Shopify pricing is built around a monthly or annual subscription plus transaction fees, with plans ranging from the $5 Starter plan to the $2,300+ Shopify Plus plan.
The main pricing tiers—Starter, Basic, Shopify (Grow), Advanced, and Plus—offer different features, staff accounts, reports, and payment processing rates based on business size.
Transaction fees and credit card rates decrease with higher plans, so upgrading can save money for stores with higher order volumes.
Real Shopify costs also include apps, themes, POS hardware, and add-ons, which can increase monthly expenses depending on store needs.
Merchants can reduce Shopify costs by using annual billing, limiting apps, choosing Shopify Payments, and upgrading only when savings from lower fees outweigh higher subscription charges.
Shopify pricing can feel confusing i.e. monthly fees, transaction fees, POS add-ons, app costs, and Shopify Plus pricing all vary depending on your store’s needs. This guide breaks down exactly how Shopify pricing works, what each plan includes, and how to choose the right one for your business. Whether you're just starting out or scaling to millions, this 2026 Shopify pricing breakdown covers everything you need to know.
What is Shopify Pricing & How Does It Work?
Shopify pricing is based on a monthly subscription plus transaction fees. Each plan includes ecommerce features like product management, payments, checkout, and reports. But higher plans offer lower payment fees, more staff accounts, and advanced reporting. You’ll also pay separately for apps, themes, and POS hardware if needed.
If you need help tailoring your Shopify store, hiring a Shopify developer can make setup, customization, and growth much easier.
Shopify Pricing Plans (Starter → Advanced → Plus)
Plan
Monthly Price
Price (paid annually)
Features & Staff Accounts
Payment Processing Fees
Starter
$5 per month
Annual not available
Sell through social media and messaging apps with buy buttons; no full online store or blog; 5% transaction fee. Best for solopreneurs testing online sales. Staff Accounts: None
Online: 5.0% In-Person: Not applicable Transaction Fee (if not using Shopify Payments): 5.0%
Basic
$39 per month
~$29 per month (25% off)
Full online store with website and blog, up to 10 inventory locations, 24/7 chat support, localized global selling (3 markets), and POS Lite. Best for new small businesses. Staff Accounts: None
Online: 2.9% + 30¢ In-Person: 2.6% + 10¢ Transaction Fee (if not using Shopify Payments): 2.0%
Grow
$105 per month
~$79 per month (25% off)
All Basic features plus up to 88% shipping discounts, professional reports, and 5 staff accounts. Best for growing businesses.
Online: 2.7% + 30¢ In-Person: 2.5% + 10¢ Transaction Fee (if not using Shopify Payments): 1.0%
Advanced
$399 per month
~$299 per month (25% off)
All Grow features plus advanced report builder, up to 15 staff accounts, third-party calculated shipping rates, and lowest transaction fees. Best for scaling businesses.
Online: 2.5% + 30¢ In-Person: 2.4% + 10¢ Transaction Fee (if not using Shopify Payments): 0.5%
Shopify Plus
Starting at $2,300 per month
Custom pricing
Enterprise-grade solution with dedicated support, advanced automation (Shopify Flow), customizable checkout, and unlimited staff accounts. Best for high-volume merchants and large brands.
Online & In-Person: Varies by country Transaction Fee (if not using Shopify Payments): Negotiated
Retail (POS)
$89 per month
~$79 per month (annual)
Includes all Basic plan online features plus Shopify POS Pro for in-store sales (advanced POS roles, unlimited registers, staff management, and inventory tracking). Best for physical retailers needing an integrated online and offline solution. Staff Accounts: Unlimited (for POS)
Online: 2.9% + 30¢ In-Person: 2.6% + 10¢ Transaction Fee (if not using Shopify Payments): 2.0%
Shopify Pricing Plan Summaries
Shopify Starter — $5/month
Best for creators, beginners, and social sellers who need a checkout link but not a full store.
Includes:
Shopify Checkout link
Unlimited products
Sell via social media or DMs
Standard transaction fees
Basic Shopify — $39/month
Best for new stores who want a full online shop with core ecommerce features.
Includes:
Full online store
2 staff accounts
Basic reports
Up to 1,000 inventory locations
Shopify Plan — $105/month
Best for growing brands that need stronger reporting and automation.
Includes:
5 staff accounts
Professional reports
Standard ecommerce automation
Lower transaction fees
Advanced Shopify — $399/month
Best for scaling stores needing advanced reporting and lower processing fees.
