Flippa Vs Shopify Exchange Marketplace Buying Stores
What Happened With Shopify Exchange Marketplace?
Shopify officially closed the Exchange Marketplace in 2022. The platform no longer lists Shopify stores for sale under the official Shopify name.
That means you cannot log in today and browse “verified” Shopify stores from Shopify’s own marketplace.
You might come across some older blog posts and guides still talking about Exchange as if it were active. This can be confusing for new buyers.
Therefore, we advise you to check the date before you trust a guide on Shopify Exchange.
If the guide was written before 2023, the information may be outdated.
We also made a post earlier on whether it’s worth buying a Shopify store through Shopify Exchange. Please check it out here.
We Help You Buy / Build, Manage and Scale E-commerce Brands for an EXIT
E-commerce Simplified for Busy Individuals – We handle the buying, building, and scaling, so you can focus on what matters.
Growth-Focused Strategies – From sourcing to marketing, we drive growth and prepare you for a profitable exit.
Expertly Managed Exits – We build a high-value brand designed for a Lucrative exit.
Flippa Overview
Flippa is one of the largest marketplaces for buying and selling online businesses of all types.
You can buy e-commerce shops, content sites, SaaS businesses, apps, and domains. Flippa started in 2009 and has experienced consistent growth since then.
Here are key facts about Flippa today:
Flippa lists approx. 3,000 new businesses every month.
67% of listings are under $50,000 in price.
More than 300,000 digital assets have been sold on the platform.
Over 2 million buyers and investors use Flippa.
Flippa is a general marketplace. That means you get a wide range of choices, but also a wide range in quality of listings.
How Flippa Works For Buyers of E-commerce Businesses:
Here’s a quick guide on what to expect from Flippa as a buyer:
Step 1. Browse Listings: You can easily search for stores by niche, revenue, traffic, price, and age of business.
Step 2. Check Financials: Good listings include verified revenue and expense numbers, often with screenshots from tools like Shopify or Google Analytics.
Step 3. Ask Questions: Buyers can message sellers directly to clarify details about the business.
Step 4. Bid or Buy Now: Some listings let you bid in an auction style. Others are fixed price “Buy Now.”
Step 5. Use Escrow: Flippa recommends using Escrow.com to move money securely once you agree to the terms.
Flippa Pros For Buying Stores:
Here are the key benefits of using Flippa for buying online stores:
Wide choice of businesses: You are not limited to one platform’s stores. You may find Shopify stores, WooCommerce stores, apps, content websites, and more.
Low price range: You can find many stores under $50,000. That is good if you want a lower-risk investment.
Auction format: Auctions can lead to good deals if buyers are not fighting over the same listing.
Global audience: Sellers and buyers come from many countries. This often increases competition and variety.
Flippa Cons For Buying Stores:
The cons of buying an e-commerce business through Flippa include:
Variable listing quality: Sellers list their own businesses. Not all data is verified unless the seller chooses to share documents and analytics. You must do careful due diligence. Some numbers in listings can be misleading.
Mix of store types: Not all stores that look good at first glance are profitable. Many are starter or dropshipping stores with low real profit. You need to verify traffic and revenue before you buy.
Fees can add up: Flippa charges fees to sellers. Buyers generally do not pay listing fees, but auction fees and transfer costs can apply depending on how you close the deal.
We Help You Buy / Build, Manage and Scale E-commerce Brands for an EXIT
E-commerce Simplified for Busy Individuals – We handle the buying, building, and scaling, so you can focus on what matters.
Growth-Focused Strategies – From sourcing to marketing, we drive growth and prepare you for a profitable exit.
Expertly Managed Exits – We build a high-value brand designed for a Lucrative exit.
What Shopify Exchange Marketplace Was
Before it shut down, Shopify Exchange was an official marketplace run by Shopify for buying and selling Shopify-based stores.
Listings on the platform showed metrics like monthly revenue, profit, traffic, and total sales from Shopify’s own dashboard.
Many buyers liked that because the data came straight from Shopify.
Exchange also handled messaging and transfer support. Buyers did not need a separate escrow because the platform managed the process.
This made it feel safe and simple.
But Shopify ended this service as of November 2022 and no longer supports that marketplace officially.
Which Option Is Right For You
If you want to buy an online store today, Flippa is a real and active marketplace. You will find many listings and price points.
But you must research every listing carefully. Check analytics data, request proof of revenue, and run your own review of traffic sources before you buy.
If you specifically wanted the old Shopify Exchange Marketplace for its verified data, know that it is no longer available.
You will need to use alternative marketplaces or brokers that give you reliable numbers with vetting.
Alternatives To Shopify Exchange Marketplace
Since Shopify Exchange is closed, you can look at these alternative options to find Shopify stores for sale:
1. Flippa: Many Shopify stores are still listed here, but you must conduct in-depth due diligence yourself.
2. Empire Flippers: This is a curated marketplace with vetting and due diligence. Empire Flippers is ideal for buying established e-commerce stores.
3. Acquire.com: The platform focuses on SaaS and ecommerce businesses and features verified listings with direct seller contact.
4. Brokers or other platforms: Some e-commerce brokers specialize in Shopify stores with hand-matched buyers and sellers.
Each of these alternatives has trade-offs in terms of price, verification, and support.
Best Shopify Exchange Alternative: Why Trend Hijacking Fills The Exchange Gap
At Trend Hijacking, we offer you a viable alternative to Shopify Exchange if you want to acquire and scale e-commerce businesses rather than just browse a marketplace of listings.
Here’s how it compares to Shopify Exchange’s core purpose:
Shopify Exchange was a marketplace where you could buy and sell Shopify stores directly with verified data and escrow support.
Trend Hijacking is not a simple listing marketplace but rather a full-service acquisition advisor and partner, sourcing and vetting businesses for buyers, negotiating deals, and helping with scaling and exits.
It fills a similar niche for buyer acquisition of Shopify-based businesses, even though the format is different.
Why you might prefer Trend Hijacking over the other alternatives:
Active deal sourcing: Instead of browsing static listings, Trend Hijacking claims to uncover off-market or vetted opportunities and negotiate on your behalf.
Due diligence support: All our programs emphasize financial, operational, and growth due diligence rather than just price checking a listing. That can help buyers avoid poorly performing stores if done rigorously.
Post-acquisition growth and exit planning: We offer frameworks for scaling acquired stores and positioning them for exit, which is something standalone marketplaces typically do not provide.
Client testimonials: Independent reviews show many users appreciated the supportive process, professional communication, and opportunities sent during initial trials.
Overall, Trend Hijacking is one of the best modern alternatives to Shopify Exchange for buyers who want:
Deal sourcing due diligence support, negotiation help, scaling advice, and exit planning rather than just browsing listings.
Bottom Line
Flippa and Shopify Exchange Marketplace are not equals today. Flippa is a live, active marketplace where you can buy e-commerce stores and many other types of digital businesses.
Shopify Exchange Marketplace is closed and not an option today. Flippa works great for deal hunters and buyers who are willing to do due diligence on their own.
However, if you want verified data and low risk, consider the alternative marketplaces that do the vetting of e-commerce businesses on your behalf.
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