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Shopify Pricing Plans and Fees
Shopify

Shopify Pricing Plans and Fees - How much does Shopify cost in 2024?

Shopify Pricing

January 26, 2024Author: Preslav Nikov15 min read
Shopify Pricing, Plans and cost of ownership - how much does Shopify Plus cost?

Knowing exactly how much Shopify is costing you each month is often confusing.

This is because your bottom line costs depend on your Shopify plan, payment gateway, and other secondary factors.

In particular, Shopify promotes its in-house payment processor called Shopify Payments, which brings you competitive card processing fees. However, failing to use it results in extra transaction fees.

In this article, we’ll provide you with a detailed breakdown

Shopify Pricing Plans

At a glance, the Shopify Pricing plans are:

  1. Shopify Starter – $5/month

  2. Basic Shopify – $29/month

  3. Shopify – $79/month

  4. Advanced Shopify – $299/month

  5. Shopify Plus – $2000/month

  6. Shopify Retail - $89/month

Six plans may sound like a lot, but in reality, most online merchants can discard the Shopify Starter, Shopify Plus, and Shopify Retail plans.

Starter’s features are too limited for most cases, Plus is an enterprise solution, while Retail is only applicable if you have a brick-and-mortar store that needs a POS.

For context, Shopify Starter doesn’t allow you to build a full store and take advantage of Shopify’s arsenal of features. Rather, it allows you to put a Buy button on your social media pages that allows you to start selling.

It’s a good solution for people just starting out in e-commerce as it allows them to leverage Shopify’s backend and streamline their sales.

However, it’s no replacement for having a standalone store.

Thus, most merchants on Shopify find everything they need with:

  1. Basic Shopify – $29/month

  2. Shopify – $69/month

  3. Advanced Shopify – $299/month

Shopify Plans Monthly and Annual Pricing

Shopify Plan
Monthly Cost
Paid Annually Monthly Cost
Saving
Best for?
Shopify Starter
$5 *First 3 months for $1/mo
N/A
N/A
Individuals and small businesses selling on social media without a full online store.
Basic Shopify
$32 *First 3 months for $1/mo
$24
25%
Small businesses getting started with e-commerce and online sales.
Shopify
$92 *First 3 months for $1/mo
$69
25%
Businesses with existing audiences looking for robust tools like gift cards and cart recovery.
Advanced Shopify
$399 *First 3 months for $1/mo
$299
25%
Companies looking to scale and take advantage of low transaction rates and priority shipping.
Shopify Plus
$2000
N/A
N/A
Large enterprises looking for a comprehensive e-commerce solution.
Shopify Retail
$89 *First 3 months for $1/mo
N/A
N/A
Businesses that operate brick-and-mortar stores and want to integrate them online.

Apart from the monthly costs and features, Shopify’s plans differ when it comes to credit card processing rates and transaction fees. These may not sound like a lot at first, but they become increasingly important as the number of your orders grows.

Shopify Free Trial - $1 for 3 months

Before we jump into Shopify’s active plans, let’s take a look at Shopify’s cheapest option - their 3-day free trial followed by a 3-month trial for $1.

If you’re looking to explore Shopify’s ecosystem from within, but don’t want to commit, Shopify’s free trial is the best place to start.

With Shopify's free trial, you can build and customize your store, add products and collections, and you can play around with the admin settings for managing and fulfilling orders.

You can also explore Shopify’s extensive apps and integrations to extend your store’s functionality.

Overall, Shopify’s free trial is a low-risk way to understand Shopify's features and see if they align with your business needs before committing.

Moreover, you can have a development store free of charge, where you can build anything you want, without being able to sell.

However, the Shopify free trial is limited by an inactive checkout or a storefront password.

This means customers can't add products to their cart or make purchases. To start selling, you need to choose a paid Shopify plan.

Shopify Starter - $5/month

The Shopify Starter plan is excellent for individuals and small businesses who sell products on social media and want to leverage Shopify’s powerful backend for their e-commerce operations.

With the Starter plan, you can effectively manage your entire sales process from Shopify's backend.

