Shopify updates store eligibility for Shop

Shopify updated the eligibility requirements for Shop on 10 November 2026. Stores can now appear on Shop without using Shopify Payments if they meet the revised requirements. Shopify also applied the updated criteria to all stores.

What changed for stores?

Shop previously required a store to use Shopify Payments before it could appear on Shop. That payment requirement has been removed for Shop visibility. An eligible store can now use another payment provider and still appear on Shop.

Stores that satisfy the revised criteria will appear on Shop. Shopify says these stores may start receiving referred traffic from the Shop app and Shop.com to their online stores. The wording is conditional, so the announcement does not state that every eligible store will receive a set amount of traffic.

Stores that do not satisfy the updated requirements will not appear on Shop until they do. Shopify has not listed the individual requirements in this changelog. It instead directs merchants to its Help Center for more information about Shop eligibility.

Who does the update affect?

The main change affects merchants that use a payment provider other than Shopify Payments. Those stores were previously excluded from appearing on Shop based on their payment provider. They can now qualify if they meet the other eligibility requirements.

Stores already using Shopify Payments should also check their position. Shopify says the revised requirements apply to all stores, not only those using another provider. Using Shopify Payments does not by itself confirm that a store meets every updated requirement for Shop.

Shop visibility and Shop Campaigns have different rules. Stores that do not use Shopify Payments can appear on Shop, but they cannot take part in Shop Campaigns. To be eligible for Shop Campaigns, a store must use Shopify Payments and meet the updated requirements.

For small and medium businesses, this means payment setup should not be used as the only guide to Shop status. A store using another provider may now qualify for Shop but not its campaigns. A store using Shopify Payments must still satisfy the revised criteria before it can appear and qualify for Shop Campaigns.

What should merchants check now?

Merchants can check their current eligibility status through the Shop channel in Shopify admin. Shopify says this status is available at any time. If a store is not eligible, the Shop channel will show what needs to be addressed.

The first task is to review the status shown there rather than assume that a payment provider determines the result. Merchants using another provider can check whether the removal of the previous restriction changes their position. Existing Shopify Payments users can confirm whether they satisfy the criteria that now apply to every store.

Any issues displayed in the Shop channel should be considered before relying on Shop as a source of visitors. Once a store meets the requirements, it can appear on Shop and may receive referrals from the Shop app and Shop.com. Shopify has not stated a traffic level or outcome for eligible stores.

Businesses can also review whether their online store is ready for visitors who arrive through an additional referral source. Information about Websites covers online store planning and development, while a free audit can identify broader website issues. Neither service determines Shopify’s eligibility decision or access to Shop Campaigns.