Understanding Shopify Pricing Plans: A Comprehensive Guide

Shopify is an eCommerce framework allowing businesses to create and manage online stores. It offers a variety of features and tools, including website design templates, payment processing, shipping integrations, and more. The pricing options offered by Shopify are created to accommodate the requirements of businesses of various sizes, from small startups to corporations.
But with several pricing plans available, choosing the right plan for your business needs can be challenging. For example, some businesses may require more advanced features, while others may prefer a lower-priced plan that offers more basic features.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll understand Shopify’s pricing plans to help you determine which is right for your business. We’ll also explore any additional fees that may impact your budget. By the end of this guide, you’ll clearly understand Shopify’s pricing plans, allowing you to decide which plan best suits your business.
What Exactly Is Shopify?
Shopify is a leading eCommerce platform enabling users to create, manage, and grow online stores. Its user-friendly interface and advanced tools make it an ideal choice for beginners and seasoned entrepreneurs.
A Brief Overview Of The Platform
Shopify handles the technical aspects of running an online business as a hosted solution, including site hosting, security, and updates. This allows you to focus on building and promoting your brand.
From designing your storefront to managing inventory, Shopify provides several features that cater to various eCommerce demands.
Why It’s A Popular Choice For Online Businesses?
Shopify’s popularity can be attributed to several factors:
- Intuitive Interface: Its user-friendly dashboard makes managing your store easy, even for those with minimal technical skills.
- Scalability: Shopify’s pricing plans and app ecosystem cater to all business sizes, making it a viable option as your business grows.
- Themes and Customization: Shopify offers a wide selection of professional themes and extensive customization options to create a unique online presence.
Shopify’s easy-to-use platform, scalability, and customization options make it popular for online businesses looking to establish a successful eCommerce venture.
Is There A Free Shopify Plan?
While Shopify doesn’t offer a free plan, they provide a 3-day free trial allowing you to test their platform before committing to a paid subscription.
Shopify’s Free Trial Period
During the 3-day free trial, you can access most of Shopify’s features, including adding products, customizing your online store, and setting up shipping options. However, there are some restrictions you should be aware of.
Understanding The Limitations Of A Free Trial
The free trial does not enable you to sell products, use third-party payment gateways, or access some paid apps. That said, it allows you to explore Shopify’s core features and evaluate whether it suits your eCommerce business.
Unraveling The Shopify Pricing Plans
As a leading eCommerce platform, Shopify offers various pricing plans tailored to different business needs. In this section, we’ll dive into the key features available across all plans and guide you in choosing the best plan for your business.
Features Available Across All Plans
All Shopify plans have essential features to ensure a smooth online store experience. These include:

- Unlimited products
- 24/7 customer support
- Access to the Shopify app store
- Abandoned cart recovery
- Manual order creation
- Discount codes
These features provide an excellent foundation for your online store, but additional functionality varies depending on your chosen plan.
How To Pick The Best Plan For the Business
When selecting the right plan for your eCommerce venture, consider the following factors:
- Budget: Examine your available budget and the monthly cost of each plan.
- Store Features: Compare the unique features offered by each plan and determine which are necessary for your store’s success.
- Transaction Fees: Consider Shopify’s transaction fees and how they’ll impact your margins at different sales volumes.
- Reporting: Assess the importance of advanced reporting capabilities in managing your business.
Take the time to evaluate each plan carefully and choose the store plan that best suits your business’s needs and growth potential.
A Closer Look At Each Shopify Plan
Shopify Starter: Selling A Few Products On Social Media
If you’re just starting and want to sell a few products on social media, the Shopify Basic plan is perfect for you. This plan offers features like product listings, secure checkouts, and social media integration. It’s an affordable option to get your store up and running.
Shopify Basic: Perfect For Small Businesses
Shopify Basic is designed for small businesses testing the store’s functionality. It includes all the Starter plan features, plus additional tools such as discount codes, gift cards, and support for multiple locations. Your store will also benefit from added security with fraud analysis and 24/7 customer support.