This includes order processing, inventory management, and customer communications, all centralized in one user-friendly interface.

Moreover, the Starter plan makes it easy to integrate various social platforms into Shopify’s platform and to share product links directly with your audience.

This streamlines and simplifies the entire sales process.

Keep in mind, that Shopify Starter has the highest card processing and transaction fees, resting at 5% + 30 cents per transaction.

Overall, the Shopify Starter plan is a cost-effective solution for those just getting started with their e-commerce journey.

They can explore many of Shopify’s features at a fraction of the cost of other plans.

Shopify Basic - $24/month

The Shopify Basic plan includes everything you need to create your store, ship products, and process payments. This plan is particularly suitable for smaller stores, offering essential e-commerce features without overwhelming complexity.

With Basic Shopify, you can list an unlimited number of products and take advantage of features like abandoned cart recovery, which are common across Shopify's plans.

You can customize your store and make it an omnichannel sales machine, controlled from Shopify’s admin panel.

When it comes to card processing and transaction fees, the Basic Shopify plan rates are as follows: a card processing fee of 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction online and 2.7% + 0¢ offline.

If you use Shopify Payments, you won’t face any other transaction fees.

However, if you use a different payment gateway, you’ll have to pay its processing fees, and an extra 2% to 0.15% transaction fee to Shopify, depending on your plan.

Shopify - $69/month

The Shopify plan, priced at $69 per month, is tailored for small businesses experiencing rapid growth and in need of a more robust e-commerce toolbox.

According to Shopify, businesses generating around $5,000 or more in monthly revenue should consider exploring Shopify’s standard plan.

This plan builds upon the features offered in the Basic Shopify plan, providing additional tools and capabilities essential for scaling businesses.

Some of its features include:

  • Advanced data reporting

  • Reduced processing and transaction fees

  • Features for international sales

  • Abandoned cart recovery

  • Gift card functionality

When it comes to card processing and transaction fees, the Shopify plan rates are the following: 2.6% + 30¢ for online transactions and 2.5% + 0¢ for in-person payments as a card processing fee.

If you use Shopify Payments, you won’t have to pay any extra fees.

However, if you use a different payment gateway, you’ll have to pay them a processing fee, and an extra 1% transaction fee to Shopify.

Shopify Advanced - 299$/month

Shopify Advanced Plan, available at $299 per month when paid annually, is tailored for medium to large businesses focused on substantial growth and expansion.

Merchants generating over $10,000 monthly revenue and looking to scale their operations are well-suited for Shopify’s Advanced plan.

The Shopify Advanced plan brings a variety of features to the table, such as:

  • Advanced reporting and analytics

  • Third-party calculated shipping rates

  • Lower transaction fees

  • 15 staff accounts

  • Unlimited storage

  • Cart recovery

  • Discount codes

  • Gift card support

The plan also boasts lower transaction fees than the Shopify Basic and Shopify plans.

Shopify Advanced boasts a card processing rate of 2.4% + 30¢ for online transactions and 2.4% + 0¢ for in-person payments. Moreover, the extra fee for not using Shopify Payments is only 0.5%.

Shopify Plus - Starting at $2000/month

Shopify Plus is the most comprehensive plan that Shopify has available. It is designed to equip high-performing brands with all the tools they need to sell more, faster, almost anywhere in the world (175 countries).

It’s an all-in-one solution for multi-channel selling, built for performance and scalability.

The platform excels in performance, handling over 10,000 checkouts per minute, and provides advanced security and fraud protection.

Moreover, Shopify Plus offers 24/7 priority support, customizable checkout experiences, and a vast ecosystem of apps and integrations.

With its ability to support large-scale operations, Shopify Plus is an ideal choice for businesses aiming for significant growth and requiring a platform that can accommodate high traffic volumes and complex operational needs.

To maximize the potential of Shopify Plus for your business, see how our team of Shopify Plus Experts can help you.

Shopify Plus card processing fees vary by country and credit card but for merchants based in the US, they are 2.15% + 30¢ for Visa and MasterCard and 3.15% + 30¢ for American Express and international cards.

