The Shopify partner program is one of the largest commerce ecosystems on the planet, and it keeps growing. Whether you are a freelancer, an agency, or a technology vendor, understanding how the program works in 2026 is essential for building a profitable business around Shopify stores.
A Shopify partner is a registered professional or organization inside Shopify's ecosystem that helps merchants build, run and grow stores. That covers agencies, freelancers, developers, designers, marketers and software vendors holding an active partner account. Joining is free and takes under 30 minutes at partners.shopify.com. There's no revenue minimum at the entry tier.
The program runs two tracks and five tiers. As of August 10, 2026, partners earn 20% of subscription revenue plus 0.1% of merchant GMV for four years — the GMV share is new, and it's the biggest change to partner compensation in years.
This guide breaks down how to join, how to earn, and how to differentiate yourself inside the global partner ecosystem.
What is a Shopify partner in 2026?
A Shopify partner is a registered professional or organization operating inside the Shopify ecosystem that helps merchants build stores, create apps, and grow revenue. Partners are independent agencies, freelancers, developers, designers, or marketers who hold an active partner account in the official partner program — independent businesses, not Shopify employees.
The scale is considerable. Shopify reports paying $1.3 billion to partners in 2025, with partners generating an estimated $12.5 billion in revenue for merchants and the ecosystem supporting around 1.5 million jobs globally. Shopify partners typically serve small and medium-sized businesses, while Shopify Plus partners cater to larger merchants with advanced needs and go through a competitive application process.
Understanding the hierarchy matters. The old Shopify Experts Marketplace badge was retired in December 2023. Today, "Shopify expert" refers to a partner with deep specialization, verified results, and strong directory presence rather than a legacy label. Solo Media Group participates in this ecosystem as a Platinum-tier service partner, having worked with over 500 brands and helping generate $500M+ in annual client revenue.
How the Shopify partner program works today
The Shopify partner program is the official framework governing partner accounts, revenue share, benefits, and obligations. Joining is free with no registration fees, and all partners begin at the Registered tier.
The program splits into two main tracks and five tiers:
- Two tracks. The Service Partner Track (agencies, consultants) and the Technology Partner Track (app developers, theme developers).
- Five tiers. Registered → Select → Plus → Premier → Platinum. Technology track tiers above Registered are invitation-only.
- Tier criteria. Based on verified commercial impact — referral revenue, new merchants acquired, and performance metrics — rather than self-reported experience.
- Quarterly reviews. Program rules and benefits are reviewed quarterly and surfaced in the partner dashboard, so tier status isn't permanent.
- Partner program agreement. All partners must accept and comply with the agreement, which is updated as policies change.
Service vs technology partners: two tracks explained
Every partner falls primarily into either the Service Partner Track or the Technology Partner Track, even if they mix activities.
Service partners include agencies, consultants, freelancers, and systems integrators. They handle store builds, migrations, ERP integrations, CRO, and ongoing support retainers. Revenue comes from fixed-fee projects, monthly retainers, and client referrals that generate a recurring commission on merchant subscriptions.
Technology partners are software vendors who build Shopify apps, themes, and middleware integrations. They publish to the Shopify App Store and earn through app subscriptions, theme sales, and usage-based pricing. Theme developers keep 85% of theme store sales.
Shopify replaced the legacy "Plus Partner Agency" and "Plus Certified App" labels with a unified, tier-based system and the Certified Technology Partner Program.
Solo Media Group operates on the service side, focused on Shopify Plus development for high-performing store builds, B2B expansions, and data-driven growth. We collaborate with vetted technology partners for custom app development and integrations rather than publishing apps ourselves.
The partner dashboard, account setup, and daily workflow
A partner account is a free Shopify account created at partners.shopify.com that unlocks the partner dashboard and development tools. Here is what your first week should look like:
- Sign up and confirm your email. You must confirm your email before the partner account is created.
- Accept the partner program agreement and complete your company profile: business name, address, website, and the services you offer.
- Secure your login with two-factor authentication, and set account permissions for team members.
