How to check if a website is built with Shopify

You can check if a website is built with Shopify by inspecting the page source for specific code strings, using a browser extension, or looking at the URL structure. The most reliable method is viewing the page source and searching for "cdn.shopify.com" or the window.Shopify variable. If you see these markers, the site runs on the Shopify platform. This guide covers the manual steps and the automated tools that confirm the platform instantly.

How to check if a website is built with Shopify

You might be asking this question because you are researching a competitor, looking for a redesign opportunity, or simply curious about the technology behind a store you like. Knowing the platform helps you understand what tools the business uses and what limitations they face. It also tells you if the site is a full Shopify store or just using a Shopify-powered button.

There are three main ways to find this out. You can use an automated scanner, you can look at the website address, or you can read the code. Each method has a different level of accuracy. The automated scanner is the fastest. The code inspection is the most accurate. The URL check is the quickest but the least reliable.

Method 1: Use a Technology Scanner

The fastest way to identify the platform is to use a technology detection tool. These tools scan the website in the background and list the technologies it uses. You do not need to read code to use them.

You can use a free checker like what is this website built with to identify the platform instantly. It tells you the e-commerce engine, the hosting provider, and the key software libraries in one view. This is useful when you are checking many sites quickly and do not want to open the developer console every time.

Other popular options include Wappalyzer and BuiltWith. Both are available as browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge.

To use Wappalyzer:

1. Install the extension from your browser’s add-on store.
2. Navigate to the website you want to check.
3. Click the Wappalyzer icon in your browser toolbar.
4. Look for "Shopify" in the list of detected technologies.

If the tool lists Shopify, the site is very likely a Shopify store. However, automated tools can sometimes make mistakes. They might detect a Shopify script that is only used for a payment button or a buy button widget. For a definitive answer, you should verify the result using the manual methods below.

Method 2: Inspect the Page Source Code

This is the most accurate method. Every Shopify store loads specific files from Shopify’s content delivery network. You can see these files by looking at the HTML source of the page.

Here is how to do it:

1. Go to the website you want to check.
2. Right-click anywhere on the page.
3. Select "View Page Source" from the menu. On Mac, you can also press Cmd + Option + U. On Windows, you can press Ctrl + U.
4. A new tab will open showing the HTML code.
5. Press Ctrl + F (or Cmd + F on Mac) to open the search bar.
6. Type cdn.shopify.com and press Enter.

If you see results, the site is using Shopify’s content delivery network. This is a strong indicator that the site is a Shopify store.

If you do not see cdn.shopify.com, try searching for these other strings:

• shopify.com/s/
• Shopify.theme
• Shopify.Checkout
• window.Shopify

The presence of window.Shopify is particularly definitive. This is a JavaScript object that Shopify injects into every page. You can also check the browser console to see this object directly.

To check the browser console:

1. Right-click on the website and select "Inspect".
2. Click the "Console" tab at the top of the developer tools panel.
3. Type window.Shopify and press Enter.
4. If an object appears, the site is a Shopify store. If you see "undefined", it is not a Shopify store.

You can also check for the window.Shopify.shop property. This returns the store’s subdomain on myshopify.com. For example, it might return my-store.myshopify.com. This confirms the store exists on Shopify even if the business uses a custom domain.

Method 3: Check the URL Structure

Shopify stores use specific URL patterns for their pages. You can look at the address bar to see if the site follows these patterns.

Common Shopify URL structures include:

• /products/[product-name]
• /collections/[collection-name]
• /cart
• /account
• /pages/[page-name]
• /blogs/[blog-name]/[article-name]

If you see a URL like https://example.com/products/blue-t-shirt, it is likely a Shopify store. If you see https://example.com/collections/summer-sale, it is also likely Shopify.

However, this method is not reliable on its own. Many other e-commerce platforms use similar URL structures. You can easily change URL structures in WordPress, WooCommerce, or Magento to look like Shopify. Therefore, you should only use the URL check as a first step. If the URLs look like Shopify, confirm it with the source code inspection.

Method 4: Check the Checkout Page

This is a very strong indicator. Shopify hosts its checkout process on its own servers. When a customer goes to checkout on a Shopify store, the URL changes to checkout.shopify.com.

To test this:

1. Add a product to the cart on the website.
2. Click the "Checkout" button.
3. Look at the URL in the address bar.
4. If the URL contains checkout.shopify.com, the site is definitely a Shopify store.

You do not need to complete the purchase. You only need to reach the first step of the checkout process. This method works even if the site uses a custom domain for the rest of the store. The checkout always runs on Shopify’s infrastructure.