Moreover, the extra transaction fee that you pay to Shopify if you use a payment processor other than Shopify Payments is just 0.15% of your transaction. Again, if you stick to Shopify Payments, there are no extra transaction fees.

Overall, while these exact numbers may change, Shopify Plus offers the cheapest card processing and transaction fee rates out of any Shopify plan.

For more up to date information, see Shopify Plus pricing.

Shopify Retail - $89/month

The Shopify Retail Plan is ideal for businesses looking for an integrated solution to manage both their online and physical store sales. It brings a multitude of features for data analysis, streamlining operations, enhancing customer experiences, and driving sales.

With Shopify Retail, businesses can effectively manage their staff and inventory by controlling POS access and getting low-stock alerts from a single location.

Moreover, it’s much easier for businesses to capture rich customer data and generate insights for customer loyalty, LVT, and preferences.

Lastly, Shopify Retail supports brick-and-mortar businesses to start seamlessly selling across channels.

Overall, Shopify Retail works well for businesses that have a lot of foot traffic, multiple tiers of staff, or a large inventory catalog.

Shopify vs Competitor Pricing


Shopify
Bigcommerce
WooCommerce
Square
Squarespace
Monthly Cost Basic
$24
$29
~ $15
$0
$19
Monthly Cost Standard
$69
$79
~ $20
$29
$26
Monthly Cost Advanced
$299
$299
~ $30
$79
$39

*All monthly cost values refer to annual payment

When you compare Shopify to other website builders and e-commerce platforms, it stands as a slightly more high-end solution.

Compared to less specialized website builders like Squarespace, Shopify packs a mightier arsenal of features to help support your e-commerce operations, albeit at a higher price.

In terms of e-commerce features, Shopify’s closest match is Bigcommerce.

The two platforms are very close with regard to their pricing.

Shopify’s Basic and Standard plans are slightly more affordable than Bigcommerce, but the difference is even greater, if it’s your first year on Shopify, due to the $1 three-month trial period.

However, Shopify and Bigcommerce differ in their transaction fees.

Shopify has between 2% and 0.15% transaction fees if you aren’t using Shopify payments, whereas Bigcommerce has none.

However, Bigcommerce has sales limitations for each plan and will bump you up to a more expensive plan, once you cross your plan’s sales limits.

When it comes to value for your money, Shopify is somewhat middle of the pack compared to other website builders and e-commerce platforms, due to its higher price point. It’s the iPhone of e-commerce.

People often compare Shopify with open-source platforms like Woocommerce. However, direct price comparisons with them do little justice to Shopify’s utility, robustness, customer support, and performance.

It has some of the best features to support your e-commerce journey and empower you to move with speed and confidence.

Platforms like Woocommerce may have lower costs upfront, but are more complicated to maintain and may require having a dedicated developer or administrator on your team.

Shopify Credit Card Rates and Transaction Fees

In the world of commerce, every time a credit card is used to facilitate a purchase, the merchant has to pay a credit card processing fee to their bank or payment processor.

When you buy apples in your local supermarket and pay by card, the supermarket has to pay a processing fee to their payment processor to collect payment from your bank and deposit it into their bank.

It’s the same when you sell anything on Shopify, but you are the one who has to pay the processing fee. The exact rates depend on your Shopify plan, but the more expensive your plan, the lower your processing fees will be. This is one of Shopify’s main levers for enticing merchants to move to a more premium plan.

Extra transaction fees on Shopify are applicable to all transactions that aren’t made through its in-house payment processor Shopify Payments.

However, Shopify Payments is currently available only in these countries:

  • Australia

  • Austria

  • Belgium

  • Canada

  • Czechia

  • Denmark

  • Finland

  • France

  • Germany

  • Hong Kong SAR

  • Ireland

  • Italy

  • Japan

  • Netherlands

  • New Zealand

  • Portugal

  • Romania

  • Singapore

  • Spain

  • Sweden

  • Switzerland

  • United Kingdom

  • United States

If Shopify Payments isn’t available in your country, you have nothing to worry about. Shopify has integrations with over 100 payment providers across the world.

