--- title: "Shopify Agentic Storefronts: What B2B Sellers Need to Know" url: https://www.uncap.com/post/shopify-agentic-storefronts-b2b author: "Denis Dyli" published: 2026-10-18 updated: 2026-10-18 summary: "Shopify Agentic Storefronts let shoppers discover and buy a merchant's products in AI channels such as ChatGPT, Google AI Mode and Gemini, Microsoft Copilot and Meta, and they are active by default for eligible stores on the Starter plan or higher. ChatGPT refers buyers to the online store checkout, while Google, Copilot and Meta can run a Shopify-powered direct checkout, and Shopify lists no fees beyond standard payment processing. Shopify says Agentic Storefronts support only direct-to-consumer sales: B2B-only products are excluded when Shopify can identify them, products sold to both audiences show the D2C price, and B2B pricing doesn't display. Stores that gate wholesale with third-party apps or theme code should audit what Shopify Catalog shares, because Shopify says it might not detect that gating." --- # Shopify Agentic Storefronts: What B2B Sellers Need to Know > Shopify Agentic Storefronts let shoppers discover and buy a merchant's products in AI channels such as ChatGPT, Google AI Mode and Gemini, Microsoft Copilot and Meta, and they are active by default for eligible stores on the Starter plan or higher. ChatGPT refers buyers to the online store checkout, while Google, Copilot and Meta can run a Shopify-powered direct checkout, and Shopify lists no fees beyond standard payment processing. Shopify says Agentic Storefronts support only direct-to-consumer sales: B2B-only products are excluded when Shopify can identify them, products sold to both audiences show the D2C price, and B2B pricing doesn't display. Stores that gate wholesale with third-party apps or theme code should audit what Shopify Catalog shares, because Shopify says it might not detect that gating. Shopify Agentic Storefronts put your products inside AI conversations. Shoppers in ChatGPT, Google AI Mode and Gemini, Microsoft Copilot and Meta can find what you sell, and on some channels buy without leaving the chat. It is on by default for eligible stores. For wholesale, one Shopify line matters most: Agentic Storefronts "support only direct-to-consumer (D2C) sales." This guide explains what that means, using [Shopify's Help Center](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/online-sales-channels/agentic-storefronts) as it reads today and the view of Uncap, a Shopify Platinum Partner. For the wider picture, start with [what agentic commerce is](https://www.uncap.com/post/agentic-commerce-b2b-guide-shopify). **Key takeaways** - Channels: ChatGPT, Google AI Mode and Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, Meta and Shopify's Shop app. - Checkout: ChatGPT sends buyers to your store checkout. Google, Copilot and Meta can run a Shopify-powered direct checkout in the channel. - Cost: Shopify lists no channel fees, only standard payment processing fees. - B2B: wholesale-only products are excluded when Shopify can identify them, and shared products show your D2C price. - Your job: check how wholesale is gated, because app or theme gating might not be detected. ## What are Shopify Agentic Storefronts? Shopify Agentic Storefronts are how Shopify sells your products in AI channels. In Shopify's words, they let "customers discover and purchase your products in AI channels, such as ChatGPT, Google AI Mode and Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, and Meta." Think of them as sales channels fed by your existing product data, not a new store or theme. Shopify's own example: a shopper asks an AI agent for recommendations for navy running shorts, and the agent displays a selection of products that it thinks fit. Shopify introduced Agentic Storefronts on December 10, 2025, alongside its Winter '26 Edition. The channel list has changed since that launch post, so treat the Help Center as the current source. You keep the customer: Shopify says you "retain full ownership of the customer relationship and post-purchase experience," and orders land in your admin with channel or referrer attribution. To take part, you must agree to Shopify's Agentic Storefronts Supplemental Terms of Service. ## Which AI channels are included, and how checkout works on each - ChatGPT: Shopify calls it "a discovery-focused referrer platform." Buyers finish on your online store checkout, in ChatGPT's in-app browser or a new tab, so your branding and payment methods carry over. There is no direct checkout setting. - Google AI Mode and Gemini: a Shopify-powered direct checkout in the chat, with discovery through Google Merchant