2006 founded Standing
commerce · shopify.com
Shopify
the moat is real
20 years 80 days and counting
Tobias Lutke, 2006, snowboards. Still the grown-up cart for independents.
Why it lasted
- It is the default way a merchant gets a store without becoming a developer.
- The app ecosystem is a jobs program, same as WordPress, for commerce.
- It rode the 2020 boom and survived the 2022 hangover without becoming eBay.
Times it almost ended
- Amazon made 'why have a store' a real question. Shopify's answer is brand and margin. Enough merchants believed it.
- WooCommerce is free. Shopify is the paid path that feels like a business.
What would finish it
- TikTok / Instagram checkout becoming the store, plus a simpler vibe-coded stack for the long tail. Watch the social carts.
Questions
Is Shopify still up?
Yes, with a Standing verdict: the moat is real. Founded 2006.
How long has Shopify been around?
Shopify has been up since 2006-06-01.
Why did Shopify survive?
It is the default way a merchant gets a store without becoming a developer.
Could Shopify still die?
TikTok / Instagram checkout becoming the store, plus a simpler vibe-coded stack for the long tail. Watch the social carts.