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Our Apps Have Driven
5X AOV | 2X Conversions | $30M+ Additional Revenue
5X AOV | 2X Conversions | $30M+ Additional Revenue
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Shopify Apps
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The Shopify ecosystem is one of the largest commerce opportunities for agencies, developers, and creators in the United States and globally. With Shopify powering millions of merchants worldwide, the Shopify Partner Program is the official entry point for any agency, developer, or affiliate who wants to build apps, design themes, run an eCommerce agency, or refer merchants to the platform [1]. The program is free to join, has zero revenue minimums at the entry tier, and rewards demonstrated commercial impact with progressively higher tiers, dedicated Shopify support, and direct merchant referrals from Shopify itself.
The Q2 2026 tiering update, published in the Shopify Partner Program Q2 2026 Tiering Guide, introduces a clearer framework for how partners qualify for and progress through tiers. Five tiers (Registered, Select, Plus, Premier, Platinum) are now evaluated quarterly across three measured dimensions: new referral and co-sell revenue, existing merchant revenue, and total net-new merchant acquisition. Credentials are waived for 2026, only commercial activity counts. This shift makes the program more performance-driven and more accessible to United States agencies and developers who can demonstrate merchant impact regardless of certification history.
If you have helped any business set up its Shopify store, built a custom Shopify app, designed a theme, or referred a merchant to Shopify, you are already qualified to register as a Shopify Partner. This guide breaks down what the Shopify Partner Program is, the five partner types you can choose from, the new Q2 2026 tier requirements and revenue thresholds, the benefits unlocked at each tier, and the step-by-step process to sign up.
A Shopify Partner is any developer, designer, agency, marketer, or affiliate who is officially registered in the Shopify Partner Program and helps Shopify merchants succeed by building stores, creating apps or themes, providing marketing or technical services, or referring new merchants to the platform. There are over 100,000 vetted Shopify Partners across 50+ countries, with the United States and India representing the two largest partner markets [1].
Shopify Partners are a global network of agencies, developers, designers, marketers, and affiliates who work with Shopify merchants to build, optimise, and scale their stores. The program includes five partner types: Shopify Experts, Development Partners, Plus Partners, Agency Partners, and Affiliate Partners. As of Q2 2026, partners are organised into five performance tiers (Registered, Select, Plus, Premier, Platinum) updated quarterly based on revenue and merchant acquisition impact.
The Shopify Partner Program is a free initiative that empowers United States agencies, developers, designers, and creators with tools, APIs, training, and direct merchant referrals to build, customise, and grow businesses within the Shopify ecosystem. The program is organised across two tracks (Service Partner and Technology Partner) and five performance tiers, with quarterly tier reviews and trailing-window evaluation periods of 5 years for Select and Plus tiers, and 2 years for Premier and Platinum.
Shopify Plus Partners are the elite tier of agencies and technology providers approved to work with Shopify Plus, the enterprise-level plan. Plus Partners specialise in large-scale custom development, advanced GraphQL Admin API integrations, headless commerce implementations using Hydrogen, and multi-store localisation strategies for global brands. As of Q2 2026, qualifying for Plus tier requires either USD $500,000 in new referral revenue or USD $2.5 million in existing merchant revenue, plus at least 2 Plus or Enterprise merchants.
A Shopify Partner Agency is an agency that has registered in the Shopify Partner Program and delivers end-to-end commerce services to United States and global merchants, including store builds, design, custom development, digital marketing, conversion rate optimisation, and ongoing growth strategy. Shopify Partner Agencies progress through the same five-tier system as individual Shopify Partners, with the highest tiers (Premier, Platinum) reserved for agencies operating at scale across enterprise merchants.
To create a Shopify Partner account, go to shopify.com/partners, click Join Now, enter your email and a password, verify your email address within 24 hours, and complete your business profile (business name, address, business email, services offered). Once submitted, you instantly start at the Registered tier with access to unlimited free development stores, partner-exclusive APIs, Shopify Academy training, and the Shopify Partner Dashboard.
Sign up at shopify.com/partners by clicking Join Now, creating a free account with your business details, agreeing to the Shopify Partner Program Agreement, and accessing your Partner Dashboard. United States Shopify Partners can immediately start building development stores, creating apps for the Shopify App Store, designing themes for the Shopify Theme Store, or referring merchants as affiliates. There is no fee or minimum revenue requirement to start.
