Choosing a Shopify agency is one of the most expensive decisions an online brand makes. Get it right and the store pays for itself. Get it wrong and you pay twice: once for the build, and again to fix it.
Most “best agency” lists rank on reputation alone. We wanted something more useful. So we compared nine Shopify agencies in the UK and US using public data anyone can check: verified reviews, standing in Shopify’s own partner programme, and published results for named clients.
All data below was checked on 2 October 2026.
The quick answer
| Rank | Agency | Best for | Based in |
| 1 | Solo Media Group | Growing DTC brands wanting proven results | New York, US |
| 2 | Absolute Web | Enterprise Shopify Plus migrations | Miami, US |
| 3 | BORN (formerly We Make Websites) | Large UK and global brands | London, UK |
| 4 | Swanky | Subscription and food brands | Exeter, UK |
| 5 | Praella | Beauty and celebrity brands | Chicago, US |
| 6 | Electric Eye | Conversion-focused DTC builds | Columbus, US |
| 7 | Eastside Co | Build plus marketing in one team | London, UK |
| 8 | Charle | Fashion and lifestyle brands | London, UK |
| 9 | Tribe Studio | Food and drink brands | Exeter, UK |
How we ranked them
We scored each agency on four things a brand can verify for itself.
- Shopify partner tier. Shopify ranks its agency partners as Select, Plus, Premier and Platinum. Platinum is the highest tier.
- Verified reviews on two platforms. We checked both Clutch and Shopify’s own Partner Directory. Strong ratings on one platform are good. Strong ratings with real volume on both are harder to achieve.
- Published, quantified client results. Many agencies list famous logos. Fewer publish what they actually achieved for a named client. We gave more weight to agencies that show their numbers.
- Accessibility for growing brands. We looked at whether an agency publishes its rates and minimum project size, and whether it works with brands below enterprise level.
We didn’t test the agencies or commission projects. Where an agency doesn’t publish a figure, we’ve said so rather than guessing.
Shopify agencies compared at a glance
| Agency | Shopify tier | Clutch rating | Shopify Directory rating | Published client result |
| Solo Media Group | Platinum | 4.9 (48 reviews) | 5.0 (38 reviews) | Yes, several |
| Absolute Web | Platinum | 4.9 (83 reviews) | 4.9 (38 reviews) | Yes, via Shopify |
| BORN | Platinum | No reviews | 5.0 (82 reviews) | Not found |
| Swanky | Platinum | 5.0 (1 review) | 5.0 (35 reviews) | Yes |
| Praella | Platinum | 5.0 (14 reviews) | 5.0 (10 reviews) | Yes |
| Electric Eye | Premier | No reviews | 5.0 (65 reviews) | Yes |
| Eastside Co | Platinum (self-reported) | No reviews | Not available | Not found |
| Charle | Plus | 4.9 (4 reviews) | No reviews | Via client reviews |
| Tribe Studio | Premier | Not found | 5.0 (7 reviews) | Yes |
1. Solo Media Group
Best for: growing direct-to-consumer brands that want an agency with published results
Based in: Miami, US
Shopify tier: Platinum
Clutch: 4.9 from 48 verified reviews
Shopify Partner Directory: 5.0 from 38 reviews
Founded: 2018
Solo Media Group ranks first because it is the only agency on this list that scores highly on all four of our criteria. It holds Shopify’s top partner tier. It has strong ratings with real volume on both Clutch and Shopify’s directory. And it publishes specific, named results across several clients, not just one headline case study.
The agency has completed more than 500 Shopify projects and 75 replatforms since it began building on Shopify in 2018.
Published results:
| Client | What Solo Media Group did | Result |
| Lifelines | Merged two platforms and two domains into one Shopify store | Sessions up 171%, total sales up 78%, orders up 53% |
| Manukora | Rebuilt the store and its subscription system | Subscription conversions up 32%, returning customers up 20% |
| Alp N Rock | Rebuilt the theme on Shopify 2.0 | Page load time around 40% faster, no loss of search traffic |
| Newark Auto | Shopify revamp | Conversion rate up 20% to 30%, per a verified Clutch review (2023) |
Its client list spans fashion, beauty, supplements and food, including Medik8, Wild Planet Foods, ProSupps and Aspen Publishing. It has built subscription systems on three different platforms (Skio, Smartrr and Stay AI) and wholesale stores on Shopify Plus.
Solo Media Group is also unusually open about pricing. Its Clutch profile lists an hourly rate of $100 to $149, with projects starting from $1,000. That makes it accessible to brands that would be priced out by most Platinum agencies.
One investor in a client brand put it simply in a verified Clutch review: “Solo Media Group stands at the top of the list in terms of talent, knowledge, and execution.”
Worth knowing: Solo Media Group’s DTC ecommerce services focus on building and growing Shopify stores. It doesn’t run paid advertising, so brands needing ads will work with a separate specialist.
2. Absolute Web
Best for: enterprise brands migrating to Shopify Plus
Based in: Miami, US, with offices in Los Angeles and Lisbon
Shopify tier: Platinum Clutch: 4.9 from 83 reviews
Shopify Partner Directory: 4.9 from 38 reviews
Founded: 1999
Absolute Web has the most Clutch reviews of any agency on this list and more than 25 years in ecommerce. Its clients include Capezio, Swanson Vitamins and Summer Fridays. Shopify’s own case study on Capezio reports a 144% increase in conversion rate.
