Method

How we check and rank agencies

Every listing shows what we checked and the date we checked it. This page explains exactly what each check means, how rankings work, and what we can't tell you.

In short

Every agency gets the same four checks, and every check is dated.
Rankings are based on that evidence, and each pick has a written reason.
Agencies cannot pay to be listed, ranked or verified.
We copy rating numbers, never review text, and show the date we last checked each one.

The four checks

The same four checks for every agency, in the same order as the segments of its check meter.

Check	Where we look	It passes when	What the listing shows
Shopify Partner Directory	Shopify's own partner directory	The agency is listed there	Partner tier, if shown, and the date we looked
Portfolio stores	Stores the agency lists as its work	At least one of them runs on Shopify	Each store by name, and how many of them run on Shopify
Ratings across the web	Google, Clutch, GoodFirms and Trustpilot	A rating on at least one	Score, review count and a link, per platform
Agency confirmation	The agency itself	The agency confirmed its details with us	The green Verified label

Reading the check meter

One segment per check. Green means passed, a white outline means pending (usually waiting for the agency to confirm), and grey means we looked and found nothing. The meter never hides a gap.

4 of 4Every check passed, including confirmation by the agency.
3 of 4Strong public evidence. The agency hasn't confirmed its details yet, so the last segment is outlined, not failed.
1 of 4Not in the Partner Directory and no recent ratings: we looked, found nothing, and show the gap.

Listed or verified

Listed

Built from public sources: the agency's own website, the Shopify Partner Directory and rating platforms. The agency has not confirmed it.

Verified

The agency confirmed or corrected its details with us. Verification is free and never changes ranking.

How we use ratings

We copy numbers only: the score, the review count and the date, with a link to the original. We never copy review text.
Every rating shows the date we last checked it, and we re-check them regularly.
We don't combine platforms into one score. Each counts reviews differently, so an average would mislead.
Scores based on fewer than ten reviews are marked few reviews.

How rankings work

Rankings are per city. Top picks are chosen by the evidence above: Shopify work we could confirm in their portfolio, Partner Directory listing, and consistent ratings across platforms. Each pick shows a one-line reason.

We rank an agency only once we can write a specific reason for its position. Until then it is listed A to Z below the ranked agencies.

What can't change a ranking

Paying us. Listing, verification and ranking are free.
Verifying. Confirmation earns the Verified label but never moves an agency up.
Sponsorship. Any future sponsored placement will be labelled and shown apart from the rankings.
Who runs this site. The founder's own agency is not listed or ranked.

How an agency gets listed

1
Discover
We find agencies in each city from public sources.
2
Check
We open their website and the portfolio stores they list, and look them up with Shopify and on rating platforms.
3
Record
We write down the facts we found, each with the date.
4
Review
A person reviews every row before anything is published.
5
Publish
Approved listings go live, showing the date they were checked.

What we don't check

Our checks tell you whether an agency's claims hold up. They can't tell you everything.

We don't judge the quality of the work.: A store running on Shopify tells you the work is real, not that it is good. Open a few stores yourself.
We don't interview clients.: Ratings belong to the platforms they come from. Read the reviews there, and ask the agency for references.
We don't verify prices.: Where an agency publishes prices, we show them with a link to the source. Your quote depends on your scope.
A full meter is not an endorsement.: It means the facts we can check, check out. Choosing the right agency for your project is still your call.

Disclosure

Who runs this site

This site is run by the founder of a Shopify agency. That agency is not listed or ranked here. Enquiries you send through this site go only to the agency you choose.

More about who runs it

Corrections

If something is wrong or out of date, tell us. We recheck it and update the date shown on the listing.

Questions about how we check

How does Best Shopify Agency check Shopify agencies?

Every agency gets the same four checks: we look it up in the Shopify Partner Directory, open the stores in its portfolio and test whether each one runs on Shopify, record its ratings and review counts on Google, Clutch and GoodFirms with a link, and note whether the agency has confirmed its details with us. Every check is dated.

How can I tell if an agency really builds Shopify stores?

Open the stores in its portfolio and check that they run on Shopify. Many agencies list stores built on other platforms, or stores where they only made small changes. On each profile we show how many of the agency's portfolio stores we found running on Shopify.

How are the rankings decided?

Each city is ranked separately, using only evidence we can check: real Shopify stores in the portfolio, a Shopify Partner Directory listing, and ratings across platforms. An agency is ranked only when we can write a specific reason for its position. Agencies cannot pay to be listed, ranked or verified.

How often is the information updated?

We re-check ratings every week and show the date of each check on the listing. Partner status and portfolio checks are dated too, so you can always see how fresh a fact is.

What can't these checks tell me about an agency?

They show whether an agency's claims hold up, not how good its work will be for you. They don't measure communication, deadlines or how a project went. Before you hire, ask for references from clients with a similar project and compare written quotes.