Guides · written by Astrid
Honest, practical Shopify guides
Plain-English answers to the Shopify questions merchants actually ask me — written by me, Astrid, a solo developer who’s worked on 80+ Shopify stores and built 30+ custom apps. No fluff, no upsell, no fake numbers. Just what I’d tell you if you asked in chat.
Seven guides · read before you spend
Straight answers to common Shopify questions
Is It Safe to Give a Developer Shopify Access?
Yes — if you use Shopify collaborator access with scoped permissions instead of your password. How to grant developer access to your Shopify store safely, and what to watch for.
Why Is My Shopify Store So Slow? 7 Real Causes
Most slow Shopify stores are slow for a few fixable reasons: heavy images, leftover code from removed apps, and render-blocking scripts. Here are the 7 real causes and how to tell which is yours.
How Much Does a Custom Shopify App Cost?
There’s no flat price for a custom Shopify app — cost is driven by scope: complexity, integrations, data volume, and permissions. Here’s what actually moves the number, explained honestly.
Shopify Developer vs Agency vs Freelancer
A Shopify agency, a solo developer, and a gig-site freelancer solve different problems. Compare cost, accountability, continuity, and risk to decide which one you actually need.
Shopify Store Redirects to Spam or Hacked? Fix It
If your Shopify store redirects to spam or shows pages you didn’t add, the cause is usually injected theme code or a compromised app — not server files. A Shopify-specific recovery guide.
Shopify Checkout or Add to Cart Not Working?
A Shopify add-to-cart or checkout button that won’t click is usually a theme or app conflict, not a Shopify outage. Common causes, quick checks you can do, and how to get it fixed fast.
Do I Need a Custom Shopify App or an Existing One?
Try an off-the-shelf Shopify app first — go custom when your workflow, back-office, or integration needs outgrow what existing apps can do. How to decide before you spend on a build.
Have a question these don’t cover? Ask me in chat — I’ll give you a straight answer, even if the answer is “you don’t need me for this.”
Read enough? Tell me what’s going on.
Describe your problem or idea in plain English. I’ll tell you what actually needs to change, write a proposal priced to scope, and do the work safely on a copy of your store — with a preview before anything goes live.
Start the chatNot sure it fits? Ask in chat — I’ll tell you straight if it’s not a fit.