Center. Shopify notes the channel "is rolling out to eligible stores" and direct checkout "might not yet be available in your store." - Microsoft Copilot: a Shopify-powered direct checkout, with products found through Shopify Catalog. - Meta: a Shopify-powered direct checkout "on Meta surfaces, including Muse when available," with discovery powered by Shopify Catalog. - Shop: Shopify's own app, drawing on products published to your online store. Direct checkout is on by default for eligible stores. Turn it off and buyers are redirected to your online store to pay. It runs [Shopify Functions](https://www.uncap.com/glossary/shopify-functions) for shipping, discounts and validation, plus your automatic discounts and discount codes. It also has limits: - Products: bundles, customizable products and B2B-only products aren't supported. - Tracking: Google Analytics and custom pixels won't fire. Only server-to-server pixels do. - Delivery: local delivery, pickup in store and pickup points aren't supported. - Sign-in: you can't require customers to sign in before checkout. ## How products get there: Shopify Catalog Shopify Catalog is how your product data reaches most of these channels. Shopify calls it "the primary method for agentic storefronts to receive your product data," and describes Catalog as "a global, structured dataset that agents can search and understand, spanning billions of products." Eligible products are in it by default. Catalog sends each product's "title, description, options, images, price, availability, and other key attributes," and Shopify says it "continuously updates your product data, so AI channels receive your latest inventory and prices." In our view, if your Shopify prices or stock are stale, that is what AI channels receive. If your data lives in custom fields such as metafields, Shopify Catalog Mapping points Catalog at the right source. We suggest that teams running a [PIM](https://www.uncap.com/glossary/pim) map early; our roundup of [PIM platforms for Shopify](https://www.uncap.com/post/top-5-pim-platforms-for-shopify-a-comprehensive-guide) covers that side. Google works differently: its channel gets products through the Google & YouTube sales channel or Google Merchant Center. And if your store isn't eligible, Shopify says AI channels "might still access and display your products" through web crawling. In its Spring '26 Edition (June 17, 2026), Shopify reports: "AI searches powered by Shopify Catalog convert at 2x the rate of those using scraped data." That is Shopify's figure. Shopify also says its merchants are "UCP-enabled by default." Our [Universal Commerce Protocol guide](https://www.uncap.com/post/universal-commerce-protocol-ucp) explains that standard. ## Who is eligible: plans, regions and requirements Eligibility starts with [Shopify Catalog's requirements](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/shopify-catalog/requirements): "Your store must be on the Starter plan or higher, and your store can't be in private mode." The floor is Starter, not Shopify Plus. Products need a title, at least one image and a price greater than 0, and they can't be Unlisted or hidden from search engines. Regions differ by channel: - ChatGPT: "Your store must sell to customers in the United States, however, your store can be based outside the United States." - Google AI Mode and Gemini: "Your store must be based in the United States and you must sell to customers in the United States," with a valid Google Merchant Center account. - Microsoft Copilot: your store must sell to US customers. - Meta: "You must sell to customers in the United States, Canada, or Mexico." Direct checkout displays only to customers in those regions: the US for Google and Copilot, and the US, Canada or Mexico for Meta. Canadian sellers: Google requires a US-based store, while ChatGPT accepts stores based outside the US. Every channel also needs your Terms of service, Privacy policy and Return and refund policy in Settings > Policies. Several Catalog category exclusions touch B2B: "Services and product add-ons," including installation services and maintenance plans; "All business and industrial medical and dentistry products"; laboratory products and hazardous materials such as fuels and pesticides; and anything classified as Uncategorized. Shopify says the list "can change over time." ## Managing Agentic Storefronts in your admin You manage the setup in Sales channels > Agentic. The default, "Allow Shopify to manage for me," means "all channels are active and that Shopify automatically enrolls you in agentic storefronts," with direct checkout on where offered. Turn it off for manual controls: - Shopify Catalog access: off for all third-party agentic storefronts, or per channel for ChatGPT, Copilot and Meta. - Auto enroll new storefronts: opt out of new channels as they launch. - Direct checkout: on or off for Google, Copilot and Meta. After you turn off Catalog access, "it can take up to 7 days before your product data is no longer being shared." Direct checkout turns off with it, and crawlers can still find your products. Shop is the exception: its Catalog access can't be turned off here, and you manage which products show on Shop in the Shop sales channel. To hide a product from every agentic storefront, Shopify points to Unlisted status or the seo.hidden metafield. Read the caution: Unlisted "also hides the product from sitemaps, search engines such as Google, and your online store search." Blocking AI crawlers in robots.txt "doesn't stop your product data from being sent by Shopify Catalog." One gap: performance analytics here "aren't yet available for headless stores." ## Agentic Storefronts and B2B: what gets excluded and why Shopify [states it plainly](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/online-sales-channels/agentic-storefronts/products): "Shopify's agentic storefronts support only direct-to-consumer (D2C) sales. Products that are sold exclusively to business or wholesale customers are automatically excluded from AI channels when Shopify can identify them." Shopify identifies B2B-only products three ways: - B2B catalogs: products published only to B2B markets, or in catalogs assigned to specific companies and locations. - Customer account requirements: products buyers must log in to see. - Private mode: products behind a storefront password. Shared products are the trap for blended stores: "If you sell the same products to both B2B and D2C customers, then your products are included in your agentic storefronts using the D2C price that you set. B2B pricing doesn't display on agentic storefronts." Your B2B prices stay out. Shopify also warns that with "third-party apps or custom theme modifications" managing B2B pricing or access, such as hiding prices until login, it "might not be able to detect that these products are intended only for B2B customers, and they might display on your agentic storefronts." Shopify's three fixes: - Use native Shopify B2B, with catalogs and companies. - Hide specific products from AI channels. - On Shopify Plus, run B2B in a separate expansion store. The [B2B requirements page](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/b2b/getting-started/considerations) lists "Agentic storefronts" among features that "aren't compatible with B2B." The ChatGPT page says "B2B-only products aren't supported for agentic storefronts." A store restricted to B2B customers can't be in Shopify Catalog at all. ## B2B store setups: what this means for distributors and manufacturers - A B2B-only store: Catalog marks it ineligible with "Your store only serves B2B customers." Nothing goes out through Catalog, though Shopify notes AI channels might still find products through web crawling. - A blended store on native Shopify B2B: products published only to B2B markets or company catalogs stay out, and shared products go out at the D2C price. Our playbook on running B2B and DTC from one Shopify store covers this model, and B2B catalogs and price lists at scale explains how catalogs and Shopify Markets fit. - Wholesale gated by an app or theme code: Shopify's warning case. Check the Catalog product count and search preview in Sales channels > Agentic, then move gating to native catalogs or hide the products. Our guide to setting up B2B on Shopify walks through the native setup. Our view: decide product by product what consumers should buy through an AI agent. For [distributors](https://www.uncap.com/post/ecommerce-for-distributors) and [manufacturers](https://www.uncap.com/post/ecommerce-for-manufacturers), that list is often short. We think negotiated pricing and account terms belong on your B2B path, and that is where two Uncap products work. [Uncap Quotes](https://www.uncap.com/products/quotes) turns your catalog into instant, account-specific quotes. [Uncap Portal](https://www.uncap.com/products/portal) gives trade accounts a self-serve home on Shopify, with catalogs, pricing, reorders, invoices and users. Still choosing a platform? Read [is Shopify good for B2B](https://www.uncap.com/post/is-shopify-good-for-b2b). ## The Agentic plan, for brands not on Shopify The [Agentic plan](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/intro-to-shopify/pricing-plans/plans-features/shopify-agentic-plan) "is for merchants that don't already use Shopify as