Are you launching a Shopify store, managing a catalog of thousands of SKUs, or preparing a migration from WooCommerce or Magento? This FAQ brings together the 30 most frequently asked Shopify questions that Stellar Projects, a Shopify agency, has received from experts since 2018. They are grouped into seven themes (applications, configuration, payments, compliance, development, logistics, multi-channel). Each answer is concise and directly actionable, with a link to the complete guide if you want to delve deeper. Stellar supports over 200 Shopify brands (Wyve, Caillou Paris, Bienaimé, Charlotte Make Up) and publishes new practical content for e-merchants every week.
Summary
Applications and Shopify apps
The Shopify App Store has over 8,000 applications. Choosing the right ones avoids paying for duplicate functionality and slowing down your store. Here are the six questions merchants ask us most often.
What is the best app to integrate an Instagram feed on Shopify?
To display an Instagram wall on your homepage or a brand page, the three market leaders are Instafeed, Foursixty and Socialwidget. Instafeed remains the quickest option to install (less than five minutes) and the lightest for Core Web Vitals score. Foursixty also allows you to tag products in posts to turn your feed into a shoppable storefront. Socialwidget is interesting if you combine Instagram and TikTok in the same grid.
Complete guide: integrate an Instagram feed on Shopify
What is the best data export app for Shopify?
Matrixify is the de facto standard for bulk exporting and importing Shopify data: products, customers, orders, metaobjects, redirects, metafields. Its main asset is its support for large files (several GB) and its native support for Google Sheets. At Stellar, we use it for 100% of our incoming migrations and catalog redesigns. Lighter alternatives for occasional needs: Bulk Export or Matrixify.
Complete comparison: best Shopify export apps
What is the best shipping app for Shopify?
To automate shipments and reduce the time spent editing waybills, the three reference apps are Sendcloud, Shippo, and Boxtal Connect. Sendcloud is the most mature choice in Europe with native connectors for Colissimo, Mondial Relay, Chronopost, DHL. Shippo is relevant for brands that primarily ship to the United States. Boxtal Connect is suitable for French VSEs that want to compare carriers without commitment.
Complete guide: best Shopify shipping apps
What is the best translation app for Shopify?
To sell internationally, Shopify natively integrates Translate & Adapt, which covers the needs of most brands (manual or automatic translation, management of multiple languages per market). For advanced needs (editorial workflow, human translator validation, glossary), Weglot and Langify remain the paid references. For large multilingual catalogs, we recommend Weglot for its admin interface designed for marketing teams.
Comparison: best Shopify translation apps
How to integrate Instagram Reels into my Shopify store?
Three possible methods. The simplest: use Foursixty or Socialwidget, which support Reels as a dedicated feed format. The most controlled: manually integrate each Reel via the official Instagram embed on a Shopify page (Liquid plus iframe). The most effective for SEO and CRO: host videos in MP4 in Shopify Files and display them with a native HTML5 player, which avoids dependence on Instagram and boosts loading time.
Complete guide: integrate Instagram Reels on Shopify
How to create a beauty quiz on my Shopify store?
A beauty quiz (skincare quiz, skin type, personalized routine) is a powerful lever for engagement and conversion for cosmetic brands. Three apps cover this need: Octane AI (the most comprehensive, conversational), Shopify Forms coupled with simple conditional logic, and Heyday by Bold. At Stellar, we built the Bienaimé quiz on Octane AI with a 68% completion rate and an average cart value multiplied by 2.3 for users who complete the quiz.
Complete guide: create a beauty quiz on Shopify
Product configuration, listings and navigation
Catalog and navigation configuration determines SEO quality, site speed, and conversion rate. The questions below come up in almost all our redesign projects.
What is a Shopify metafield and how to use it?
A metafield is a custom field that you add to a product, collection, customer, order, or page. It's the essential tool for enriching product pages with structured data: ingredients, composition, size in cm, material, certifications. Metafields are managed from Settings > Custom data and then displayed in the theme via Liquid. Combined with metaobjects, they allow modeling complex data without custom development.
Complete guide: Shopify metafields, enrich product pages
What is a Shopify metaobject and what is it for?
