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ECOMMERCE TIPS
Shopify Pricing: Plans, Features & Money-Saving Hacks Compared
by Hannah
Thinking about launching your online store with Shopify but unsure about Shopify pricing? You’re not alone! Shopify is a powerful eCommerce platform that makes it easy for businesses, big or small, to sell products online, manage inventory, and handle payments without needing tech expertise. But when it comes to Shopify pricing, things can get a little tricky.
With multiple plans, transaction fees, and potential hidden costs, choosing the right Shopify plan can feel overwhelming. That’s where this guide comes in!
We’ll break down everything you need to know about Shopify pricing - covering the different plans, additional fees, and any unexpected costs. Plus, we’ll help you assess which plan offers the best value for your business. Let’s dive into this Shopify pricing calculator with us!
1. Shopify pricing plans: Quick comparison
Basic Shopify | Shopify | Advanced Shopify | Shopify Plus | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Monthly subscription | $39/month | $105/month | $399/month | $2500+/month (for a 1-year term) |
Yearly subscription | $29/month (Save 25%) | $79/month (Save 25%) | $299/month (Save 25%) | $2300+/month (for a 3-year term) |
Transaction fees (for third-party payment) | 2.0% | 1.0% | 0.6% | 0.2% |
Online standard card rates | 2.9% + $0.3 | 2.7% + $0.3 | 2.5% + $0.3 | Most competitive rates |
Online premium card rates | 3.5% + $0.3 | 3.3% + $0.3 | 3.1% + $0.3 | Most competitive rates |
Online International credit card rates | + 1% | + 1% | + 1% | Most competitive rates |
In-person credit/debit transaction rates | 2.6% + $0.1 | 2.5% + $0.1 | 2.4% + $0.1 | Most competitive rates |
In-person manual credit/debit transaction rates | 3.5% + $0.1 | 3.5% + $0.1 | 3.5% + $0.1 | Most competitive rates |
Shopify tax | First $100K free, 0.35% after | First $100K free, 0.35% after | First $100K free, 0.35% after | First $100K free, 0.25% after |
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(*) It's important to note that Shopify pricing can vary by country. In some regions, Shopify adjusts its subscription costs based on local cost of living, meaning your plan’s rate may differ depending on where your store is located.
The pricing listed above reflects Shopify pricing UK. You can check some other ones here:
2. Shopify pricing plans: A detailed breakdown
Shopify is one of the most popular eCommerce platforms, offering flexible pricing plans for businesses of all sizes: from solopreneurs to large enterprises.
In this in-depth part, we'll break down each Shopify monthly pricing plans, including:
Key features & limitations
Best use cases for each plan
Hidden costs & potential upgrades
Let’s dive in with us!
2.1. Shopify Starter Plan: Sell without a full store
Ideal for minimalists, the Starter plan at $5/month lets you sell products through simple links without maintaining a full online store. It’s perfect for social commerce and testing business ideas with minimal investment.
Who it's for:
Social media sellers (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp)
Small businesses testing product demand
Anyone who wants a simple, low-cost way to sell online
✅ Key features:
Sell via product links: Share buyable links on social media, email, or SMS.
Mobile POS (Point of Sale): Accept in-person payments via smartphone.
Basic online product pages: No full website needed.
Linkpop integration: Manage all product links in one place.
Order & inventory management: Track sales and stock.
❌ Limitations:
No full online store: Only basic product pages.
5% transaction fee (if using Shopify Payments).
Only 1 staff account: No team collaboration.
No advanced features (abandoned cart recovery, discounts, analytics).
2.2. Basic Shopify: best for new stores
The foundation for serious eCommerce, this plan provides all the essentials to launch a professional online store. It's the most popular choice for new entrepreneurs establishing their digital presence.
Who it's for:
First-time entrepreneurs
Small businesses with limited products
Dropshippers & side hustlers
✅ Key features:
Full online store: Customizable themes & branding.
Unlimited products: Sell as many items as you want.
24/7 chat support: Get help anytime.
Multi-channel selling: Sell on Facebook, Instagram, Amazon, eBay, and more.
Discount codes & gift cards: Run promotions easily.
Abandoned cart recovery: Recover lost sales automatically.
Shipping discounts (up to 77%): Save on DHL, UPS, and USPS.
POS Lite: Sell in person with a mobile device.
❌ Limitations:
2.9% + 30¢ per transaction (if not using Shopify Payments).
Only 2 staff accounts: Limited team access.
No advanced reporting: Basic analytics only.
2.3. Shopify Plan: Best for growing businesses
This mid-tier solution bridges the gap between startup and scaling, offering enhanced features for expanding operations. It's tailored for businesses experiencing consistent sales growth.
Who it's for:
Small teams scaling their store
Businesses with increasing sales volume
Stores needing better shipping & reporting
✅ Key features:
Everything in Basic Shopify, plus:
5 staff accounts: Better team collaboration.