Shopify Main: For Businesses Earning $5,000 or Less
As your store grows and generates $5000 or less monthly revenue, you’ll need the Shopify Main plan. This plan offers advanced features like professional reports, up to 5 staff accounts, and lower transaction fees. It’s perfect for businesses ready to take their store to the next level.
Shopify Advanced: Stores Revenue Exceeding $10,000
Shopify Advanced caters to stores generating monthly revenue over $10,000. It offers all the Main plan features, including custom report building, third-party shipping rate calculation, and up to 15 staff accounts. Your growing business will also enjoy even lower transaction fees.
Shopify Plus: For High-Earning Stores With Over $1 Million
Shopify Plus is your ultimate plan if your store generates over $1 million in annual revenue. It offers enterprise-level features and customization, unlimited staff accounts, and priority support. This plan is tailored to meet the needs of high-earning stores and provides an unparalleled eCommerce experience.
Breaking Down Shopify Costs
This section will help you understand the key factors contributing to the overall cost of using Shopify for your eCommerce business.
Understanding Shopify Payments And Its Fees
Shopify offers a default payment processor for your online store, which offers competitive rates and ease of integration. It charges a percentage fee and a fixed fee per transaction, which varies depending on your chosen plan:

Plan | Monthly Plan | Percentage Fee |
---|---|---|
$32 monthly | 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction | |
$92 monthly | 2.6% + 30¢ per transaction | |
$399 monthly | 2.4% + 30¢ per transaction |
Table 1.0 Showing the monthly subscription plan and percentage commission for each Shopify plan
Note: If you use external payment gateways, additional fees may apply.
The Cost Of Adding Shopify Apps
Shopify offers a variety of apps that can enhance your store’s functionality and improve the customer experience. However, some of these apps come with additional costs:
- Free apps: No cost, but may have limited features
- Paid apps: Charge a one-time, monthly, or usage-based fee
- Freemium apps: Offer basic functionality free, with premium features available for a fee
To manage costs, carefully evaluate the need for each app and its contribution to your store’s success.
Other Costs To Consider When Using Shopify
Apart from the mentioned costs, other factors can affect your expenses when using Shopify:
- Theme customization: While some themes are free, premium themes might require a one-time fee.
- Domain registration: Purchasing a custom domain through Shopify or a third-party registrar incurs an annual fee.
- Email hosting: Shopify doesn’t provide email hosting. You may need to use a separate service, which can incur additional costs.
By considering these factors, you can make informed decisions about the expenses related to your Shopify store and optimize for cost-effectiveness.
Shopify POS Pricing
Shopify POS, or Point of Sale, is an essential tool for businesses using Shopify to manage their brick-and-mortar stores or events. In this section, we’ll discuss the benefits of Shopify POS and its pricing structure.
How Can Shopify POS Benefit Your Business?
A Shopify POS system provides various advantages in running your business. It enables you to manage your online and offline sales on the same platform, streamlining your sales channels.
Also, it offers a seamless inventory management experience and integrates with various payment gateways, making transactions easier for your customers. Lastly, it offers robust analytics and reporting features to help you make informed business decisions.
The Pricing Structure For Shopify POS
Shopify offers three POS pricing plans, ensuring you can find a suitable one for your business. These plans are:
- Shopify POS Lite: An ad-on to basic Shopify plans and includes essential POS features.
- Shopify POS Pro: $89 monthly, offering advanced features like unlimited store staff, smart inventory management, and improved scalability.
Once you have a Shopify eCommerce plan, you can include either:
- Shopify POS Lite costs free with all Shopify plans
- Shopify POS Pro costs $89 per location (Shopify Plus is free)
While considering a plan, remember to consider the transaction fees and credit card processing fees that vary across the plans. Keep your business needs in mind while selecting a plan, and enjoy the benefits of Shopify POS!
Is Shopify Worth The Investment?