Metaobjects are custom data objects (introduced in 2023) that allow you to create your own content types: a category of tutorials, a list of physical stores, customer testimonials, product FAQs. Unlike metafields, which attach data to an existing Shopify entity, metaobjects are autonomous and reusable across multiple pages. They are now the cleanest way to manage structured editorial content in Shopify without a third-party application.
Complete guide: Shopify metaobjects, customize your data
How to create an effective mega menu on Shopify?
A mega menu is a multi-column dropdown menu that displays the main categories and subcategories at a glance. On recent Shopify themes (Dawn, Sense, Origin), the mega menu is native via classic navigation. For advanced needs (images, featured collections, promo banners), apps like Meteor Mega Menu or Qikify Mega Menu are the most used. Golden rule: no more than 7 main entries in the menu, otherwise conversion drops.
Complete guide: create an effective mega menu on Shopify
How to optimize my Shopify store images?
Image optimization is the most profitable lever to improve Core Web Vitals and Shopify SEO. Three reflexes to apply: 1) use WebP format (30% higher compression than JPEG without visible loss), 2) serve dimensions adapted to the device via the srcset attribute of Liquid, 3) compress images before import with an app like TinyIMG or Crush.pics. A well-optimized product page loads in under 1.5 seconds on mobile.
Complete guide: optimize your Shopify store images
What are the best merchandising practices on Shopify?
Digital merchandising consists of organizing products to maximize perceived value and conversion. Four proven rules: 1) prioritize collections by margin and rotation, not alphabetically, 2) display badges (new, best seller, low stock) to create urgency, 3) personalize display order according to visitor history via Shopify Search & Discovery, 4) plan bundles and upsells on key product pages. Product pages enriched via metafields convert on average 18% better than generic pages.
Complete guide: Shopify merchandising, optimize your product pages
Payments, taxes and Shopify finance
The financial management of a Shopify store covers payment gateways, commissions, financing tools, and gift cards. The six questions below cover the essentials that a merchant needs to understand.
What is Shopify Payments and how to activate it?
Shopify Payments is Shopify's integrated payment gateway, powered by Stripe in the background. Activated by default on most plans, it accepts credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex), Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Shop Pay. The main advantage: no additional Shopify transaction fees (unlike third-party gateways like Stripe or Adyen where Shopify takes an additional 0.5 to 2%). Activation takes two minutes from Settings > Payments, provided you have a Kbis or equivalent.
Complete guide: everything you need to know about Shopify Payments
How much does Shopify Payments cost in France?
Shopify Payments fees vary depending on your plan. Summary for a European credit card:
- Basic (EUR 32 per month): 1.8% + EUR 0.25 per transaction
- Shopify (EUR 87 per month): 1.7% + EUR 0.25 per transaction
- Advanced (EUR 309 per month): 1.5% + EUR 0.25 per transaction
For non-European cards, count 2.9% + EUR 0.30 regardless of the plan. Key takeaway: if you use Shopify Payments, no additional Shopify transaction fees are charged, unlike other gateways.
Detailed fees: how much does Shopify Payments cost?
How to create a gift card on Shopify?
Gift cards have been native to all Shopify plans since 2020. To activate them: Products > Gift cards > Add gift card product. You can set the available amounts (10, 25, 50, 100 EUR for example) or let the customer choose a free amount. Three best practices: 1) provide a custom card design (transparent PNG image) to strengthen the brand, 2) add a personalized transactional email, 3) display the gift card on the homepage during peak periods (Christmas, Mother's Day). At Stellar, we measure a 4 times higher conversion rate on gift cards in November and December.
Complete guide: create a gift card on Shopify
How to simulate payments to test my Shopify store?
Before putting your store online, it is essential to test the entire purchase funnel. Shopify provides a native test mode for this: Settings > Payments > Manage > Test mode. Once activated, you can use the fictitious card number 4242 4242 4242 4242 with any future date and any CVV. All orders appear in the admin with a "Test" tag and are never billed. Remember to deactivate test mode before the actual launch.
Complete guide: simulate payments on Shopify
What is Shopify Capital and how can I benefit from it?
