Who this is for
Online sellers evaluating Shopify or current Shopify merchants wondering if they're on the right plan. Your subscription fee is only part of the cost—this guide covers everything you'll actually pay.
See your real Shopify margins
Calculate profit after payment fees across Basic, Shopify, and Advanced plans.
The goal
Understand your true Shopify costs so you can choose the right plan and price your products for profit. By the end, you'll know every fee Shopify charges, the hidden costs most guides skip, and when upgrading to a higher plan saves you money. Use our Shopify Profit Calculator to see your actual take-home on any sale.
Quick summary: What does Shopify cost?
| Plan | Monthly (Annual) | Monthly (Month-to-Month) | Online Card Rate | Third-Party Gateway Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $5 | $5 | 5% | N/A |
| Basic | $29 | $39 | 2.9% + $0.30 | 2.0% |
| Grow | $79 | $105 | 2.7% + $0.30 | 1.0% |
| Advanced | $299 | $399 | 2.5% + $0.30 | 0.6% |
| Plus | $2,300 | $2,300 (3-yr term) | Negotiable | 0.2% |
The subscription is the floor. Your real monthly cost includes payment processing, apps, themes, and potentially currency conversion fees.
1. Starter plan: $5/month
The Starter plan is not a full online store. It's designed for selling through social media and messaging apps.
What you get
- Product pages with a single default theme (Spotlight)
- Sell on social media (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, WhatsApp)
- Linkpop link-in-bio tool
- Shopify POS Lite for in-person sales
- Basic order management and analytics
What you don't get
- A customizable online store
- Custom domain support
- Blog or content pages
- SEO tools
- Staff accounts
- Advanced analytics
Transaction fees
The Starter plan charges 5% per transaction through Shopify Payments—significantly higher than the 2.9% on Basic and above.
Best for
Content creators and influencers selling a few products through social media links. Not suitable for building a real e-commerce business. Without SEO tools on Starter, you'll struggle to rank in Google—learn why this matters in our Shopify product page SEO guide.
See your real Shopify margins
Calculate profit after payment fees across Basic, Shopify, and Advanced plans.
2. Basic plan: $29/month (annual) or $39/month
The most popular starting point for serious sellers.
What you get
- Full online store with customizable themes
- Custom domain support
- Blog and content pages
- Unlimited products
- 2 inventory locations
- Manual order creation
- Discount codes
- Free SSL certificate
- Shopify POS Lite
- Shopify Shipping discounts (up to 88% off)
- 1% Shopify credits (up to $5,000)
What you don't get
- Staff accounts (added in Grow plan)
- Professional reports
- International pricing
- Calculated shipping rates at checkout
Payment processing
- Online credit cards: 2.9% + $0.30
- In-person (POS): 2.6% + $0.10
- Third-party gateway fee: 2.0% (on top of your processor's fees)
Best for
Solo sellers launching their first store with under $5,000/month in revenue.
3. Grow plan: $79/month (annual) or $105/month
Previously called the "Shopify" plan, renamed to "Grow" in early 2026. Same features and pricing.
What you get (in addition to Basic)
- 5 staff accounts — the biggest reason to upgrade
- Professional reports
- International pricing and domains
- Calculated shipping rates at checkout
- Shopify Flow automation
- 1% Shopify credits (up to $7,500)
Payment processing
- Online credit cards: 2.7% + $0.30
- In-person (POS): 2.5% + $0.10
- Third-party gateway fee: 1.0%
When Grow saves money over Basic
The 0.2% lower card rate saves you money at scale. At $25,000/month in revenue, you save $50/month on processing—covering the $50/month plan price difference.
If you need staff accounts, the upgrade is mandatory regardless of revenue.
Best for
Growing businesses with $5,000–$50,000/month in revenue or any store needing multiple staff logins.
4. Advanced plan: $299/month (annual) or $399/month
What you get (in addition to Grow)
- 15 staff accounts
- Advanced report builder
- Third-party calculated shipping rates
- Up to 8 inventory locations
- Custom pricing by market
- Duties and import tax estimates at checkout
- 1% Shopify credits (up to $10,000)
Payment processing
- Online credit cards: 2.5% + $0.30
- In-person (POS): 2.4% + $0.10
- Third-party gateway fee: 0.6%
When Advanced saves money over Grow
The 0.2% lower card rate saves $200/month at $100,000/month in revenue. The plan price difference is $220/month, so the break-even point is approximately $110,000/month in revenue on processing savings alone.