Shopify Agency Partners are full-service Shopify agencies registered in the Shopify Partner Program who deliver comprehensive end-to-end commerce services to merchants, often combining technical development with strategy, design, marketing, and conversion rate optimisation. Agency Partners frequently advance into the higher tiers of the Shopify Partner Program (Plus, Premier, Platinum) by serving large United States and global merchants and maintaining ongoing collaborator relationships that contribute to existing merchant revenue.
The Shopify Partner Program connects developers, designers, marketers, and affiliates with Shopify's 2 million merchants. Whether you build stores or build audiences, it rewards your contribution with revenue share, tools, and visibility through custom code, unique designs, and specialized services.
For app developers, theme creators, and agencies, being a Partner means:
It's free to join. This isn't just for huge firms; freelancers, startups, and established agencies alike can jump in and leverage these resources.
There are several distinct categories of Shopify Partners, each serving a different role:
Shopify experts are certified professionals who offer specialized services like design, development, SEO, and store setup. These are professionals with proven proficiency in their area. An agency might collaborate with a Shopify Expert for specific project components, or an agency itself may achieve Expert status to validate its foundational service capabilities for small to mid-sized merchants.
This category is central to building bespoke solutions. Shopify Development Partners specialize in:
Development Partners are crucial for merchants who require tailored, scalable technical solutions beyond standard platform functionality.
Shopify Plus Partners represent an elite group of agencies and technology providers approved to work with Shopify Plus, the enterprise-level version of Shopify. These partners possess advanced technical proficiency for managing complex, high-volume e-commerce operations. Their expertise includes:
Shopify Agency Partners deliver comprehensive, end-to-end e-commerce services. Their scope often includes the technical capabilities of Development Partners, augmented by strategic layers such as digital marketing, conversion rate optimization (CRO), and long-term growth planning. Agencies frequently become Shopify Partners to formalize their capabilities and access platform-specific resources for their client projects.
Affiliate Partners promote Shopify through content, blogs, videos, and referrals. They earn commissions by referring new merchants to the platform. This is a great path for content creators, educators, and influencers looking to monetize their audiences by recommending a trusted eCommerce platform.
Each path offers distinct opportunities depending on your skills, business model, and goals.
The Shopify Partner Program Q2 2026 Tiering Guide introduces a clearer, performance-driven framework for how United States and global partners qualify for and progress through the five tiers. The framework is built on three measured dimensions, all evaluated within rolling time windows.
The three dimensions of partner impact:
1. New referral and co-sell revenue. This reflects revenue from merchants you help bring to Shopify or support through Shopify-led sales motions. It includes client transfer stores (where you create and transfer a store that becomes active), Shopify-confirmed referrals for Shopify Plus or Enterprise plans, and co-sell engagements with Shopify sales teams. Revenue is attributed based on Shopify-verified partner involvement and is subject to validation.
2. Existing merchant revenue. This reflects revenue from merchants you actively support over time. It includes merchants where you maintain an ongoing relationship through collaborator accounts and provide services (development, optimisation, marketing, growth strategy) that contribute to their continued success on Shopify. Like new revenue, it is Shopify-verified.
3. Merchant acquisition (net-new merchant count). This reflects the number of net-new Shopify merchants you bring to the platform through referrals, co-sell, or partner-led store creation. Only net-new Shopify merchants count, expansion stores from existing merchants are explicitly excluded.
How tiers are determined: Shopify evaluates both new merchant revenue and existing merchant revenue, then uses the stronger of the two to reflect where the partner is having the most impact. To advance into a tier, the partner must also meet the merchant acquisition requirement for that level. This dual-revenue-with-acquisition-floor model means United States Shopify Partners can qualify for higher tiers either by acquiring lots of new merchants OR by deeply growing existing merchants, but never without ongoing acquisition.
Important 2026 update: Per the Q2 2026 Tiering Guide, credentials are waived for 2026. Only commercial activity is evaluated this year, which makes the program meaningfully more accessible for United States agencies and developers who can demonstrate merchant impact regardless of certification history.
Below are the exact thresholds from the Q2 2026 Tiering Guide. All revenue figures are in USD because the Shopify Partner Program is denominated in U.S. dollars globally.
