GDPR Compliance for Shopify Stores: Guide for 2025

Running a Shopify store involves collecting customer data, like names, emails, and IP addresses, every day. Whether it’s someone signing up for your newsletter or checking out a product, that information needs to be handled with care.

Stores with customers from the European Union need to follow the rules under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). These rules protect people’s personal data, and ignoring them could lead to serious fines. In this guide, you’ll learn how to make your Shopify GDPR compliant, with practical steps to handle customer privacy the right way. Whether it’s setting up a cookie consent banner or managing data subject requests, let’s simplify your Shopify GDPR compliance journey from start to finish.

Shopify merchants need to follow strict data protection laws, especially when handling personal data through tools like:

• Google Analytics
  
• TikTok pixels
  
• Third-party apps from the Shopify App Store

Why this matters:

• Each tool or API you use may act as a data processor.
  
• You’re responsible for how these tools collect and use customer data.
  
• Not following the rules can lead to:
  
  • Data breaches
    
  • Legal penalties
    
  • Loss of customer trust

Key friction points that affect Shopify GDPR compliance for storefronts include:

#1 Third-party app overload

Each new app you install could introduce new privacy risks if not chosen carefully. Therefore, you should have proper data processing agreements with them to ensure smooth compliance with privacy.

#2 Pixel tracking without consent

Tools like Google Analytics and TikTok can drop tracking cookies on your customers’ devices. Without consent, you could be violating GDPR.

This is because the law makes it clear that you must obtain explicit user consent before deploying any non-essential cookies, including tracking cookies.

#3 Inconsistent cookie consent banners 

Many tend to think that just having a cookie pop-up is enough. That’s not true.

Your cookie banner must be conspicuously visible on your website and free from dark patterns. It should also offer a real choice to accept, customise, or reject cookies.

And, a pop-up that drops cookies before consent? That’s a common (and costly) mistake.

#4 Lack of Data Subject Requests (DSR) Workflows

The GDPR data subject rights are something that many countries are inspired by. Customers have the right to access, correct, or request deletion of their data. Many stores struggle to handle these data subject requests efficiently.

#1 Set up cookie banners

Under GDPR and the ePrivacy Directive, you must obtain explicit consent before firing any cookies that aren’t strictly necessary. Yes, even the Google Analytics pixel needs permission. 

Use a Consent Management Platform (CMP) like CookieYes to create a cookie consent banner tailored for your Shopify store. 

A CMP helps you manage user consent preferences, log consent for audits, and allow users to adjust their customer privacy settings anytime.

How to add a cookie consent banner to your Shopify store in 3 easy steps?

Getting a cookie consent banner live on your Shopify store is quick and simple. Here’s how you can do it:

Step 1: Install the CookieYes GDPR Cookie Banner app

Find and install the CookieYes GDPR Cookie Banner from the Shopify app store.

Step 2: Create your CookieYes account

Sign up for a CookieYes account to access your dashboard and set up your consent banner.

Step 3: Customise and add the banner to your store

Choose a banner layout that fits your storefront, customise it to match your brand, then copy the generated code and paste it into your Shopify theme.

That’s it! In just a few minutes, you can have a GDPR-compliant cookie consent banner up and running, helping you meet data privacy requirements and build customer trust.

#2 Update privacy policies

Your privacy policy isn’t just a checkbox; it’s a legally required manifesto of how you collect, use, and share personal data. Make sure your privacy policy addresses:

• Types of personal data collected (email addresses, IP addresses, etc.)
• How you process customer data
• Use of third-party apps and APIs
• Data subject rights (access, correction, deletion, data portability, etc.)
• Data breaches and response protocols

You can start with a privacy policy template if you’re feeling overwhelmed, but always customise it to reflect your specific store functionality and integrations. Or, simply use a privacy policy generator.

#3 Managing customer data access and deletion

Store owners must provide customers with ways to make data subject requests (DSRs) easily. That includes requests for data access, rectification, and deletion.

Use the Shopify Admin to handle DSRs efficiently, but remember: if you use third-party providers from the Shopify App Store, your obligations extend to them, too. 

Configure your apps correctly, and ensure data processing agreements (DPAs) are in place with each provider.

#4 Review and manage third-party apps

Every third-party app you install on your Shopify store could access personal data. Under GDPR, you must:

• Treat each app as a potential data processor
• Review how each app handles customer data
• Request or review their data processing agreements (DPAs)
• Remove any apps that don’t meet privacy regulations

Before installing apps from the Shopify App Store, check if they:

• Clearly explain their data use
• Comply with GDPR
• Include a data processing addendum/agreement

This step helps you stay compliant and reduces the risk of data breaches.

#5 Implement security safeguards

Shopify takes data security seriously, but as a Shopify store owner, you must watch out for financial fraud, security attacks, phishing emails, etc. Implement access controls, enable two-factor authentication (2FA), and use secure payment gateways for transactions.

Shopify offers several built-in features to help you meet your responsibilities under the GDPR. While the platform includes tools that support compliance, it’s still your duty as a Shopify store owner to understand the law and configure your store accordingly.

Here are the key ways Shopify helps you stay on the right side of data privacy regulations:

Customer privacy controls

From your Shopify admin, you can set up a cookie banner, add a privacy policy, and enable a data sales opt-out page—all from the Customer privacy settings section.

Data Processing Addendum (DPA)

Shopify provides a standard Data Processing Agreement, which defines how customer data is handled between you and Shopify. This is essential for GDPR compliance when Shopify acts as your data processor.

Data access and deletion tools

Shopify gives you the ability to access, edit, or delete personal data at the customer’s request, helping you meet requirements for data subject requests like access and deletion.

Privacy policy templates

You can start with Shopify’s pre-built privacy policy templates and customise them to reflect how your store collects and uses customer data.

Security infrastructure

Shopify protects customer data with industry-standard safeguards like encryption, firewalls, and frequent security audits to reduce the risk of data breaches.

Watch out for these common Shopify GDPR compliance mistakes:

Treating GDPR as a one-time setup

Privacy laws change—often. From UK GDPR to evolving interpretations of Google Consent Mode, you need to run regular audits to stay current.

Ignoring third-party compliance

Each app you use should come with clear GDPR documentation and a DPA. If not, find alternatives.

Poor consent UX

A poorly implemented pop-up can invalidate your compliance. Ensure cookies are only triggered after clear user consent is given.