The real value is in the advanced reporting, international pricing, and duty calculations for stores selling globally.
Best for
Established businesses with $50,000+/month in revenue or significant international sales.
5. Plus plan: Starting at $2,300/month
Shopify Plus is enterprise-grade, with pricing based on a 3-year contract commitment.
Key benefits
- Negotiable credit card rates (lower than Advanced)
- Transaction fees waived for all payment methods when using Shopify Payments as primary gateway
- Dedicated account manager
- Shopify Flow, Launchpad, and Script Editor
- Up to 200 inventory locations
- Unlimited staff accounts
- Checkout extensibility and customization
- First month at $399 promotional rate
Best for
High-volume businesses processing $500,000+/month where negotiated rates and enterprise features justify the cost.
6. The third-party gateway fee trap
If you don't use Shopify Payments, Shopify charges an additional fee per transaction on top of whatever your payment processor charges:
| Plan | Third-Party Gateway Fee |
|---|---|
| Basic | 2.0% |
| Grow | 1.0% |
| Advanced | 0.6% |
| Plus | 0.2% |
Example on Basic plan: You use Stripe at 2.9% + $0.30. Shopify adds its 2.0% fee, bringing your total payment cost to 4.9% + $0.30 per transaction. That's nearly 5% gone before any other costs.
The message is clear: use Shopify Payments or pay significantly more. Shopify Payments is available in 23 countries including the US, Canada, UK, and most of Europe.
7. Hidden costs most guides skip
Apps: $50–$300/month
The average Shopify merchant spends $120/month on apps. Common essential apps and their typical costs:
| App Category | Typical Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| Email marketing (Klaviyo, Mailchimp) | $0–45 |
| Reviews (Judge.me, Loox) | $0–35 |
| SEO (Plug in SEO, SEO Manager) | $0–30 |
| Upselling (ReConvert, Bold) | $10–30 |
| Inventory management | $10–50 |
| Shipping (ShipStation, Easyship) | $0–60 |
Most stores install 6 apps on average, though some run 20–30. Each app adds to your monthly cost and can impact site performance. Before investing in SEO apps, read our Shopify product page SEO guide—many optimizations are free and built into Shopify.
Themes: $0–$420 one-time
Shopify offers free themes (Dawn is the most popular and well-maintained). Premium themes cost $150–$420 as a one-time purchase. Theme updates and support are typically included for 12 months.
Domain: $11–$20/year
Purchasing a domain through Shopify costs $11–$20/year depending on the TLD (.com is typically $14/year). Free WHOIS privacy is included. You can also use a domain purchased elsewhere.
Shopify Email
- 10,000 emails/month: Free
- 10,001–300,000: $1 per 1,000 emails
- 300,001+: $0.65 per 1,000 emails
Currency conversion: 1.5–2%
If you sell internationally and accept payments in non-domestic currencies:
- US stores: 1.5% currency conversion fee
- Other countries: 2% currency conversion fee
This fee applies whether you set exchange rates manually or use automatic conversion. It's not refunded on returns.
Chargeback fee: $15
When a customer disputes a charge, Shopify deducts a $15 chargeback fee. If you win the dispute, the fee is refunded. Compare this to $20 on eBay and Facebook Marketplace.
POS hardware
If you sell in person, Shopify POS hardware is separate:
- Tap & Chip Reader: $49
- POS Terminal: $349
- POS Go (handheld): $399
8. Real cost examples
Here's what Shopify actually costs at different revenue levels (using Shopify Payments, Basic plan, annual billing):
$1,000/month in sales (20 orders at $50 avg)
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Basic plan | $29.00 |
| Payment processing (2.9% + $0.30 × 20) | $35.00 |
| Apps (minimal) | $30.00 |
| Total monthly cost | $94.00 |
| Effective fee rate | 9.4% |
$5,000/month in sales (100 orders at $50 avg)
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Basic plan | $29.00 |
| Payment processing | $175.00 |
| Apps (moderate) | $80.00 |
| Total monthly cost | $284.00 |
| Effective fee rate | 5.7% |
$20,000/month in sales (400 orders at $50 avg)
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Grow plan | $79.00 |
| Payment processing (2.7% + $0.30 × 400) | $660.00 |
| Apps (full stack) | $150.00 |
| Total monthly cost | $889.00 |
| Effective fee rate | 4.4% |
The effective fee rate drops as revenue increases because the fixed subscription cost becomes a smaller percentage.
