How to Give Collaborator Access in Shopify Without Paying Extra
Updated
If you're on Shopify's basic plan, you've probably hit the "Staff" (Employee) limit. But did you know you can invite agencies, designers, or external experts FOR FREE and unlimited using collaborator accounts?
What's the Difference Between Staff and Collaborator in Shopify?
The main difference is that Staff (Employees) occupy a paid seat on your plan and are for your internal team, while Collaborators (Partners) are free and unlimited accounts designed for agencies and freelancers to temporarily access your store at no extra cost.
Staff (Employee)
- ✕ They occupy a paid "seat" on your plan.
- ✕ The basic plan has very few or none.
Collaborator (Partner)
- ✓ UNLIMITED and FREE.
- ✓ They don't count as staff.
- ✓ Secure and controlled access.
Need expert Shopify help?
We can audit your store as collaborators and tell you exactly what to improve. Free diagnosis.
Step by Step: How to Invite a Collaborator
1 Share Your .myshopify.com URL
Your collaborator needs your store's internal address. Go to Settings > Domains and find the one ending in .myshopify.com (e.g.: example-store.myshopify.com).
Note: Don't give them your public .com domain — they need the internal one to send the request.
2 Generate the Security Code
To protect you from SPAM, Shopify requires a 4-digit code.
Go to Settings > Users and permissions. Scroll down to the "Collaborators" section and make sure the option "Anyone can send a request..." is checked, or look for the 4-digit Collaborator code.
3 Accept the Request
Once the expert sends the request with your URL and code, you'll receive an email and a notification in Shopify's bell icon.
Click on the notification, review what permissions they're requesting, and hit "Accept request". Done! Now they can work without seeing your banking details or taking up staff seats.
🛡️ Security First
If at any point you lose trust or end the working relationship, you can "Generate a new code" in the same section. This will invalidate previous access for new requests (although you must manually remove previously accepted collaborators).
Frequently Asked Questions About Collaborators
Do collaborator accounts have a cost?
No, they are completely free and don't affect the price of your monthly Shopify plan.
What permissions should I grant them?
Only what's necessary. For example, a designer needs access to "Online Store" and "Themes," but not to "Finances" or "Orders."
More resources
Check the official Shopify documentation on collaborators for more technical details.
This is the professional way to work. Never share your personal ("admin") username and password with anyone.