2026 is a good year to be on Shopify. The platform processed $378.4 billion in GMV last year, and enterprise brands like Estée Lauder and General Motors are already migrating to it. If you’re reading this, you’re likely already past the platform decision – you’re looking for the right team to handle it.
This guide cuts to it. Ten Shopify development agencies across the US and EU, already narrowed down from a much longer field, each good at something specific. Match your situation to the right profile and you’ll have a shortlist of two or three worth calling.
One note on this list: yes, scandiweb is included. We applied the same questions to ourselves that we applied to everyone else: what’s verifiable, what’s the track record, what’s the specific use case. You can check every claim we make against the Shopify Partner Directory, our linked case studies, and publicly available results.
What’s changed in 2026, and why it matters for your agency choice
Shopify’s platform looks different now than it did two years ago, and those changes affect what you need from the agency you hire.
The checkout has changed. Checkout.liquid – Shopify’s previous system for customizing the checkout experience – was deprecated for Plus merchants in August 2025. Auto-upgrades started in January 2026, which means any custom checkout code built on the old system is now gone. Ask every agency on your shortlist whether they’ve already handled this migration for existing clients.
Shopify Scripts are being retired. The deadline for editing Shopify Scripts passed April 15, 2026. The hard retirement date is June 30, 2026. If your store uses Scripts for discounts, shipping logic, or payment rules, those need to be migrated to Shopify Functions before that date. Any agency unfamiliar with this isn’t current.
AI search is a real channel now. In March 2026, Shopify turned on Agentic Storefronts by default for around 5.6 million US merchants. That means your product catalog is now potentially visible inside ChatGPT, Copilot, and Perplexity – provided your store’s data is structured correctly. This isn’t hypothetical: early data shows AI-referred eCommerce traffic up 7x since January 2025. Most agencies haven’t built this capability yet. The ones on this list that have are noted.
Any agency worth shortlisting in 2026 should be up to date on all of these changes.
Shopify agencies compared at a glance
| # | Agency | HQ | Team size | Experts in | Best for |
| 1 | scandiweb | Riga, New York, London + more | 600+ | Enterprise migrations, multi-platform (Shopify + Magento + headless), AI search | Brands with complex builds, legacy platform migrations, multi-market rollouts |
| 2 | Anatta | Chicago / Remote | ~50 | Scale-stage DTC retainers, acquisition-ready builds | DTC brands in the $10M–$100M range looking for a long-term partner |
| 3 | CQL | Grand Rapids, MI | 100+ | Unified commerce with Shopify POS | Retailers running physical and digital channels on the same platform |
| 4 | Fostr | Newcastle, UK | ~65 | Luxury and celebrity-backed DTC, headless on Contentful | High-end and founder-led brands where brand integrity is non-negotiable |
| 5 | Barrel | New York | ~82 | CPG, food & beverage, and consumer health on Shopify Plus | Mid-market to enterprise CPG brands that want vertical depth, not just a claim to it |
| 6 | Swanky | Exeter, UK | ~70 | Subscription-model DTC on Shopify Plus | DTC brands where recurring revenue is the core model, not a bolt-on |
| 7 | Underwaterpistol | London / Glasgow | ~22 | Subscriptions, headless, and marketplace builds on Shopify Plus | UK DTC brands needing technical depth without large-agency overhead |
| 8 | Tante-E | Hamburg, Germany | ~35 | Shopware-to-Shopify migrations in the DACH market | German, Austrian, and Swiss brands migrating off Shopware |
| 9 | Domaine | New York | ~250 | Shopify-native design for premium DTC | Beauty, fashion, and home brands where the platform is settled and design is the priority |
| 10 | Fuel Made | Remote, Washington State | 17 | Senior-only Shopify and Klaviyo delivery | Mid-market DTC brands that want experienced practitioners with no junior layers |
The 10 best Shopify agencies in the US and EU: 2026 picks
1. scandiweb
scandiweb operates in the US out of a New York office, with headquarters in Riga and Tbilisi, and additional teams in London, Montreal, Stockholm, and Dubai. The agency has been in eCommerce since 2003, running large-scale Magento builds well before Shopify was a serious enterprise option.
That history matters because the agency has watched eCommerce evolve across platforms – Magento, Commercetools, BigCommerce, and others – which means when a client is deciding whether to migrate to Shopify, the recommendation is based on what actually fits the business, not what the agency happens to specialize in.
The team runs 600+ specialists across all locations. Services cover the full stack: Shopify Plus builds, migrations, complex integration services, CRO, SEO and AI search optimization, PPC, and email – all under one team tied to the same revenue metrics.
