10 Proven Ways to Identify Shopify Stores in Any Niche

You know that moment when you stumble across a beautifully designed online store and think, "I need to know what platform they're using"?

Maybe you're a marketer hunting for potential clients. Perhaps you're an agency looking to pitch your services to high-growth DTC brands. Or maybe you're a SaaS founder who built something specifically for Shopify merchants and need to find your ideal customers.

Here's the thing: Shopify powers over 4.6 million stores worldwide. That's a massive opportunity, but only if you can actually identify which stores are running on Shopify.

The good news? You don't need expensive tools or fancy subscriptions to detect Shopify stores. I'm going to walk you through 10 proven methods that anyone can use, from dead-simple manual checks to more sophisticated (but still free) discovery techniques.

Let's dive in.

Why Identifying Shopify Stores Actually Matters

Before we get tactical, let's talk about why this skill is so valuable.

If you're in marketing, knowing a brand uses Shopify tells you something important about their tech stack, their likely budget, and their pain points. Shopify merchants need apps, themes, marketing services, fulfillment solutions, and a dozen other things that make them high-intent prospects.

For agencies, identifying Shopify stores means you can create hyper-targeted outreach campaigns instead of spray-and-pray cold emails. You can actually speak to their specific platform challenges.

And if you're building a product? Finding Shopify stores in your target niche is literally step one of customer research.

Now let's get to the methods.

Method 1: The "View Page Source" Trick

This is the OG method, and it still works perfectly.

Right-click on any store's homepage and select "View Page Source" (or press Ctrl+U on Windows, Cmd+Option+U on Mac). Then hit Ctrl+F and search for "Shopify" in the code.

If you see references to cdn.shopify.com, Shopify.theme, or shopify-analytics—boom, you've found a Shopify store.

Why this works: Shopify injects specific JavaScript files and CDN references into every store. They're basically fingerprints hidden in the code.

Pro tip: This method takes about 10 seconds per site, so it's perfect when you're manually vetting a handful of stores.

Method 2: Check the Checkout URL

Here's an even faster hack.

Add /checkout to the end of any domain. So if you're checking example.com, visit example.com/checkout.

If it's a Shopify store, you'll see Shopify's signature checkout page—clean, minimalist, with that familiar layout. Non-Shopify stores? You'll usually hit a 404 error or get redirected somewhere random.

Bonus points: Try /admin instead. Shopify stores will show a login page with Shopify branding. Other platforms won't.

This method is ridiculously simple but surprisingly reliable. I use it constantly when I'm casually browsing and want to quickly identify a store's platform.

Method 3: Use Wappalyzer (Browser Extension)

Alright, time to level up slightly with a free browser extension.

Wappalyzer is a technology profiler that detects what platforms, frameworks, and tools any website uses. Install it, visit any store, and click the icon. It'll instantly tell you if the site runs on Shopify (plus show you what apps they're using).

Why it's powerful: Wappalyzer doesn't just detect Shopify—it shows you their entire tech stack. That means you can see if they're using Klaviyo for email, Recharge for subscriptions, or specific review apps.

The catch: The free version has some limitations on bulk analysis, but for one-off checks? It's perfect.

Method 4: BuiltWith for Deeper Tech Stack Analysis

Similar to Wappalyzer but with more detail, BuiltWith is a website profiler that gives you a comprehensive breakdown of any site's technology.

Just paste a URL into their search bar, and you'll get a full report showing the ecommerce platform, analytics tools, payment processors, CDN, hosting info—everything.

What makes it special: BuiltWith maintains historical data, so you can see if a store used to run on Shopify and switched platforms (which can be useful intel for outreach).

Free users get limited lookups per month, but it's more than enough for research purposes.

Method 5: The Shopify Myshopify.com Subdomain Method

Every Shopify store gets a default [storename].myshopify.com subdomain, even if they use a custom domain.

Try this: Google search site:myshopify.com [niche keyword].

For example: site:myshopify.com organic skincare or site:myshopify.com fitness supplements.

You'll get a list of Shopify stores in that niche still using their default subdomain (or stores where the myshopify URL got indexed). It's not comprehensive, but it's a surprisingly effective way to find smaller, newer stores.

Method 6: Facebook Ad Library + Manual Detection

Now we're getting into the smarter territory.

Head to the Facebook Ad Library, search for ads in your target niche, and start clicking through to the stores running active campaigns.

Once you land on a store, use Method 1, 2, or 3 above to quickly verify if they're on Shopify.

Why this is genius: You're not just finding Shopify stores—you're finding Shopify stores that are actively spending money on ads. These are high-intent prospects who are investing in growth.

This method takes more time, but the quality of leads you get is incredible.

Method 7: Use SimilarWeb or SEMrush Traffic Data

If you have access to free tools like SimilarWeb or SEMrush (both have limited free tiers), you can identify high-traffic stores and then verify their platform.

Search for top ecommerce sites in your niche, check their traffic stats, then use the manual methods above to see if they're on Shopify.

The advantage: You're focusing on stores that already have proven traction and traffic, which usually means they're more valuable prospects.

Method 8: Browse Shopify's Exchange Marketplace

Here's a sneaky one: Shopify's Exchange Marketplace is where people list Shopify stores for sale.

Browse by category or niche, and you'll find hundreds of active Shopify stores with detailed traffic and revenue stats. Even if you're not buying, it's a goldmine for research.

You can see what niches are thriving, what stores are scaling, and get real examples of successful Shopify businesses.

Method 9: StoreCensus Filters and Niche Databases

Okay, this is where things get really powerful.

StoreCensus maintains a massive database of Shopify stores with advanced filters for niche, traffic, technology stack, location, and more.

You can filter by incredibly specific criteria like "fashion stores using Shopify with 10K+ monthly visitors in the US" and get an instant list. That's the kind of targeting that turns prospecting from a grind into a science.

Why this is a game-changer: Instead of manually checking stores one by one, you can build targeted lists of hundreds of stores in minutes. Filter by revenue estimates, app usage, social media presence—whatever matters for your outreach.

Want to see exactly how to use these filters and build your perfect prospect list? Check out the complete StoreCensus guide on finding and targeting Shopify stores. It walks through the entire process with screenshots and real examples.

Method 10: Reddit, Twitter, and Community Hunting

Sometimes the best way to find Shopify stores is to just... ask where they hang out.

Search Reddit for threads like "best Shopify stores in [niche]" or "favorite DTC brands." Check Twitter for hashtags like #ShopifyPartners, #ecommerce, or #DTC.

Join Facebook groups and Slack communities where Shopify merchants congregate. You'll not only find stores, but you'll also learn what they're struggling with—which is gold for outreach.

Why this works: You're tapping into real communities where store owners are active, which means you can build relationships instead of cold pitching.

Bringing It All Together

So there you have it: 10 battle-tested methods to identify Shopify stores without spending a dime on expensive tools.

Start with the quick manual methods (page source, checkout URL, Wappalyzer) when you're vetting individual stores. Graduate to smarter techniques (ad libraries, traffic tools, niche databases) when you need to scale your research and build targeted lists.

The key is combining multiple methods. Don't just rely on one—use 3-4 together to build a comprehensive picture of your target market.

Ready to Take This Further?

Want the exact filters, outreach templates, and step-by-step processes for finding and targeting Shopify stores at scale?

→ Read our full 2025 guide on finding and targeting Shopify stores

We break down advanced prospecting strategies, show you how to segment stores by revenue and traffic, and share the exact cold email templates that get responses.

Stop guessing. Start targeting Shopify stores like a pro.