The short version
Shopify's $1/month rate for six months costs $6 total in subscription fees, doubling the standard three-month deal's runway to about six months plus the 3-day trial while every other plan feature and the 2.9% + 30¢ card rate stay the same.
The only confirmed way to get six months instead of three is the 1MBB program, offering the Basic plan to Black entrepreneurs in the US and Canada through Operation HOPE.
Outside that program, Shopify sets the length by when you create your account and start the trial — and it may vary by store location — instead of publishing one term, so most merchants are shown the standard three-month version instead.
Shopify says it might offer this promotional pricing to new merchants, though it doesn't publish who counts as new.
What's New Since Publication: Updated since publication · 3 changes
- Free-trial page now advertises a domain credit and a "$10,000+" rewards headlineA September 25, 2026 check of shopify.com/free-trial found two changes since our last review. The page now advertises "Add a domain, get $20 USD back" in subscription credits — a domain offer Shopify's Help Center says is for new merchants only — and the rewards headline now reads "earn up to $10,000+ in credits as you sell" (the "+" was absent from our September 14, 2026 archived copy). Neither change affects the $1/month pricing or trial length covered in this article.
- Help Center adds a 4-month free trial for stores created with AI toolsShopify's Help Center now describes a free trial, "currently 4 months," for stores created with an AI tool such as the Stripe Projects CLI or with a vibe code partner. It is a separate setup path and a free trial rather than the $1/month rate. The public signup offer is unchanged (3 days free, then $1/month for 3 months), and 1MBB remains the only confirmed $1/month-for-6-months route. Shopify does not date the change; the section was absent from an archived copy of that Help Center page from July 23, 2026.
- Re-checked: still no public 6-month offer, 1MBB remains the only confirmed routeA July 26, 2026 check of the public signup page, the 1MBB page and the official promotion terms found nothing that changes the advice here. The public page showed the $1/month promo with no duration stated at all — Shopify says the length depends on when you create your account and start the trial, and may vary by store location — and no 6-month term anywhere on it, while 1MBB still advertises the Basic plan at $1/month for 6 months in the US and Canada. The rewards-promotion terms have not been updated since December 2, 2025, so the sales-credit caps stay $5,000 / $7,500 / $10,000.
Is the Shopify $1 for 6 Months Deal Real — and What's the Catch?
Key takeaway
Yes — the offer is genuine, but four caveats decide who actually benefits:
- New merchants — Shopify says it might offer promotional pricing on monthly plans for new merchants, and it doesn't publish who counts as new.
- Standard plans — the Help Center names Basic, Grow and Advanced as plans you can test on the free trial and points Shopify Plus to a separate Plus trial; the Starter plan isn't available to new stores.
- Only the subscription is discounted — the 2.9% + 30¢ card rate is unchanged.
- Generic affiliate links don't unlock a longer term — Shopify sets the length itself, by factors it doesn't fully publish (its Help Center names store location and when you create your account); the confirmed 6-month version comes through specific programs, not a random referral link.
Current Offer Status (Checked Monthly)
Key takeaway
Because Shopify sets the promotional length by when you create your account and start your free trial — and it may vary by store location — a flat "yes or no" is misleading. Most merchants are shown the standard 3-month deal; see our full guide to the $1 for 3 months offer, while this page covers the rarer 6-month variant. Below is exactly what each channel showed on our latest check — written so you can lift a single line and act on it.
Sales credits: as of September 25, 2026, Shopify also advertises 1% back on sales via Shopify Payments (0.5% otherwise), during your first 6 months or until you reach your plan's cap — for merchants Shopify invites to the promotion. The official offer terms set the caps at $5,000 (Basic), $7,500 (Grow), and $10,000 (Advanced), in USD; the pricing page can show you different personalized figures, so treat the offer terms as the authority. Currency: the promotional price renders as $1/€1/£1 per month depending on your store's region — the same offer in local currency.
Not to be confused with the "6 months of POS Pro" banner that can appear alongside these offers — that is a promotion for a different product (Shopify POS Pro, for in-person retail), not the online store trial.
- Open the free-trial signup at shopify.com/free-trial.
- Enter your email address and click Start free trial — Shopify's Help Center says this is how to find out the current trial length and any promotional offers available, before you enter any payment details.
What Is the Shopify $1/Month for 6 Months Deal?
Key takeaway
You may have seen the standard Shopify offer — Shopify's $1 for 3 months offer. In some cases, that low-cost window runs for $1/month for 6 full months instead — doubling your runway to about six months plus the 3-day trial.