Shopify Capital is Shopify's internal financing program. Instead of a traditional bank loan, you receive a cash advance (between $200 and $1,000,000 USD depending on your history) which is repaid automatically via a fixed percentage of your daily sales. No interest, just a fixed total cost communicated upfront. Eligibility: at least six months of Shopify history with regular revenue. The offer is automatically proposed when you are eligible (in the Finances > Capital tab) and does not require any application.
Complete guide: use Shopify Capital to finance your growth
What is Shopify Balance and who is this tool for?
Shopify Balance is a professional bank account integrated with Shopify, available in the United States since 2021 (and progressively deployed in Europe). It offers a physical and virtual debit card, a dedicated IBAN, and above all instant access to your sales revenue without waiting for Shopify Payments payouts. For growing brands, it's a valuable cash flow tool that prevents cash gaps between sales and collection. Availability in France: roadmap in progress, not yet active as of today.
Complete guide: Shopify Balance, the integrated pro account
GDPR, legal and compliance
Legal compliance is non-negotiable for a French store. Two topics concentrate most of the questions merchants ask us: general terms and conditions of sale and privacy policy.
How to manage the GTC (general terms and conditions of sale) on Shopify?
The GTC are mandatory for any French e-commerce store. Shopify does not provide them by default: it is up to you to draft them or to call upon a specialized lawyer. Three methods to integrate them: 1) create a dedicated page Online Store > Pages > Add page and link it in the footer, 2) add a checkbox "I accept the GTC" on the checkout via Settings > Checkout > Checkout language, 3) provide a GTC page adapted to B2B sales if you sell to professionals. Stellar works with lawyers specializing in e-commerce to produce solid and up-to-date GTC.
Complete guide: effectively manage GTC on Shopify
How to integrate a privacy policy on Shopify?
The Privacy Policy describes how you collect and use your customers' personal data. It is mandatory under GDPR. Shopify generates a default template accessible in Settings > Policies, but this template must be adapted to your reality: analytics tools used, third-party cookies, transfers outside the EU, subcontractors. Once the page is edited, it is automatically linked in the footer and on the checkout. For brands that collect a lot of data (newsletter, loyalty program, quiz), we recommend an annual review by a DPO.
Complete guide: Shopify privacy policy
Development and technical customization
For brands pushing Shopify to its limits (custom front-end, marketplaces, advanced B2B), five topics keep coming back: headless commerce, Hydrogen, GraphQL, development environment, and Liquid.
What is headless commerce and how to implement it on Shopify?
Headless commerce involves decoupling the frontend (the customer-facing interface) from the backend (the Shopify engine). You keep Shopify as the commerce engine (catalog, carts, payments, shipping) but build the frontend with a modern stack (Next.js, Nuxt, Remix). Advantages: superior performance, unlimited design flexibility, native support for composable architectures. Disadvantages: high initial development cost (3 to 6 times more than a classic Shopify theme), heavier technical maintenance. Relevant for businesses with over 5 million euros in annual revenue.
Complete guide: Headless commerce Shopify, definition and implementation
What is Shopify Hydrogen and how to use it?
Hydrogen is Shopify's official headless framework, launched in 2022 and based on React and Remix. Coupled with Oxygen (Shopify's dedicated cloud hosting), it allows building a native headless frontend with pre-wired components to Shopify APIs (Cart, Product, Customer). Hydrogen is free and open source. It is particularly suitable for brands already committed to the Shopify ecosystem and wanting full control of the frontend without managing third-party infrastructure. Stellar delivered the headless redesign of Caillou Paris on Hydrogen plus Oxygen.
Complete guide: Shopify Hydrogen, creating a headless store
How to use GraphQL with Shopify?
Shopify exposes two main APIs: the REST Admin API and the GraphQL Admin API. GraphQL has been Shopify's recommended path since 2024 (the REST API is in maintenance mode). Advantages of GraphQL: you only request the fields you need (performance and bandwidth gains), explicit mutations to modify data, a strict schema that catches errors before production. The main tools to get started: GraphiQL App, Postman, and official SDKs (Node, Ruby, Python).
Complete guide: using GraphQL with Shopify
How to set up a Shopify development environment?
