Shopify development is the work of building, customising, and optimising online stores on Shopify. Codeviti creates custom Liquid themes, speeds up storefronts, integrates the apps you need, and tunes merchandising so more visitors become buyers. Shopify handles hosting, security, and PCI-compliant payments, so you can focus on selling instead of servers.
- Platform
- Shopify & Shopify Plus
- Typical timeline
- 3–7 weeks
- Focus
- Speed & conversion
- Best for
- DTC & online retail
What do Shopify development services include?
We cover the full store lifecycle, from launch to growth. The goal is a fast, on-brand store that is easy to run and built to convert. Typical work includes:
- Custom Liquid themes — a store that looks like your brand, not a stock template.
- Store setup & migration — products, collections, and a clean move from another platform.
- Speed optimisation — faster load times for better conversion and SEO.
- App & API integrations — subscriptions, reviews, ERP, and marketing tools.
- Conversion & merchandising — product pages, upsells, and checkout tuning.
- Headless builds — Hydrogen or a custom front-end when you need one.
Shopify vs WooCommerce: which should you use?
Both are strong. The right choice depends on how much control you want versus how much you want handled for you.
| Factor | Shopify | WooCommerce |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting & security | Managed for you | You manage it |
| Ease of launch | Faster | More setup |
| Customisation | High (within platform) | Full control |
| Ongoing cost | Platform + app fees | Hosting + maintenance |
How we build and optimise Shopify stores
- Audit & plan — catalogue, brand, and conversion goals.
- Design the storefront — templates for home, collection, product, and cart.
- Build in Liquid — a fast, custom theme with the apps you actually need.
- Optimise & grow — speed, SEO, and conversion improvements after launch.
What affects Shopify project cost?
Shopify costs scale with theme customisation, catalogue size, integrations, and whether you go headless. A clean custom theme on standard Shopify is quick and affordable; subscriptions, complex product options, ERP integrations, or a headless Hydrogen front-end add scope. Remember to budget for the Shopify plan and any paid apps in your running costs.
Key takeaways
- Shopify handles hosting, security, and payments so you can focus on selling.
- A custom Liquid theme beats a stock template for brand and conversion.
- Speed is a revenue lever — faster stores convert better and rank better.
- Plan for platform and app fees in your total running cost.
Frequently asked questions
Is Shopify better than WooCommerce?
Neither is universally better. Shopify is faster to launch and fully managed, while WooCommerce offers more control on WordPress. Shopify suits most DTC and retail brands that want to focus on selling rather than maintenance.
Can you migrate my store to Shopify?
Yes. We migrate products, collections, customers, and content from other platforms, then set up redirects so your search rankings and links carry over.
Can you make my Shopify store faster?
Yes. We audit the theme, trim unused apps and scripts, optimise images, and tune the code to improve load times and Core Web Vitals, which helps both conversion and SEO.
Do you build headless Shopify stores?
Yes. When a brand needs a fully custom front-end, we build headless with Hydrogen or a framework like Next.js, keeping Shopify as the commerce back-end.
What does it cost to run a Shopify store?
Running costs include your Shopify subscription, payment processing fees, and any paid apps you use. The build is a separate one-time cost that scales with customisation.
Comparing options? See WordPress & WooCommerce or a custom commerce build. Already live? Our care & growth service keeps the store fast and converting.
Written by Codeviti with AI assistance and reviewed by our engineering team for accuracy. Last updated August 2026.