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[Latest] Shopify vs Shopify Plus: Is Shopify Plus worth it?
In recent years, the Shopify vs Shopify Plus debate has taken center stage for growing brands. With enterprise-level growth surging, over 27% of large brands have upgraded their online stores in the past three years to meet rising demands, many by moving from standard Shopify plans to Shopify Plus.
For merchants running a growing store, the decision is not simple. Standard Shopify plans work well for small to medium-sized businesses, but as sales increase and operations get more complex, certain limitations, such as less checkout flexibility, higher transaction fees, and an integration cap, start to surface.
At this stage, Shopify Plus is not just a bigger plan; it is a strategic upgrade that promises more control, automation, and scalability, starting at $2,300/month.
This guide answers the key questions every growing merchant faces:
Is Shopify Plus worth the extra $2,300/month for my business?
When is the right time to upgrade from regular Shopify?
What features justify the price difference in Shopify vs Shopify Plus?
How do I know if I’ve outgrown standard Shopify?
With these questions as a guide, you’ll be able to evaluate your current store, project future needs, and have a clear framework to make a confident decision between Shopify vs Shopify Plus for your growth
1. The difference: Shopify vs Shopify Plus at a glance
Note: In Shopify’s latest pricing structure, the mid-tier Shopify plan is now called Grow. In this guide, “Grow” and “Shopify plan” refer to the same offering.
Let's cut through the marketing fluff and get to what really matters for your business.
Here's the honest breakdown where Shopify ends and Shopify Plus begins - and why those differences between Shopify vs Shopify Plus could make or break your growth goals:
Category | Shopify | Shopify Plus |
|---|---|---|
Pricing & transaction fee | Starting at $49/month (sweet spot for growing stores) | $2,300/month minimum (serious investment for serious growth) |
Customization & API access |
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Scalability & growth features |
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Support & dedicated assistance | Enhanced 24/7 chat support |
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Best-suited business types | Suitable for small and medium-sized businesses with annual revenue under 1 million USD. | High-volume merchants and large brands with annual revenue over 1 million USD. |
Core features |
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Administration | Standard checkout capacity with high-performance reliability | Increased checkout capacity to handle high-volume transactions efficiently |
Some quick decision indicators are signs that you may be closer to needing to upgrade to Shopify Plus if:
Your business is reaching or exceeding $800K–$1M in monthly revenue, where Shopify Plus fees or service value begin to pay off.
You need Shopify Plus multiple storefronts for different regions, brands, or B2B vs B2C channels.
Your checkout experience requires complex customizations.
2. Deep dive: What you actually get with each plan
2.1 Shopify: Features, benefits, pricing structure, and use cases
The Shopify plan includes core capabilities from the basic plan, plus enhanced ones:
Essential eCommerce tools include online store creation, product management, inventory tracking, order processing, and payment acceptance.
Supports comprehensive business operations with improved transaction processing and expanded user management.
Comprehensive reporting suite including analytics page, finances reports, product analytics, Live View, and other reports.
International sales tools for cross-border management
For pricing structure, the Shopify plan offers more competitive transaction fees compared to the Basic plan, though specific pricing varies by region. You can review Shopify's pricing page for exact monthly costs and transaction fee details in your specific region.
According to our latest update, Shopify plans start at $49/month and include 1% 3rd-party payment providers.
On the other hand, businesses typically outgrow Shopify when they need more than 5 staff accounts, require advanced features like carrier-calculated shipping, need custom reporting capabilities, or want to expand internationally with advanced market customization features that are only available on higher-tier plans.
The Shopify plan (Grow) also supports standard customization, including:
Theme editor, basic checkout branding
Standard API access with regular rate limits
Shopify Flow's Send HTTP Request action
1,000 video/3D model upload limit per store
Furthermore, the Shopify plan supports multi-channel selling with region market creation, product catalog customization, currency customization for different markets, domain and language customization for international markets, and duties and taxes management across different regions. However, it does not include B2B market creation or theme customization per market as Shopify Plus does.
Finally, the Shopify plan includes access to Shopify's standard support options, including the 24/7 Help Center Assistant chat. However, it does not include the enhanced support features available to Plus plan customers, such as phone support or email support.
2.2 Shopify Plus: Features, benefits, pricing structure, and use cases
What is Shopify Plus? Shopify Plus is an “enterprise Shopify” designed for direct-to-consumer, business-to-business, retail, and social media businesses that need to sell in large volume across every channel and market from one platform.