their ecommerce platform." It lists their products in Shopify Catalog and sells them through Agentic Storefronts "without needing to have a Shopify online store or migrate from your existing commerce platform." - No monthly fee. "The Agentic plan has no monthly subscription fee." Payment fees and paid apps still apply. - Direct checkout is off by default. You opt in per channel after setup. ChatGPT needs no opt-in. - Every product needs an external product URL linking to its listing on your current store. - ChatGPT order history isn't in Shopify. You track it in your own analytics. - No Shopify online store checkout. You can build a Shopify store, but publishing it requires a paid plan. If your store already runs on Shopify, this plan isn't your path: Agentic Storefronts is already active by default for eligible stores. ## How to get your catalog ready The search preview in Sales channels > Agentic shows listing insights across five signals: description completeness, image coverage, product reviews, variant and option completeness, and shop policy completeness. One check matters for parts catalogs. Shopify says it looks at "whether your variant or option names contain acronyms or numbers that are hard for agents to understand or recommend." Our read: variant names that are only a [SKU](https://www.uncap.com/glossary/sku) may score poorly. Your checklist: - Fill descriptions and images, with legal disclosures in the first 6,000 characters. - Review your agent files. Every Shopify store serves /agents.md, /llms.txt and /llms-full.txt, customizable with Liquid templates. - Decide B2B exposure using the setups above. - Keep prices and stock current in Shopify. Uncap Connect is the real-time data layer between Shopify, your ERP and the warehouse floor, while your ERP stays the system of record . Want a plan first? [Uncap Blueprint](https://www.uncap.com/blueprint) is a fixed $7,500, delivered in four weeks, credited one-to-one toward implementation if you build with us. See how we approach [agentic commerce on Shopify](https://www.uncap.com/solutions/agentic-commerce) and [Shopify B2B ecommerce builds](https://www.uncap.com/solutions/shopify-b2b). [Talk to Our Experts](https://www.uncap.com/quote). Bring your store setup and how wholesale is gated, and we will review it with you. ## Frequently asked questions ### What is an agentic storefront? An agentic storefront is an AI channel where shoppers discover and buy your products. On Shopify, that means ChatGPT, Google AI Mode and Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, Meta and the Shop app. ### Is Shopify Agentic Storefronts free? Yes, there is no channel fee. Shopify's channel pages say you pay only your standard payment processing fees, on top of your Shopify plan. ### Is Agentic Storefronts on by default? Yes, for eligible stores. The default setting, Allow Shopify to manage for me, keeps all channels active, turns on direct checkout where offered and enrolls you in new agentic storefronts. ### Which AI platforms does Shopify Agentic Storefronts sell on? Shopify Agentic Storefronts sell on ChatGPT, Google AI Mode and Gemini (still rolling out to eligible stores), Microsoft Copilot and Meta, plus Shopify's Shop app. ### Does ChatGPT have checkout for Shopify stores? Not inside the chat. For Shopify stores, ChatGPT is a discovery channel that refers buyers to your online store checkout, in ChatGPT's in-app browser or a new tab. ### How do I turn off Agentic Storefronts? In Sales channels > Agentic, turn off Allow Shopify to manage for me, then turn off Shopify Catalog access globally or per channel. Sharing can take up to 7 days to stop. Shop is managed in the Shop sales channel instead. ### Do Agentic Storefronts support B2B or wholesale products? No. Shopify says they support only D2C sales, and wholesale-only products are excluded when Shopify identifies them through B2B catalogs, login requirements or private mode. ### Will my wholesale prices show up in AI channels? No. Products you also sell to consumers appear at the D2C price, and B2B pricing doesn't display. If an app or theme code gates your wholesale pricing, Shopify warns it might not detect it. ### Do I need Shopify Plus for Agentic Storefronts? No. Shopify Catalog requires the Starter plan or higher, and the store can't be in private mode. Plus comes up in one of Shopify's B2B options: a separate expansion store for wholesale. ### What is the Shopify Agentic plan? A Shopify plan with no monthly subscription fee for merchants that don't use Shopify as their ecommerce platform. It lists their products in Shopify Catalog for AI channels, with direct checkout off until they opt in.