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How Much Is Shopify A Month? Our Detailed Review

April 12, 2024
Written and researched by experts at AvadaLearn more about our methodology

By Sam Nguyen

CEO Avada Commerce

When diving into the e-commerce world with Shopify, one of the primary questions that arises is, “How much is Shopify a month?”. In this guide, we’ll discover the different Shopify pricing tiers, helping you determine the best fit for your business needs.

Key Takeaways

  • Shopify Pricing Tiers: Shopify offers multiple plans, each tailored for different business sizes and needs, with costs ranging from as low as $5 for the Starter plan to more advanced and comprehensive plans like Shopify Plus, which starts at $2,000.
  • Additional Costs: In addition to the monthly fees, Shopify users need to consider other costs like transaction fees, credit card processing charges, domain names, themes, design, and optional apps that can improve the store’s features.

Shopify Pricing Plans Monthly Cost: How Much?

Before we delve into the specific pricing plans, it’s worth noting that Shopify offers various packages to cater to a wide range of businesses – from startups to large enterprises.

Shopify provides a free trial to all new Shopify merchants upon account creation before using the paid plan. Additionally, following the trial, there is an opportunity to continue with a special offer of $1 for the first month..

Shopify Starter

  • How Much: The Shopify Starter plan comes at a very affordable price of $5 per month.
  • Third-party transaction fees: 5% when using Shopify Payments 
  • Credit card rates: For online purchases (like those made via a Shopify Buy button), the charge is 2.9% + 30¢. For transactions using Shopify’s card reader with a mobile device, it’s 2.7% + 0¢ fee.
Shopify Starter

The Shopify Starter plan caters to budding merchants embarking on their ecommerce journey, reaching customers via social media platforms and messaging apps.

Shopify Basic

  • How Much: The Shopify Basic plan costs $39 per month, but it’s only $29 per month with annual billing, saving you 25%.
  • Third-party transaction fees: 2%
  • Credit card rates: 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction if a purchase is made online and 2.7% + 0¢ if a purchase using the Shopify POS card reader and a mobile device
Shopify Basic

Shopify Basic is mainly created for individual and small businesses venturing into the realm of e-commerce. This plan helps store owners build their stores, ship products, and process payments with omnichannel selling capabilities.

Shopify

  • How Much: The Shopify plan is $79 per month if you commit to an annual subscription. 
  • Third-party transaction fees: 1%
  • Credit card rates: Online credit card transactions come with a rate of 2.6% + 30¢ USD online per online purchase and 2.5% + 0¢ USD in person. 
Shopify

This plan is tailored for small businesses. It builds upon all the features of the Starter and Basic plans by adding support for up to five staff accounts and the ability to issue gift cards.

For businesses to expand, this plan also offers advanced features such as country-specific domains and currency conversion. 

Shopify Advanced

  • How Much: It is $399 per month, but with an annual subscription, Shopify Advanced plan is $299 per month, saving you 25%. 
  • Third-party transaction fees: 0.5% transaction fee for those who don’t use Shopify Payments.
  • Credit card rates: 2.4% + 30c for online transactions, and 2.4% + 0c for point-of-sale ones.
Shopify Advanced

Advanced Shopify Plan is ideal for larger enterprises aiming for significant growth and scalability in ecommerce. The plan excels in analytics, offering a comprehensive reporting tool suite, including finance, product analytics, acquisition, inventory, behavior, and marketing reports.

It also includes Live View, order reports, retail sales data, profit metrics, customer insights, and the flexibility to create custom reports tailored to unique needs.

Shopify Plus  

  • How Much: Unlike the straightforward pricing of other Shopify plans, Shopify Plus is a bit more complex. The starting rate is $2,000 per month, but the total fee can vary based on specific business needs.
  • Third-party transaction fees: While you’ll handle your processor’s charges, Shopify adds an extra fee of 0.15-0.30% per transaction.
  • Credit card rates: Credit card rates differ across countries. For the latest rates in your area, reach out to a Shopify Plus representative.
Shopify Plus 

This plan is tailored for high-volume businesses, offering a comprehensive set of features. It encompasses everything from the Advanced Shopify plan while providing enhanced security, fulfillment, and API options.

Watch now: Shopify Plus Calculator: Breaking Down Shopify Enterprises Plan

Are there any additional costs beyond the monthly fee for Shopify users?

Though Shopify provides a robust package for e-commerce ventures, some costs aren’t covered in the standard monthly fee. Being aware of these extra charges is crucial to maintain your budget and maximize your Shopify journey.

Shopify website builder cost

Domain names

Every online store needs a domain, a unique address that customers type into their web browsers to visit your site. 

Shopify offers domain names in its package, with the default being the free myshopify.com domains. However, if you’re aiming for a more professional or brand-specific touch, opting for a custom domain is the way to go. Typically, these cost between $10 and $20 per year. 