Why These Signals Matter

Understanding how to identify a Shopify store is useful for several reasons.

Competitor Research: If you are in e-commerce, knowing what platform your competitors use helps you understand their capabilities. Shopify stores have access to a large app store. You can look at the apps they use to see what features they offer. For example, if a competitor uses a specific review app or an email marketing app, you can look into those tools for your own business.

Lead Generation: If you offer web design, development, or marketing services, knowing the platform helps you tailor your pitch. A Shopify merchant has different needs than a WordPress merchant. You can speak to their specific pain points. For example, Shopify merchants often care about conversion rate optimization, app integration, and speed.

Technical Integration: If you are a developer, knowing the platform tells you how to build integrations. Shopify has a well-documented API. If you are building a tool that connects to e-commerce stores, you need to know if the store is on Shopify to use the right API endpoints.

Security and Compliance: Shopify handles payment processing and data security for its merchants. Knowing a site is on Shopify tells you that it uses Shopify’s security infrastructure. This can be a positive sign for consumers who are concerned about data privacy.

Common Pitfalls and False Positives

When you are checking if a website is built with Shopify, you might encounter false positives. These are cases where the site looks like it is on Shopify but is not.

Shopify Buy Button: Some websites use the Shopify Buy Button to sell products from a Shopify store, but the main website is built on a different platform. For example, a blog on WordPress might have a "Buy Now" button that links to a Shopify product. If you see Shopify scripts on the page, check if the whole site is Shopify or just the button. Look for the /products/ and /collections/ URL patterns. If they are missing, it is likely just a Buy Button.

Headless Shopify: Some advanced stores use a "headless" setup. This means the front end of the website is built with a custom framework like React or Next.js, but the back end uses Shopify for product data and checkout. In this case, you might not see the standard Shopify HTML structure. You will still see window.Shopify in the console, but the page might look different. If you see Shopify JavaScript globals but no standard Shopify HTML, it is likely a headless Shopify store.

CDN Caching: Sometimes, a content delivery network might serve cached files that contain Shopify strings, even if the site has moved away from Shopify. To avoid this, try checking the site in an incognito window or by hard refreshing the page. This bypasses the cache and loads the fresh version of the site.

Third-Party Themes: Some developers use Shopify theme files on non-Shopify platforms using tools like Theme Kit. This can create confusion. If you see Shopify CSS and JavaScript files but no window.Shopify object in the console, the site is probably not a full Shopify store. It is using Shopify assets on another platform.

Step-by-Step Verification Checklist

To be 100% sure a website is built with Shopify, follow this checklist.

1. Check the URL: Look for /products/, /collections/, or /cart in the address bar. If present, it is likely Shopify.
2. View Page Source: Press Ctrl + U and search for cdn.shopify.com. If found, it is very likely Shopify.
3. Check Console: Open the browser console and type window.Shopify. If an object appears, it is definitely Shopify.
4. Check Checkout: Add an item to the cart and click checkout. If the URL changes to checkout.shopify.com, it is definitely Shopify.

If you get a "yes" on any of these steps, you can be confident the site is on Shopify. If you get a "no" on all of them, the site is not on Shopify.

Using This Knowledge for Your Business

Knowing how to identify a Shopify store is a practical skill for anyone working in digital business. It helps you make better decisions about technology, marketing, and sales.

If you are a business owner, you can use this to research your competitors. See what platform they are on and what apps they use. This can give you ideas for your own store. If you are a freelancer or agency, you can use this to find new clients. You can target Shopify merchants specifically and offer services that are relevant to their platform.

If you are considering building your own online store, you can look at successful Shopify stores to see what is possible. You can see their themes, their product pages, and their checkout process. This can help you understand what customers expect from an online store.

For more insights on building and managing an online presence, you can read our guide on local business websites. It covers the basics of setting up a website that works for your specific business goals.

Final Thoughts

Checking if a website is built with Shopify is a simple process once you know where to look. You can use automated tools for a quick answer, or you can inspect the code for a definitive result. The key is to look for specific signals like cdn.shopify.com, window.Shopify, and the checkout.shopify.com URL.

By combining these methods, you can accurately identify Shopify stores and avoid false positives. This knowledge is valuable for competitive research, lead generation, and technical planning. Whether you are a developer, a marketer, or a business owner, understanding the technology behind a website gives you an edge.

Start by using a scanner tool to get a quick overview. Then, verify the result by checking the page source and the browser console. This two-step approach gives you both speed and accuracy. With this method, you can confidently identify any Shopify store on the internet.