Shopify controls this promotion directly — the terms shown at signup on shopify.com/free-trial are the terms you get. But it is not a seasonal banner: across 18 months of archived snapshots — including Black Friday and New Year 2025–2026 — the public page consistently showed the 3-month version. On our checks the signup page states the $1/€1/£1 price without stating a number of months, so the length is filled in by factors Shopify doesn't fully publish rather than swapped on a calendar.
That does not mean the number is unpublished. Shopify's pricing page does spell it out in plain text: on our September 25, 2026 check it read three days free, then the promotional $1/€1/£1 rate for 3 months, repeated on every plan card. But that figure isn't a fixed rule either — the pricing page's own code suggests it is the term assigned when the page loaded, not a rule Shopify commits to.
Shopify's own code gives the mechanism a name. The live pricing page ships an array called banditAssignments, a useBanditRewardId module and interface keys such as pricingBanditFeatureGrid — the vocabulary of a bandit test, where each visitor is dealt one variant of an offer. The promotional copy is a template rather than a fixed sentence, and the number of months is one of its variables.
"Try {{trialLength}} days free, then {{paidTrialAmount}}/month for {{paidTrialLength}} months."— the free days, the price and the number of months are all placeholders."Start for free, then get your first {{count}} months for {{paidTrialAmount}}/mo."— shipped alongside plural forms for one, two, few, many and other months, which exist only because the count genuinely changes."{{paidTrialAmount}} for your first month"— the one-month form of the same offer, in the same bundle.
So the variation runs downward as well as up: a shorter promo is as real a possibility as a longer one, which is another reason not to gamble on being shown six months. None of this is new, either — an archived copy of the pricing page from September 6, 2025 already carried the same placeholders, so the term has varied by page load at least since then. Shopify doesn't publish the rules; its Help Center names store location and the date you create your account.
The one channel with a firmly confirmed 6-month term is the 1MBB program — Shopify's partnership with Operation HOPE, the "1 Million Black Businesses" initiative. It offers the Basic plan at $1/month for the first 6 months, and it is built for Black entrepreneurs in the US and Canada: you register with the nonprofit Operation HOPE rather than signing up through the generic free-trial page.
It is not a loophole for everyone else — Shopify's own offer terms state that stores not meeting the program's criteria lose eligibility and "are subject to closure without notice." If the program isn't meant for you, the 6-month version isn't something you can reliably summon on demand — which is exactly why reading the term shown to you matters more than hunting for a magic link.
Source: Shopify Free Trial Page (terms vary by factors Shopify doesn't fully publish, including store location)
Shopify is deliberately vague about how it decides who gets which term. Its Help Center says trial length and pricing are subject to change and might vary by store location, and that the duration of trials and any promotional pricing is determined by when you create your Shopify account and start your free trial — without naming the mechanism behind it:
Trial length and pricing are subject to change and might vary by store location.
€1, £1 or $1: The Same Offer in Your Currency
Because pricing follows your store location, the promotion isn't always shown in dollars: in the eurozone it appears as €1/month and in the UK as £1/month instead of $1. It's the same offer — the currency is set by Shopify at signup based on where your store is registered, and availability varies by region.
Where the 6-Month Number Actually Comes From
Key takeaway
If "6 months" feels like something you have definitely seen on Shopify's own site, you have. On our September 13, 2026 review the phrase turns up in four separate places — and not one of them is the duration of the public signup offer. That mismatch is the most likely source of the myth.
- The 1MBB program — "Try Shopify's Basic plan for just $1/month for the first 6 months." The one case where six months really is a plan term, and it is gated: US and Canada only, through Operation HOPE.
- A POS Pro promotion — the pricing page carries a line offering "6 months of POS Pro" at a discounted monthly rate. We were not served it (it targets retail sellers), but the string is live in the page's own code. POS Pro is in-person retail software, not your online plan.
- The sales-credit window — "Valid for your first 6 months or until you reach the max." Six months is how long you can earn credits, not how long you pay $1.
- The release cadence — Shopify Editions: "Everything new across Shopify. Every six months." That is the product release calendar, and it has nothing to do with billing.
Read those four lines quickly, in any order, and "Shopify gives you 6 months for $1" is an easy conclusion to reach — which is why so many third-party guides repeat it. The phrase is genuinely on Shopify's site; it is just attached to a gated program, a different product, a credit window and a release calendar rather than to your promotional pricing.
