TL;DR: Shopify is great for traditional retailers with inventory, not digital-first Creators. After retiring its Linkpop feature, Shopify no longer supports link in bio-optimized storefronts, leaving many Creators scrambling for a new tool. Stan Store was built for Creators by Creators. It’s the easiest way to sell digital products, courses, coaching, and more—with fast setup, all-in-one tools, and 0% transaction fees.

For years, Shopify was the go-to for anyone who wanted to sell online. But the internet has changed—and so has the way people buy.

Today’s Creators aren’t managing warehouses or inventory. They’re selling their knowledge, community, and creativity—and they need an attention-grabbing storefront that moves as fast as they do. 

When Shopify quietly retired its Linkpop feature in July 2025, it left thousands of Creators searching for a link in bio alternative. And while Shopify remains powerful for traditional ecommerce brands, its ecosystem of plugins, transaction fees, and longscroll templates makes it far less ideal for digital-first Creators.

Stan Store was built specifically for this new era of Creator-Entrepreneurship. It gives Creators everything they need to launch, monetize, and scale directly from their social profile without juggling five different tools or paying fees every time they make a sale.

You can sell online with both tools, but depending on what you want to sell or who you want to sell to, one may be better than the other. In this comparison, we’re breaking down how Stan and Shopify stack up across features, pricing, support, and overall experience so you can decide which one is right for you.

What’s Stan Store?

Creators have mere moments to hold their followers’ attention long enough to make a sale. If you want to turn followers into customers seamlessly, you need a platform that makes buying effortless—for you and your audience. That’s where Stan Store comes in.

Stan is an all-in-one Creator storefront built directly into your link in bio, designed for maximum conversions—no tech hurdles, coding, or clunky third-party integrations required.

With Stan, you can host and sell everything in one place—digital products, coaching sessions, webinars, courses, memberships, or even community access. Every offer lives neatly inside your link in bio, and because there are no transaction fees, you’ll keep every dollar you earn.

Now, let’s look at how Shopify compares.

What’s Shopify?

Shopify is one of the most well-known platforms for building online stores—especially for retail and product-based businesses that need inventory management, shipping tools, and analytics all in one place.

But while it can be powerful for ecommerce, Shopify wasn’t built with Creators in mind. Using the platform to its full potential typically requires a steep learning curve, custom code, and add-on apps. 

And as of July 2025, Shopify discontinued Linkpop, their link in bio storefront—so you’ll need a third-party tool and extra subscription to create a truly mobile-optimized storefront that connects your social followers to your offers.

Stan Store vs. Shopify At A Glance

Short on time? Here’s a snapshot view of how Stan Store and Shopify compare.

Key Takeaways

📌 If you want to sell directly from your link in bio, Stan Store is the clear winner. It’s built for speed, simplicity, and maximum conversions—so you can sell digital products, courses, coaching, and memberships without coding, plugins, or transaction fees.

📌 If you’re running a traditional retail or inventory-based business, Shopify may be the stronger choice. It’s built for ecommerce brands that need product management, shipping tools, and advanced analytics, but comes with a steeper learning curve and higher monthly costs.

📌 The biggest difference? Stan is built for Creators, while Shopify primarily caters to retailers managing physical products and storefronts.

Now, let’s dig deeper into how Stan stands out beyond its features.

How Stan and Shopify Compare: Selling, Pricing, Support, & Overall Experience

Choosing a Creator platform isn’t just about checking off a list of features—it’s about finding a tool that actually makes running your business easier. You need something built for the way Creators sell today: fast, mobile-first, and human-centered.

That’s the main difference between Stan Store and Shopify. While Shopify used to offer an affordable link in bio store called Linkpop, it quietly shut it down in July 2025 without explanation, leaving its users scrambling to find alternatives.

Now, Shopify’s storefront experience is built almost entirely around physical product sellers, dropshippers, and retail brands—not digital-first Creators. Its long-scroll catalog layouts and app-dependent setup make it harder to sell offers like courses, coaching, or memberships directly from your social bio.

