To hire a Shopify expert the right way, start by clearly defining your project goals, whether it’s a full store setup, theme customization, app development, conversion optimization, or marketing support. Once you know what you need, explore trusted platforms like the official Shopify Experts Marketplace, freelance sites such as Upwork or Fiverr, and professional Shopify agency directories to find qualified specialists. Always review their portfolios, client testimonials, and technical expertise to confirm real expertise.
While Shopify makes the basics easy, growing a competitive and high-performing store often requires more than drag-and-drop features. That’s where a Shopify expert becomes essential. With the right professional, you can customize your store far beyond standard templates.
However, hiring a Shopify expert isn’t always straightforward. The process can feel confusing and overwhelming, especially if it’s your first time outsourcing ecommerce work. The good news? You don’t have to figure it out alone. This comprehensive guide walks you step-by-step through the entire hiring and onboarding process so you can confidently choose the right Shopify expert for your needs.
Shopify freelancers vs Shopify agencies: Which one do you want to hire?
| Criteria | Shopify Freelancers | Shopify Agencles |
| Cost | Lower, budget-friendly | Higher, premium pricing |
| Expertise | Specialized in specific tasks | Full-service team with diverse skills |
| Speed | Slower for large tasks | Faster due to multiple resources |
| Project Size | Best for small or one-off jobs | Ideal for full builds and complex projects |
| Support | Limited, depends on availability | Structured, ongoing support |
Where to find top shopify experts?
Finding the right Shopify expert will take a lot of time if you don’t know where to get started. However, there are many places and cool tips to find and hire a Shopify expert that is ideal for you needs.
In this section, we will see how to hire both freelancers and agencies.
Method 1: Finding Shopify experts through Google search
If you search for the keyword “hire shopify experts”, it will show you tons of results and lead you to millions of websites. Let me suggest you few keywords which you can use while browsing for the services you are looking for.
For agencies
- Shopify Development Services
- Shopify Development Companies
- Hire Shopify Agency
If you want to find agencies that offer a particular Shopify service, try searching: Shopify + [Service Name] + Services.
Use this formula in Google, and you’ll instantly see a list of agencies offering that specific service. From there, you can review, compare, and shortlist the most relevant options.
For freelancers
If you want to hire freelancers, then here are a few keywords that you can search on Google:
- Hire Shopify Developers
- Hire Freelance Shopify Experts
- Freelance Shopify Development Experts for Hire
By searching these keywords, it will show you some of the best freelancing platforms that have been popular globally. It can make your search easier.
Method 2: Hire expert Shopify developer from freelancing platforms
Freelancing platforms are one of the most popular places to hire expert Shopify developers. As per my expertise and many word-of-mouth names, I received my is:
Upwork allows you to discover both individual freelancers and full-service agencies, while Fiverr is particularly useful for identifying skilled Shopify freelancers. Both platforms offer straightforward hiring processes. Below, I outline the steps you can follow to hire experts through each platform.
How to hire Shopify developers from Fiverr
The process to hire Shopify expert from Fiverr is super easy. Go to their website and type Shopify in the search bar.
You will be getting many results that include a variety of Shopify services and different packages. Then you need to filter out the services based on:
- Service Variations
- Language
- Location
- Budget
- Delivery Time
Once you have added the filters of your choice, you can compare and check if the profile matches your requirements or not. And if it does, then finally you can contact the person and hire them.
How to hire Shopify developers from Upwork
As I mentioned earlier, Upwork allows you to hire both freelancers and agencies, let’s see the process of hiring them. To hire best developers from Upwork, do the same process as we did for Fiverr. Go to Upwork website and search for “Shopify developer” in the search box.
This will provide you with many results, including top Shopify freelancers or top shopify agencies. You need to filter out freelancers based on:
- Talent type
- Hourly Rate
- Skills
- Location
- Languages
- Upwork Talent Badge
Once you set up filters of your choice, you can visit their profiles individually to understand their skills and work history better.
Method 3: Hiring from Shopify experts marketplace
The Shopify Experts Marketplace is Shopify’s official directory of vetted professionals both freelancers and agencies who specialize in Shopify-related services. These experts have been reviewed by Shopify for their skills, experience, and track record, making the Marketplace one of the safest and most reliable places to hire qualified Shopify talent.