When comparing Shopify vs Shopify Plus features, the latter stands out as the solution for high-growth merchants who require advanced functionality, scalability, and customization capabilities beyond standard eCommerce plans.
Shopify Plus features include advanced capabilities such as extensive customization, automation, administrative & management features, scalability, etc.
Checkout customization: Here's where Shopify Plus gets exciting: complete checkout control that can seriously boost your bottom line. Instead of being stuck with Shopify's basic checkout, you can:
Add custom fields that capture exactly the data you need
Build upsell offers right into the payment flow
Create different checkout experiences for wholesale vs retail customers
Match your checkout design perfectly to your brand (no more generic Shopify look)
Automation & scalability: Shopify Plus includes specialized automation tools like Launchpad for automating sales campaigns and product launches. Shopify Plus merchants can request increased API rate limits and have access to unlimited development stores for testing and staging environments.
Technical infrastructure: Advanced Shopify Plus API access includes exclusive REST APIs (GiftCard, Multipass, User) and GraphQL APIs that enable deep integrations and custom functionality. Many Shopify Plus apps also extend this functionality, helping enterprises streamline operations and improve customer experiences.
Administrative & management features:
Unlimited staff accounts: Support unlimited personnel growth without additional costs
9 Shopify Plus expansion stores: Support for internationalization, separate physical locations, and related business purposes.
Up to 200 locations: Comprehensive inventory tracking and order fulfillment across multiple locations.
Up to 50 markets: International selling on Shopify Plus becomes seamless with market-specific configurations and multi-currency support.
Growth & expansion tools:
Up to 100 themes: Extensive theme management for testing, seasonal versions, and customization
20 Included POS Pro Locations: Comprehensive in-person selling capabilities
Unlimited Level 2 PII Apps: Advanced custom app integrations with protected customer data access
Technical & development resources:
Unlimited development stores: Comprehensive testing and staging environments
Shopify Plus partner program: Access to curated technical experts and Shopify Plus for agency support, ensuring specialized solutions.
Carrier-calculated shipping: Real-time shipping rate integration with third-party services
Plus-specific academy courses: Specialized training for enterprise-level growth strategies
Shopify Plus benefits for businesses:
Operational efficiency: Shopify Plus qualification provides enterprise-grade administrative tools that streamline operations across multiple teams, locations, and markets.
Global expansion: Shopify Plus enables seamless global expansion with localized customer experiences.
Technical flexibility: Advanced Shopify Plus API access and unlimited development stores provide the technical foundation for complex integrations and custom solutions that enterprise businesses require.
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Best fit businesses: Shopify Plus is ideal for brands making $1M+ in annual sales, running multiple stores, or managing high order volumes. It’s also well-suited for B2B merchants needing wholesale channels and for companies that value priority support from a dedicated Merchant Success Manager.
Use cases & examples: Shopify Plus powers some of the world’s most recognized and high-performing brands. Here are some Shopify Plus case studies:
Companies using Shopify Plus: Global enterprises such as Tesla, Heinz, and Nestlé are among the leading Shopify Plus brands.
High-volume retailers: Kylie Cosmetics, Allbirds streamlined their operations, contributing to Shopify merchant success.
Global brands: Gymshark and Lindt use Shopify Plus to expand internationally with localized checkouts and multi-currency support.
B2B operations: Shopify Plus for B2B empowers merchants to run wholesale channels and advanced pricing controls to serve distributors and bulk buyers.
Shopify Plus cost structure: How much does Shopify Plus cost?
Starts at $2,300/month (3-year term) or $2,500/month (1-year term).
Shopify Plus transaction fee is lower with Shopify Payments; external payment gateways incur a reduced 0.15% fee.
3. Your upgrade decision tree: When Shopify Plus makes sense
Many growing merchants find themselves asking: “Should I upgrade to Shopify Plus?” The answer depends on how your current operations measure against revenue benchmarks, feature requirements, cost-benefit realities, and long-term scalability.
Below is a comprehensive framework to help you determine whether you have outgrown the Shopify plan and are ready for the Plus tier.
3.1 Business size & revenue assessment
Let's get specific about when this upgrade makes financial sense for your business.
Most experts throw around the "$1M annual revenue" benchmark, but here's what that really means in practice:
At $1M annually, you're likely doing $80K+ monthly
Transaction fee savings alone can offset $200-400 of the Plus cost
Your time spent on manual workarounds is worth more than the upgrade cost
You're probably already feeling the pain of Shopify's limitations
But revenue isn't everything. We've seen $500K stores that desperately needed Plus (international expansion, complex B2B needs) and $2M stores perfectly happy on Advanced Shopify.