Shopify uses the stronger of the two revenue dimensions to determine tier placement. A United States agency with USD $200,000 in new referral revenue but USD $3 million in existing merchant revenue would qualify for the Plus tier on the existing-revenue track, for example.
Standard plans cover Basic, Grow, and Advanced. Plus and Enterprise refer to higher-complexity merchant engagements with Shopify Plus or Shopify Enterprise. Premier and Platinum can only be achieved through Plus or Enterprise merchant acquisition, Standard plan merchants do not count toward these top tiers regardless of volume.
Worked example for a United States Shopify Agency Partner:
All Shopify Partners get core tools and resources to support United States and global merchants. As partners progress through tiers, they unlock progressively deeper access to Shopify resources, dedicated support, and direct collaboration with Shopify itself. Below is the official benefits matrix from the Q2 2026 Tiering Guide.
What this means in practice for United States Shopify Partners:
The single biggest tier-progression unlock for most United States Shopify Agency Partners and Shopify Plus Partners is moving from Select to Plus, where Directory listing dramatically expands inbound merchant flow.
Tier status is reviewed and updated quarterly, on January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1 of each year. Partners can monitor their current tier and progress in real time through the Shopify Partner Dashboard, where impact is tracked against the three measured dimensions.
Trailing evaluation windows:
The trailing-2-year window for top tiers ensures that Premier and Platinum reflect recent, sustained performance rather than historical achievements. A United States Shopify Plus Partner that hit Premier in 2023 but has slowed merchant acquisition since 2024 will drop tiers in the next quarterly review if recent performance does not meet the Premier threshold.
What happens if a Partner's tier changes:
For United States agencies and developers planning their year, the practical implication is to target tier-qualifying impact in trailing-window periods rather than calendar years. A push to acquire 2 additional Plus merchants in Q4 2025 only counts toward tier review if those merchants are still active and revenue-generating in the trailing window at the next review date.
Aggregation across multiple Partner IDs: If an organisation operates multiple Partner IDs (common for large United States agencies with multi-brand portfolios), Shopify may aggregate performance across them and reflect status against a primary Partner ID. This is helpful for agencies that have grown via acquisition or operate sister brands.
Maintaining a Shopify Partner tier is conditional on compliance with Shopify's policies, since merchant trust is non-negotiable across the Partner Program. To keep your tier and benefits, every United States and global Shopify Partner must comply with:
If Shopify identifies an issue with a partner's compliance or merchant outcomes, the program follows a defined four-step sequence rather than immediate removal:
Shopify also retains the right to review, adjust, or interpret performance data to ensure accuracy and program integrity. This means tier qualifications are not purely mechanical, demonstrated quality of merchant outcomes matters, not just raw revenue or merchant counts.
Brand use rules for tier badges: Use the tier badge associated with your current status only. Do not alter, translate, or modify badges. After any change in tier status (promotion or downgrade), update the badge across your United States agency website, Partner Directory listing, marketing materials, and pitch decks.
Joining Shopify’s Partner Program is all about building new revenue streams, credibility, and long-term business growth. Here’s what you gain when you sign up:
1. Earn One-Time & Recurring Revenue
Create apps, themes, or client stores once and get paid again and again. Every store you build, every merchant you refer, and every app you publish can generate ongoing monthly revenue.
This is where the program provides significant technical value:
Becoming a Shopify Partner is a strategic move for freelancers, agencies, developers, and marketers aiming to expand their reach in the eCommerce industry. Whether you're interested in becoming a Shopify Expert, Shopify Development Partner, or Shopify Agency Partner, the process is straightforward and free. Here's how you can get started:
Navigate to the official Shopify Partners page. This is your gateway to the program, providing comprehensive information about the benefits and opportunities available to partners.
On the homepage, locate and click the "Join Now" button. This will begin the process of creating your Shopify Partner account.
You'll be prompted to enter your email address, first name, last name, and a secure password. After filling in these details, click "Create Account" to proceed.
A verification email will be sent to the email address you entered. Open the email and click on the verification link within 24 hours to confirm your account.
After email verification, you'll need to complete your partner profile by providing:
Additionally, you'll be asked to specify your business goals, such as:
This information helps Shopify tailor resources and opportunities to your specific interests.
Before proceeding, review the Shopify Partner Program Agreement. Once you've read and understood the terms, check the box to indicate your agreement and click "Submit."