Themes and design

Before a customer delves into a product description, explores a promotion, or reads customer reviews, they first see your website’s design. The visual look and feel of your online shop play a crucial role in shaping a visitor’s experience and, ultimately, their decision to make a purchase. 

Shopify has a variety of pre-designed themes. While some are free, premium ones range from $170 to $360. For unique design needs, consider engaging a Shopify specialist or web designer, potentially costing from several hundred to several thousand dollars.

Themes and design

Apps

While Shopify’s built-in tools are robust, there’s always room for enhancements and customizations. This is where Shopify’s vast app ecosystem comes into play. 

With a staggering 8,000+ apps, you can virtually tailor your store to any specification. While many apps are free, some come with a price tag.  The prices for apps and add-ons can differ greatly based on the desired features and functions you need.

Apps

Shopify transaction fees

Whenever a customer completes their purchase through a third-party payment system on Shopify, the platform imposes particular fees. The amount of these fees varies and depends on the specific Shopify plan you’re using.

You will be charged a 2% fee on the Basic Shopify plan, 1% on the Shopify plan, and only 0/5% on the Advanced Shopify plan. 

Shopify payments fees

While credit card payments provide customers an easy and smooth shopping experience, sellers have to handle specific handling charges. On Shopify, these charges depend on the plan you’ve chosen:

  • Starter Shopify Plan: Only 5% when using Shopify Payments 
  • Basic Shopify Plan:  2.9% + 30¢ for each online sale. If you make a sale in person, such as at a pop-up store or physical shop, the processing fee is slightly lower at 2.7% + 0¢ fee. 
  • Shopify Plan: online sales are charged at 2.6% + 30¢, and in-person sales come with a 2.5% + 0¢ fee.
  • Advanced Shopify Plan: Online sales incur a 2.4% + $0.30 fee, and in-person transactions maintain the same rate of 2.4% + 0¢ fee.

Point-of-Sale pricing

Point-of-Sale pricing

Shopify offers flexible Point-of-Sale (POS) solutions that connect physical stores with online platforms, creating a seamless retail experience.

To leverage Shopify POS for selling in person and online, a prerequisite is having an active Shopify plan. Once you have chosen a Shopify plan, you can flexibly opt for one of the following POS solutions: 

  • Shopify POS Lite is a basic option available with all subscription plans at no additional cost, helping store owners handle orders, manage customer profiles, and list products.
  • Shopify POS Pro costs approximately $89 on top of your existing Shopify plan per location per month, with advanced features for local pickup, exchange processing, local delivery, and purchase order management.

Shopify A Month: A Detailed Comparison Table 

StarterBasicShopifyAdvancedPlus
Paid Monthly$5$39$105$399Start at $2000
Paid ManuallyNone$29$79$299Start at $2000
Domain Names$0 – $37
Themes & Designs$170 to $360
Apps$0 – $300
Credit Cards
Online2.9% + 30¢2.9% + 30¢2.6% + 30¢2.4% + 30¢
Contact support team
In Person2.7% + 0¢2.7% + 0¢2.5% + 0¢2.4% + 0¢
Transaction Fees
Using Shopify Payments5%NoneNoneNoneContact the support team
Using External Payment Gateways5%2.0%1.0%0.5%0.15–0.30%
Total $5 – $650$39 – $1400$105 – $1450$399 – $1700
$2000+

FAQs

Absolutely! Shopify is designed to be user-friendly, catering to e-commerce newbies and seasoned veterans. With its intuitive interface, plethora of resources, and 24/7 customer support, you’re well-equipped to launch and manage your online store.
Shopify is transparent about its pricing. While costs are associated with different plans, add-ons, and third-party apps, everything is clearly laid out in their pricing structure. However, always be aware of transaction fees if you’re not using Shopify Payments.
Shopify places a high priority on security. All Shopify stores come with a 256-bit SSL certificate, ensuring data protection for both merchants and customers. Plus, Shopify complies with the highest level of Payment Card Industry (PCI) standards.
Shopify integrates with numerous payment gateways, including credit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, and more. They also offer their payment system, Shopify Payments, allowing a smooth checkout experience without third-party integrations.

Final Thoughts 

Navigating the e-commerce landscape can be daunting, with myriad decisions influencing your store’s success. Shopify offers a variety of plans tailored to fit businesses of all sizes, simplifying the journey for sellers. Throughout this article, we’ve unpacked Shopify’s pricing, features, and advantages to meet their requirements and needs. 


Sam Nguyen is the CEO and founder of Avada Commerce, an e-commerce solution provider headquartered in Singapore. He is an expert on the Shopify e-commerce platform for online stores and retail point-of-sale systems. Sam loves talking about e-commerce and he aims to help over a million online businesses grow and thrive.