Three proprietary tools are worth knowing. Satoshi is a premium storefront theme built natively for both Shopify and Hyvä – the only one of its kind, useful for enterprise builds that need strong Core Web Vitals and advanced filtering without the cost of a fully custom front-end. ReadyMage is scandiweb’s own eCommerce hosting infrastructure. AnswerRank is a tool built specifically for AI search visibility, making brands discoverable in ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI results. The Kouboo partnership is the most public proof point: after migrating to Shopify from Magento 2, Kouboo holds the #1 position across all brands tracked in ChatGPT and Perplexity for high-intent prompts.
Among the 700+ brands served, their US clients include The New York Times, Adobe, Acer, Boy Scouts of America, University of Michigan, and more. EU and UK clients include JYSK, Sportland by SportsDirect, FELCO, Läderach, and Byggmax, and others. scandiweb also serves global brands across Canada, Latin America, the Middle East, South Africa, Japan, and Australia.
Best for: Brands with complex migrations from legacy platforms, enterprise Shopify builds, and multi-market rollouts that need one integrated team covering development, optimization, and marketing.
Less suited for: Simple theme-layer builds or early-stage brands. scandiweb typically works with businesses in the $50 million – $2 billion revenue range.
Shopify case studies worth checking out
Migration work
The New York Times – replatformed from Adobe Commerce to Shopify in 60 days, ahead of Black Friday, with a 170-year-old brand and 50,000+ catalog items.
- Organic traffic up 40% at launch
- Black Friday 10–15x traffic spikes handled without manual intervention
Read more:
Reinventing a 170-year-old brand’s online sales process
Hope – Commercetools to Shopify Plus for Sweden’s leading contemporary fashion label, needing multi-country storefronts, currency localization, and ERP integration.
- Microsoft Dynamics NAV and Klaviyo integrated
- The client now manages all product and content updates without developer involvement
J.R. Dunn – US luxury jeweler migrated from Magento 1 with 150,000+ diamond SKUs, 72,000+ historical orders, and a custom Ring Builder.
- SEO score of 100 on launch day
- Custom storefront built on the Satoshi theme, maintaining a high-end look across every product page
Read more:
Case Study: Magento 1 to Shopify Migration for a Luxury Jewelry Brand
Kouboo – Los Angeles home décor brand migrated from Magento 2 with SEO preservation as the primary constraint.
- Revenue up 107% over the following year
- Organic traffic up 72%, top-3 rankings up 138%
Read more:
Case study: SEO program secures migration and drives 107% organic growth for Kouboo.com
Custom builds
Sweet – the world’s first peer-to-peer NFT marketplace, built on Shopify in 120 days for digital collectible drops.
- Ran drops for the Chicago Blackhawks and New York Knicks
- First auction after launch: bids over $5,500 on a single NFT
doors. – custom multi-vendor Shopify marketplace for independent fashion designers reaching global markets.
- Delivered in 3.5 months
- SEO and analytics wired in from day one
Optimization and SEO
Mrs Wordsmith – educational brand with three country subdomains (US, UK, AU) cannibalizing each other, consolidated into one global domain.
- Conversion rate up 150%, organic revenue up 200%
- Organic traffic up 65%, top-3 ranking keywords up 80%
Read more:
SEO Case Study: URL Restructure Leads to +150% in Conversion Rate
Kouboo – after the migration, continued into AI search optimization to capture purchase intent on AI platforms.
- 53% visibility in ChatGPT and Perplexity on high-intent prompts
- Ranks #1 across all brands tracked, appearing alongside Amazon, Wayfair, and IKEA
Read more:
AI Search Optimization Helps Kouboo Break Into the Top 3 AI Answers
Marketing and retention
FELCO – Swiss premium tools brand with fragmented email activity, needed a full lifecycle program across five markets and three languages.
- Built and launched in 30 days
- Now generating €150,000 in lifecycle revenue per month
Read more:
Building a €150K/Month Lifecycle Revenue Engine in 5 Markets
2. Anatta
Anatta has been around since 2008 and earned Shopify Platinum status in 2025. The agency works on a retainer model with a dedicated team per client. Its client list includes Rothy’s, Molekule, and SmartyPants Vitamins – all of which were acquired after their Shopify builds – alongside Grove Collaborative and Vuori. Based in Chicago, Anatta works primarily with US DTC brands.
Best for: DTC brands in the $10 million – $100 million revenue range looking for a long-term agency partner.
Less suited for: Brands under $5 million that don’t need a full retainer model.