Sales Credits: Earn Up to $10,000 as You Sell
Key takeaway
Alongside the $1/month pricing, Shopify now advertises a separate rewards promo on shopify.com/free-trial: subscription credits — 1% back on all sales made through Shopify Payments (0.5% on other gateways), accrued during your first 6 months or until you reach your plan's cap. In the US render the headline reads "earn up to $10,000+ in credits as you sell" — but the banner number varies by factors Shopify doesn't fully publish, just like the trial length: in the same July week we observed the identical page showing $8,000 to some visitors, and the per-plan cap badges shifting between three different sets.
The binding numbers live in the fine print, not the banner. Per Shopify's official rewards promotion terms (verified September 25, 2026): only merchants Shopify invites to the promotion are eligible, no credit is applied until the store reaches $1,000 USD in sales (or the local equivalent), and the caps are:
Per-plan credit caps in USD, for merchants Shopify invites to the promotion — at the 1% rate they correspond to $500k/$750k/$1M in sales. Source: Shopify Rewards Promotion Terms (Basic/Grow/Advanced) and Shopify Help Center (Plus), verified September 25, 2026
These are credits toward your future Shopify subscription, not cash — earned only by merchants Shopify invites to the promotion, capped at their plan's limit, with the currency following your store region ($1/€1/£1). Treat the credit as a bonus on top of the $1/month runway, not as a reason to overspend chasing it.
6 Months vs 3 Months: What's Actually Different?
Key takeaway
Let's be clear about what the 6-month deal changes — and what it doesn't. Understanding this prevents unrealistic expectations:
The only real difference between Shopify's 3-month and 6-month $1 deals is duration: $3 total vs $6 total in subscription fees, saving $114 vs $228 against Basic's full price — features, transaction fees and app access are identical.
| Feature | 3-Month Deal | 6-Month Deal |
|---|---|---|
| Promotional Duration | ~3 months | ~6 months |
| Subscription Cost | $3 total | $6 total |
| Savings vs Full Price (Basic) | $114 saved | $228 saved |
| Plan Features | 100% included | 100% included |
| Card Rate | Standard rates | Standard rates |
| App Store Access | Full access | Full access |
| Availability | Standard public offer | Varies by account & location |
| After Promotion | $39/mo (Basic) | $39/mo (Basic) |
The extra 3 months matter more than you might think. With the standard 3-month deal, most merchants are still in the "setup and first sales" phase when the promotion ends. The 6-month deal gives you a genuine optimization window — months 4–6 are where you can refine your marketing, test new products, and build repeat customer relationships before committing to full pricing.
How Do I Get Shopify for 6 Months Instead of 3?
Key takeaway
The 6-month offer isn't hidden behind a secret referral link — Shopify shows the term after you enter your email at shopify.com/free-trial and click Start free trial. Because that term varies by factors Shopify doesn't fully publish, the only reliable way to know your offer is to check the page yourself. Here's how:
Who Is Eligible for the 6-Month Deal?
Key takeaway
The eligibility requirements for the 6-month deal are the same as for the standard 3-month promotional offer (what Shopify documents about them, and what it leaves unwritten). Shopify's Help Center says it might offer promotional pricing on monthly plans for new merchants, and that promotional pricing is only available to eligible merchants on eligible plans:
Eligible
- New merchants (Shopify doesn't publish who counts as new)
- Anyone whose signup page shows the 6-month term — or 1MBB participants (Basic plan, US and Canada)
- Standard plans: Basic, Grow, or Advanced
- Store location matters: Shopify says trial length and pricing might vary by store location, and 1MBB is US and Canada only
Not Eligible
- Shopify Plus — has its own separate trial
- Starter plan — not available to new stores
What's Included in the 6-Month Promotional Period
Key takeaway
The $1/month price applies exclusively to the platform subscription. Shopify describes the offer as a reduced rate for a set period on your monthly plan, and none of the Shopify pricing or Help Center pages we checked lists a feature held back during it. Here's what you can access during the 6-month promotional period:
For a full walkthrough of all Shopify features and how they work together, see our How Shopify Store Works guide.
True Cost Over 6 Months: What You'll Actually Spend
Key takeaway
The $1/month subscription is only one line item. Being transparent about the real costs helps you budget properly and avoid surprises. For a detailed breakdown of all Shopify costs, see our Shopify Pricing Explained guide.
