Ready to launch your dream online business? Choosing the right e-commerce platform is a critical first step, and understanding Shopify pricing is essential for making an informed decision. Shopify is a powerhouse in the e-commerce world, renowned for its user-friendly interface, robust features, and seamless integrations. It’s not free, but Shopify offers a free 3-day trial to test drive its features without committing. Even better, you can take advantage of their current deal: $1 per month for your first 3 months, allowing you to explore Shopify’s capabilities at a remarkably affordable price.
This blog post is your comprehensive guide to Shopify pricing plans, features, and fees. We’ll help you navigate the options and select the perfect plan to suit your unique business needs.
Table of Contents
- Shopify Pricing Plan Breakdown
- Beyond the Core Plans: Shopify Starter & Shopify Plus
- Understanding Shopify Fees
- Choosing the Right Plan: A Step-by-Step Guide
- FAQ Section
- Conclusion
Shopify Pricing Plan Breakdown
Shopify offers three core pricing tiers: Basic, Shopify, and Advanced. Each plan caters to businesses at different stages of growth, offering a tailored set of features and pricing structures. Let’s dive into the specifics of each Shopify plan:
A. Basic Plan
- Price: $29 per month, billed monthly or $19 per month if billed yearly, offering a 25% discount.
- Target audience: Perfect for solo entrepreneurs and small businesses just starting their e-commerce journey.
- Key Features:
- Online store creation and customization
- Access to the theme editor to personalize your online store.
- Essential features like an SSL certificate, abandoned cart recovery, and gift cards.
- Basic reporting tools to monitor your business performance.
- Two staff accounts for managing your store.
- Competitive transaction fees and credit card rates (though slightly higher than other plans).
- Pros:
- Most affordable plan, ideal for starting on a budget.
- Provides all the essentials for launching and running a basic online store.
- Includes fundamental marketing features like discount codes and abandoned cart recovery.
- 24/7 customer support ensures you’re never alone in your journey.
- Cons:
- Limited to 2 staff accounts, which may not be suitable for growing teams.
- Basic reporting tools may not provide the in-depth insights needed for strategic decision-making.
- Higher credit card rates and transaction fees compared to other plans.
B. Shopify Plan
- Price: $79 per month, billed monthly or $49 per month if billed yearly, offering a 25% discount.
- Target audience: Ideal for growing businesses with small teams and moderate sales volume.
- Key Features (in addition to Basic features):
- Lower credit card rates and transaction fees.
- Professional reporting tools that provide deeper insights into your business data.
- Five staff accounts for growing teams.
- Access to Shopify Markets, providing basic support for international commerce.
- Pros:
- Strikes a balance between price and functionality.
- Offers more robust reporting tools for data-driven decision-making.
- Lower transaction fees can translate to significant cost savings as your sales increase.
- Expanded staff accounts accommodate growing teams.
- Cons:
- May not be suitable for high-volume sellers due to the standard transaction fees.
- Limited international commerce support (full features require the Advanced plan).
C. Advanced Plan
- Price: $299 per month, billed monthly or $299 per month if billed yearly. (The yearly discount is not applicable to this plan).
- Target audience: Designed for larger, established businesses with substantial sales volume and complex operational needs.
- Key Features (in addition to Shopify Plan features):
- The lowest credit card rates and transaction fees offered by Shopify.
- Advanced reporting tools, including custom report creation.
- 15 staff accounts for managing a larger workforce.
- Calculated shipping through carriers for streamlined fulfillment.
- Full international commerce support with features like duty and tax calculations.
- Pros:
- Most comprehensive feature set.
- Lowest transaction fees for high-volume sellers.
- Robust international commerce features for businesses selling globally.
- Powerful reporting and analytics for strategic insights.
- Larger staff account limit accommodates large teams and multiple locations.
- Cons:
- The highest-priced core plan, which may not be within the budget of smaller businesses.
- Many of the advanced features may not be necessary for businesses at earlier stages of growth.
Beyond the Core Plans: Shopify Starter & Shopify Plus
In addition to the three core plans, Shopify offers two other options for businesses with unique needs: Shopify Starter and Shopify Plus.
A. Shopify Starter Plan
- Price: $5 per month
- Target audience: Businesses looking to sell on social media platforms or through messaging apps. Ideal for simple product listings and direct selling.
- Key features:
- Sell directly through social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok.
- Share products via direct messages or use Buy Now buttons.
- Limited online store functionality (more suitable for product showcases or simple listings).
- No transaction fees when using Shopify Payments.
- When to choose Shopify Starter:
- You’re just dipping your toes into e-commerce and want a low-cost, simplified solution.
- Your primary focus is social media selling or direct sales through messaging.
- You don’t need a full-fledged online store with extensive customization options.
B. Shopify Plus
- Price: Starts at $2,000 per month, with custom pricing tailored to your business requirements.
- Target audience: High-volume, enterprise-level businesses requiring advanced features, extensive customization, and dedicated support.
- Key Features (in addition to Advanced Plan features):
- High-volume order processing capacity.
- Advanced customization options, including API access for building complex integrations.
- A dedicated Merchant Success team for personalized guidance and support.
- Features like Augmented Reality (AR) shopping for enhanced customer experience.
- 24/7 priority support.
- When to choose Shopify Plus:
- You’re an established business processing a significant volume of orders.