A local development environment allows you to modify a theme or develop an app without affecting the production store. The current standard is Shopify CLI, the official command-line tool. Installation in one command (npm install -g @shopify/cli), then shopify theme dev to launch a local server connected to your development store. Coupled with a development store (a free store reserved for developers), this is the configuration used by all Shopify Expert agencies.
Complete guide: setting up a Shopify development environment
What is the Liquid template language?
Liquid is the templating language created by Shopify in 2006 and used in all themes. It's a simple language, based on tags ({% if %}, {% for %}) and objects ({{ product.title }}). It allows dynamic display of your store's data within the theme's HTML. Liquid is now used by WordPress, Salesforce, Mailchimp, and other CMS. To learn Liquid, the official Shopify documentation is exhaustive, and front-end developers can master it in a few days.
Complete guide: The Liquid template language on Shopify
Logistics, orders and Shopify POS
For brands that combine online and physical sales, or that manage large volumes, four questions regularly arise: exporting orders, choosing the right Shopify POS payment terminals, identifying compatible terminals, and testing performance.
How to export your Shopify orders in a few clicks?
Shopify offers a native CSV export from Orders > Export, with a choice of date range and format (Excel-friendly by default). For more advanced exports (complex filters, custom columns, automatic recurrence), Matrixify is the benchmark. Frequent use cases: monthly accounting, BI reporting to Power BI or Looker Studio, export for accountants, feeding an ERP. Shopify's native export can reach its limits beyond 50,000 orders; Matrixify handles hundreds of thousands of lines without issue.
Complete guide: exporting your Shopify orders
Which payment terminals are compatible with Shopify POS?
To sell in-store with Shopify POS, two payment terminals are compatible in France: the BBPOS WisePad 3 (portable Bluetooth reader, approx. EUR 59) and the Stripe Reader S700 (standalone terminal with screen, approx. EUR 350). Both accept contactless bank cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay. For more structured points of sale (flagship store, multiple tills), Shopify also offers the POS Go, an all-in-one terminal with an integrated scanner and receipt printer.
Complete guide: Which payment terminals for Shopify POS?
Which payment terminals will be compatible with Shopify POS in 2025?
Beyond native Shopify payment terminals, some third-party manufacturer terminals can be used as a supplement. iZettle (PayPal) and SumUp can be used in parallel for external operations (market, trade show) but do not integrate directly with Shopify stock. For full integration (unified stock, shared customer records, consolidated sales), only official Shopify or Stripe payment terminals are truly suitable. 2025 Roadmap: Shopify has announced support for new compact terminals for European markets.
Complete guide: Shopify POS compatible terminals in 2025
How to test the performance of your Shopify store?
Three tools are essential for measuring Shopify performance: PageSpeed Insights (Google, free), GTmetrix (detailed waterfall analysis), Shopify Web Performance Report (in Online Store > Themes > Edit code > Performance). The three key metrics to monitor are Core Web Vitals: LCP (Largest Contentful Paint, less than 2.5s), CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift, less than 0.1), and INP (Interaction to Next Paint, less than 200ms). A well-optimized Shopify store achieves 85+ on mobile and 95+ on desktop.
Complete guide: testing your Shopify store's performance
Multi-channel, marketplaces and B2B
To move from single-channel to multi-channel, brands must integrate marketplaces, subscriptions, B2B, and customer account migration. The six questions below cover the most frequent cases.
How to sell on eBay with Shopify?
Three approaches to synchronizing Shopify and eBay. The simplest: use a synchronization app like Codisto, LitCommerce, or CedCommerce eBay Integration. The most controlled: native eBay integration (deprecated by Shopify in 2022, replaced by third-party apps). The most advanced: use middleware (Channable, Lengow) that synchronizes multiple marketplaces at once. Watch points: unified stock management, price alignment, automatic product sheet translation, understanding eBay rules (delivery times, returns, seller scores).
Complete guide: selling on eBay with Shopify
How to integrate Shopify with Amazon?
