Trying to figure out which Shopify plan makes sense for your business? Let's break down what you actually get with each plan, what those transaction fees really cost, and which hidden expenses tend to surprise new store owners.
| Feature | Basic | Shopify | Advanced | Plus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | $39 | $105 | $399 | $2,300+ |
| Annual Price (save 25%) | $29/mo | $79/mo | $299/mo | Custom |
| Online Credit Card Rate | 2.9% + 30¢ | 2.7% + 30¢ | 2.5% + 30¢ | 2.15% + 30¢ |
| Transaction Fee (non-Shopify) | 2% | 1% | 0.5% | 0.15% |
| Staff Accounts | 2 | 5 | 15 | Unlimited |
| Best For | Starting out | Growing stores | Scaling up | Enterprise |
Your starting point - everything you need to get that first sale
Honestly? This is where most stores eventually land - and for good reason
Lower fees save $200-500/mo at scale
Here's the math that matters: Once you're doing $20K/month, those lower transaction fees save you $40 monthly vs Basic. Suddenly that $66 upgrade feels more like $26. Not bad for professional reports and gift cards, right?
When your business is humming along nicely and you need the serious tools
Saves $500-1,500/mo vs Shopify plan
The tipping point: At $150K/month, that 0.2% fee difference saves you $300 monthly. So you're really only paying an extra $294 for all those advanced features. The math starts making sense fast.
The big leagues - when you're playing at enterprise scale
Saves $3,500+ per month at high volume
At $1M/month, Plus runs you $2,500, but you're saving $1,050 on fees vs Advanced. Real cost? More like $1,450 for unlimited everything and your own account manager. At that scale, it's a no-brainer.
Okay, here's where things get interesting - and where a lot of people get caught off guard. That monthly subscription? It's honestly the small part. Transaction fees on every single sale can quickly dwarf what you're paying Shopify each month. Let me break down what you're actually looking at.
If you're using Shopify Payments (and you probably should be - we'll get to that), here's what every sale costs you:
| Plan | Online Rate | In-Person Rate | Cost per $100 Sale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | 2.9% + 30¢ | 2.7% + 0¢ | $3.20 |
| Shopify | 2.7% + 30¢ | 2.5% + 0¢ | $3.00 |
| Advanced | 2.5% + 30¢ | 2.4% + 0¢ | $2.80 |
| Plus | 2.15% + 30¢ | Negotiable | $2.45 |
Now here's the part that trips people up. Think you'll just use PayPal or Stripe instead? Not so fast. Shopify charges you BOTH their fee AND the gateway's fee. Yeah, double dipping:
Real talk: Unless Shopify Payments isn't available in your country, use it. Those double fees with external gateways add up ridiculously fast. Like, "why is my profit margin so thin?" fast.
Let's get practical. Say you're doing $50K/month with about 200 orders. What's this actually costing you?
| Cost Component | Basic | Shopify | Advanced |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Subscription | $39 | $105 | $399 |
| Processing Fees (2.9%/2.7%/2.5%) | $1,450 | $1,350 | $1,250 |
| 30¢ per transaction (200 orders) | $60 | $60 | $60 |
| Total Monthly Cost | $1,549 | $1,515 | $1,709 |
| % of Revenue | 3.10% | 3.03% | 3.42% |
See that? At $50K monthly, the middle Shopify plan wins. Advanced is overkill at this stage - you're literally paying more for features you don't need yet.
Look, I know all those numbers got overwhelming. So let's cut through it. Here's exactly which plan makes sense for you right now:
Just starting out or testing
Basic's your move. Yeah, the fees are higher, but at this volume it doesn't matter much. Save the money, learn the ropes. Think about upgrading once you're consistently hitting $10K.
Growing and scaling
This is it. The sweet spot. Those lower fees save you $50-200 monthly, you get actual useful analytics, and gift cards are clutch for retention. Best bang for your buck, hands down.
Established business
Now we're talking. That 2.5% vs 2.7% saves you $200-1,000 monthly - basically pays for the upgrade. Plus you need those advanced reports and extra staff accounts anyway.
Enterprise scale
You're not really choosing at this point - Plus is where you need to be. That 2.15% rate saves you thousands every month. Plus unlimited everything and someone you can actually call? Non-negotiable.
Now for the good stuff - how to actually save money without gutting your store's capabilities. These are the moves that actually matter:
Free money, basically. Pay for the year upfront, get 25% off. It's $120-1,200 in your pocket depending on your plan. If cash flow allows it, this is the easiest win.
I'm serious about this one. Every time someone pays through PayPal or another gateway, Shopify charges you an extra 0.5-2%. That's just throwing money away.
Set a calendar reminder. First of every month, check your apps. I guarantee you're paying for stuff you installed once and forgot about. It adds up to $100-200 monthly easy.
Sounds backwards, but sometimes spending more saves more. Once you hit certain revenue thresholds, those lower transaction fees on higher plans actually save you money overall.
Hot take: Shopify's free themes are actually good now. Start there. Wait until you're making real money and understand your needs before dropping $150-350 on a premium theme.
Don't be that person paying for Advanced when you're doing $5K/month. Start Basic, upgrade as you actually need stuff. Your future self will thank you for those savings.
Do all this stuff? Here's what you're looking at:
Annual billing discount (Shopify plan)
Using Shopify Payments vs PayPal (per month at $50K revenue)
Removing unused apps (per month)
They give you 3 days to test everything free. Start with Basic, upgrade when it makes sense. No credit card needed to kick the tires.
Basic plan gets you online fast for just $39/month
Switch plans instantly as your business grows
Pay annually and save 25% on any plan
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