Does Shopify Work in Lebanon? Payments, Setup & Alternatives (2026)

It is one of the most common questions we hear from Lebanese shop owners: does Shopify work in Lebanon? The short answer is yes. You can build, run and sell from a Shopify store while based in Lebanon. The catch is payments. Shopify's own payment system is not available here, so you need to plan how your customers will pay before you launch.

This guide explains what works, what does not, and how to choose between Shopify and WooCommerce for a business in Lebanon.

The Short Answer: Yes, With One Big Exception

Everything that makes Shopify popular works from Lebanon: the store builder, themes, product management, order tracking and apps. What does not work is Shopify Payments, the built-in card processing that most stores abroad use. Shopify's list of supported countries for Shopify Payments does not include Lebanon. In the Middle East, only the United Arab Emirates is on it.

So the real question is not "does Shopify work in Lebanon?" but "how will my customers pay on my Shopify store?"

How Lebanese Shopify Stores Get Paid

1. Cash on delivery

Cash on delivery (COD) is still the way many Lebanese customers prefer to pay online. One 2026 industry estimate puts it at 60–70% of Lebanese e-commerce transactions. Shopify supports COD as a manual payment method: the order comes in as unpaid, you collect the cash at delivery, then mark it as paid. Shopify does not charge third-party transaction fees on manual payments.

2. Bank transfer and local wallets

You can also add bank transfer or wallet payment instructions (for example, a transfer through a money-transfer or wallet service your customers already use) as another manual payment method. Again, you confirm the payment yourself before shipping.

3. A card payment gateway

If you want customers to pay by card at checkout, you need a third-party payment gateway that accepts Lebanese merchants. Options Lebanese merchants mention include Areeba (a Lebanese payment company working with local banks), Amazon Payment Services (formerly PayFort) and MontyPay. Availability and requirements change, and most providers ask for a registered company. The most reliable check is inside your own store: in the Shopify admin, go to Settings → Payments to see the providers offered for your store's country.

Costs to Know Before You Start

• Shopify plan: a monthly subscription. Check Shopify's pricing page for current plans.
• Extra transaction fees: when a store uses a third-party card gateway instead of Shopify Payments, Shopify adds its own transaction fee on top of the gateway's fee. The rate depends on your plan. Manual methods such as COD are not charged this fee.
• Gateway fees and paperwork: card gateways charge per transaction and usually require company registration, which adds time and cost.
• Apps and theme: premium themes and paid apps are optional, but they add up.

Shopify or WooCommerce for a Lebanese Business?

Because Shopify Payments is not available, many Lebanese businesses also consider WooCommerce, the e-commerce plugin for WordPress. The main differences:

• Shopify is hosted and easy to manage. You do not worry about servers or updates. In exchange you pay a monthly plan, plus Shopify's extra transaction fee if you use a third-party card gateway.
• WooCommerce has no platform subscription or platform transaction fee. You pay for hosting instead, and you have more freedom to connect local payment gateways and WhatsApp ordering. It needs a bit more maintenance.

We compare both in detail in our guide WordPress vs Shopify in Lebanon.

Checklist: Launching a Shopify Store From Lebanon

1. Decide how customers will pay: COD only at first, or COD plus a card gateway.
2. If you want card payments, check the providers listed under Settings → Payments and prepare your company documents.
3. Set your prices and currency clearly, and say whether delivery is included.
4. Set up delivery zones and fees for the areas you serve.
5. Add WhatsApp contact on product pages, since many customers will ask questions before buying.
6. Test a full order, from cart to delivery confirmation, before you go live.

How SHADES Can Help

We set up Shopify stores for Lebanese businesses, from products and theme to checkout. Shopify store setup starts at $800 and payment gateway integration at $150. If WooCommerce suits you better, WooCommerce store setup starts at $150. See all options on our website development page.

Sources: Shopify Payments supported countries; Shopify manual payment methods; Shopify Community: payment methods in Lebanon; Voxire: payment gateways in Lebanon 2026.