Includes:
15 staff accounts
Custom reporting
Lower credit card fees
Duties & import tax estimates
Shopify Plus — starts at $2,300/month
Enterprise plan for high-growth brands.
Includes:
Flow + Launchpad
Unlimited staff
Custom checkout
Dedicated support
Lower transaction fees
Key Differences Between Shopify Pricing Plans
The main differences in Shopify pricing plans are in features, staff access, reporting, and transaction fees. Higher-tier plans offer more staff accounts, advanced reports, and lower credit card processing rates. For example, the Basic plan includes standard reports but doesn't offer staff accounts, while Advanced offers 15 staff accounts and custom reporting. Credit card fees via Shopify Payments decrease from 2.9% on Basic to 2.5% on Advanced.
Higher plans also unlock better shipping discountsi.e. up to 88% off retail rates on Advanced. This helps businesses save on fulfillment costs.
All standard plans (except Starter)include an online store, unlimited products, 24/7 support, discount codes, and abandoned cart recovery.
Shopify Plus, for enterprises, provides API integrations, automation tools, and large scale order management, going beyond the capabilities of standard plans.
The Shopify Retail (POS Pro) plan at $89/month combines in store sales tools with an online store, making it perfect for brick and mortar businesses.
For most online businesses, the choice between Basic, Grow, and Advanced comes down to budget and required features. Below is a quick reference table of Shopify pricing plans and their payment processing fees.
Shopify Transaction Fees Explained
Shopify charges payment processing fees on every order. These vary by plan and whether you use Shopify Payments. Higher plans reduce these fees — which is why upgrading often makes sense for brands with high monthly order volume.
Beyond monthly subscription fees, Shopify stores also pay for apps, themes, email tools, shipping labels, and POS hardware. Most stores spend $30–$300/month on apps depending on complexity, sales channels, and automation needs.
Transaction Fees
When you make a sale on Shopify, you’ll pay a payment processing fee. If you use Shopify Payments, the fee is the credit card rate (e.g., 2.9% + 30¢ on Basic, 2.5% + 30¢ on Advanced). Shopify does not take an extra cut if you use Shopify Payments.
However, if you use an external payment provider like PayPal or Stripe, Shopify charges an additional fee (2% on Basic, 1% on Grow, and 0.6% on Advanced). To minimize fees, Shopify Payments is usually the best option.
Shopify Payments vs. Third Party Processors
Shopify Payments simplifies payments by handling everything through the Shopify admin, with no extra fees beyond the standard card rate. Third party gateways incur extra fees from Shopify, but some merchants prefer external options like PayPal, which also incurs additional Shopify fees if not used through Shopify Payments. Shopify Payments is usually more cost effective if available in your region.
Credit Card Rates for Online vs In-Person
For in-person sales using Shopify POS, the processing rates are slightly lower than online rates. For example, Basic plan in-person rates are 2.7% + 0¢ (compared to 2.9% online). These fees are competitive with other POS systems, so if you have a physical store, consider the Shopify Retail plan or POS Pro for more advanced features, with rates aligned with your base plan.
Optional add-ons and services
While your Shopify subscription includes hosting for your online store, there are a few optional costs you might incur to fully set up your shop:
Custom Domain Name
Shopify offers a free subdomain (yourstorename.myshopify.com), but for branding, you’ll likely want a custom domain (yourstore.com). Domains typically cost $10–$20/year for standard .com addresses. Shopify allows easy domain purchase and management through their platform (around $14/year). This cost is separate from your Shopify pricing.
Premium Themes
Shopify provides free themes, but you can buy a premium theme from the Shopify Theme Store for $150–$350. Premium themes are a one time purchase, and many merchants start with free themes until they need a more unique design. This cost is optional and depends on your business needs, impacting Shopify pricing.
Shopify Apps
The Shopify App Store offers free and paid apps to extend functionality. Apps range from a few dollars to $50+/month depending on the feature. While these apps enhance your store, they contribute to your Shopify pricing and should be selected based on ROI. Some examples of Shopify apps are Easy Bundles, Checkout Wiz, Fly Bundles and Kite: Discount & Free Gift App.
Email Hosting or Google Workspace
Shopify doesn’t provide email hosting, so you’ll need a separate service like Google Workspace ($6/user/month). Some domain providers offer free email forwarding, but for a professional setup, expect to pay a few dollars each month. This adds to your overall Shopify pricing.