Stan Store, on the other hand, was specifically built for Creators. Instead of catering to every kind of business, it delivers Creator-first, all-in-one tools and transparent pricing to help you sell faster, grow easily, and keep more of what you earn. 

With the industry’s best Creator support and a 4.9-star mobile app, every detail is designed to make building your business better.

But that’s not all. Here’s why Stan has become Creators’ go-to tool 👇

💸 Maximize Your Income and Sell Digital Anything

Standing out online is harder than ever, and getting someone to stop scrolling long enough to buy from you takes more than a pretty landing page. You need a simple storefront built for speed and one-click conversions—not a traditional long-scroll page.

That’s why Creators love Stan. It’s the fastest way to turn your social followers into paying customers. With 11 ready-to-use link in bio templates, you can set up shop in minutes and start selling just about anything:

• Lead magnets to grow your email list, deliver instant value, and stay top-of-mind with your audience
• Digital products like templates, guides, and checklists, you can create once and sell forever
• Calendar bookings for paid or free coaching calls, consultations, or discovery sessions 
• Online courses and webinars hosted directly inside Stan—no need for third-party apps
• Memberships that generate recurring revenue and give your audience ongoing value
• Communities where your audience can connect, learn, and grow together in a private or public space
• External and Affiliate links to showcase your go-to brands, discount codes, or outside offers
• Landing pages that highlight specific products or promotions with a clean, conversion-optimized design

All without leaving Stan, paying for multiple apps, or setting up complex integrations. 

By contrast, Shopify isn’t as Creator-focused. It’s built primarily for ecommerce retail brands, with long-form product pages and inventory-based layouts ideal for desktop shopping—not quick mobile purchases from social media.

You can sell a variety of digital products on Shopify, but have limited options without installing add-on apps. And there’s currently no way to host online courses, webinars, or communities without a third-party tool (and an added subscription).

💰 Straightforward Pricing Plans

At Stan, simplicity isn’t just part of our product—it’s built into our pricing, too. We offer two flat-rate plans designed to support every stage of your Creator journey: Creator and Creator Pro. And no matter how much you earn, your costs stay the same.

For just $29/month, you get access to everything you need to build, monetize, and grow your audience. You can sell unlimited digital products without worrying about hidden fees or extra charges. And tools like AutoDM are included from day one to help you engage your followers and boost sales automatically—so you can focus on creating.

When you’re ready to scale, you can upgrade to Creator Pro ($99/month) to unlock advanced features like dynamic pricing, payment plans, email marketing, and campaign tracking.

Shopify’s pricing varies, with plans ranging from $39/month to $2,300/month depending on your store size and features. And your monthly subscription fee isn’t all you’ll pay—Shopify also charges variable fees for every transaction depending on your plan type.

With transaction fees as high as 2.9% + 30 ¢ per sale, they can quickly eat away at your earnings—especially when you’re just getting started.

💜 The Best Creator Support Team 

When you’re building a business, the last thing you want is to be stuck waiting days for help. Or worse—talking to a bot that doesn’t understand your problem. That’s where Stan Store’s support team truly stands out.

Unlike many Creator platforms, Stan’s support is 100% human and Creator-first. Our team listens, responds quickly, and genuinely cares about helping you succeed. 

We currently deliver:

✅ A 46-minute average response time—one of the fastest in the industry

✅ Fast, thoughtful replies from a team that truly listens 

✅ A customer experience Creators rave about

But don’t just take our word for it. Stan’s Creator support team is rated #1 in the industry, boasting a 4.8-star Trustpilot review.

Shopify’s customer experience pales in comparison. Users frequently report long wait times, hard-to-reach support, or generic responses that don’t fully resolve their issues—which is evident in Shopify’s 1.3-star Trustpilot review.

While customer support might not seem like the most important factor upfront, it quickly becomes one when something breaks or you need help fast. With Stan, you’ll always have a responsive team ready to get you back on track—without endless back-and-forth or frustrating bots.