3. CQL
CQL is one of only 12 Shopify Platinum agencies in the US, with 100+ people following its acquisition of Riess Group in 2025. Its focus is unified commerce – helping retailers run their physical stores and online channels together on Shopify. Named clients include Warner Brothers Discovery, Stüssy, Perry Ellis, and Fashionphile.
Best for: Mid-market and enterprise retailers that sell both in-store and online and want both channels managed on Shopify.
Less suited for: Online-only brands with no physical retail.
4. Fostr
Fostr’s founder set up one of the first 50 Shopify stores globally. The Newcastle-based agency, part of the IDHL Group, has built its reputation in luxury and celebrity DTC. Clients include Gymshark, Victoria Beckham Beauty, Emilio Pucci (LVMH), Fabergé, Dermalogica, GXVE Beauty (Gwen Stefani), Moon (Kendall Jenner), Florence by Mills, Pattern Beauty (Tracee Ellis Ross), and Beis (Shay Mitchell).
Best for: Luxury and celebrity-backed brands where design quality and brand presentation are non-negotiable.
Less suited for: Mid-market DTC brands outside the luxury space.
5. Barrel
Barrel is an 82-person New York agency with a client list that reads like a supermarket shelf: McCormick, KIND Snacks, L’Oréal Paris, Bobo’s, Once Upon a Farm, Sweet Loren’s, Sakara, SmartyPants Vitamins, and Cabot Creamery. That focus means they understand the specific needs of consumable brands – subscription flows, bundle builders, and repeat-purchase mechanics.
Best for: CPG, food and beverage, and consumer health brands that want an agency with real experience in the category.
Less suited for: Luxury fashion, B2B, or brands that need a multi-platform partner.
6. Swanky
Swanky has been Shopify-exclusive since 2012 and holds Platinum tier. The team of around 70 covers design, development, subscription builds, migrations, CRO, and loyalty programs. Most of its clients run subscription models, and the agency has hands-on experience with tools like Recharge, Skio, and Bold. Active clients include daysoft, bond-eye swim, and Inverawe.
Best for: DTC brands where subscription is the main revenue model.
Less suited for: Brands selling one-time purchases where subscriptions aren’t part of the plan.
7. Underwaterpistol
Founded in 2001, Underwaterpistol is one of the oldest Shopify agencies in the UK. The 22-person London and Glasgow team is a Shopify Plus Partner and a Recharge Premier Agency Partner. Named clients include Ooni, BrewDog, Omaze, and Reach PLC. The agency won Yotpo’s “Best Shopify Plus Agency EMEA” award.
Best for: UK DTC brands that need subscription or headless builds on Shopify Plus without large-agency overhead.
Less suited for: US-only brands, or those that need paid media and SEO alongside the Shopify build.
8. Tante-E
Tante-E is a Hamburg-based agency that has completed 400+ projects and built its practice specifically around brands moving from Shopware to Shopify – a migration path common across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Named clients include fritz-kola, LFDY, reisenthel, LeGer by Lena Gercke, and 1. FC Union Berlin. Kloster Kitchen saw a 30% conversion rate increase after migrating with Tante-E.
Best for: German, Austrian, and Swiss brands on Shopware considering a move to Shopify Plus.
Less suited for: Brands outside Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, or migrating from other platforms.
9. Domaine
Domaine was formed in 2023 through the merger of Tomorrow and Half Helix, with Code joining later. The agency works only on Shopify. With around 250 people and backing from BV Investment Partners, the combined team has launched 300+ Shopify storefronts. Named clients include Arhaus, Laura Mercier, Creed, bareMinerals, Harry’s, Khaite, and Timex.
Best for: Premium brands in beauty, fashion, and home where the platform is already decided and design is the main focus.
Less suited for: Brands still deciding on a platform, or those that need development and marketing handled together.
10. Fuel Made
Fuel Made is 17 people, all senior-level, fully remote from Washington State. The agency has focused on Shopify since 2010. Its Klaviyo Master Elite status places it in the top 20 of more than 10,000 Klaviyo agencies globally. Named clients include Beardbrand, Supply, Bella Notte, cocokind, and Home Reserve.
Best for: Mid-market DTC brands that want Shopify and Klaviyo handled by experienced people, with no junior staff on the account.
Less suited for: Brands that need a full team covering development, SEO, and paid media. Fuel Made’s scope is narrow by design.
How to match the right agency to your brief
Four scenarios to help you locate yourself on the list.