9. Shopify vs other platforms
| Platform | Typical Total Cost | Subscription? | Built-in Traffic? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shopify Basic | 5–10% (varies by volume) | $29–39/month | No |
| Etsy | 10–12% (up to 25% with Offsite Ads) | No subscription | Yes |
| Amazon FBA | 20–30% | $39.99/month | Yes |
| eBay | 14–16% | Optional ($7.95–$349.95) | Yes |
| WooCommerce | Hosting + plugins (~$30–100/month) | No subscription | No |
Shopify has the lowest percentage-based fees at scale but requires you to drive your own traffic—a cost that doesn't show up in fee calculations.
For detailed comparisons, see our Amazon FBA fees, Etsy fees, and eBay fees guides.
10. Choosing the right plan
Start with Basic if:
- You're launching your first store
- Revenue is under $5,000/month
- You're a solo operator (no staff accounts needed)
Upgrade to Grow when:
- You need staff accounts for team members
- Revenue exceeds $25,000/month (processing savings cover the price difference)
- You need professional reporting or international pricing
Upgrade to Advanced when:
- Revenue exceeds $100,000/month
- You sell internationally and need duty/tax estimates
- You need 8+ inventory locations or advanced reporting
Consider Plus when:
- Revenue exceeds $500,000/month
- You need checkout customization
- You want negotiated payment processing rates
FAQ
How much does Shopify cost per month?
Shopify plans range from $5/month (Starter) to $2,300+/month (Plus). Most sellers use Basic ($29/month annual, $39/month monthly) or Grow ($79/month annual, $105/month monthly). Your true cost includes payment processing and apps on top of the subscription.
Does Shopify take a percentage of sales?
Not directly from your revenue—but Shopify Payments charges 2.5–2.9% + $0.30 per transaction for payment processing. If you use a third-party payment gateway, Shopify adds an additional 0.6–2% fee per transaction on top of your processor's fees.
Is Shopify worth it for small sellers?
At under $500/month in revenue, the $29+ subscription makes your effective fee rate high (10%+). Etsy or Facebook Marketplace may be cheaper at low volumes. Shopify becomes cost-effective once you consistently sell $1,000+/month.
What's the cheapest way to use Shopify?
Use annual billing (25% discount), Shopify Payments (avoid third-party fees), free themes, and only essential apps. On the Basic plan with annual billing, your minimum monthly cost is $29 plus payment processing.
Can I change plans later?
Yes. You can upgrade or downgrade at any time. Shopify prorates the difference. No penalties for switching.
Is there a free trial?
Shopify offers a 3-day free trial, then $1/month for the first 3 months on select plans. After the promotional period, standard pricing applies.
What happens if I don't use Shopify Payments?
You pay your third-party processor's fees plus an additional 0.6–2% Shopify transaction fee (depending on your plan). This can nearly double your payment processing costs.
Next steps
- Calculate your real profit with our Shopify Profit Calculator — see your take-home after payment fees on any plan.
- Compare platforms using our Platform Comparison Calculator.
- Optimize your product pages with our Shopify product page SEO guide.
- See how Shopify compares to Etsy with our Shopify vs Etsy comparison.
See your real Shopify margins
Calculate profit after payment fees across Basic, Shopify, and Advanced plans.
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Sources
- Shopify Official Pricing
- Shopify Help Center - Pricing Plans Overview
- Shopify Help Center - Third-Party Transaction Fees
- Shopify Help Center - International Fees
- Aureate Labs - Shopify Plus Pricing Breakdown
- DemandSage - Shopify Starter Plan 2026
- Cropink - Shopify Fees 2026
- RigbyJS - How Much Does Shopify Cost in 2026