- You need highly customized e-commerce solutions and advanced integrations.
- You require dedicated, personalized support and expert guidance.
- You want to leverage cutting-edge features like AR shopping to enhance your customer experience.
Understanding Shopify Fees
It’s important to remember that beyond the monthly Shopify subscription fee, there are other Shopify fees to consider when determining your overall Shopify cost.
A. Transaction Fees
Every time you make a sale, Shopify charges a transaction fee. These Shopify transaction fees vary depending on your plan and the payment gateway you use.
- Using Shopify Payments: This is Shopify’s built-in payment processor. There are no transaction fees associated with any plan when using Shopify Payments.
- Using Third-Party Payment Gateways: If you choose to use a third-party payment provider like Stripe or PayPal, Shopify will charge transaction fees in addition to the provider’s fees.
- Basic Plan: 2.0%
- Shopify Plan: 1.0%
- Advanced Plan: 0.5%
- Shopify Plus: Custom rates
B. Credit Card Rates
Shopify charges credit card processing fees, which differ for online and in-person transactions. These rates are typically lower for higher-tier plans.
Here’s a general overview:
- Online Transactions:
- Basic: 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction
- Shopify: 2.6% + 30¢ per transaction
- Advanced: 2.4% + 30¢ per transaction
- Shopify Plus: Negotiated custom rates
- In-Person Transactions: (Using Shopify POS)
- Basic: 2.7%
- Shopify: 2.5%
- Advanced: 2.4%
- Shopify Plus: Negotiated custom rates
C. Additional Fees
While not directly related to Shopify’s core plans, there are other potential costs that might factor into your overall Shopify cost per month or Shopify cost per year:
- App Subscriptions: Many Shopify merchants leverage third-party apps to extend the functionality of their stores. Some apps have monthly subscription fees.
- Theme Purchases: You can purchase premium themes for a one-time fee to enhance your store’s design and customize its appearance.
- Domain Registration: If you don’t already own a domain name, you’ll need to register one, usually for an annual fee.
- Email Marketing: While Shopify offers basic email marketing, more advanced features may require a paid subscription.
Choosing the Right Plan: A Step-by-Step Guide
Navigating the world of Shopify plans and pricing can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be! Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you find the perfect plan for your business:
- Business Size & Stage:
- Solo Entrepreneur: If you’re just starting out on your own, the Shopify Basic plan offers a solid foundation at an affordable price.
- Small Team: The Shopify Plan accommodates growing businesses with a few team members.
- Established Business: The Shopify Advanced Plan caters to companies with multiple staff members, high sales volume, and international selling requirements.
- Sales Volume & Revenue:
- Low Volume: If you’re anticipating a low volume of sales, the higher transaction fees of the Shopify Basic plan won’t have a significant impact.
- Moderate Volume: As your sales grow, the Shopify plan’s lower transaction fees will provide more significant cost savings.
- High Volume: The Shopify Advanced plan offers the lowest transaction fees, making it a cost-effective choice for high-volume sellers.
- Feature Needs:
- Essential Features: The Shopify Basic Plan provides the fundamentals for an online store: checkout, inventory management, basic reporting, etc.
- Professional Features: The Shopify plan adds more advanced reporting tools and more staff accounts.
- Advanced Features: For custom reports, advanced automation, full international commerce support, and calculated shipping, the Shopify Advanced plan is your best bet.
- Budget:
- While it’s tempting to choose the cheapest Shopify plan, consider the long-term cost implications. The higher transaction fees of the Basic Plan might outweigh the initial savings as your sales increase.
- The Shopify Plan offers a good balance between cost and functionality.
- For businesses with substantial sales and complex needs, the Shopify Advanced plan’s advanced features and low transaction fees can deliver a solid return on investment.
FAQ Section
How can I try Shopify for free?
You can sign up for a free 3-day trial of Shopify without entering your credit card information.
Can I upgrade or downgrade my plan at any time?
Yes, you can easily change your Shopify plan at any time, whether you want to upgrade to access more features or downgrade to a more affordable option.
What happens if I exceed my plan’s sales limit?
Shopify will notify you if you approach your plan’s sales threshold. At that point, you can upgrade your plan to avoid any disruptions to your business.
What kind of support does Shopify offer?
Shopify offers 24/7 customer support via live chat and email to all merchants, regardless of their plan. Higher-tier plans get priority support and access to phone support.
What are Shopify Markets, and do I need them?
Shopify Markets is a powerful feature that simplifies selling internationally. It enables you to create customized storefronts for different regions, offering localized languages, currencies, and payment methods. If you plan on selling globally, Shopify Markets is a valuable asset.
Is Shopify secure?
Yes, Shopify is a Level 1 PCI DSS compliant platform, meaning it meets the highest security standards for handling credit card data. You can be confident that your store and customer information are protected.
Conclusion
Choosing the right Shopify pricing plan is key to building a successful online store. By understanding the different Shopify pricing tiers – Basic, Shopify, Advanced, Starter, and Plus – and the associated Shopify monthly costs, Shopify transaction fees, and Shopify credit card rates, you can make an informed decision that sets your business up for success.
Remember to take advantage of Shopify’s free plan (trial) and the $1 for 3 months deal to try before you buy. Sign up today and start your e-commerce journey!