Point of Sale Hardware
For in-person sales via Shopify POS, you’ll need hardware like card readers, barcode scanners, and receipt printers. Shopify offers a basic $49 card reader, which is a one-time purchase. This cost should be considered if your business operates offline, influencing your total Shopify pricing.
Shipping and Fulfillment
While Shopify pricing doesn’t include shipping fees, Shopify provides discounted rates for shipping labels via Shopify Shipping. You’ll pay the carrier directly (UPS, USPS, etc.), and fulfillment costs are operational expenses tied to running your store.
Shopify Email / Marketing
Shopify Email is free for the first 2,500 emails/month, with additional emails costing around $1 per 1,000. If you use a third-party platform like Klaviyo or Omnisend, expect tiered pricing based on the number of contacts or emails sent, which will affect your Shopify pricing.
In short, Shopify’s base pricing covers the essentials to get your store online, but you should budget for a few extras like a custom domain, possibly a theme, and perhaps a couple of apps or services that your specific business might need. Many of these costs are flexible – you can start with free options (free theme, no paid apps) and only add paid extras once you see the need or ROI.
Shopify vs Competitors
Shopify is a top e-commerce platform, but it’s not the only option. Let’s compare Shopify’s pricing with a few major competitors in 2025: WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Wix eCommerce. Each platform has a different pricing model, so understanding these differences will help you evaluate value for money.
Platform
Starting Plan Cost
Platform Transaction Fees
Notes / Best For
Shopify
$39/month (Basic plan) or $29 on annual; also $5 Starter option
0% (no extra fee) if using Shopify Payments; up to 2% fee if external gateway
All-in-one hosted solution, very user friendly, huge app ecosystem. Great for most small to mid-sized businesses scaling online.
BigCommerce
$39/month (Standard plan)
0% – no added transaction fees on any plan
Hosted solution similar to Shopify. No Shopify Payments equivalent needed (no extra fees). Has annual sales limits per plan. Good for avoiding transaction fees; features comparable to Shopify.
WooCommerce
$0 (free plugin) + hosting (~$10–$30/mo for small site)
Self-hosted (WordPress). Low cost software but requires technical work. Flexible and customizable, but you manage security and updates. Good for tech savvy or budget sensitive merchants willing to DIY.
Wix eCommerce
~$29/month (Core plan, billed annually)
0% platform fee (uses Stripe/PayPal ~2.9%+30¢)
Hosted website builder with eCommerce capabilities. Very easy design tools. Best for small stores integrated with content sites. Less scalable for large, complex eCommerce needs.
Shopify Pricing Plans by Regions
Market (Country)
Starter Plan
Basic Plan
Grow Plan
Advanced Plan
Shopify Plus
United States
$5 USD/month
$39 USD/month
$105 USD/month
$399 USD/month
Starting at $2,300 USD/month
India
₹399 INR/month
₹1,994 INR/month
₹7,447 INR/month
₹30,164 INR/month
Starting at ₹1,75,000 INR/month
Canada
$7 CAD/month
$51 CAD/month
$132 CAD/month
$517 CAD/month
Starting at $2,300 USD/month
United Kingdom
£5 GBP/month
£25 GBP/month
£65 GBP/month
£344 GBP/month
Starting at $2,300 USD/month
Australia
$7 AUD/month
$56 AUD/month
$149 AUD/month
$575 AUD/month
Starting at $2,300 USD/month
Germany
€5 EUR/month
€36 EUR/month
€105 EUR/month
€384 EUR/month
Starting at $2,300 USD/month
Which Shopify Pricing Plan Should You Choose?
If you’re just starting out, the Basic plan gives you everything you need. Growing brands should choose the Shopify plan for stronger reporting, while advanced merchants benefit from the lower payment fees in the Advanced plan. Large-scale ecommerce brands should move to Shopify Plus for the custom checkout, automation tools, and enterprise scaling capability.
Understanding Shopify’s Pricing Structure
Monthly vs. Annual Subscription Costs:
Shopify plans can be paid monthly or annually. Paying annually gives about a 25% discount on the Basic, Grow, and Advanced plans. For example, the Basic plan drops from $39/month to ~$29/month when billed annually. Similarly, higher tier plans drop from $105 to $79 and $399 to $299. Opting for annual billing saves 2-3 months’ worth of fees, but it’s a commitment. Cancelling mid-term doesn’t provide a prorated refund.
Upgrade or Downgrade Flexibility:
Shopify allows easy plan upgrades or downgrades. If you change plans monthly, you’re charged the new rate immediately, and any unused time from the old plan is credited. There’s no penalty for switching, except for Shopify Plus, which involves a contract.