The real question: Are current limitations costing you more than $2,300/month in lost sales or wasted time?
If your transaction volume is pushing Shopify's limits during peak periods like Black Friday, holiday sales, or product launches, Plus delivers peace of mind. You get guaranteed scalability without worrying about downtime, checkout bottlenecks, or last-minute manual fixes.
For high-volume stores, small differences in transaction costs add up fast. The reduced 0.15% fee on third-party gateways becomes material when applied to millions in transactions. Example: $2M annual revenue through third-party gateways saves you $3,400 yearly on fees alone.
The bottom line:
Under $500K/year: ROI typically doesn't justify Plus
$500K-$1M/year: Depends on your specific pain points and growth plans
Over $1M/year: Financial savings and efficiency gains usually outweigh the monthly fee
3.2 Shopify vs Shopify Plus requirements assessment on features
Do not let revenue alone drive your decision. A real concern in the Shopify vs Shopify Plus debate is whether your current operations are being held back by feature gaps on standard Shopify. Ask yourself:
Checkout customization: Do you need custom fields, advanced upsells, or B2B-specific flows?
Automation: Would automating repetitive tasks free up significant team capacity?
Multi-store operations: Are you running or planning multiple regional or brand-specific storefronts?
API & integration needs: Are you hitting API limits or requiring exclusive integrations (e.g., Multipass)?
If two or more of these apply, it signals you need Shopify Plus to deliver operational and conversion improvements that Shopify simply can not match.
3.3 Standard Shopify vs Plus: Cost-benefit analysis
For many merchants, the biggest sticking point is price. Let’s break down the math clearly.
Current Shopify Plan: $49/month annual billing (~$588/year)
Shopify Plus Plan: $2,300/month (~$27,600/year)
Difference: ~$27,012/year
This gap can feel daunting. But the real question is: “Is Shopify Plus worth the money for your business?” or “Is Shopify Plus worth it?”
If switching to Shopify Plus increases conversions, boosts average order value (AOV), reduces labor costs, or enables expansion into new markets by at least $27K annually, then the investment pays for itself.
Possible ROI drivers could come from:
Lower cart abandonment thanks to a tailored checkout.
Higher AOV from strategic upsells and cross-sells.
Labor cost savings from automation and centralized multi-store management.
When evaluating standard Shopify vs Shopify Plus, it is essential to look beyond subscription costs and calculate the potential revenue or savings unlocked by advanced features.
3.4 Strategic triggers for upgrading
Beyond revenue and features, there are clear strategic moments when businesses must carefully evaluate Shopify vs Shopify Plus. You should strongly consider Shopify Plus implementation if:
You are expanding into international markets and need localized checkout, multiple currencies, and language-specific storefronts.
You are preparing for major product launches or seasonal events that will push sales volumes significantly higher.
You have B2B sales channels requiring wholesale pricing, tiered discounts, or restricted access.
Your operational complexity demands centralized control over multiple stores.
When weighing Shopify vs Shopify Plus, if any of these triggers align with your growth strategy, the value of Shopify Plus becomes immediately tangible.
3.5. Non-financial considerations
Finally, the decision to upgrade is not only financial, it’s also about confidence, brand control, and future-proofing.
Support & expertise: Shopify Plus merchants receive a dedicated Merchant Success Manager, who provides proactive strategy, technical guidance, and best practices. This is a significant advantage over Shopify support.
Brand experience: Complete checkout control can align the buying experience perfectly with your brand’s identity.
Shopify scalability issues: Shopify Plus is designed to grow with you. Knowing your platform can handle rapid spikes in sales and long-term expansion gives business leaders the freedom to focus on strategy, not platform limitations.
To make this evaluation even clearer, here’s a side-by-side framework that helps you quickly see whether your business is better suited to staying on the Shopify plan or making the upgrade to Shopify Plus.
