Shopify is a popular platform for building online stores, and it offers several pricing plans to fit different business sizes and needs. Whether you’re just starting or running a large enterprise, there’s likely a plan that works for you. This guide will break down each plan, explaining the costs and features in simple terms to help you choose the right one.
Plan Breakdown
Below is a simple overview of each Shopify pricing plan, including prices and key features. Note that paying annually can save you 25% compared to monthly payments.
| Plan Name | Monthly Price | Annual Price (per month) | First Month Price | Card Rates (Online/In Person/3rd-Party) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | – | USD 29 | $1 | – |
| Basic | USD 79 | USD 39 | $1 | 2.9% + 30¢ USD / 2.6% + 10¢ USD / 2% |
| Shopify | USD 299 | USD 105 | $1 | 2.7% + 30¢ USD / 2.5% + 10¢ USD / 1% |
| Advanced | USD 2,300 | USD 399 | $1 | 2.5% + 30¢ USD / 2.4% + 10¢ USD / 0.6% |
| Plus | – | USD 89 | – | Competitive rates |
| Retail | – | $89 USD | $1 | – |
| Enterprise Commerce | – | Custom | – | – |
Choosing the Right Plan
Think about your business size, how many sales you make, and your growth plans when picking a plan. For example, the Starter plan is great for testing social media sales, while the Basic plan suits small online stores. Higher plans like Advanced and Plus are better for bigger businesses with more complex needs.
Survey Note: Comprehensive Analysis of Shopify Pricing Plans
This section provides a comprehensive exploration of Shopify’s pricing structure, ensuring you have all the information needed to make an informed decision. The analysis covers each plan’s features, pricing nuances, and additional considerations, drawing from the latest available data as of February 25, 2025.
Overview and Context
Shopify, a leading e-commerce platform, offers a variety of pricing plans to accommodate businesses at different stages of growth. These plans range from the entry-level Starter plan, designed for social selling, to the Enterprise plan, which offers custom pricing for large organizations. The platform’s flexibility is evident in its pricing structure, which allows for monthly or annual payments, with annual subscriptions providing a 25% discount. This discount is calculated based on the monthly price, meaning businesses paying annually effectively reduce their monthly cost. For instance, if a plan’s monthly price is $39, the annual equivalent would be $29 per month, totaling $348 for the year, compared to $468 if paid monthly.
The research suggests that Shopify’s pricing strategy is designed to be scalable, with features and costs increasing as businesses grow. This approach ensures that small businesses can start with affordable options while larger enterprises can access advanced tools. However, it’s important to note that prices and features may have been updated recently, so always verify the latest information on Shopify Pricing.
Detailed Breakdown of Each Plan
To provide a thorough understanding, let’s examine each plan individually, including pricing, features, and suitability. The prices listed are based on the most recent data, with monthly prices calculated where annual rates are provided, and vice versa, using the 25% discount for annual payments.
Starter Plan:
- Price: USD 5/month (annual subscription only, no monthly option listed).
- First Month Offer: $1, making it an attractive entry point for new users.
- Key Features: This plan is designed for social selling, allowing businesses to sell through platforms like social media, email, SMS, and WhatsApp. It includes a simple online store, optimized for mobile devices, and supports in-person selling with Shopify POS.
- Best For: Individuals or small businesses just starting out, particularly those focused on social media sales without needing a full e-commerce store.
- Additional Notes: No transaction fees are explicitly mentioned, which is suitable for low-volume sellers.
Basic Plan:
- Price: 39/month if paid monthly, or 29/month if paid annually (totaling 348/year).
- First Month Offer: $1, providing an initial low-cost trial period for the first 3 months (then reverts to the standard price).
- Card Rates: 2.9% + 30¢ for online transactions, 2.7% + 10¢ for in-person, and 2% for third-party payment providers.
- Standout Features: 1,000 inventory locations, 24/7 chat support, localized global selling in 3 markets, and includes POS Lite for in-person sales.
