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Shopify Pricing In Philippines: All The Hidden Costs

April 02, 2024
Written and researched by experts at AvadaLearn more about our methodology

By Sam Nguyen

CEO Avada Commerce

shopify pricing philippines

Key Takeaways

  • Shopify’s pricing in the Philippines is structured to cater to a range of businesses, from small startups to expansive enterprises.
  • By providing flexible pricing options, Shopify ensures that Filipino entrepreneurs have access to a powerful e-commerce platform at competitive prices.

Shopify Pricing Philippines: What Costs to Expect?

Unlike Malaysia Shopify pricing or Paskistan Shopify pricing, there are no hidden fees when launching a Shopify store in the Philippines. However, apart from transaction and conversion fees, there are additional charges to be aware of. Below are some main types of costs that Philippines Shopify users should be aware of:

VAT Taxes

A commonly overlooked cost associated with Shopify is the VAT charges. Shopify only applies VAT to transactions that exceed the VAT threshold. It’s essential to be aware of this, especially if your sales volume is close to the threshold, to prevent any unexpected tax bills.

Domain Name Changing Charges

shopify pricing philippines

Another cost to be mindful of is the charge for changing your domain name. When you sign up for Shopify’s free trial, you’re provided with a complimentary domain name. Upon upgrading to a paid plan, you have the option to customize this domain. However, it’s crucial to choose your domain name wisely from the outset. Should you decide to modify it later on, Shopify will levy additional fees, which can be billed monthly or annually.

Currency Conversion fees

For businesses expanding globally, currency conversion fees are an essential consideration. When you accept payments from international customers, there’s an added cost involved in converting the received funds into your local currency. This fee can vary depending on the currencies involved and the payment gateway used, so it’s wise to familiarize yourself with these charges when planning to cater to an international audience.

Shopify Pricing Philippines: Detailed Analysis

Shopify Pricing Plans In the Philippines

Similar to the offer that Shopify delivers to other countries, Shopify Philippines presents 3 main pricing plans to users, including the Basic Plan, Shopify Plan, and Advanced Plan. Below are the overviews regarding the prices of these 3 main Shopify plans:

Pricing Plans In the Philippines
  • Basic Plan: $25 USD/month or $19 USD/month when billed annually.
  • Shopify Plan: $65 USD/month or $49 USD/month with yearly billing.
  • Advanced Plan: $399 USD/month, reduced to $299 USD/month if billed annually.

Opting for an annual subscription offers a significant 25% discount. If you’re committed to your business, we recommend the yearly Shopify plan for substantial savings.

Pricing Plans In the Philippines

Furthermore, some other alternative solutions that Shopify users can choose from include Shopify Starter, Shopify Plus, or Shopify Retail. Some of the Shopify pricing plans are available with a fee of only $1 per month for the first month. As a result, new merchants can take a trial to see whether they can fit with the plan or not.

Shopify Basic Plan Philippines

Pricing

In the Philippines, Shopify’s Basic plan is the initial offering for merchants, priced at roughly PHP 1000 or $19 per month when billed yearly. This plan equips Filipino merchants to commence online sales and even allows them to add team members for efficient business management. It’s packed with features tailored for new online stores, assisting merchants in effectively operating their business. Now, let’s delve into the primary offerings of the Basic plan in Shopify Philippines.

Main features
  • They can list up to 10 inventory locations, both within and outside the Philippines.
  • The plan includes Standard analytics of 60+ reports like marketing reports, sales reports, to help merchants track store’s performance.
  • Third-party transaction fees are set at a modest 2%.
  • The plan has a conversion rate of 2%.
Who is it for?
  • New merchants seeking to familiarize themselves with the platform.
  • Small businesses which do not require advanced organizational tools.
  • Non-commercial sites that don’t need e-commerce tools.

“Shopify” Plan Philippines

Pricing

The Shopify plan offers excellent value for merchants in the Philippines at $65 monthly or $49/month when billed annually. Its affordable rate and advanced features make it a top choice.

With the Shopify plan, Philippines users can access detailed professional reports and include more staff members in their business operations. This plan, tailored for medium-sized online stores, provides a robust set of tools, solidifying its position as one of the most cost-effective and comprehensive options for Shopify in the Philippines.

Main features
  • Add up to 5 staff members on their admin page.
  • Manage 10 inventory locations.
  • Access detailed reports from Shopify’s analytics tools.
  • Utilize USPS-based shipping rates.
  • Benefit from lower transaction fees of just 1% for third-party payments, which is less than the fees of the Basic and Starter plans.
  • Convert currency at a nominal 2% fee.
Who is it for?
  • Merchants seeking more advanced features than the Basic Plan but at an affordable rate.
  • Businesses that have outgrown the starter phase and need to add more staff members to manage their operations.
  • Those who need more inventory locations indicate a growing product range or distribution network.
  • Entrepreneurs who want detailed insights and professional reports from Shopify’s analytics tools to optimize their business strategies.
  • Merchants aim to minimize transaction fees on third-party payments.
  • Businesses dealing with international customers and needing currency conversion services.

Shopify Advanced Plan Philippines

Pricing

The Advanced Shopify Plan is the premium offering for Shopify Philippines, priced at $299 monthly when billed yearly, approximately PHP 16,000. While it’s the priciest option, it’s packed with high-end features tailored for large-scale online stores. This plan significantly lowers third-party payment provider fees to just 0.5% per transaction. 