Card processing rates and transaction fees on Shopify


Shopify Basic
Shopify
Shopify Advanced
Shopify Plus
Shopify Payments Online Credit Card Rates
2.9% + 30 cents per transaction
2.6% + 30 cents per transaction
2.4% + 30 cents per transaction
2.15% + 30¢ per transaction (Visa card, US)
Shopify Payments
2.7% + 0 cents per transaction
2.5% + 0 cents per transaction
2.4% + 0 cents per transaction
2.4% + 0 cents per transaction
Shopify Payments In-Person Credit Card Rates
---
---
---
---
Transaction fees by Shopify for third-party payment gateways.
2% of every transaction (Free with Shopify Payments)
1% of every transaction (Free with Shopify Payments)
0.5% of every transaction (Free with Shopify Payments)
0.15-.30% of every transaction (Free with Shopify Payments)

** Transaction and card processing fees are applied only once, regardless of the number of items within the order.

*** All % are for merchants based in the US.


Shopify POS & Shopify POS Pro Fees

Shopify Pricing Plans and Fees - Shopify POS Lite and Shopify Pro location compared

The features of POS Lite and POS Pro

Shopify POS is included with all Shopify plans at no additional cost. This basic version offers essential POS functionalities suitable for businesses just starting with in-person sales.

Shopify POS Pro is an upgrade for retail locations, offering advanced features for in-person selling. The cost for POS Pro is $89 USD per month for each location.

POS Lite Location

Included in every plan
POS Pro Location

$89USD/month/location
  • Limited staff can access POS
  • Simple customer profiles
  • Returns at original purchase location
  • Unlimited staff can access POS
  • Staff roles and permissions
  • Rich customer profiles
  • Customer loyalty insights
  • Returns and exchanges at any location
  • Inventory management
  • Professional retail reports
  • Omnichannel selling

Does Shopify Charge for Refunds?

Yes, even if you refund or cancel an order, you won’t receive your credit card processing fee. Shopify is unable or unwilling to refund your fees, as the failed payments still incur costs on their end.

You may find information stating the contrary and this is likely because it hasn’t been updated.

As of 2020, Shopify updated its terms of service to no longer refund card processing fees.

Does Shopify have any hidden fees?

Absolutely not! Shopify is transparent with its prices and you shouldn’t be surprised by anything on your invoice. However, there are additional costs for domain names, premium themes, and apps, which we will discuss more in the following section.

Additional Shopify costs to be aware of

Getting started on Shopify doesn’t require more than paying for a monthly plan.

However, customizing your store, extending its functionality, and transforming it into the shop of your dreams will cost you extra. 

Apps and Integrations

The Shopify App Store currently boasts over 8,000 apps. Each of them is designed to solve a specific problem that merchants face.

Apps can help you improve customer experiences, automate processes, extend and customize your store’s functionality, scale and streamline your operations, and more.

The average store we work with has about 8 third-party apps integrated into their store. All Shopify apps vary in price, most often between $10 and $100 per month, but what they have in common is that they are vetted, reliable, and maintained by customer support teams.

All in all, if you have specific business requirements, you may have to include Shopify apps in your budget.

Premium Themes

Shopify boasts a variety of free themes. However, they are limited in terms of functionality and customization options.

Many businesses prefer to pay for a premium Shopify theme, to take greater control of how their store looks, feels, and interacts with customers. Premium themes usually range from around $140 to over $400.

Domain Name

Another cost that’s not covered by your Shopify plan is your domain name. Although Shopify, can get you started with a myshopify domain ending, most businesses find that unprofessional so they opt for a custom domain. A domain name will typically cost you around $15 per year.

Email Marketing

Shopify Email provides email hosting. This means that you don’t have to use a third-party integration if you want to leverage email marketing at the start. Costs there vary depending on your usage and the volume of emails sent.

The first 10,000 emails are free, and then each 1,000 emails cost $1, but this price gets lowered after your first 300,000 emails.

However, we consider Shopify emails to be an entry tool. For more sophisticated email marketing, we recommend integrating Kklavyio.

