How to Tell If a Website Uses Shopify (From a Developer Who’s Been in the Game for 10+ Years)

how to detect shopify

I’ve been building Shopify apps and themes for over 10 years. Built three apps that scaled thousands of stores. Helped brands go from struggling to six-figure months.

And let me tell you—spotting a Shopify store is like second nature to me.

Follow these steps and you’ll always know if a website uses Shopify—whether you’re doing competitor research, looking for inspiration or just curious.

Fastest way? View page source (Ctrl+U) and search for cdn.shopify.com.

Most foolproof way? Add something to the cart and check the checkout URL.

Easiest way? Use a detection tool like Wappalyzer or BuiltWith.

Now let’s get into it.

1. View Page Source (Easiest Method for Devs Like Me)

Right click anywhere on the page and select View Page Source (Ctrl+U on Windows, Cmd+Option+U on Mac).

Then hit Ctrl+F and search for:

  • cdn.shopify.com – Shopify hosts its images, scripts and styles on its own CDN.
  • shopify.js or shopify.css – Shopify themes load specific JavaScript and CSS files.
  • myshopify.com – Even if a site has a custom domain, Shopify still leaves traces of its original subdomain.

This works 99% of the time.

Want to know which Shopify plan gives you the best value? Check out our Shopify Pricing Guide for a complete breakdown. Seen a Shopify store you love? Use our Shopify Theme Detector to instantly find out what theme it’s built on.

2. Check the Checkout Page (A Shopify Giveaway)

Shopify has a unique checkout system. Add a product to the cart and go to checkout. Check the URL.

If it redirects to something like this: https://checkout.shopify.com

Then you’ve just confirmed the site is Shopify.

Even Shopify Plus stores (big brands running on Shopify’s enterprise plan) still use Shopify’s checkout but they get a custom domain for it (like checkout.brand.com).

3. Use a Shopify Detection Tool (Instant Results)

If you don’t want to dig through code use a Shopify detection tool:

  • BuiltWith – Scans a website and tells you its tech stack.
  • Wappalyzer – Browser extension that detects Shopify in one click.
  • WhatCMS – Tells you if the site is running Shopify or another CMS.

I personally use Wappalyzer all the time. Install it, visit any website and it’ll tell you if it’s built on Shopify.

4. Shopify-Specific Design Elements

I’ve built enough Shopify themes to recognize them instantly. Some giveaways:

  • Sticky Add-to-Cart Buttons – Shopify themes love these for conversions.
  • Product Carousels – Almost every Shopify store uses these to showcase products.
  • Dynamic Search Bars – Shopify’s built-in search is so smooth and instant.
  • Review Badges (Loox, Judge.me, Stamped.io, etc.) – Shopify merchants use these a lot.
  • Currency Switchers – Often powered by Shopify apps like BEST Currency Converter.

If a site looks like a clean, modern ecommerce store then there’s a high chance it’s Shopify.

5. Inspect the Backend with Developer Tools

Want to go full developer mode?

  1. Open Chrome DevTools (F12 or Ctrl+Shift+I).
  2. Go to the Network tab.
  3. Reload the page.
  4. Look for requests going to cdn.shopify.com or references to Shopify scripts.

If you see Shopify’s CDN popping up in the request logs you’ve got your answer.

6. Check the Footer for “Powered by Shopify”

A lot of Shopify stores forget to remove this from their footer.

Scroll to the bottom of the website. If you see:

Powered by Shopify

Then you don’t need to check anything else. It’s a Shopify store.

(Tip: If you run a Shopify store and want to remove this, go to Online Store > Themes > Edit Code > Footer.liquid, then delete {% powered_by_link %}.)

7. Use DNS Records to Confirm (For the Hardcore Researchers)

If you really want to dig deep check the site’s DNS records with MXToolBox.

Most Shopify stores will have DNS records pointing to Shopify’s servers, like:

  • shops.myshopify.com
  • 23.227.38.32 (Shopify’s IP address)

This is an advanced method, but it’s bulletproof.

8. Shopify Apps That Give It Away

I’ve built three successful Shopify apps so I know Shopify merchants love apps.

If you see any of these on a site it’s 100% Shopify:

  • Loox – Review app with photo testimonials.
  • Klaviyo – Email popups and automations.
  • Oberlo – Dropshipping product importer (acquired by Shopify).
  • Recharge – Subscription payments.
  • PageFly – Custom landing page builder.

Some of these add visible widgets to a store (like Loox’s review widgets) which makes spotting a Shopify store even easier.

Want a Shopify Store That Looks Just Like That?

If you’ve found a design you love, we can recreate it for you on Shopify—with the same look, feel, and functionality.

We offer full Shopify design and migration services, so whether you’re starting from scratch or moving from another platform, we’ll build a store that’s fast, optimized, and conversion-focused.

💬 Drop us a line here and let’s bring your dream store to life.

Conclusion

If you follow these steps you’ll always know if a website uses Shopify—whether you’re doing competitor research, looking for inspiration or just curious.

Fastest way? View the page source (Ctrl+U) and search for cdn.shopify.com.

Most foolproof way? Add something to the cart and check the checkout URL.

Easiest way? Use a detection tool like Wappalyzer or BuiltWith.

Want help optimizing your Shopify store? I’ve built three successful apps, worked on hundreds of stores, and I know what works.

I'm a highly motivated self-taught software developer with over a decade of experience. My journey in software development began when I left college to pursue my passion, and since then I have been working on a wide range of projects. I have extensive experience creating custom WordPress sites, mobile apps using React Native, web apps using React-based frameworks, and Shopify apps with Node.js. I have also played with numerous other technologies, tools, and frameworks over time, and have contributed to many open-source projects. I pride myself on creating clean, well-formatted, and properly documented code that is easy to maintain. My perfectionist approach ensures that every project I deliver meets the highest standards. I always ask myself, "If I were the client, would I be happy with this?" This mindset has helped me to deliver excellent projects for my clients and build a reputation for quality work.

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