Over 6 months, a realistic Shopify budget runs about $210 for a lean launch, $1,120 for a moderate one, and $4,120 for an aggressive push — the $1/month subscription is a tiny fraction of the real cost. If the question underneath your budget is the dollar itself, what that $1 actually buys — and what the year costs once the rate stops is worked through line by line on its own page.
Realistic 6-Month Budget Scenarios
| Expense | Lean Launch | Moderate | Aggressive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shopify Subscription | $6 | $6 | $6 |
| Card Processing | $90 | $350 | $900 |
| Custom Domain | $14 | $14 | $14 |
| Paid Apps | $0 | $150 | $450 |
| Marketing / Ads | $100 | $600 | $2,400 |
| Premium Theme | $0 | $0 | $350 |
| 6-Month Total | $210 | $1,120 | $4,120 |
Card rate estimated at 2.9% + 30¢ per sale (Basic plan, Shopify Payments). Source: Shopify Pricing
Card rate estimated at 2.9% + 30¢ per sale (Basic plan). Source: Shopify Pricing
The 6-Month Action Plan: How to Maximize Your Extended Runway
Key takeaway
The 6-month deal gives you a structured runway that naturally divides into three phases. Here's how to use each phase effectively:
Phase 1: Build & Launch (Months 1–2)
Key takeaway
Phase 2: Learn & Optimize (Months 3–4)
Key takeaway
Phase 3: Scale & Decide (Months 5–6)
Key takeaway
Common Mistakes to Avoid During the 6-Month Period
Key takeaway
Having 6 months can paradoxically work against you if you're not disciplined. Here are the most common mistakes merchants make with extended promotional periods — based on patterns from the Shopify Community:
What Happens After the 6-Month Period Ends
Key takeaway
When your 6-month promotional period ends, the promotional rate ends and standard plan pricing applies. Your options are identical to those at the end of the 3-month deal:
The short answer, checked September 25, 2026: only the discount ends — Shopify's Help Center says the price changes to the standard rate for your selected plan and billing cycle. The Basic plan then costs $39/month, or $29/month on annual billing (25% off); Grow is $105/month and Advanced is $399/month. Transaction fees do not change, because the promotion only ever discounted the subscription, and Shopify does not extend or reset promotional pricing. One caveat from the same Help Center: its free trial page says that after the promotional period you need to select a standard-rate plan to continue, and a store without one might be frozen until you choose — so check Settings > Plan before the end date.
The other ways out of that same date are upgrading, pausing the store at $9/month, or cancelling. What the invoice itself looks like — when it lands, and why app charges arrive on their own separate 30-day cycles — is covered in our guide to Shopify's trial billing traps.
Post-Trial Options
| Option | Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Continue Basic (monthly) | $39/mo | Stores still testing or with variable revenue |
| Switch to annual billing | $29/mo | Committed stores — save 25% ($120/year) |
| Upgrade to Grow | $105/mo | Stores doing $33K+/mo revenue (lower card rates) |
| Pause and Build | $9/mo | Seasonal businesses or stores needing a break |
| Cancel | $0 | Store didn't validate — data preserved for later |
Shopify doesn't extend or reset free trials or promotional pricing.
For a data-driven guide to choosing your post-trial plan, see our How to Choose the Right Shopify Plan article. If you're doing over $33,000/month in revenue, upgrading to Grow pays for itself through lower transaction fees — see the breakeven analysis in our pricing guide.
Estimate Your Post-Trial Costs
Key takeaway
Use the calculator below to see what Shopify will cost after the $1/month period ends, based on your expected revenue and order volume:
Shopify Cost Calculator
Enter your estimated monthly numbers to see the true cost across all Shopify plans.
* Estimates based on Shopify Payments rates. Actual costs may vary based on location, currency, and negotiated rates. Does not include theme, domain, or developer costs.
Bottom Line: Is the 6-Month Deal Worth Waiting For?
Key takeaway
The 6-month deal is a bonus, not a necessity. Whether you have 3 months or 6, the formula is the same: launch quickly, drive traffic, and let the numbers tell you what to do next.
Your Next Step
Frequently Asked Questions
Front-end developer specializing in Shopify since 2017. Experienced in building custom Liquid themes, optimizing storefront performance, and integrating third-party apps. Directs the editorial process behind Ecom Store Pro: sets its topics and the rules every AI-written page must pass before publication.
This page was written by AI. Separate AI agents that did not write it check its figures and claims against official sources and test its links and interactive tools. A human editor sets the site's editorial direction, topics and rules and checks that pages are complete and display correctly, but does not check their facts or edit their text. Details may change — always confirm critical data at shopify.com.
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