Shopify Pricing: Plans, Fees, and Comparison

Introduction: What “shopify pricing” means for merchants

Choosing the right Shopify plan affects your monthly costs, payment fees, and which selling features you can access. This article breaks down Shopify pricing across entry-level and enterprise options, explains transaction and add-on costs to watch for, and recommends how to choose a plan based on store size and goals.

Overview of Shopify plan tiers

Shopify’s offering is structured to scale with merchants — from a simple starter option for social links and small sellers to Shopify Plus for large enterprises. Shopify often runs promotional pricing for new users, including limited-time trial or reduced rates for the first months.

Key plan categories (what each tier targets)

• Starter: A lightweight, low-cost option designed for sellers who want to sell via social platforms, messaging, or a simple “buy” button.
• Core Shopify plans (Basic / Growth / Advanced): Full online store capabilities with increasing limits, reporting, and reduced card fees as you move up. Common market references show these plans aimed at new stores (Basic), growing businesses (Grow), and established retailers needing advanced reporting (Advanced).
• Shopify Plus: An enterprise-grade solution with customized pricing, advanced APIs, and priority support for high-volume merchants. Typical starting ranges for Plus begin in the low thousands per month and scale with contract terms and GMV.

Typical monthly prices and what they include

Exact plan names and prices can vary by country and promotions, but the common U.S. benchmarks used by reviewers and Shopify documentation are:

Starter plan

• Price: $5 per month (commonly listed as the Shopify Starter plan price). This plan charges higher per-sale transaction fees, making it suitable for testing or very low-volume sellers.

Core plans (market references)

• Basic: Market sources commonly list around $39/month, providing a full online store, blogging, and basic reports.
• Grow (or standard Shopify plan): Often listed around $105/month, this tier adds more advanced features and marketing tools useful for scaling merchants.

Shopify Plus

• Price: Starts in the low thousands per month (commonly reported from around $2,300/month), with pricing dependent on contract terms, customization needs, and Gross Merchandise Value. Plus contracts can be structured differently for each enterprise.

Note: Shopify sometimes offers promotional pricing (for example, reduced monthly fees for an initial period).

Payment processing and transaction fees

Plan cost is only part of total expense — payment processing and any third-party gateway fees add up.

Shopify Payments (built-in)

• Online card rates tend to decrease as you move to higher plans (examples commonly reported: around 2.9% + $0.30 on lower tiers down to around 2.4% + $0.30 on higher tiers). These rates vary by country and plan.

Third-party payment gateways

• If you use an external payment processor instead of Shopify Payments, Shopify may charge additional transaction fees on top of what the processor charges. These extra fees depend on the plan and region.

In-person and international payments

• In-person (POS) rates and currency conversion or cross-border fees differ from online rates; Shopify publishes region-specific details for these charges. If your store operates internationally or accepts many in-person payments, factor those rates into your cost model.

Additional costs to budget for

Beyond subscription and payment fees, here are recurring or one-off costs merchants typically face:

• Apps and integrations: Many merchants rely on paid apps for email, reviews, shipping automation, or advanced analytics.
• Premium themes or custom design: Premium themes and custom development add initial expenses.
• Third-party services: Email platforms, fulfillment, or custom integrations may carry monthly fees.
• Shipping and fulfillment: Carrier rates, packaging, and fulfillment provider fees directly affect margins.
• Taxes and duties: For global sellers, duties and marketplace taxes add complexity and expense; Shopify provides some international tools but charges may apply for managed services.

How to pick the right Shopify plan

Small sellers and side projects

Start with the Starter or Basic plan to minimize monthly fixed costs; upgrade when you consistently outgrow traffic or feature limits.

Growing businesses

If you need automated marketing, lower transaction fees, and better reporting, plan for the middle tier (Grow / standard Shopify) once monthly revenue and order volume justify the higher subscription cost.

High-volume and enterprise

If you handle large daily order volumes, require dedicated support, advanced integrations, or bespoke architecture, Shopify Plus is the appropriate option despite its higher base cost because it reduces operational friction and can improve margin through lowered transaction and operational costs.

FAQs about shopify pricing

What is the cheapest Shopify plan?

The Shopify Starter plan is the lowest-cost option (commonly $5/month), but it charges higher transaction fees and lacks a full online storefront.

Are Shopify transaction fees included in the monthly price?

No. Card processing fees (Shopify Payments or third-party gateways) are charged per transaction and vary by plan and region. Using external gateways may also incur additional Shopify transaction fees.

Can I change plans later?

Yes. Shopify lets merchants upgrade or downgrade plans as business needs change; data and orders are preserved when you switch. Always compare monthly and per-transaction implications before changing.

Does Shopify offer discounts for annual billing?

Yes — Shopify often provides savings for annual billing on certain tiers; the exact discount varies and is listed on Shopify’s pricing page for each region.

Is Shopify Plus worth the cost?

For merchants with high order volume, complex workflows, or large multi-channel operations, Shopify Plus can be cost-effective because it provides automation, advanced APIs, and enterprise support that reduce long-term operational costs. Quote requests and custom contracts determine the final ROI.

Conclusion

Understanding shopify pricing requires looking beyond the sticker monthly fee. Evaluate your expected order volume, average order value, international sales, and required integrations. Factor in payment processing, app subscriptions, and potential development costs. Start with a plan that matches your immediate needs and cash flow, and scale to higher tiers or Shopify Plus as volume and feature needs grow. For the most accurate, region-specific pricing and any current promotions, consult Shopify’s official pricing pages.