Lower credit card fees (2.6% + 30¢): Saves money on high sales volume.
Shipping discounts up to 88%: Better rates than Basic.
Professional reports: Track sales, customers, and inventory.
❌ Limitations:
Still has transaction fees (though lower than Basic).
No custom reports: Need Advanced for deeper analytics.
2.4. Advanced Shopify: Best for scaling businesses
Designed for high-volume merchants, this plan provides enterprise-level tools at a fraction of Plus pricing. It's the smart choice for established brands going international.
Who it's for:
High-volume stores
Businesses selling internationally
Companies needing advanced automation
✅ Key features:
Everything in Shopify Plan, plus:
15 staff accounts: Support larger teams.
Lowest credit card fees (2.4% + 30¢): Maximize profits.
Custom reports & analytics: Data-driven decisions.
10x checkout capacity: Handle heavy traffic.
Duty & import tax automation: Simplify global sales.
Priority 24/7 support: Faster problem-solving.
❌ Limitations:
Expensive monthly cost: Only worth it for high-revenue stores.
2.5. Shopify Plus: Enterprise-grade solution
The premium solution Shopify Plus pricing is for market leaders needing unlimited customization and support. Large corporations choose Plus for its robust infrastructure and dedicated resources.
Who it's for:
Large corporations & high-growth brands
Businesses needing custom solutions
Companies with complex logistics
✅ Key features:
Everything in Advanced Shopify, plus:
Unlimited staff accounts: Scale teams freely.
40x checkout capacity: Handle massive sales spikes.
50+ global markets: Localize for international buyers.
Custom checkout & APIs: Fully branded experience.
B2B & wholesale tools: Sell to other businesses.
Dedicated account manager: VIP support.
❌ Limitations:
Very expensive: Starts at $2,300/month (custom pricing).
Now that we have answered the question “how much does Shopify cost per month for subscription”, it's important to understand the additional costs that may impact your total investment.
Beyond monthly subscriptions, factors like transaction fees, payment processing, apps, and themes can affect your overall budget. Let's break down these potential extra expenses to help you calculate the true cost of running your Shopify store.
3. Shopify pricing: Additional costs
When launching a Shopify store, most entrepreneurs focus on the obvious monthly subscription fees. However, the true cost of Shopify pricing per month involves numerous additional expenses that can significantly impact your bottom line.
This comprehensive guide will walk you through every potential cost category, providing detailed insights and practical strategies to help you make informed budgeting decisions.
3.1. Domain names
Every Shopify store begins with a digital address. While the platform provides a free myshopify.com subdomain, serious businesses should invest in a custom domain name. Shopify hosting pricing typically ranges from $11 to $50 per year, with premium domains costing significantly more.
The choice of domain extension matters more than many merchants realize. Traditional .com domains still carry more authority with both customers and search engines, though industry-specific extensions like .store or .shop can work well for branding purposes. Savvy store owners often purchase their Shopify domain pricing for multiple years upfront to lock in pricing and avoid annual rate increases that many registrars implement.
When purchasing your domain, consider checking third-party registrars like Namecheap or Google Domains before buying through Shopify. These services frequently offer first-year promotional pricing that can save you money. However, if convenience is your priority, purchasing directly through Shopify allows for seamless integration and centralized management.
3.2. Professional store design
Your store's design is far more than just aesthetics - it's a critical conversion tool. Shopify offers several Shopify themes that provide basic functionality for free, but growing businesses often benefit from premium themes priced between $180 and $500.
Premium Shopify themes offer sophisticated features that can directly impact your sales. These include advanced features that create a more polished shopping experience.
3.3. Essential apps
The Shopify App Store boasts over 6,000 applications designed to extend your store's capabilities. While many apps offer free versions, the most powerful features typically come with premium price tags.
The key to managing Shopify app pricing is regular evaluation. Many merchants fall into the trap of accumulating apps without assessing their ongoing value.
Conduct quarterly audits of your app subscriptions, removing any that aren't delivering measurable ROI. Where possible, look for comprehensive solutions that combine multiple functions rather than subscribing to several single-purpose apps.
3.4. Payment processing
One of the most significant ongoing expenses for Shopify merchants comes from payment processing fees. According to a 2024 analysis by Forbes Advisor, payment processing fees across major ecommerce platforms average 1.5%-3.5% when including third-party payment gateways like PayPal or Stripe.
Shopify Payments, the platform's native payment processor, eliminates additional transaction fees but still charges standard credit card processing rates. These rates decrease as you move to higher-tier Shopify plans, creating potential savings for high-volume merchants.
Third-party processors like PayPal or Stripe charge their own fees on top of Shopify's transaction fees, making them more expensive overall.