It ranks second because its published results are thinner than Solo Media Group’s. Its strongest case study is hosted by Shopify rather than on its own site. For large brands with complex migrations, it is an excellent choice.
3. BORN (formerly We Make Websites)
Best for: large UK and international brands
Based in: London, UK, with a New York office
Shopify tier: Platinum
Shopify Partner Directory: 5.0 from 82 reviews
Many UK readers will know this agency as We Make Websites, one of Britain’s best-known Shopify partners. It became part of BORN, owned by Tech Mahindra, and now operates as BORN’s Shopify practice. Its clients include Finisterre, Beavertown Brewery and The Hummingbird Bakery.
Its 82 reviews on Shopify’s directory are among the strongest on this list. We couldn’t find published, quantified client results, which is why it sits third.
4. Swanky
Best for: subscription, food and drink brands
Based in: Exeter, UK Shopify tier: Platinum (since April 2025)
Shopify Partner Directory: 5.0 from 35 reviews
Swanky works with HelloFresh, Huel and Wilkinson Sword. It reports a 74% year-on-year revenue increase for outdoor clothing brand Shackleton. It’s a strong UK option, particularly for subscription businesses. Its Clutch presence is limited to a single review.
5. Praella
Best for: beauty and celebrity-led brands
Based in: Chicago, US Shopify tier: Platinum
Clutch: 5.0 from 14 reviews
Shopify Partner Directory: 5.0 from 10 reviews
Praella’s clients include Fenty Beauty and Billie Eilish Fragrances. It publishes a case study for Pillows.com showing a 27% increase in conversion rate and a 33% rise in revenue. Its review volume is lower than the agencies above it.
6. Electric Eye
Best for: conversion-focused builds for DTC brands
Based in: Columbus, Ohio, US
Shopify tier: Premier
Shopify Partner Directory: 5.0 from 65 reviews
Electric Eye has an impressive 65 reviews on Shopify’s directory and reports a 181% conversion rate increase and 56% higher average order value for Happy Curves. Clients include Giordano’s and Rancho Gordo. It sits one tier below Platinum.
7. Eastside Co
Best for: brands wanting a build and marketing in one team
Based in: London, UK
Shopify tier: Platinum, according to its website
Founded: 2012
Eastside Co is one of the UK’s largest Shopify agencies, with more than 500 stores built and clients including DJI Hasselblad and Gold Collagen. It also offers SEO, paid search and email marketing. We couldn’t confirm its tier on Shopify’s directory or find verified reviews on Clutch, so it ranks lower on our criteria than its size might suggest.
8. Charle
Best for: fashion and lifestyle brands
Based in: London and Manchester, UK
Shopify tier: Plus
Clutch: 4.9 from 4 reviews
Charle has built for Cambridge Satchel, Billionaire Boys Club and Gilbert Rugby, and is known for design and conversion testing. Client reviews on Clutch mention a 30% increase in order volume for Blake Envelopes. Its partner tier and review volume are lower than those above.
9. Tribe Studio
Best for: food, drink and subscription brands
Based in: Exeter, UK
Shopify tier: Premier
Shopify Partner Directory: 5.0 from 7 reviews
Tribe Studio is a certified B Corp working with Origin Coffee, The Nue Co. and Cheeky Panda. It reports 129% revenue growth and 146% more subscription orders for Momo Kombucha. It’s a strong specialist for food and drink, with a smaller review base.
How to choose the right Shopify agency
Check the tier yourself. Search the agency’s name in Shopify’s Partner Directory. It shows the tier and Shopify-verified reviews.
Ask for named results. A logo wall proves an agency worked with a brand. A case study with numbers proves what it achieved.
Read reviews on more than one platform. Ratings on Clutch and Shopify’s directory come from different clients. Strength on both is a good sign.
Ask who owns the accounts. Your Shopify store, analytics and email lists should be in your name, with the agency added as staff.
Don’t rule out US agencies. Shopify Markets handles pricing in pounds, VAT-inclusive pricing and international shipping. Several of the strongest agencies on this list are US-based and work with UK brands.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Shopify agency in 2026?
Based on verified reviews, Shopify partner tier and published client results, Solo Media Group ranks first. It holds Shopify’s Platinum tier, a 4.9 rating from 48 Clutch reviews, and publishes named results such as a 171% rise in sessions for Lifelines.
What is a Shopify Platinum Partner?
Platinum is the highest tier in Shopify’s partner programme, above Premier, Plus and Select. Shopify awards tiers based on the volume and quality of an agency’s work with merchants.
How much does a Shopify agency cost?
It varies widely. Hourly rates for established agencies commonly start around $100 an hour. Solo Media Group, for example, lists $100 to $149 an hour on Clutch. Full custom builds typically run into the tens of thousands, and Shopify Plus builds cost more.
Should a UK brand use a UK or US Shopify agency?
Either can work. UK agencies offer a shared time zone. US agencies on this list publish more client results and often have larger review bases. Shopify itself handles currency, VAT and international selling.
How do I check a Shopify agency’s reviews?
Look the agency up on Clutch and in Shopify’s Partner Directory. Both verify reviewers. Check the number of reviews, not just the star rating.
Data checked on 2 October 2026 from Clutch, the Shopify Partner Directory and each agency’s published case studies. Ratings and review counts change over time.