In this section, we will explore the value of investing in a Shopify plan by analyzing its pros and cons and comparing it to other eCommerce platforms.
Analyzing The Pros And Cons Of Shopify
Shopify offers a variety of advantages for businesses looking to set up an online store. Some pros include
- User-friendly interface
- Wide range of customizable themes
- Excellent customer support
- Shopify provides a secure and reliable platform essential for eCommerce

However, there are some drawbacks to consider. For instance, Shopify charges transaction fees if you’re not using their payment gateway, which can add up for high-volume businesses. Furthermore, while Shopify’s basic plan is affordable, advanced features require a more expensive subscription.
Comparing Shopify To Other eCommerce Platforms
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution for eCommerce platforms. Below is a comparison of Shopify with two main competitors, WooCommerce and BigCommerce.
Platform | Ease of Use | Customization | Transaction Fees |
---|---|---|---|
Shopify | High | High | Fees apply (if not using Shopify Payments) |
WooCommerce | Medium | Very High | No fees (apart from payment gateway) |
BigCommerce | High | High | No fees (apart from payment gateway) |
Table 2.0 Comparing Shopify to other eCommerce platforms in terms of individual properties.
Each platform has its pros and cons, depending on your business needs. It’s essential to carefully weigh each option’s features and costs before deciding.
Tips To Save On Shopify Pricing Plans
This section will explore tips to help you save on Shopify pricing plans. We will discuss utilizing discounts and promotions and maximizing Shopify’s built-in features.
Utilizing Discounts And Promotions
Watch for Shopify discounts and promotions for new and existing customers. These offers can significantly reduce expenses, especially when upgrading or subscribing to a new plan.
Subscribe to Shopify newsletters or follow their social media accounts to stay updated with their latest promos.
Making The Most Of Shopify’s Built-In Features
Save by using Shopify’s built-in features instead of purchasing separate apps or tools for your online store. Optimize the functionality of your store and lower ongoing expenditures by becoming familiar with these features.
For example, use Shopify’s built-in analytics to track sales and customer behavior to make data-driven decisions and use their email marketing service to reach more customers. This will help you avoid needing third-party tools, resulting in savings.
Final Thoughts
Finding the right Shopify pricing plan for your needs is crucial to your online business success. The three primary plans, Basic Shopify, Shopify Main, and Advanced Shopify, all offer unique features to cater to businesses at different stages of growth.
Consider your store’s size, transaction volume, and specific requirements when choosing your plan. Integrating the right tools, such as email marketing or advanced reporting, can improve your business efficiency and propel it toward greater profitability.
Remember, you can always change your plan as your business evolves. Making an informed decision will save you money and ensure your online store thrives in the competitive eCommerce market.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How can I switch between shopify pricing plans?
To switch between Shopify pricing plans, log in to your Shopify account and navigate to the Settings menu. Select Billing and pick a new plan from the options available. Your account will be updated immediately, and you’ll only be charged the difference if you upgrade.
Does Shopify offer any discounts for annual plans?
Yes, Shopify offers discounts for annual and other plans. If you commit to a yearly plan, two-year plans or a three-year plan, Shopify gives you a discount. These discounts are a great way to save money for those committed to using Shopify long-term.
Are there any hidden fees with shopify pricing plans?
Shopify is transparent about its pricing plans. The only additional fees you may encounter are transaction fees (if not using Shopify Payments) and credit card processing fees. Always review your chosen plan carefully for any applicable fees.
Can I cancel my Shopify subscription at any time?
You can cancel your Shopify subscription at any time. To do so, go to the Settings menu in your Shopify dashboard, and choose Billing. Click on “Cancel Subscription” and follow the steps to complete the process.
What kind of customer support can I expect with shopify?
Shopify offers 24/7 customer support through live chat, phone, and email. You can also access their help center, community forum, and extensive documentation for guidance on various topics. The level of support you receive may vary depending on your selected pricing plan.