Shopify’s advertised price is just the beginning. Transaction fees, payment processing, app subscriptions, and theme costs can double your effective monthly spend. This guide shows the real cost of Shopify at every revenue level.
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Shopify Pricing Plans
- Sell via link
- Instagram/TikTok sales
- No storefront
- 5% transaction fee
- Basic analytics
- Online store
- 2 staff accounts
- 2% transaction fee (non-Shopify Payments)
- Basic reports
- 10 inventory locations
- 5 staff accounts
- 1% transaction fee
- Standard reports
- USPS discounts
- 5 additional POS locations
- 15 staff accounts
- 0.5% transaction fee
- Custom report builder
- Calculated shipping rates
- Duties & import taxes
- Custom checkout
- Unlimited staff
- Automation (Flow)
- B2B selling
- Dedicated support
Hidden Costs to Watch Out For
- Transaction fees: If you don’t use Shopify Payments, you pay an additional 2% (Basic), 1% (Shopify), or 0.5% (Advanced) on every sale. On $20k/month revenue, that’s $400/month on Basic.
- Payment processing: Shopify Payments charges 2.9% + 30¢ per online transaction (Basic). Lower rates on higher plans. Still more expensive than Stripe for high-volume sellers.
- Apps: The average Shopify store uses 6–10 apps at $10–$50/month each. Average app spend is $50–$300/month extra.
- Themes: Premium themes cost $180–$350 one-time. Free themes are limited and widely used (your store looks like everyone else’s).
Frequently Asked Questions About Shopify Pricing
Is Shopify free?
Shopify offers a 3-day free trial, then $1/month for 3 months (promotional). There is no permanent free plan. The Starter plan ($5/month) is the cheapest option but only sells via social media links, not a full online store.
What is the cheapest Shopify plan for a real online store?
Shopify Basic at $39/month includes a full online store, unlimited products, and basic analytics. It has the highest transaction fee (2%) but is sufficient for early-stage stores doing under $5k/month.
When should I upgrade from Basic to Shopify plan?
Upgrade to the $105/month Shopify plan when your transaction fee savings (1% vs 2%) exceed the plan cost increase. This break-even point is approximately $6,600/month in Shopify Payments revenue.
Does Shopify charge per sale?
Yes — beyond the monthly plan fee, Shopify charges a payment processing fee on every transaction (2.9% + 30¢ on Basic). If you don’t use Shopify Payments, there’s an additional transaction fee on top.