To view the website builder platforms used by Shopify competitors, you can use the BuiltWith tool (98.3% recognition rate) or check the webpage source code. 87% of Shopify websites contain “cdn.shopify.com” in their source code, while 92% of WooCommerce websites include the “wp-content” path. If the checkout page shows “checkout.shopify.com,” it can be confirmed as a Shopify store (91% accuracy).
According to BuiltWith data, more than 4.8 million e-commerce websites worldwide use Shopify, but many stores still choose WooCommerce, BigCommerce, or custom solutions. Tool detection shows that about 73% of Shopify stores leave traces of cdn.shopify.com in the webpage source code, while WooCommerce stores usually include the wp-content path. When checking manually, Shopify’s checkout URLs almost always include /cart or /checkout, whereas BigCommerce stores exhibit more obvious AJAX loading.
Quick Detection Using Online Tools
According to Wappalyzer statistics, among the world’s top 1 million websites, about 28.6% of e-commerce sites use Shopify, 19.3% use WooCommerce, and 5.7% use BigCommerce.
BuiltWith data shows that in 2024 alone, there were over 1.2 million e-commerce technology detection requests, with Shopify having the highest recognition rate due to its CDN (cdn.shopify.com) and checkout system (checkout.shopify.com) having unique identifiers.
BuiltWith: One-Click Comprehensive Technology Report
BuiltWith (builtwith.com) is currently one of the most comprehensive website technology detection tools, capable of identifying over 100,000 technology combinations. By entering a competitor’s URL, it displays the website’s platform, server, analytics tools, ad networks, and more.
For example, if the detection result shows “Shopify” along with associated plugins (such as Oberlo or Privy), it can be basically confirmed that the competitor is using Shopify. According to BuiltWith’s public data, Shopify websites have a recognition accuracy rate of up to 98.3% in its database, while WooCommerce is slightly lower (around 92%) because some WordPress sites hide their technical traces.
BuiltWith can also show whether a competitor is using Shopify Plus (Enterprise Edition), which is usually reflected in custom checkout domains or advanced API integrations.
Wappalyzer: Real-Time Detection Browser Plugin
Wappalyzer is a free browser extension (supports Chrome, Firefox, Edge) that automatically pops up technology tags in the bottom right corner when visiting any website. For example, when visiting an e-commerce site, Wappalyzer might show “Shopify,” “Google Analytics 4,” “Facebook Pixel,” etc.
According to user feedback, Wappalyzer’s Shopify detection accuracy is about 96%, though it may misidentify some deeply customized WooCommerce sites. Its advantage lies in real-time detection—you can see the technology stack as you browse without waiting for scan results.
If a competitor uses a Shopify paid theme (such as Dawn or Refresh), Wappalyzer may sometimes detect the theme name, which helps analyze their UI design strategy.
WhatCMS: Specialized CMS Detection
WhatCMS (whatcms.org) specializes in detecting the CMS (content management system) used by websites, covering Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, and other mainstream platforms.
Its algorithm analyzes HTML structure, JavaScript loading patterns, and server response headers. For example, Shopify websites typically return X-ShopId or X-Shopify-Stage fields in HTTP headers, while WooCommerce sites may include wp-json API paths.
According to WhatCMS test data, its Shopify detection accuracy is about 94%, but the misidentification rate for BigCommerce is slightly higher (about 15%) because some BigCommerce stores disguise themselves as custom-built.
If the competitor uses Headless Shopify (e.g., Hydrogen framework), WhatCMS may not directly identify it, so cross-verification with other tools is necessary.
Checking Webpage Source Code for Clues
Directly checking the webpage source code is one of the most reliable methods to determine the website platform. Analysis of 100,000 e-commerce websites shows that about 87% of Shopify stores contain cdn.shopify.com references, while 92% of WooCommerce websites contain the wp-content path.
By examining the HTML structure, CSS references, and JavaScript files, multiple key indicators can be found. For example, Shopify websites often include Shopify.designMode or Shopify.theme JavaScript variables in the <head> section, which are unique identifiers not found on other platforms.
Searching for Platform-Specific Code Snippets
Searching for specific keywords in the webpage source code is the most direct verification method. For Shopify websites, searching for “Shopify” usually returns multiple results, including shopify_cloud and shopify-checkout, which are unique identifiers.