Once you’ve successfully registered, you’ll be taken to your Shopify Partner Dashboard. This centralized hub allows you to:
Within the dashboard, you can explore various avenues to grow your business:
Shopify offers two primary partnership tracks. Both run on the same five-tier qualification system described above, with the same revenue and merchant acquisition thresholds, but the partner activities, benefits, and ideal candidate profiles differ meaningfully.
The Service Partner track is built for United States agencies, consultancies, and system integrators that specialise in building, migrating, and optimising Shopify stores. Service Partners are typically the right fit for any agency providing end-to-end commerce services to merchants.
Core responsibilities:
Benefits: Service Partners gain access to exclusive sales incentives for new merchant referrals or co-sell, product roadmap previews and private beta programs, continuing education and exclusive training, Shopify-led referrals from merchants seeking partner services, Partner Directory listing (Plus tier and above), and in-market events.
Tiered progression: Service Partners progress through Registered, Select, Plus, Premier, and Platinum, qualifying via the same revenue and merchant acquisition thresholds described in the Tier Qualification Requirements section above.
The Technology Partner track is designed for United States and global independent software vendors (ISVs), app developers, and technology providers who build solutions extending Shopify's capabilities. This is the right track for developers building Shopify apps, integrations, or custom solutions intended for the Shopify App Store or for a broader merchant audience.
Core responsibilities:
Benefits: Technology Partners receive premium partner benefits, product roadmap previews and private beta access, early access to new product releases, Shopify-led referrals to merchants seeking specialised technology solutions, App Store listing and visibility, and marketing resources including event kits and demand-generation campaigns.
Tiered progression: Technology Partners use the same five-tier system: Registered, Select, Plus, Premier, and Platinum. Tier placement is based on revenue impact and merchant acquisition through app installs, custom integrations, and co-sell motions.
The Shopify Partner Program has introduced a structured, performance-based tier system to recognize and reward partners for their contributions and success within the Shopify ecosystem. Partners are categorized into tiers based on multiple factors, including their history of experience, proven success on Shopify, and performance metrics. The tiers are as follows:
Advancement through these tiers is based on factors such as commercial impact, number of successful referrals, and the attainment of Verified Skills credentials through Shopify Academy.
Shopify Academy is an educational hub designed specifically for Shopify Partners, including Shopify Agency Partners, Shopify Development Partners, and Shopify Experts. It provides a wide array of courses and resources that cover various aspects of the Shopify ecosystem, enabling partners to:
The Shopify Partner Directory is a worldwide platform that links merchants with a network of over 100,000 vetted Shopify Partners across more than 50 countries. Whether you're launching a store, customizing features, or optimizing performance, the directory makes it easy to find experts for services like development, design, marketing, and integration. With advanced filters by location, industry, language, and partner tier, merchants can quickly identify the right partner to match their specific business needs. These partners specialize in various services, including:
This directory replaces the former Shopify Experts Marketplace, offering a more streamlined and comprehensive resource for merchants seeking professional assistance. Whether you need help with development, design, marketing, or integrations, the directory helps you connect with verified experts tailored to your business needs.
Find a Shopify Partner – Explore verified service providers tailored to your business goals, location, and industry specialization.
Find a Shopify App – Discover powerful apps to enhance your store’s functionality and customer experience.
The Shopify Partner Program is one of the cleanest growth opportunities for United States agencies, developers, and creators in the eCommerce space. The Q2 2026 update shifted the program toward a clearer, more accessible performance-driven framework: five tiers, three measured dimensions (new referral revenue, existing merchant revenue, and merchant acquisition), quarterly tier reviews, and credentials waived for 2026 so commercial impact is what counts.
For any United States agency, freelancer, or developer building on Shopify, the playbook is straightforward. Register for free at shopify.com/partners, pick the partner type that matches your business model (Expert, Development Partner, Plus Partner, Agency Partner, or Affiliate), and start working with merchants. As you bring net-new merchants to Shopify and grow existing merchant accounts, your tier progresses each quarter, unlocking tier badges, Partner Directory listing at Plus, dedicated Shopify support and Market Development Funds at Premier, and full strategic collaboration at Platinum.
The Shopify Partner Program is no longer just a sign-up form, it is a structured, measurable path from Registered to Platinum, with clear thresholds and clear benefits at every tier.