This page also provides filters that you can use to find the right expert for your needs. So, once you have done the filters, visit profiles individually to make a final decision and click on contact button to connect with them.
What are the key things to consider before you hire a Shopify expert?
So, till now we have seen different methods to hire best shopify developers. Now, let’s see few things you need to evaluate before hiring the best Shopify agency or freelancer.
Now that you know how to find Shopify experts, you probably have a long list of freelancers and agencies to choose from. But you still need to separate the trustworthy professionals from the ones who may not be a good fit. That’s where a structured evaluation process becomes essential.
First, list all the experts who caught your attention in a spreadsheet, using a format similar to the example below and give each of them scores.
Step #1: Check their local presence
Search on Google to see how visible the shortlisted Shopify agencies are in their local market. This step is helpful if you want to hire from your own city or a particular location. You can search some of the below keywords:
- Shopify development agencies near me
- Best Shopify development company + city name
- Top Shopify development company + city name
Here’s how you can add ratings.
- Rate 0: If the Shopify agency is nowhere to be found in any local terms
- Rate 3-4: If they pop up in one or two local terms.
- Rate Perfect 5: If they’re visible in each local keyword.
Step #2: Check their portfolios & niche
Look for the projects they have worked for and clients they have worked with. Check their technology specialization. It will give you a clear picture. Another important factor to note down is the industry they have worked with.
Make sure they have experience in a similar niche that you are looking for. For example, Identixweb Ltd has worked with multiple industries, and if your niche is among them, then it’s a green signal. This evaluation process can also be supported by AI recruiting software for faster, more accurate shortlisting.
Step #3: Website traffic & speed
It will be incomplete if you don’t check the speed and performance of their client’s website. To check the website speed and performance, Google’s PageSpeed Insights tool is the best option and for website traffic you can use Ahref’s website traffic checker tool is the best option. Copy some of the client’s website url and paste it in the field and check their performance.
Step #4: Check their online reviews
Agencies can freely curate testimonials on their own websites, but platforms such as Google and Clutch offer unaltered, verified customer feedback. To view reviews on Google, search for the agency’s name and open their Google Business profile, where all publicly submitted reviews are displayed.
Once you have done with checking the GMB reviews, check reviews from Clutch & Glassdoor.
Step #5: Check their total years of experience
It’s necessary to consider the years of experience an agency has when hiring them, as it validates their expertise and their ability to deliver quality work.
You can find out their experience on Clutch.
You can add as many filters as you want. Finally based on the total scores you can decide whom to hire.
Key points to consider before signing a contract with a Shopify developer
- Clearly define the project scope, including all tasks and deliverables.
- Confirm the project timeline, milestones, and deadlines.
- Understand the pricing structure, payment terms, and any additional fees.
- Review the revision policy and costs for change requests.
- Set clear communication expectations and points of contact.
- Ensure you retain full ownership of all code, designs, and store assets.
- Verify who handles testing, QA, and launch responsibilities.
- Check the post-launch support duration and what it includes.
- Confirm confidentiality, data protection, and secure credential handling.
- Review the termination and refund policy before signing.
People also ask
1. What is a Shopify expert?
A Shopify expert is a trained professional either a freelancer or an agency who specializes in Shopify development, design, customization, optimization, and store management.
2. How much does it cost to hire a Shopify expert?
Costs vary based on experience, location, and project complexity.
3. Where can I find reliable Shopify experts?
You can find trusted experts through the Shopify Experts Marketplace, Upwork, Fiverr, agency directories, and referrals from other merchants.
4. Is hiring a Shopify developer worth the cost?
Yes. A Shopify developer can significantly improve your store’s design, performance, functionality, and conversion rate delivering value that typically outweighs the upfront investment.
5. Is it better to hire a local or remote Shopify developer?
Either works, quality matters more than location.
About the author
Sajini Annie John
Meet Sajini, a seasoned technical content writer with a passion for e-commerce and expertise in Shopify. She is committed to helping online businesses to thrive through the power of well-crafted content.