BuildMyPOD Setup Guide: Step-by-Step
What is BuildMyPOD?
BuildMyPOD is an AI tool that helps you create a full Shopify print-on-demand store in just a few minutes!
You pick a niche, connect your Shopify and Printify accounts, and our AI builds the store for you. Your store comes ready with designs, product photos, and descriptions, so you don't need to start from scratch.
It's all integrated with Printify, which handles printing and shipping once your store is live.
Creating your POD store is super simple, and it only takes a few minutes!
Signing Up For BuildMyPOD
- Open https://buildmypod.ai/ and click on "Build my free store".
- This will take you to our sign-in page, where you can create an account using your email or log in with an existing profile.
You'll then get a verification link in your email to be able to log in to BuildMyPOD.
You'll only get a verification email if you manually signed up. If you signed up with Google, you won't get an email.
Pick Your Niche
- Here you'll be given 5 niche options to choose from: Nature & Outdoors, Pets, Fitness, Spirituality, Hobbies.
The niche you pick will be used to personalize your store's theme, color, and product descriptions.
If your exact niche is not available, select a close alternative. You can always edit and customize your store later. The BuildMyPOD niches are mainly placeholders that provide the foundation for the theme. After the base theme is installed, you can edit and customize it freely so it matches your brand and niche.
If you're not sure about your niche, you can click on the "I'm not sure" option. This will randomly pick a niche for you from the existing options listed.
Choose Shopify Homepage Banners
- After picking your niche, the system will create six homepage banner options for you. You need to choose two to proceed.
Activate Your Store on Shopify
Now it's time to connect BuildMyPOD with your Shopify account!
- Click on the "Launch Shopify & Sign Up" to access Shopify and create an account.
If you already have a Shopify account, you can log in normally by clicking on "Log in to Shopify".
- Enter your email to be redirected to Shopify's login page, where you can create your account.
You'll be offered a 3-day free trial, after which you'll be charged $1 for three months.
Prices can vary according to your location. Please check Shopify's pricing page to confirm which deal applies to you.
- After creating your Shopify account, you will see a payment page where you can add your card information and subscribe to a plan directly from there.
You'll need an active Shopify subscription to complete the BuildMyPOD workflow. If you're just starting with POD, we recommend choosing the Basic plan (the cheapest option).
- After your Shopify account and plan are created, return to BuildMyPod and click on "Continue".
Install BuildMyPOD App
- The next step in the workflow is to install the BuildMyPOD app. Click on "Install app on Shopify".
The link will take you to Shopify's app store, where you need to click on the black "Install" button to install BuildMyPOD. This will effectively connect Shopify to BuildMyPOD.
Before downloading the app, please make sure you're installing the BuildMyPOD app in the correct store. Check your profile icon on Shopify to make sure.
IMPORTANT!!!
You need to download the BuildMyPOD app through the link in the workflow. If you search for the app on Shopify manually and install it without using our link, the connection won't work properly, and your store won't be built.
- After installing the app, you'll be automatically redirected to BuildMyPOD, where you can click on "Done".
Claim Your Shopify Discount
This step will only be visible if you didn't subscribe to a Shopify plan in the previous step. If you have, you'll be automatically moved to the next step.
- In this step, you can subscribe to a Shopify plan.
Click on “Access Shopify", and you’ll be taken directly to Shopify's subscription page.
- In Shopify's Subscription page, the Basic Plan (cheapest option) will be automatically selected. You can exit out of the screen and choose a different plan if you prefer.
- After subscribing to a Shopify plan, you can return to BuildMyPOD and click on "Done".
Pick Your Plan
- You'll now have to pick your POD store model.
You'll get two options: a free beginner store and a premium professional store.
Shopify—not BuildMyPOD—manages the payment process for the Professional store.
To ensure payments go through, you’ll need to have a valid payment method and up-to-date billing information in your Shopify account.
If you encounter any error messages or if a payment fails, please reach out directly to Shopify Support, as they’re best equipped to resolve this.
For context, Shopify has confirmed that issues like this are related to the Shopify account or admin settings, specifically within the payment section, and need to be handled on their end.
Here’s how you can contact Shopify Support:
- Go to 👉 https://help.shopify.com
- Click “Contact Support”
- Log in to your Shopify account
- Choose your store
- Select your issue → Click Chat
Connect to Printify
- Now that you have created your store, you need to connect it with Printify. If you don't have a Printify account, please create one to proceed by clicking on "Create a Printify account".
After creating your Printify account, go back to the BuildMyPOD tab and click on Done to move to the next step in the workflow.
If you already have a Printify account, you can log in normally by clicking on "Already have a Printify account? Log in", then go back to BuildMyPOD to continue the workflow.
- In the next step, you just need to authorize the connection between Printify and BuildMyPOD by clicking on "Connect to Printify".
If you have more than one Printify store, please double-check if you are logged in to the Printify store you want the designs to be uploaded to.
Install Printify App
- Back in the BuildMyPOD workflow, click on "Install Printify App," and you'll be redirected to Shopify's app store.
While you're on Shopify's app store page, please make sure you’re installing the Printify app in the same Shopify store where the BuildMyPOD app was installed. You can do this by clicking on your profile icon and checking your store name.
- After clicking on "Install", you'll be redirected to Shopify, where you can install the Printify app.
- If prompted, make sure to sign in to your Printify account by clicking on "Log in to existing Printify account".
You need to make sure you log in to the same Printify account you allowed BuildMyPod to connect to in the previous step:
If you're getting any errors while attempting to connect to Printify, please refer to the Printify Connection Error article to troubleshoot possible causes.
- You can return to Build My POD and click on "Done".
Preview Your Store
- All done! Your store is now live!
By default, your store will be protected by a password, and visitors will only be able to see the content after entering the code.
You can change the password or disable it on Shopify. Go to Online Store >>> Preferences, and you'll see the option to erase the current password and replace it with your own or disable the password completely by turning off the toggle.
- A "Preview your store" link will be visible at the BuildMyPOD completion screen. Click it to open your live store in a new tab and confirm everything looks correct.
- Now that your store is live, you’ll get an email with access to an exclusive POD community 😊
It includes a full course that teaches you everything you need to know to run a successful POD store 🚀
Click here if you haven't received the link in your email
Your store is now ready to sell
Updated on: 29/10/2026
Thank you!


