Factor | Stay on Shopify | Upgrade to Shopify Plus |
|---|---|---|
Annual revenue / Order volume | Under $1M/year; moderate order volume | $1M+/year; high daily orders (esp. during peaks) |
Checkout customization | Basic branding is enough | Need a fully tailored checkout with upsells, custom fields, and B2B logic |
Automation needs | Manual processes are manageable with apps | Require built-in automation (Shopify Flow, Launchpad) to scale |
Multi-store operations | Single store or a few locations | Multiple regional or brand-specific stores to manage centrally |
International expansion | Selling primarily in one market | Selling in multiple countries with localized checkout, currencies, and languages |
ROI potential | Extra cost won’t be offset by conversions or efficiency gains | Shopify Plus return on investment: Expected revenue/efficiency gains exceed ~$27K/year (cost difference) |
4. Notice on Shopify Plus migration or upgrading, and implementation
4.1 Understand the upgrade process
Not just a settings change, the Shopify Plus upgrade process is an enterprise onboarding experience, generally including:
Initial consultation: Speak with sales representatives from Shopify Plus brands to confirm your business needs and review pricing.
Agreement & contract: Choose your subscription term (1-year or 3-year) and finalize commercial terms.
Dedicated launch engineer: Shopify assigns a Launch Engineer to guide your migration or upgrade process.
Account setup: Your existing store is upgraded to Shopify Plus with access to exclusive APIs, tools, and features.
Training & support: Your team is onboarded to new tools like Flow, Launchpad, and Checkout Extensibility.
The right Shopify Plus setup provides both a technical foundation and strategic support, making the transition seamless and unlocking the full value of your new plan.
4.2 How to migrate to Shopify Plus from Shopify
If you are already on Shopify, the transition is seamless; your existing store and settings remain intact, but you need to gain access to:
Advanced checkout customization tools.
Higher API rate limits and exclusive APIs.
Included expansion stores and B2B channels.
Enterprise-level automation tools.
Because there is no platform change, there’s no need to re-upload products or reconfigure your storefront. Most adjustments will focus on activating and configuring new Shopify Plus-only features.
4.3 Migrating from another eCommerce platform (Shopify Plus vs Magento, BigCommerce vs Shopify Plus)
If you are moving from platforms like Magento, BigCommerce, or WooCommerce, the process of migration to Shopify Plus will typically involve several steps. These platforms are often considered Shopify Plus alternatives, but many high-growth brands eventually migrate to Plus for scalability, automation, and enterprise support.
The migration process generally includes:
Data migration: Transfer products, customer data, and order history using Shopify’s migration tools or certified partners.
Theme development: Either migrate your existing design or create a new Shopify Plus-optimized storefront.
Shopify Plus integration setup: Connect ERP, CRM, inventory, and third-party apps.
Testing: verify checkout flows, shipping rates, tax settings, and payment gateways before launch.
By comparing Shopify Plus vs Magento or BigCommerce vs Shopify Plus, many merchants realize that while Shopify Plus alternatives offer flexibility, Shopify Plus provides a streamlined, fully managed infrastructure that reduces technical overhead and accelerates growth.
4.4 Best practices for a smooth implementation
Successfully upgrading to Shopify Plus is not only about completing the technical migration; it’s about ensuring your business is fully prepared to maximize the platform from day one.
Following these best practices can help your Shopify Plus implementation run smoothly and deliver faster ROI:
Plan for peak readiness: Schedule your upgrade before a high-sales season to leverage Plus benefits immediately.
Audit your current store: Identify manual processes that can be automated with Flow and Launchpad.
Involve your team early: Train staff on new tools before going live.
Test custom checkout thoroughly: Ensure all payment methods, shipping logic, and upsell offers work as intended.
Leverage your merchant success manager: Use their guidance for optimization strategies and troubleshooting.
A thoughtful implementation approach ensures that in the Shopify vs Shopify Plus journey, your Shopify Plus setup is not just a technical upgrade, but a strategic move that empowers your brand to scale efficiently and confidently.
5. Conclusion
The Shopify vs Shopify Plus decision comes down to one simple question: Can you project at least $27,000 in annual benefits from the upgrade?
If you are doing steady growth under $1M annually, the Shopify plan gives you everything you need without the enterprise price tag. But once you hit that tipping point where checkout limitations, manual processes, and transaction fees are costing you real money, Shopify Plus transforms from an expense into a growth accelerator.
Think about this: Advanced checkout optimization typically boosts conversions 2-5%, automation saves 15-20 hours weekly, and international expansion adds $50K+ per new market. When those benefits exceed the upgrade cost, it's time to move.
If your business is ready and the above scenario matches your targets, start your evaluation and upgrade planning today.
Questions about your upgrade timing? We work with Shopify Plus agencies that provide migration and upgrade services. Contact us for help!
The choice between Shopify vs Shopify Plus ultimately comes down to where your business is today and where you plan to take it next.
Tide Dang
Content Creator | Qikify
