and BigCommerce experts. Whether you’re a B2B or B2C business, the team can help.
Web Desk Solution
Specialty: Design, Development, Apps, Machine Learning
Web Desk Solution is a full-stack company that offers solutions for Shopify, BigCommerce, Shift4Shop (formerly 3dcart), Volusion, Prestashop, and more. Need a new store? Need to migrate to a new service? The team at this New York agency can help.
Swanky Agency
Specialty: Design, Development, Marketing
Targeted at larger customers using the enterprise Shopify plan, Swanky Agency helps launch, maintain, and grow Shopify stores for brands.
Black Belt Commerce
Specialty: Design, Development
Black Belt Commerce is an agency focused solely on Shopify – from building stores to customizing them, migrating an existing store, and setting up wholesale solutions. They also specialize in regional expansion and multilingual stores.
Zehner Group
Specialty: Design, Development, Marketing
Zehner Group is a complete service digital agency that offers Shopify Plus services. They offer custom design and development services for ecommerce websites and general web projects.
Zyber
Specialty: Ecommerce, Design, Development
Zyber is a team of Shopify experts out of New Zealand. They can help with custom applications, theme development, integrations, migration, and more.
Groove Commerce
Specialty: Ecommerce Design, Development, Marketing
Groove Commerce is a digital marketing agency that specializes in ecommerce websites. They work with multiple platforms, including Shopify.
Avex Designs
Specialty: Shopify Plus, Klaviyo Marketing, Optimization
Where a lot of agencies focus on any website or ecommerce venture, Avex Designs provides Shopify Plus and Klaviyo services only. It’s great for larger brands who need a bit of help with their venture.
Huemor
Specialty: Development, Design, Optimization
Huemor is a full-stack development agency that works with Shopify and WordPress. Beyond ecommerce websites, they also offer B2B and consultancy services.
Blend Commerce
Specialty: Design and Development
Blend Commerce is an “on-demand digital team” consisting of developers, designers, conversion rate optimization consultants, strategy consultants, and growth marketers. You choose who you work with and when based on your business goals.
Bryn Howlett, LLC
Specialty: Design
Bryn Howlett is a web design firm based in Marin, California. They focus on WordPress and Shopify. Services include theme development and customization, site maintenance, and support.
Blue Stout
Specialty: Ecommerce Design and Development
Blue Stout is an ecommerce agency that works with Shopify Plus, BigCommerce, Spreecommerce, WooCommerce, and Magento. They are a certified Shopify Plus partner and are also a BigCommerce certified partner.
Bring Your Business Online Today
If you need help with your Shopify store, there are plenty of Shopify web developers available to help you get the job done. Whether you choose one option from this list or find another web development company to make your online store everything you want it to be, we hope you find what you’re looking for.
If you’ve worked with any of these top Shopify development companies to build your ecommerce store, share your experience in the comments.