💬 The Reviews Speak for Themselves

A platform can offer countless brilliant features, but they’re only powerful if you actually know how to use them. Both Stan Store and Shopify are powerful in their own ways, but Stan consistently receives praise for its simplicity, intuitiveness, and Creator-friendly support. Its no-code builder lets you launch your link in bio store and start selling in less than ten minutes.

Creators especially love how reliable the Stan mobile app is, earning a 4.9-star rating on the App Store backed by over 4,700 reviews. 

Here’s what reviewers love most:

✅ User-friendliness—“It only took me about one afternoon to set up my store and upload my first product. Stan Store saves me a lot of time compared to creating my own website or landing page. The interface is clean and easy to use, even for complete beginners.”

✅ Profitability—”I’ve been using Stan Store for over 2 years to market my products and services. The site is so easy to use. Having been in business for over 25 years, I have used a variety of platforms and service providers. They are by far one of the best.”

✅ All-in-one tools—”Stan Store has seriously saved me $50 per month, allowing me to consolidate five other apps into one comprehensive solution. Now, I can easily bundle my ebooks and courses for my students.”

✅ Unmatched support—“The customer service is incredible. Any time I email them, the response is quick and always helpful. I never have to wait days and days to hear back—it’s usually within the hour, if not sooner.”

Shopify’s learning curve is much steeper than Stan’s. While it offers advanced ecommerce features, it’s far less intuitive for digital-first Creators who want to launch and sell quickly. And its ratings reflect that gap—with just 4.7 stars on the App Store and 1.3 stars on Trustpilot.

Some users note that Shopify’s setup can feel overly complex. As one Shopify user puts it, “Shopify is expensive, there’s minimal customer support, and you have to learn how to do the little things by making expensive mistakes. For what they charge, they should have better support and an easier-to-navigate website.”

Stan Store is Built by Creators, For Creators

Most Creator platforms, like Shopify, were built by tech companies chasing profit—not by people who actually understand what it’s like to grow an audience and sell online. Stan is different.

Stan’s Founder, John Hu, built the company after experiencing the exact same frustrations Creators face today. He was growing a following but had no easy way to monetize—and he didn’t want to rely on brand deals or an expensive tech stack to do it.

When John tried selling his own offers, he ran into countless obstacles:

❌ Duct-taping multiple tools together, like website builders, payment processors, scheduling apps—just to make a single sale.

❌ Most platforms charged steep transaction fees, making it harder to earn significant profit for all his hard work.

❌ He wrestled with tools designed for businesses, not Creators, which overcomplicated every step.

Being a Creator is hard enough as is, and John knew there had to be a better way. So he built Stan—the tool he wished he had. One that makes it effortless for anyone to turn their audience into income, all from a single link in bio. 

You see, Stan isn’t just backed by a tech team—it’s powered by Creators themselves. Visionaries like Steven Bartlett and Gary Vee have invested in Stan because they believe in the same mission we do: to empower anyone to make a living working for themselves. 

Stan Helps Creators Sell More

While Shopify piles on ecommerce features that feel more suited to retail shops than Creator brands, Stan keeps things simple. Every feature is built with one goal in mind: to help Creators sell more, doing less.

Here’s what that means for you:

⭐️ More time creating: With everything you need to sell built right into Stan, you can stop wrangling tools together and focus on creating.

⭐️ Stronger audience connections: Stay close to your audience with tools like Email Flows and AutoDM, helping you nurture leads and make sales on autopilot.

⭐️ Clarity on your next move: Maximize your growth with Stan’s free resources, Creator playbooks, and proven strategies, so your business is always moving forward.

⭐️ More money in your pocket: Boost sales from your social profile with a storefront optimized to convert, and keep more of what you earn with 0% transaction fees.

⭐️ A better experience for everyone: Every update we release keeps things simple and intuitive—for you and your customers. No confusing dashboards or endless add-on apps (Looking at you, Shopify 👀).