- Best For: Solo entrepreneurs or small businesses needing a simple, cost-effective solution for starting an online store.
- Additional Notes: The annual subscription saves 25%, making it an affordable option for new or small-scale businesses. It’s ideal for those with minimal shipping or advanced feature needs.
Shopify Plan:
- Price: 105/month if paid monthly, or 79/month if paid annually (totaling 948/year).
- First Month Offer: $1, providing an initial low-cost trial period for the first 3 months (then reverts to the standard price).
- Card Rates: 2.6% + 30¢ for online transactions, 2.5% + 10¢ for in-person, and 1% for third-party payment providers.
- Standout Features: 1,000 inventory locations, 24/7 chat support, localized global selling in 3 markets, 5 additional staff accounts, and includes POS Lite for in-person sales.
- Best For: Small teams requiring more robust features and staff collaboration for growing online businesses.
- Additional Notes: The annual subscription saves 25%, offering cost savings for businesses planning to scale. The additional staff accounts and lower transaction fees are key benefits for teams managing multiple tasks.
Advanced Plan:
- Price: 399/month if paid monthly, or 299/month if paid annually (totaling 3,588/year).
- First Month Offer: $1, providing an initial low-cost trial period for the first 3 months (then reverts to the standard price).
- Card Rates: 2.4% + 30¢ for online transactions, 2.4% + 10¢ for in-person, and 0.6% for third-party payment providers.
- Standout Features: 1,000 inventory locations, enhanced 24/7 chat support, localized global selling in 3 markets (with the option to add markets for $59/month each), 15 additional staff accounts, and includes POS Lite for in-person sales.
- Best For: Growing businesses needing advanced features, higher staff capacity, and international expansion options.
- Additional Notes: The annual subscription saves 25%, making it cost-effective for scaling businesses. The lowest transaction fees and ability to add markets cater to more complex operations..
Plus Plan:
- Price: Starting at 2,300/month if paid monthly, or 1,725/month if paid annually (totaling 20,700/year) on a 1- or 3-year term.
- First Month Offer: $1, providing an initial low-cost trial period for the first 3 months (then reverts to the standard price).
- Card Rates: 2.15% + 30¢ for online and in-person transactions (customizable for high-volume merchants).
- Standout Features: 10,000 inventory locations, priority 24/7 phone support, localized global selling in 50 markets, unlimited staff accounts, customizable checkout with 10x capacity, 200 POS Pro locations with Shopify Payments, and wholesale/B2B selling capabilities.
- Best For: Large, complex businesses with high transaction volumes and extensive operational needs.
- Additional Notes: This plan is tailored for enterprise-level companies, with pricing and features customized based on business needs. Contact Shopify directly for a detailed quote, as pricing can vary depending on scale and requirements.
Retail Plan:
- Price: USD 89/month (annual subscription only, no monthly price listed).
- First Month Offer: $1, aligning with other plans for initial cost savings.
- Card Rates: Not specified, likely integrated with POS features.
- Key Features: Focuses on in-person selling tools, with advanced staff management, inventory tracking, and loyalty program features.
- Best For: Retail businesses prioritizing in-person sales, such as brick-and-mortar stores.
- Additional Notes: This plan is less about online sales and more about enhancing physical retail operations, complementing other plans for hybrid models.
Enterprise Commerce Plan:
- Price: Custom pricing, negotiated based on specific needs.
- First Month Offer: Not specified, likely part of custom agreements.
- Key Features: Tailored for large enterprise organizations, focusing on agility, speed to deployment, and performance, with customized features to match business requirements.
- Best For: Large organizations with unique, complex needs, such as multinational corporations or high-transaction enterprises.
- Additional Notes: Pricing and features are not publicly listed, requiring direct consultation with Shopify, making it suitable for businesses with significant resources.