Integrating Shopify and Amazon follows the same principle as for eBay: a third-party app orchestrates the synchronization. The most used in France: Codisto (multi-marketplace), ChannelEngine (B2B oriented), SellerCloud. The main challenge on Amazon is the compliance of product sheets with the marketplace's strict rules (standardized titles, mandatory EANs, white background images). Once synchronization is in place, Amazon becomes a complementary acquisition channel, particularly relevant in DACH and the UK.
Complete guide: integrating Shopify with Amazon
How to launch subscriptions and monthly boxes on Shopify?
Shopify natively offers Shopify Subscriptions (free) since 2023, which covers 80% of simple needs (product subscription, regular frequency, customer management from their account). For more advanced needs (complex pricing logic, build-a-box, mixed subscription and one-shot), the paid references are Recharge (market leader), Bold Subscriptions, and Loop Subscriptions. Recharge charges approximately 99 USD per month plus 1% on recurring payments.
Complete guide: Shopify for subscriptions and monthly boxes
How to export customer accounts from Shopify?
Customer export is done natively from Customers > Export, in CSV format. You can filter by tag, status (order placed or not), creation date. For large or recurring exports, Matrixify remains the benchmark. Typical use cases: synchronization with an external CRM (HubSpot, Salesforce), import into Klaviyo for specific segments, regular backup for GDPR or accounting purposes. Note: the export contains personal data; storage and access must be secured.
Complete guide: exporting customer accounts from Shopify
How to migrate customer accounts to Shopify?
Migrating customer accounts from another CMS (WooCommerce, Magento, PrestaShop) is a critical step in a redesign. Three methods: 1) native Shopify CSV import (limited to 50,000 lines, without order history), 2) Matrixify which supports multi-GB files with custom mapping, 3) custom development via the GraphQL API for tailor-made migrations. Major watch point: passwords are never transferred (different encryption) and each customer must reset their password on first login. Stellar has successfully migrated over 80 stores while preserving order histories.
Complete guide: migrating customer accounts to Shopify
How to sell B2B on Shopify?
Since 2023, Shopify natively integrates B2B functions into Shopify Plus: dedicated customer catalogs, specific pricing, payment terms (net 30, net 60), purchase order management, multi-user accounts per company. For brands without Shopify Plus, third-party apps like Wholesale Gorilla, Bold B2B, or BSS B2B provide some of these functionalities at a lower cost. Stellar supports several brands in their Shopify Plus B2B deployment, particularly in fashion and cosmetics.
Complete guide: selling B2B on Shopify
How Stellar can help you
Stellar Projects is a Shopify Expert agency founded in 2018 by Florian Pohl and Volkier Bentinck. We support ambitious brands throughout the entire lifecycle of their Shopify store: creation, redesign, migration from another CMS, SEO and CRO optimization, headless Hydrogen development, B2B and Shopify Plus implementation, team training.
Our conviction, structured in the STELLAR Method: a lasting e-commerce brand is built through architecture, not reaction. We publish practical content every week, and the book "Creating Your Brand in the Age of AI" (Florian Pohl and Volkier Bentinck, 2026) records our complete approach.
If you have a Shopify question not covered in this FAQ, or if you want to discuss a project, contact us directly. An expert Shopify will respond within 48 hours.
Quick Shopify FAQ
Five frequently asked questions, each with a one-sentence answer.
How much does Shopify cost in 2026?
Shopify plans range from €32 per month (Basic) to €309 per month (Advanced), with a 3-day free trial and a first month for €1. Shopify Plus starts around $2,500 per month.
How long does it take to create a Shopify store?
A simple store can be launched in 7 to 14 days with a theme from the Theme Store. A custom redesign with Liquid customization and app integrations requires 8 to 12 weeks.
Do you need to be a developer to use Shopify?
No, Shopify is designed to be used without code by merchants. A developer is useful for customizing the theme, integrating complex apps, or developing custom features.
Is Shopify good for SEO in France?
Yes, provided you follow best practices: rich content, speed, structured data, internal linking. Our Shopify SEO guide covers the essentials.
How to migrate from WooCommerce to Shopify?
WooCommerce to Shopify migration is done via Matrixify or the official Shopify Migration app. Allow 1 to 3 weeks for a clean migration with URL and customer account preservation.