Real Creators, Real Results

You don’t need millions of followers or a team to build a successful Creator business. Every day, people are using Stan to turn their skills, stories, and passions into real income—and the results speak for themselves:

💰 Creators have earned over $400M through Stan
🚀 11,000 Creators made their first $1,000 in 2024

The Creator economy isn’t just for big-name influencers—with the right tools, anyone can build a business doing what they love.

Stone Fredrickson: Built a Six-Figure Business In Six Months at 18

Stone started creating content in high school, driven by curiosity and a desire to build a career on his own terms. By 18, he’d built a six-figure coaching and digital product business powered entirely by Stan. Today, he helps Creators master their content strategy and build financial wealth through his courses, coaching, and community.

👀 Discover Stone’s Story

Aly McKinnon: Tripled Her Income With Just 5,000 Followers

Aly is a design-loving hairstylist who saw a new opportunity to teach other stylists how to redesign their salon suites and grow their businesses. She used Stan to launch courses, guides, and webinars in one beautiful, easy-to-manage storefront—tripling her income and reaching stylists around the world.

📖 Read Aly’s full story

Justin Westphal: $70K Earned Selling Playlists Online

Justin turned his passion for music into a business that empowers independent artists. He created a streamlined store with Stan where his followers can purchase curated playlists and artists can submit songs or purchase promo packages with one click. The result? Over $70K in online sales.

🎥 Watch Justin’s full story

Stan Store vs. Shopify: The Final Verdict

At the end of the day, you deserve a platform that helps you grow with confidence. One that makes it easy to launch, market, and scale your Creator business without draining your time or your wallet.

Stan Store gives you everything you need to sell directly from your social bio for as little as $29/month—without coding, plugins, or transaction fees. It’s the simplest, most affordable way to turn your audience into income.

While Shopify offers robust ecommerce tools ideal for online retailers and brick-and-mortar businesses, its features aren’t as Creator-focused. Plus, with higher-priced plans, transaction fees, and the need for third-party apps just to sell your digital offers, it can quickly become more expensive and complex than it’s worth.

There’s a reason top Creators like Steven Bartlett and Gary Vee believe in Stan’s mission: we’re not just helping Creators sell products—we’re helping them build sustainable, scalable businesses that last.

You’ve seen how real Creators are using Stan to earn more and simplify their business—now it’s your turn. Start your free 14-day trial and see how easy it can be to start a business with Stan.

Stan Store vs. Shopify FAQ

What happened to Linkpop?

Shopify officially retired Linkpop in July 2025, discontinuing its link in bio templates. 

Why can’t I edit my Linkpop?

If you’re seeing errors or can’t edit your Linkpop, it’s because Shopify sunset the feature in July 2025. Existing pages are no longer supported, and you can’t create or update Linkpop storefronts.

What’s the best Linkpop alternative?

Stan is the best Linkpop alternative for Creators. It’s a full-featured link in bio storefront where you can host and sell digital products, online courses, coaching, memberships, and more—without coding, plugins, or transaction fees.

Can I sell digital products on Shopify?

Yes, but it’s not as straightforward as Stan. Shopify was built with physical product sellers in mind, so selling certain types of digital products requires Shopify plugins, third-party apps, or custom code. But with Stan Store, you can upload, host, and sell digital products in just a few clicks.

Is Stan Store better for Creators than Shopify?

If you’re selling physical products and need to manage an inventory, Shopify is a strong choice. But if you’re a Creator selling digital offers, coaching, courses, communities, or memberships, Stan Store is better—with a simpler setup, native hosting, flat-rate pricing, and 0% transaction fees.

Does Shopify charge transaction fees?

Yes, Shopify charges a variable rate of 2.5-2.9% + 30¢ per transaction depending on your plan. Stan Store doesn’t charge transaction fees, so you’ll keep 100% of every sale.

Do I need multiple tools with Shopify?

Most Shopify Creators do. You’ll often need Shopify plugins or third-party apps for digital products, email marketing, or affiliate tracking. In comparison, Stan Store bundles everything into one Creator-friendly platform.