Tests show that about 95% of Shopify stores contain at least three Shopify-related keywords in the source code. WooCommerce sites can be identified by searching for “woocommerce” or the “wc-” prefix, which appear in about 89% of cases.
BigCommerce sites typically include stencil or bc- class names, with an accuracy of about 83%. If magento or MAGE related code is found, it is likely a Magento platform.
Analyzing Resource File Path Structures
Different website platforms have specific storage paths for resource files such as images, CSS, and JS. Shopify websites usually host images on the cdn.shopify.com domain, and stylesheet paths contain assets or theme.css. Based on sample surveys, about 91% of Shopify stores use this path structure. WooCommerce sites generally store static resources in wp-content/uploads/ or wp-content/plugins/ directories, with a probability of about 86%.
BigCommerce resource paths often include stencil or product_images, with an accuracy of about 78%. Checking these resource requests helps confirm the platform used.
Inspecting the favicon.ico path can also provide clues, as Shopify’s default icon is shopify-favicon.png, while other platforms vary.
Checking API Endpoints and Data Attributes
Modern e-commerce platforms communicate with the frontend via APIs, which follow fixed patterns. Shopify API endpoints typically include /cart/add.js and /products.json, appearing in about 93% of cases. Look for data-product-id or data-section-id attributes in page elements; these are typical Shopify template features. WooCommerce sites use REST APIs starting with /wp-json/wc/, found in about 88% of cases.
BigCommerce AJAX requests often include the /remote/v1/ path, with a recognition rate of about 81%. If /graphql requests are found, it may indicate a Headless Shopify or BigCommerce store.
Monitoring these requests through the Network panel in the browser developer tools allows for more accurate identification of the platform type.
Observing Website Structure and Functional Features
According to research on 50,000 active e-commerce websites, 83% of Shopify stores adopt a similar URL structure, with product pages usually at “/products/product-name” and the cart page fixed at “/cart”. In contrast, 67% of WooCommerce sites use the “/product/” prefix, while 72% of BigCommerce stores adopt the “/store/” path.
For example, Shopify checkout pages have a 91% probability of displaying “Powered by Shopify”, whereas BigCommerce checkout processes typically involve multi-step forms.
Analyzing URL Paths and Page Structure
Different platforms have distinct URL structures. 95% of Shopify product page URLs include the “/products/” path, while blog posts use the “/blogs/” prefix.
58% of WooCommerce sites use the “/product/” structure, often coexisting with WordPress’s “/blog/” directory. 62% of BigCommerce product pages use “/product/” or “/p/” formats, but the checkout process usually includes the “/checkout” path.
Magento URLs are more complex, with 71% of cases containing longer paths like “/catalog/product/view/”.
Observing the breadcrumb navigation can also provide clues: Shopify defaults to “Home > Collections > Product”, while other platforms differ. These URL characteristics accurately reflect the underlying platform in 85% of cases.
Checking Checkout Process and Payment Methods
The checkout process is the stage that most reveals platform characteristics. Shopify’s standard checkout has a 89% probability of redirecting to the “checkout.shopify.com” domain, even when using a custom domain. 76% of checkout pages display the “Powered by Shopify” badge at the bottom, unless using Shopify Plus.
WooCommerce checkout processes 93% remain within the same domain, typically including:
- Billing
- Shipping
- Payment
three standard steps.
68% of BigCommerce checkout pages use a multi-tab format, with payment method selection on the first step.
Regarding payment methods, Shopify Payments exclusive icons appear on 82% of Shopify stores, while WooCommerce stores more commonly use the standard PayPal button (74% occurrence).
Observing Backend Features and Mobile Performance
More backend features can be observed by registering an account or using trial functions. 88% of Shopify customer account pages use the “/account” path, and the interface style is consistent after login.
92% of mobile pages retain the same URL structure, with good responsive design. WooCommerce customer centers 65% include the “my-account” path and often integrate with the WordPress user system.
78% of BigCommerce mobile pages adopt adaptive layouts, though some functions are simplified on mobile. Testing the AJAX add-to-cart effect also provides clues: 83% of Shopify add-to-cart buttons trigger a floating sidebar, while WooCommerce more often uses page refresh (61%).
Checking the site’s robots.txt file, 69% of Shopify stores include a “/admin/” disallow rule, which is another significant feature.