The project involves a migration from a legacy platform. scandiweb is the most relevant starting point. The migration track record spans Adobe Commerce, Magento 1 and 2, and Commercetools, and the team will tell you honestly if Shopify isn’t the right destination – something most agencies won’t do. For German, Austrian, and Swiss brands specifically moving off Shopware, Tante-E is the more focused option.
The project needs a vertical specialist. Domaine for premium beauty, fashion, and home where design is the priority. Fostr for luxury and celebrity-backed DTC where brand presentation is everything. Barrel for CPG, food and beverage, and consumer health. Swanky or Underwaterpistol for subscription-first DTC. CQL when physical retail and eCommerce need to run together on the same platform.
The project is at scale and needs a long-term partner. For brands that need development, SEO, CRO, paid media, and retention running under one team with one point of contact, scandiweb is built for exactly that – with the infrastructure to absorb the full scope without bringing in subcontractors. For DTC brands that want a more focused retainer model Anatta is worth a look.
The project is focused on growth after launch, not just the build. Fuel Made handles Shopify and Klaviyo at a senior level without the overhead of a large agency. For AI search visibility – getting products to show up in ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI results – scandiweb offers dedicated AI search optimization services, backed by their proprietary AnswerRank tool.
Six things to check before you sign
Agencies tend to look similar until you ask the right questions. These six are the ones that separate a well-matched agency from a well-presented one.
Which platforms have you migrated FROM in the last 24 months? Ask for named clients who migrated from the same platform you’re on, with traffic data for the 90 days after launch. Real numbers tell you more than a services page.
Are your current Plus clients’ checkout.liquid and Shopify Scripts migrations done? Checkout.liquid was deprecated in August 2025. Scripts retire June 30, 2026. An agency that hasn’t handled this for existing clients isn’t current.
Who is accountable for my project – by name? Get a name and ask how many other accounts that person runs simultaneously. Then ask to speak with a client who has been with the agency for two years, not six months.
Is the delivery team in-house? Subcontracting isn’t inherently a problem – undisclosed subcontracting is. Ask directly, and ask for names.
How do sprints get prioritized? The answer should involve revenue impact. “We work through the backlog” is the wrong answer.
What’s in the handoff documentation? You own the code. Ask what the handoff includes: theme documentation, app configuration, and Shopify admin access. A clean handoff means the agency is confident in what it built.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the difference between a Shopify Platinum, Premier, and Plus partner?
Shopify has different partner tiers, but a higher tier doesn’t automatically mean better work. As of March 2026, there are 33 Platinum agencies, 45 Premier, and 255 Plus-level agencies in the US. Tier tells you how active an agency is on the platform, but it doesn’t tell you whether they’ll deliver results for your specific project. Always ask for case studies with real numbers.
What should I look for in a Shopify agency’s case studies?
Named clients, specific numbers, and a timeframe. “Increased revenue for a leading brand” tells you nothing. If an agency’s case studies don’t include measurable outcomes, ask why.
How do I know if my store is ready for Shopify Plus?
Most brands move to Plus when they hit around $1 million in annual revenue, need to customize the checkout, want to run multiple storefronts from one place, or need more flexibility for integrations. Below that, standard Shopify plans handle most of what a growing brand needs.
What happens to my store’s data during a platform migration?
A well-run migration moves your products, customer records, order history, and page URLs across without data loss or search ranking damage. The risks come from rushing: missed redirects, incomplete metadata, or skipping post-launch checks. Ask any agency to walk you through their migration process and show traffic data from a recent one they’ve completed.
Can a Shopify agency help after the store is live, or just with the build?
The better ones do both. Ask what month four of an engagement looks like – after the launch is done. That answer tells you whether the agency is set up for long-term improvement or just delivery.
Where can I find and verify Shopify agencies?
Start with the Shopify Partner Directory at shopify.com/partners/directory. Cross-reference with Clutch for client reviews – focus on reviews that mention communication and post-launch support. Then open a few of the agency’s live stores on your phone and see how they actually perform.
Final thoughts
By now you should have a clear enough picture to narrow things down. Pick two or three agencies that match your situation, then do three things before you commit:
- Open their live stores on your phone. Check load speed, mobile navigation, and checkout. The live store shows you what the agency actually ships.
- Meet the people who’ll work on your account, not the ones pitching you. If the agency won’t arrange this before you sign, that tells you something.
- Call a client who has been with the agency for two years, not two months. Ask them one question: if you were choosing again today, would you choose the same agency?
The right agency will be accountable for the build and what happens after it goes live. That’s the standard worth holding.
Planning a Shopify build or migration? scandiweb helps you get the architecture, integrations, and SEO right before development starts. Get in touch to discuss your setup. Get in touch to discuss your setup.
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