Summary of Shopify Pricing Plans

In a nutshell, Shopify offers a range of pricing plans to suit different business needs, starting from the Shopify Starter plan at $5/month to the comprehensive Shopify Plus plan at $2300/month.

While the Starter, Plus, and Retail plans cater to specific niches, most merchants find their needs met within the Basic, Standard, and Advanced plans.

Each plan comes with its own set of features and credit card processing rates, with higher-tier plans offering lower transaction fees.

Shopify's pricing is transparent, with no hidden fees, but merchants should budget for additional costs like apps, premium themes, domain names, third-party email hosting, and partner services.

FAQ

Is Shopify a good fit for small businesses?

Yes, Shopify has affordable plans that equip small businesses with all the tools they need to begin selling effectively online.

Moreover, Shopify’s robust backend, user-friendly interface, and rockstar customer support ensure that even non-tech-savvy owners will have an easy time setting up their online store.

Which Shopify plan should I choose?

The right Shopify plan for you will depend on your exact situation and business needs.

Generally speaking, if you are generating less than $5,000 per month you can stick to Shopify Basic, and if you are generating over $10,000 a month in sales, you can consider looking into the Advanced Shopify Plan.

Large companies and enterprises should check out Shopify Plus.

If you’d like some help finding out which is the best Shopify plan for you, you can get in touch with our team for a free Shopify consultation.

Can I try Shopify before committing?

Yes! Shopify offers a free 3-day trial, followed up by a 3-month deal for $1!

You can also create a development store with which you can play around, but won’t be able to sell.

What are the credit card and transaction fees of Shopify?

Exact credit card and transaction fees on Shopify depend on your Shopify Plan, as well as your payment processor, and the exact type of card.

Generally, more premium plans offer lower card processing costs and transaction fees.

If you’re using Shopify Payments, you aren’t charged any extra transaction fees, apart from the card processing fee.

How much do Shopify templates cost?

Shopify templates or themes can cost anywhere from $50 to over $300 as a one-time purchase.

However, more advanced themes offer extended functionalities and customization options, which larger organizations require.

How much do Shopify apps cost?

It’s difficult to put an exact number. Many apps have free, as well as paid versions.

Some apps cost a few bucks, while others can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars every month, while others depend on your usage.

What are the billing cycles of Shopify?

Your monthly Shopify subscription is billed every 30 days. Apps that have subscription-based charges for merchants operate on their own independent 30-day billing cycles.

How much does headless Shopify cost?

The cost of a headless Shopify build is usually in the tens of thousands and is dependent on multiple factors.

The price of a headless Shopify setup can vary based on several factors, including the scale and intricacy of the project, the geographical location of the developer, the nature of the development, the technology used, any bespoke features, integrations, and licensing fees.

If you are serious about exploring the possibility of a headless Shopify build, you can reach out to our team for a free consultation.

How to save money with Shopify?

When it comes to saving money with Shopify there are two things you can always do.

First, paying for your plans annually or even 2 or 3 years in advance can make a big difference, compared to paying for it month for month.

Second, merchants should keep an eye on all the apps they use and cancel subscriptions that they don’t need since it’s common to forget about some apps altogether.

Another thing that many people miss is the ability to pause your Shopify subscription if you need to take a break from the platform or your priorities change.

How do Shopify's prices compare to other e-commerce platforms?

Shopify’s prices are mid to high-tier compared to other e-commerce platforms when it comes to their more advanced plans.

However, their cheaper plans pack a mighty punch and offer features that competitors at Bigcommerce offer only in their more premium plans.

Moreover, the utility, user-friendliness, global performance, hassle-free maintenance, and stellar customer support make Shopify one of the global e-commerce leaders.

See also: Best Shopify Loyalty & Rewards Apps and Average Revenue of Shopify Stores.

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Preslav Nikov -Shopify Pricing Plans and Fees -Article Author
Author
Preslav Nikov

With a decade of of e-commerce experience, Preslav, CEO of Craftberry, produces informative content. His writing focuses on practical insights and strategies in the e - commerce, aimed at helping professionals and businesses in the industry.

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