Author: Bogdan Rancea

Bogdan Rancea is the founder and lead curator of ecomm.design, a showcase of the best ecommerce websites. With over 12 years in the digital commerce space he has a wealth of knowledge and a keen eye for great online retail experiences. As an ecommerce tech explorer Bogdan tests and reviews various platforms and design tools like Shopify, Figma and Canva and provides practical advice for store owners and designers. His hands on experience with these tools and his knowledge of ecommerce design trends makes him a valuable resource for businesses looking to improve their online presence. On ecomm.design Bogdan writes about online stores, ecommerce design and tips for entrepreneurs and designers.

Shopify Starter Plan Review: Is It Worth the $5?

When someone asks me, “What’s the cheapest legit way to start selling online?”—my answer is nearly always the same: Shopify Starter.

But that doesn’t mean it’s for everyone.

After 15+ years of building ecommerce stores, consulting for brands, and watching platforms evolve, I can tell you that while this plan is lean, it can be incredibly effective if you use it the right way.

In this review, I’ll walk you through exactly how the Shopify Starter plan works, who it’s made for, what it offers (and what it leaves out), and whether it’s the best move for your business.

Shopify vs Instagram Shop: Which One Should You Choose?

Shopify and Instagram Shop are two popular platforms for selling products online — but which one is right for your business?

We’ve tested both tools extensively and used them across multiple ecommerce projects to bring you a clear, no-nonsense verdict.

When it comes to building a real brand and owning your customer experience, Shopify comes out on top.

But if you’re looking for a fast, low-cost way to test products on social media, Instagram Shop still has a role to play.

Shopify vs Easy Digital Downloads (EDD): 2025 Comparison

shopify vs edd

Selling digital products is a completely different game from selling physical goods. You don’t need inventory, shipping, or warehouses, but you do need the right eCommerce platform.

Shopify and Easy Digital Downloads (EDD) are two of the biggest options, but they cater to very different business models.

Shopify is a hosted, all-in-one platform that makes it easy to start selling digital and physical products without any technical knowledge.

On the other hand, Easy Digital Downloads is a WordPress plugin designed specifically for selling digital products like eBooks, courses, and software. Since it’s self-hosted, you get full control, but it comes with more setup responsibilities.

The right choice depends on what you’re selling, how much control you need, and your technical comfort level.

Below, I’ll break down their differences in pricing, features, customization, and ease of use—so you can pick the best platform for your digital business.

PageFly Shopify Trial: My Honest Experience (And How To Make It Worth Your Time)

pagefly Shopify trial

Designing a store that actually converts is one of the biggest challenges when you first start with Shopify.

The default Shopify builder works well for getting your store live, especially if you’re sticking with a theme.

But if you want more control over how things look — like custom layouts, sales-focused sections, or mobile-specific tweaks — you might find a page builder useful.

I didn’t want to pay a developer or mess with custom code. I just needed a way to build better pages — fast. That’s when I found PageFly.

It’s one of the most popular page builders for Shopify, and the free plan lets you test it out properly without any pressure.

How to Spot Fake Shopify Sales: A Complete Breakdown from Experience

how to spot fake Shopify sales

Here’s Why This Guide Exists: A couple of weeks ago, I bought a trending product from a Shopify store that looked solid.

The sales popups kept flashing — “Sophie from Manchester just bought this!” — and the countdown timer told me there were only 2 left.

I hit buy in under a minute. Felt like a smart, fast shopper.

Turns out, it was all fake. The product never arrived. The refund policy led nowhere. And worse, those fake sales notifications? Completely made up by a plugin.

Where to Sell Digital Products: 15 Top Platforms for 2025

where to sell digital products

Selling digital products changed my business. No stock. No shipping. No support headaches.

Just great margins, global reach, and total scalability. But it only works if you’re using the right platform.

Over the last 10+ years building ecommerce stores, testing tools, and coaching clients, I’ve used or audited almost every digital product platform out there. Some were amazing.

Others were overpriced, clunky, or a complete waste of time.

If you’re wondering where to sell digital products, I’ll walk you through what’s actually worth using — based on your product, your skill level, and what kind of business you want to run.

Linktree vs Stan Store: Which Is Best for Ecommerce?

linktree vs stan store

Linktree and Stan Store are two top tools creators and ecommerce sellers use to turn clicks into sales. But which one actually helps you make money online?

We’ve done the legwork, combed through features, tested both platforms, and gathered real stats to help you decide. This comparison walks through pricing, sales features, customization, SEO, and ease of use.

So, let’s figure out which bio link tool is better for your ecommerce game.

Sellfy Pricing: A Clear Breakdown for Digital and Ecommerce Sellers

sellfy pricing

If you’re looking for a simple answer: Sellfy pricing starts at $29/month with two higher tiers at $79/month and $159/month.

You’ll get unlimited products on every plan, no transaction fees, and built-in tools like email marketing and upsells. There’s also a 14-day free trial, no credit card required.

Here’s how it all breaks down — based on real testing and side-by-side comparisons.

Sellfy vs Shopify: Which Ecommerce Platform Wins for Your Business?

shopify vs sellfy

Sellfy and Shopify are two ecommerce platforms with very different goals — but which one is the better choice for your online store?

To help you decide, I’ve tested both Sellfy and Shopify across key categories including pricing, selling features, ease of use, templates, and support.

Whether you’re selling digital downloads, subscriptions, or physical products, this breakdown will help you choose the right platform for where your business is at right now.

Best Shopify Apps for Clothing Stores (2025)

What I Learned After Analyzing 6000+ Stores Using Our App Detector Tool

Over the past 12 years, I’ve worked closely with ecommerce design, platforms, and tools — but in the last year alone, I analysed more than 6000 Shopify fashion and clothing stores for ecomm.design, our ecommerce design gallery.

To dig deeper, I used our in-house Shopify App Detector tool to track which apps each store uses. That gave me a clear view into what successful brands are doing behind the scenes — not just what’s trending.

This guide isn’t based on theory. It’s built from real-world data — apps that real fashion brands are using to grow and streamline their stores.

Best Ecommerce Platforms for Clothing: What Actually Works (And Why)

best ecommerce platforms for clothing

When you’re starting or scaling a clothing store online, picking the right ecommerce platform isn’t just about tech — it’s about setting up a store that matches how people shop for clothes today.

After 12+ years working in ecommerce — testing platforms, helping brands grow, and running ecomm.design — I’ve seen what works and what holds stores back.

From mobile speed to how you display colour and size variants, the little details make a big difference.

Here’s my honest breakdown of the best ecommerce platforms for clothing brands — based on actual usability, not marketing fluff.

My Shopify Review: From Store Builds to 6,000+ Analysed

shopify review

I’ve been deep in ecommerce for over a decade — working with clients to build, optimise, and grow online stores across dozens of industries.

Through our ecommerce design gallery at ecomm.design, we’ve analysed over 6,000 Shopify stores to curate the best examples of design, UX, and performance.

On top of that, I’ve worked directly with brands to build custom Shopify sites, migrating stores to Shopify, audit underperforming stores, and help ecommerce teams scale more effectively.

So this isn’t a surface-level review or an affiliate-driven top-10 list.

It’s a real look at how Shopify performs in the wild — the good, the bad, and what I’ve consistently seen in the stores that succeed (and the ones that quietly stall out).