International sales introduce additional complexity, as cross-border transactions often incur higher fees. Once your processing volume exceeds $50,000 per month, it's worth negotiating directly with payment providers for better rates.
3.5. POS system costs
For merchants expanding into brick-and-mortar sales, Shopify's POS system offers robust functionality but adds several cost considerations. The POS Pro upgrade, priced at $89 per month per location, provides advanced retail features like custom checkout flows and staff permissions.
Physical retail also requires hardware investments. Keep in mind that each additional checkout station in your physical store will require its own POS Pro subscription.
3.6. Email marketing
Shopify Email provides a cost-effective starting point for customer communication, offering 10,000 free emails per month. Beyond this threshold, pricing starts at $1 per 1,000 emails, with volume discounts available for high-volume businesses.
As your email list grows beyond 50,000 subscribers, specialized platforms like Klaviyo often provide better segmentation tools and automation capabilities. The investment in these advanced platforms typically pays for itself through improved conversion rates from more targeted messaging.
3.7. Frequently overlooked expenses
Several important costs of Shopify pricing often catch merchants by surprise.
Chargebacks, while hopefully rare, typically cost $15 to $25 per dispute in addition to the lost revenue. Custom theme modifications or functionality additions often require developer assistance at rates of $75 to $150 per hour. Professional product photography, essential for conversion optimization, generally ranges from $15 to $75 per image depending on complexity.
While understanding Shopify pricing and plan structure is essential for budgeting, the most successful merchants know that smart optimization can significantly reduce these expenses without compromising store performance.
In the following section, we'll explore practical strategies to minimize your pricing for shopify. Let's examine how to build a high-functioning store while keeping unnecessary costs in check!
4. Smart cost-saving strategies for Shopify merchants
Running a profitable Shopify store requires balancing essential investments with smart cost optimization. While certain expenses are unavoidable, many merchants overspend on redundant apps and services when free or lower-cost alternatives exist. This guide explores practical strategies to reduce operational costs without compromising store functionality or customer experience.
4.1. Leveraging Shopify's built-in features
Before investing in third-party apps, merchants should fully utilize Shopify's native functionality. The platform includes several powerful built-in tools that many store owners overlook in favor of paid alternatives.
For example, Shopify's abandoned cart recovery system comes included at no additional cost across all pricing plans. This feature automatically sends email reminders to customers who left items in their cart, with customizable timing and messaging. While apps like Klaviyo offer more advanced automation, Shopify's version provides sufficient functionality for new and growing stores.
Also, the platform's email marketing tool offers another significant cost-saving opportunity. Shopify Email allows merchants to send up to 10,000 messages per month at no charge, including order confirmations, shipping updates, and basic marketing campaigns.
For businesses with physical retail operations, Shopify POS Lite provides adequate functionality for many brick-and-mortar sellers. This free version handles basic in-person transactions and syncs with online inventory, only requiring an inexpensive card reader.
4.2. Strategic use of free apps
The Shopify App Store contains numerous free applications that rival their paid counterparts in functionality. Careful selection of these tools can significantly reduce monthly expenses while maintaining store performance.
For instance, for analytics and reporting, merchants can combine Shopify's built-in reports with Google Analytics and Data Studio for comprehensive insights without additional costs.
These free solutions provide adequate data visualization and tracking capabilities for most small to medium-sized stores.
4.3. Optimizing theme and design costs
Many merchants automatically invest in Shopify theme prices when free options often meet their needs.
The platform's default themes, particularly Dawn, offer fully responsive designs, fast loading speeds, and substantial customization options. These free templates are professionally developed and optimized for conversion, making them ideal for testing product-market fit before committing to paid designs.
When Shopify theme pricing becomes necessary, merchants should time their purchases strategically. Many theme developers offer substantial discounts during major sales events like Black Friday, with reductions of 30-50% being common. Additionally, multi-purpose themes can eliminate the need for multiple specialized templates as product offerings evolve.
4.4. Reducing payment processing expenses
Payment processing fees represent one of the most significant ongoing costs for Shopify merchants. Several strategies can help minimize these expenses without disrupting customer checkout experiences.
Using Shopify Payments eliminates additional transaction fees imposed when using third-party processors. While credit card processing rates still apply, these decrease with higher-tier Shopify plans, creating potential savings for high-volume merchants. Stores processing over $50,000 monthly should negotiate directly with payment providers for improved rates.
Alternative payment methods can further reduce costs. Offering discounts for bank transfers or cash payments through Shopify's manual payment options completely avoids processing fees. Local pickup options with cash incentives can be particularly effective for businesses serving regional markets.
Payment routing apps can help minimize these costs by automatically directing transactions to the most cost-effective processor based on the customer's location and other factors.