- Explore the partner dashboard. This is where you track earnings, manage projects, build stores, and access Shopify Academy training.
- Create development stores. Partners can build unlimited free development stores for client testing. Create at least one immediately to learn the platform and experiment safely.
Revenue opportunities for Shopify partners in 2026
Partners can earn through multiple streams: building stores, referring new merchants, launching apps and themes, and offering ongoing services. Here is how the money works.
Service partner earnings. Fixed-fee store builds and migrations, B2B setups, monthly retainers, and referral commissions. Partners earn up to 20% recurring commission on merchant subscriptions they refer, creating passive income over time.
Technology partner earnings. App developers keep 100% of their first $1 million in sales — lifetime, not annual. After crossing that threshold, Shopify takes a 15% revenue share, plus a 2.9% processing fee.
A concrete example. One Shopify Plus referral at roughly $2,300/month subscription generates approximately $460/month in recurring commission, plus thousands in implementation fees. That single deal can anchor lifetime earnings.
The new earning model. A revised earning model took effect on August 10, 2026, refining referral terms for Plus and Enterprise plan contracts signed after April 30, 2026.
Effective August 10, 2026
What Changed in Shopify Partner Earnings
Partners now share in merchant growth, not just subscription revenue.
Previously
From August 10, 2026
Worked example: one Shopify Plus referral
Figures are illustrative. Subscription pricing varies by contract and term, and the worked example excludes implementation fees. Confirm current terms in the Shopify Partner Program Agreement.
Solo Media Group blends store builds, CRO retainers, and long-term referral revenue for predictable cash flow — one illustration of how partners with diversified income stay ahead, and how brands benefit from working within a curated ecosystem of top Shopify partners.
Verified Skills, Shopify Academy, and becoming a Shopify expert
Shopify Academy is the official education hub where partners get free access to training courses, learning paths, and certification exams that validate technical skills. Partners can also use it to educate merchants through courses and webinars.
- Verified Skills are exam-based credentials in areas like development, checkout, POS, consulting, and marketing. They appear on partner profiles and directly affect directory ranking.
- Expert status today means deep specialization, verified results, and a strong directory presence rather than any legacy badge.
- Tier requirements since 2025–2026 are tied to completing specific Academy learning paths and Verified Skill assessments, not just revenue.
- Early access. Partners receive early access to new APIs and features before public release.
Solo Media Group invests in ongoing Academy training across Shopify Plus implementation, B2B, and performance optimization to maintain Platinum partner status.
The Shopify Partner Directory: where merchants find you
The Shopify Partner Directory is Shopify's curated replacement for the old Experts Marketplace, used by store owners globally to find vetted partners. Listed partners can also display the Shopify partner badge.
- What merchants see. Tier level, Verified Skills, location, services offered, industries, languages, and verified reviews.
- Visibility rules. Plus tier and above are guaranteed directory visibility. Select may appear. Registered typically does not.
- Optimization. Sharp positioning, concrete case studies with metrics, recent screenshots, and a clear minimum project size.
Merchants can vet agencies like Solo Media Group by checking specialization, project volume, and results before starting a conversation.
How to join and progress in the partner program
Joining is free, global, and typically takes under 30 minutes. There is no revenue minimum at the Registered tier — the program is open to anyone with an internet connection.
- Visit partners.shopify.com, click Join, and create a Shopify ID.
- Verify your email and accept the partner program agreement.
- Complete the required business fields: address, website, and services.
- Open the partner dashboard, create at least one development store, and enroll in initial Shopify Academy courses.
- Begin building — many partners start with migration work, moving stores from other platforms.
Progressing through tiers requires consistently launching high-quality stores, referring merchants, hitting revenue thresholds, and earning relevant Verified Skills. Quarterly review cycles determine advancement.
A realistic 6–12 month roadmap: months 1–3, pick a niche and build development stores. Months 4–6, complete service projects and produce case studies. Months 7–12, aim to move from Registered to Select by meeting referral and revenue thresholds.
