Is It Shopify? How To Check If A Website Is Built On Shopify  

Key Takeaways

• Some critical indicators of spotting a Shopify-built website include examining the URL structure, inspecting the source code, utilizing the tech detection tools, etc.
• Determining if a website is built on Shopify can be straightforward if you know where to look. One can easily discern whether a website operates on Shopify by noting the right signals.

Why is it essential to identify whether a website is built on Shopify?

Recognizing a Shopify website is helpful for buyers and creators alike. For shoppers, it hints at a smooth user experience, precise payment methods, and reliable shipping. This knowledge helps customers shop confidently. For developers, studying Shopify sites can offer insights into popular designs, helpful add-ons, and special features they might use in their own work.

How to check whether a website is built on Shopify?

There are a variety of methods to determine whether a site is powered by Shopify or not. Here are the collections of the most common and trustworthy options:

Examine the URL format

The URL is an excellent place to start if you determine whether a website operates on Shopify. Typically, websites hosted on Shopify have a recognizable URL format that reads something like your-storename.myShopify.com. Additionally, many Shopify-based sites use distinctive URL structures with specific keywords such as “collections,” “products,” or “pages.” 

For instance, when you come across a URL that looks like https://www.examplestore.com/collections/all, there’s a high chance it’s hosted on Shopify due to the inclusion of the “/collections/” segment, which is a hallmark of Shopify URLs. However, it’s crucial to exercise with caution. Not every Shopify website will adhere strictly to this URL pattern. 

Some store owners may customize their URLs or employ third-party plugins that alter the default structure to make their site unique or accommodate certain functionalities. As a result, while the URL can provide significant hints, it doesn’t always offer a foolproof method for identifying Shopify websites.

Check the Shopify-specific HTML and CSS classes

If you’re keen to identify a Shopify website, examining its code can be revealing. Shopify sites often have distinct HTML and CSS classes, such as “Shopify-section” or “Shopify-buy-button.” Spotting these can hint at Shopify being the platform in use. Moreover, you might notice CSS files with “shopify” in their names or other Shopify-specific terms. These signs typically point to the site being built on Shopify.

Inspect the source code

To clarify if a website is built on Shopify, users can peak into its source code. This type of code is a website’s backbone, crafted in a language humans can understand. Unique HTML markers, like “Powered by Shopify” or “Shopify Theme,” are often added by Shopify. 

You can view this by right-clicking on the page and selecting “View Page Source” or “Inspect.” Also, spotting “shopify” within JavaScript file names strengthens the website’s likelihood of using Shopify. 

However, some site proprietors might alter or hide these indicators, so adopting multiple verification methods is wise. Notably, mentions of “Shopify.js” or “Shopify_common.js” in the code are good signs pointing towards Shopify.

To sum up, you can easily access a website’s source code using specific keystrokes, which vary based on your computer’s operating system. Below are the 2 common types of computer operating systems that you will need to check the source code:

For MacOS

On a macOS computer, you can quickly check a website’s platform by inspecting its source code:

• Firstly, navigate to the desired website.
• Press Option+Command+U to display the source code.

This will reveal the underlying structure of the website. To determine if it’s built on Shopify:

• Use the shortcut “Command+F” to open the search function.
• Type in ‘Shopify’ and search.

If ‘Shopify’ appears in the source code, it indicates the website operates on the Shopify platform.

For Windows or Linux

On Windows or Linux computers, follow these steps to see if a website runs on Shopify:

• Press CTRL+U to open the website’s source code.
• Hit CTRL+F to bring up the search bar.
• Enter ‘Shopify’ and scan the results.

Spotting ‘Shopify’ suggests the site is likely built on the Shopify platform.

Utilize a tech detection tool

Online tools can help you figure out if a website runs on Shopify. These are called technology lookup tools, and they identify what tech a website uses. Here’s how they work and why they’re helpful:

• How they function: These tools use IP address checks, server analysis, and other methods to detect a website’s hosting platform.
• How to use them: Just input a website’s URL or domain. The tool can tell you if the site is on Shopify or another platform.
• Accuracy: While handy, these tools aren’t always perfect. Using other methods to confirm your findings is also a good idea.
• Why they matter: If you’re into market research or SEO, these tools can show you which sites use similar tech.

For those keen to try, we recommend two specific technology lookup tools in this article to identify Shopify-run sites.

Wappalyzer

Wappalyzer offers a handy, free tool that helps users identify a website’s host and offers features like creating lead lists and monitoring competitor sites.