4.5. Regular expense audits and adjustments
Implementing a quarterly review process for all store expenses helps identify and eliminate unnecessary costs. This audit should examine:
Redundant apps providing overlapping functionality
Underutilized premium services that could be downgraded
Subscription tiers that no longer match current business needs
Opportunities to consolidate services for bulk discounts
Seasonal businesses should particularly note the value of plan flexibility. Stores experiencing predictable slow periods can temporarily downgrade their Shopify plan or pause certain app subscriptions during these times.
4.6. Strategic budgeting approach
New stores should allocate 30-40% of their subscription cost for apps and extras during their first year. Focus initially on free tools that provide core functionality, adding premium solutions only when their ROI becomes clear.
Established stores generating $50,000+ monthly revenue should evaluate each tool based on its contribution to either time savings or revenue growth. Many app developers offer volume discounts for high-volume merchants, so don't hesitate to negotiate.
Enterprise-level operations often benefit from custom app development to address unique business needs. At this scale, the investment in tailored solutions frequently delivers superior long-term value compared to piecing together multiple off-the-shelf apps.
Remember that the cheapest solution isn't always the most cost-effective in the long run. Tools that save time, improve conversion rates, or increase average order value often justify their price through enhanced profitability. Regularly review your expenses, measure each tool's impact, and adjust your investments as your business evolves.
By approaching your Shopify costs with this comprehensive understanding, you'll be positioned to build a thriving ecommerce business with healthy profit margins that can scale successfully over time.
5. Is Shopify pricing worth it?
Shopify has emerged as one of the most popular platforms, but how does it truly compare to alternatives like Squarespace, BigCommerce, and Wix? More importantly, is Shopify worth your investment?
Let’s take a glance at the key differences between them:
Shopify | BigCommerce | Squarespace | Wix | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Monthly subscription | From $39 to $399/month | From $39 to $399/month | From $16 to $49/month | From $0 to $35/month |
Transaction fees | From 2% for third-party gateways | No transaction fees | 3% transaction fee on all sales if you use the Business plan (and no transactions for the other 2 plans) | No transaction fees for Wix Payments or third-party gateways |
Ease of use | Drag-and-drop website builder with intuitive navigation | A slight learning curve for beginners | A slight learning curve for beginners | User-friendly, using drag-and-drop to set up a site |
Design & customization | 180+ free & premium themes | Fewer themes | Fewer themes | Fewer themes |
Apps & integrations | 8000+ apps & wide-range integrations | Limited available apps, integration with popular services and platforms | Limited available apps, integration with popular services and platforms | Limited available apps, integration with popular services and platforms |
With its wide-range Shopify pricing tiers, Shopify delivers the best value for:
New entrepreneurs who need an easy start
Growing brands scaling from 10K - 10M in sales
Omnichannel retailers with online + physical stores
Dropshippers
International sellers needing multi-currency
While marginally more expensive than some competitors, Shopify's all-in-one solution, reliability, and extensive ecosystem typically justify the premium for serious eCommerce businesses.
So, yes, Shopify is worth it.
The platform's ease of use and scalability make it worth the investment for merchants focused on growth rather than technical maintenance.
6. Conclusion: Making Shopify the right eCommerce platform choice
Shopify’s pricing structure offers a scalable solution for businesses at every stage - from solopreneurs just starting out to high-volume enterprises. The platform’s all-in-one nature, reliability, and extensive app ecosystem justify the investment for serious online sellers.
Key takeaways on Shopify pricing:
Flexible plans for every budget: From $5/month for social sellers to enterprise-level Shopify Plus, there’s a plan that fits your needs.
Built-in features save money: Many essential tools (abandoned cart recovery, basic email marketing, POS Lite) are included at no extra cost.
Scalability justifies the cost: Higher-tier plans reduce transaction fees and add features that help growing stores optimize profits.
Watch out for hidden costs: Domain names, premium apps, and payment processing fees can add up if not managed carefully.
Who should use Shopify:
New entrepreneurs: Basic Shopify ($39/month) is ideal for testing products.
Growing stores: Shopify Plan ($105/month) balances cost and features.
High-volume sellers: Advanced Shopify ($399/month) maximizes savings on fees.
Enterprise brands: Shopify Plus (Custom pricing) offers unmatched scalability.
For businesses serious about eCommerce, Shopify’s pricing is a worthwhile investment. The convenience, security, and scalability it provides often outweigh the costs - especially when compared to managing a self-hosted platform.
Next steps:
Start with a free trial to test features.
Begin with a lower-tier plan and upgrade as you grow.
Optimize costs by using free apps and built-in tools first.
Shopify may not be the cheapest option, but for merchants focused on growth, it remains one of the most reliable and cost-effective solutions available.
7. FAQs
Hannah
eCommerce Specialist at Qikify
With over 5 years of experience under her belt, Hannah is an eCommerce writer who crafts content specifically for a website that deals with online sales. She simplifies technical details to assist entrepreneurs in utilizing the platform and launching their online ventures.