Free Trial and Introductory Offers:
Shopify now offers a 3-day free trial, and after that, you can continue your first month for just $1. Occasionally, Shopify provides further promotions like "3 months for $1/month". After the trial, regular billing begins. If Shopify isn’t the right fit, you can cancel anytime.
In summary, Shopify pricing is straightforward: you pay a subscription fee, which you can reduce by paying annually, and transaction fees on sales. There are no hidden fees, and you can cancel anytime on standard plans.
Tips to Reduce Shopify Costs (For Small Businesses)
For small businesses, managing Shopify pricing is key to staying within budget. Here are some actionable tips to optimize costs:
Choose the Right Plan:
Start with the plan that fits your current needs. The Basic plan is likely sufficient if you’re just launching. Upgrade to a higher plan only,when necessary, as each upgrade should justify cost savings or more sales. For example, moving from Basic to Grow can save 0.2% in transaction fees, but it only makes sense if that savings exceeds the $66 price difference at higher sales volumes.
Use Annual Billing:
If possible, opt for annual billing to save 25% on Shopify pricing. For example, the Basic plan costs $29/month with annual billing instead of $39/month, saving you $120 annually. Many businesses start with monthly billing and switch to annual once they see consistent sales.
Leverage Free Resources:
Shopify provides free themes and many apps to cover basic needs like SEO, product reviews, and marketing. Use these before paying for premium versions. Shopify pricing also includes built-in tools like abandoned cart recovery, which can save you from paying for additional apps.
Minimize App Costs:
Install only necessary apps and regularly remove those you no longer use. Apps can add significant recurring costs, so focus on those that drive sales or save time.
Use Shopify Payments:
Stick to Shopify Payments to avoid the extra 1–2% transaction fee for using third party gateways. This simplifies payouts and keeps your costs lower.
Take Advantage of Discounts:
Keep an eye out for Shopify promotions like shipping or advertising credits, especially if you're switching from another platform. Also, make use of free trials for apps to test their value before committing. You can also look for coupons and deals to lower your upfront costs. For example, websites like Cybernews share helpful Shopify coupon codes.
Optimize for Efficiency:
Shopify’s tools can save you time, reducing the need for outsourcing. Use free resources like the Shopify help center and community forums to handle tasks in-house, which can lower costs.
Monitor Your Usage:
Watch for any apps that may increase costs based on usage (e.g., emails sent, page views). Check your Shopify billing page to avoid surprises.
By following these strategies, you can manage Shopify pricing effectively, keeping costs low while scaling your business. Many small businesses start with basic plans and minimal apps, which can keep expenses below $50/month. As your sales grow, reinvest profits to improve your store’s performance.
Conclusion
Shopify’s pricing in 2025 offers flexible options for businesses of all sizes, from the $5 Starter plan to the enterprise level Shopify Plus. Higher tier plans reduce transaction fees and provide advanced tools, while Shopify Payments helps avoid extra charges. Optional costs like domains, themes, and apps can be managed to keep expenses low.
Compared to competitors, Shopify excels with its all-in-one solution, scalability, and app ecosystem, while others like WooCommerce and Magento require more technical expertise. BigCommerce has no transaction fees but includes sales limits, and Wix is better for small scale stores. By choosing the right plan, using free resources, and monitoring expenses, businesses can scale profitably while keeping Shopify pricing manageable. Take advantage of Shopify’s free trial to explore which plan suits your needs and drive your online success.
Hurrify customers to buy within a given timeframe with a sales countdown timer & improve conversions
Another popular Shopify checkout app is Checkout Promotions. The app comes with the ability to leverage a collection of highly robust visibility rules that help show customers one-click post purchase upsell promotions after an order payment has been made. Some of its key features include:
Features
AI recommended and manual recommendations for upselling.
Complete branding control.
Checkout Upsell for increasing AOV.
AI recommended and manual recommendations for upselling.
Pricing
Development
Free
Monthly Plan
$99/ month
Plus Plan
$99/ month
Plus Plan
$99/ month
Shopify Pricing FAQs
How much does Shopify really cost?
Is Shopify $1 for 3 months?
Is Shopify actually worth it?
Can I cancel Shopify after 3 months?
Do I have to pay for each store on Shopify?
How much does Shopify take per sale?
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Neetika M
Neetika is the founder of Skai Lama. Passionate about building SaaS, Product Development, and Marketing, she talks about eCommerce Growth, Product Bundling, Gifting, Retention, and Shopify.
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