Here’s a quick guide to use to identify the technologies on your website:

• Navigate to Wappalyzer’s lookup page.
• Insert the website’s URL by copying, pasting, or typing directly.
• Click ‘search’ and view the result.

Upon doing so, a detailed report about the website appears, showcasing its metadata, company details, UI framework, and hosting details. With Wappalyzer, it’s straightforward to identify if a site is an eCommerce one using Shopify. Plus, it informs you about the active payment processors on that site.

BuiltWith

BuiltWith is another insightful tool for uncovering a website’s technology stack. Here’s a simplified guide to its usage:

1. Features: While BuiltWith offers advanced features like market share analytics and lead list generation in its premium tiers, its essential lookup tool is free and can confirm if a website is on Shopify.

2. Usage:

• Navigate to BuiltWith.
• Input the desired website’s URL into the search bar.
• Click “lookup.”

3. Interpreting Results: You’ll get a detailed site list after searching.

• View the correct site’s data by spotting its name at the top.
• For Shopify verification, look for the ‘eCommerce’ section. If Shopify is mentioned, it’s a Shopify site. The absence of the ‘eCommerce’ section typically means it’s not a Shopify-powered website.

In essence, BuiltWith, although slightly more intricate than Wappalyzer, offers a reliable method to discern if a website is hosted on Shopify.

Scan the Shopify logo or powered by Shopify link

One straightforward way to identify a Shopify site is by checking the footer for the “Powered by Shopify” link. Every Shopify store typically includes this link, making it a reliable indicator. Additionally, spotting the Shopify logo at the bottom of the page reaffirms that the website is built on the Shopify platform. Both these signs offer clear evidence of the site’s association with Shopify.

Specific Shopify-owned features

Shopify equips its merchants with a distinctive set of features, and by recognizing these, one can often deduce if a website runs on Shopify. Key functionalities that hint towards Shopify’s usage include the options for customer account creation, abandoned cart recovery, product reviews, discount codes, and seamless social media connections.

When observing the checkout process, Shopify employs a consistent flow. This includes specific fields and sequences like inputting shipping and payment details. Elements such as the “Continue to Shipping” and “Continue to Payment” buttons are telltale signs. Also, the word “checkout” might sometimes appear in the website’s URL, suggesting it’s a Shopify checkout page. Nonetheless, since merchants can customize these pages, it’s good to look for other signs too.

To summarize, Shopify-powered sites usually exhibit unique features, such as:

• A “Shop Now” button on the main page.
• A conveniently placed search bar.
• “Add to Cart” options on product listings.
• A clear “Checkout” prompt in the shopping basket.

Spotting these features often implies the site operates on Shopify.

Website structure elements

Website’s structured data

Structured data, or schema markup, gives search engines more details about webpage content. Shopify creates this data per Schema.org standards, ensuring that products are clearly defined for search engines. By checking a website’s structured data, tags like “Product” or “WebPage” may hint at Shopify’s involvement. However, some shops might change or delete these tags, so use this method with others.

Meta tags

Meta tags offer insights about a webpage, aiding search engines and social platforms in displaying and sharing results. By examining a site’s meta tags, you might find clues indicating its use of Shopify, like “shopify:digital-wallet” or “shopify: domain”. This method isn’t always definitive but can be an additional aid.

Robots.txt file

The robots.txt file guides search engine bots on a website’s content. It can reveal specific URLs like “Disallow: /cart” on Shopify sites. However, not all websites disclose this file. Therefore, it’s essential to verify using alternative methods.

SEO patterns

Shopify includes SEO features, enhancing websites for search engines. Recognizing these SEO traits can hint if Shopify powers a website. Typical signs include unique URL structures with product terms and canonical tags pointing to the preferred webpage version. Shopify also produces XML sitemaps and lets merchants tailor metadata for better search results.

3rd-party apps

Finally, Shopify’s app store offers many third-party integrations, boosting store functions. Spotting popular integrations, such as Mailchimp for email marketing or Google Analytics for site data, can suggest a Shopify connection. These tools are frequently used on Shopify sites and provide extra confirmation.

FAQs

Bottom line

In conclusion, determining whether a website is built on Shopify involves various techniques, from inspecting the footer for telltale signs to delving into the website’s source code for specific tags. While certain overt indicators like “Powered by Shopify” can provide immediate clarity, others may require a more nuanced approach.