Choosing (or becoming) the right Shopify partner in 2026
Merchants should evaluate partners by tier status, Verified Skills, directory presence, portfolio depth, and pricing clarity, following a structured approach to choosing the right Shopify agency.
Avoid outdated labels. Don't rely on deprecated terms like "Shopify Expert Marketplace," or on agencies that can't show current partner program alignment.
Ask pointed questions. Have you handled Shopify Plus migrations? Do you have B2B or POS experience? Can you show case studies with measurable ROI? What Verified Skills does your team hold?
Beyond the build itself, partners assist with complex data migrations and custom integrations, design responsive storefront themes, and provide ongoing support and optimization after launch — which is where most of the long-term value accumulates.
The best partner combines up-to-date program knowledge, demonstrated ROI, and transparent communication. Whether you want to become a Shopify partner or hire one, the program's structure rewards quality, consistency, and business growth.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Shopify partner?
A registered professional or organization in Shopify's official partner program that helps merchants build, run and grow stores. Partners include agencies, freelancers, developers, designers, marketers and app or theme vendors. They're independent businesses, not Shopify employees.
How do I become a Shopify partner?
Sign up free at partners.shopify.com, confirm your email, accept the Partner Program Agreement, complete your business profile, then create a development store to start building. The whole process takes under 30 minutes and there's no revenue minimum at the Registered tier.
Is a Shopify partner account free?
Yes. No registration fee, no minimum revenue, no ongoing cost. Every partner starts at Registered and progresses based on verified commercial activity and Verified Skills.
What does a Shopify partner agency do?
Service partner agencies build and migrate stores, handle custom development and app integrations, connect Shopify to ERP, CRM and 3PL systems, run conversion optimization, and provide ongoing support. Some also handle design, email marketing and SEO. Scope varies considerably between agencies.
How much do Shopify partners earn?
From August 10, 2026, partners earn 20% of subscription revenue plus 0.1% of merchant GMV for four years. A Plus referral at roughly $2,300 monthly generates around $460 per month in commission, with the GMV share adding roughly $10,000 annually on a $10M merchant. App developers keep 100% of their first $1 million in lifetime sales, then pay 15% revenue share plus 2.9% processing.
What are the Shopify partner tiers?
Five: Registered, Select, Plus, Premier and Platinum. Tiers are based on verified commercial impact rather than self-reported experience and are recalculated quarterly, so status isn't permanent.
What is a Shopify Platinum Partner?
The top tier of Shopify's Service Track, above Premier, Plus, Select and Registered. Platinum requires the highest thresholds of delivered enterprise work and commercial performance, reassessed each quarter.
Does the Shopify Experts Marketplace still exist?
No. It was retired in December 2023 and replaced by the Shopify Partner Directory. The phrase "Shopify Expert" survives in search but is no longer an official designation. Agencies still marketing themselves through the old label haven't updated their positioning.
How do I create an app in the Partner Dashboard?
Go to Apps, then Create app, and choose public (App Store distribution) or custom (single merchant). Shopify generates the credentials at creation. Your Client ID and Client secret appear under the app's configuration, and the secret is displayed once — store it immediately.
How do I get listed in the Shopify Partner Directory?
Reach Plus tier or above for guaranteed visibility. Select tier may appear; Registered typically doesn't. Beyond tier, earn Verified Skills, complete your profile with specific positioning, and gather verified client reviews.
What are Shopify partner rewards?
Program benefits scale with tier and include revenue share, early access to new APIs and features, development stores, Shopify Academy access, and directory visibility. Specific benefits are reviewed quarterly and surfaced in the partner dashboard.
How do I remove a partner's access to my store?
In your Shopify admin, go to Settings, then Users, and remove the partner's access. Partners can also remove your store from their dashboard. Revoking access is immediate.
How long does it take to progress through the tiers?
It depends entirely on commercial activity, since tiers reflect verified impact. A realistic path is six to twelve months from Registered to Select: pick a niche and build development stores in months one to three, deliver client projects and produce case studies in months four to six, then meet referral and revenue thresholds through months seven to twelve.