Comparison of Plans
To aid in decision-making, here’s a comparison table highlighting key features and prices, focusing on the annual subscription rates for consistency:
| Plan | Annual Cost | Staff Accounts | Shipping Discount | Transaction Fees (Online) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $60 | 1 | – | 0% | Social sellers |
| Basic | $348 | 2 | 77% | 2.9% + 30¢ | New stores |
| Shopify | $948 | 5 | 88% | 2.7% + 30¢ | Growing businesses |
| Advanced | $3,588 | 15 | 88% | 2.5% + 30¢ | High-volume sellers |
| Plus | $27,600+ | Unlimited | 88% | Negotiable | Enterprises |
| Retail | $1,068 | Advanced | – | – | Brick-and-mortar stores |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom | Custom | Custom | Global corporations |
This table helps visualize the progression of features and costs, with higher tiers offering more inventory locations, better shipping discounts, and lower transaction fees, which is particularly beneficial for high-volume sellers.
How to Choose the Right Plan
Choosing the right Shopify plan depends on several factors, tailored to your business’s current state and future goals. Here are some guidelines:
- Assess Your Business Needs: If you’re just starting and focused on social media sales, the Starter plan at USD 5/month is ideal. For a small online store, the Basic plan at USD 29/month annually offers essential features. Growing businesses might prefer the Shopify plan at USD 79/month annually for additional staff and features.
- Consider Transaction Volumes: Higher plans like Advanced and Plus offer lower transaction fees (e.g., 0.6% for third-party in Advanced vs. 2% in Basic), which can save significant costs for businesses with high sales volumes.
- Evaluate Support Requirements: Basic plans include 24/7 chat support, while Plus offers priority phone support, crucial for enterprises needing immediate assistance.
- Think About Future Growth: Opt for a plan that can scale, such as Advanced, which allows adding markets, ensuring you don’t outgrow your plan quickly.
Additional Costs to Consider
Beyond the subscription fees, there are other costs to keep in mind:
- Transaction Fees: Each plan has different rates for online, in-person, and third-party transactions, decreasing with higher tiers. For example, Basic has 2.9% + 30¢ USD online, while Advanced reduces to 2.5% + 30¢ USD.
- Domain Name: Domain names are not included in any plan and must be purchased separately, typically costing around $10–$15 per year, as noted in external analyses like Shopify Pricing Guide.
- Apps and Add-ons: Many businesses use third-party apps for additional functionality, which can incur monthly fees, potentially adding hundreds of dollars to the overall cost, as mentioned in reviews like Shopify Pricing Plans.
These additional costs can impact the total expense, so it’s wise to factor them into your budget, especially for plans like Basic, where app usage might be more common due to limited built-in features.
Recent Updates and Insights
Recent updates to Shopify’s pricing include changes in 2023, where Basic, Shopify, and Advanced plans saw price adjustments, with Basic increasing to USD 39/month monthly from previous rates, as noted in Changes to Shopify’s 2023 Plan Pricing. These updates reflect Shopify’s ongoing efforts to balance feature richness with affordability, though some analyses, like Shopify Pricing 2025, suggest it may still be expensive compared to competitors. An unexpected detail is the $1 first-month offer for most plans, which wasn’t widely highlighted in older reviews, making it easier for new businesses to try Shopify without immediate high costs.
Conclusion
Shopify’s pricing plans offer a scalable solution for businesses of all sizes, with options ranging from USD 5/month for Starter to custom pricing for Enterprise. Each plan includes varying features, such as shipping discounts, inventory locations, and support levels, with transaction fees decreasing as plans get more expensive. By considering your business needs, transaction volumes, and growth plans, you can select the plan that best fits, ensuring you maximize value while minimizing costs. Always check Shopify Pricing for the latest rates and consider additional costs like domain names and apps to get a complete picture.
Key Citations
- Shopify Pricing Setup and Open Your Online Store Today
- Shopify Help Center Pricing Plans Features
- Shopify Pricing Plans 2024 Guide Forbes Advisor
- Changes to Shopify’s 2023 Plan Pricing Blog Post
- Shopify Pricing Is It Good Value for Money in 2025
- Shopify Pricing Plans How To Pick The Best Cheapest Plan
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