Additionally, merchants benefit from discounts on duties and imported items. Given its comprehensive toolset, the Advanced Shopify Plan stands out as the top-tier choice for entrepreneurs in the Philippines aiming for enterprise-level operations.

Main features
  • Merchants can add up to 15 staff members to their Store Admin page, allowing a team to collaboratively manage and update the store, easing the workload on the owner.
  • The plan supports up to 10 inventory locations within and outside the Philippines, streamlining order fulfillment based on inventory sites.
  • The plan includes advanced chat support with front-of-queue routing.
  • Catering to large-scale stores, this plan provides advanced analytics tools. These tools help merchants decipher intricate data, understand business trends, and optimize their operations accordingly.
  • It offers notable reductions in transaction and currency conversion fees.
  • For businesses expanding globally, the Advanced plan simplifies international pricing by quickly calculating product prices in different currencies.
Who is it for?
  • Large-scale businesses: Merchants with a significant volume of products and transactions will benefit from this plan’s advanced features.
  • High-volume businesses/ companies: Businesses with multiple staff members managing the store will find adding up to 15 staff accounts beneficial.
  • Global Operations: Merchants planning to or already operating internationally will appreciate the plan’s features that simplify international pricing and currency conversions.
  • Data-driven businesses: Those who rely heavily on analytics and data to drive decisions will benefit from the advanced analytics tools.
  • Merchants with Multiple Inventory Locations: Businesses with stock stored in multiple locations, both within and outside the Philippines, will find the inventory management features particularly useful.

Shopify Plus Plan Philippines

Shopify Plus Plan Philippines
Pricing

The Shopify Plus plan is essentially Shopify’s premium offering, with pricing starting at $2300 or more per month. Catering to Philippine merchants, this plan allows them to oversee multiple stores from a singular platform. Shopify Plus provides exclusive features tailored to expansive businesses and large corporations that the common Shopify plans like Basic, Shopify, and Advanced can not deliver. The Shopify Plus’s cost is justified for large-scale operations, offering users the convenience of managing both finances and operations seamlessly in one place.

Main features
  • Unlimited Staff Access: Merchants can onboard as many team members as necessary to the Shopify Store Admin page. This means that as a merchant, you have the capacity to bring in multiple staff to handle business operations efficiently.
  • Expanded Inventory Options: Merchants have the capability to incorporate over 20 inventory locations, both within and outside the Philippines. This setup allows for tailored inventory preferences to streamline order fulfillment.
  • Centralized Management: All individual store accounts can be unified into one comprehensive Shopify Admin dashboard. This consolidation ensures simplified cash flow tracking and merges all data for easy access and analysis.
Who is it for?
  • Large enterprises or rapidly growing businesses that need scalable solutions.
  • Merchants managing multiple stores or brands who benefit from a centralized dashboard.
  • Businesses requiring advanced customization and integration capabilities.
  • Companies looking for dedicated support and a higher level of service.
  • Merchants with significant transaction volumes aim to reduce transaction fees.
  • Businesses are expanding globally and need advanced multi-currency and multi-language features.

Shopify Starter Plan Philippines

Shopify Starter Plan Philippines
Pricing
Shopify Starter Plan Philippines

With the price of just $5 per month (similar to the price of the Shopify Starter plan in other nations), the Shopify Philippines Starter plan is a good option for newbies and individuals who first approach the Shopify e-commerce platform. Users can experience all of the basic features that Shopify has to offer through this Start plan. Moreover, Shopify merchants using the Starter plan can easily upgrade to a higher plan once they need to expand their business.

Main features
  • Transaction Fees: The Starter plan offers competitive rates. For specific fees in your area, please refer to the Shopify Starter plan details.
  • Spotlight Theme: This theme comes standard with the Starter plan. Easily add a logo, introduce your brand, and link to social media. The theme’s colors are also customizable, though other themes and customizations aren’t included in this plan.
  • Reports: The Starter plan provides comprehensive reporting tools. Access analytics, financial summaries, product insights, Live View, acquisition data, inventory status, behavioral statistics, and marketing reports to gauge business performance.
  • International Commerce: Expand your global reach with the Starter plan. Utilize Shopify Markets, a tool tailored for seamless cross-border sales and management.
Who is it for?
  • New Entrepreneurs: Individuals who are just beginning their e-commerce journey and are looking for an affordable, simple solution to start selling online without a large upfront investment.
  • Small Businesses: Businesses with a limited product range or those transitioning from a physical store to an online platform might find the Starter plan adequate for their initial needs.
  • Budget-Conscious Merchants: Those looking for cost-effective solutions while they test the waters of e-commerce.
  • Merchants Focusing on a Single Market: Since the Starter plan offers a basic theme and limited customizations, it’s ideal for those focusing on a niche market or a specific product range.
  • Businesses Not Needing Advanced Features: Merchants who don’t require advanced e-commerce tools or integrations initially can begin with the Starter plan and upgrade as their business grows.

Comparison table of Shopify Pricing in Philippines:

Basic PlanShopify PlanAdvanced PlanShopify Plus
Staff Members0515Unlimited
Transaction Fees2%1%0.5%0.15%
Inventory Locations101010More than 200 
Chat Support24/7 chat support24/7 chat supportEnhanced 24/7 chat supportPremium 24/7 phone support

Shopify POS Retail Pricing

Shopify’s Point of Sale (POS) feature is available to all users, regardless of location, and aids merchants in managing their physical stores.

There are two main Shopify POS options. The first is the Shopify POS Lite, included in all basic Shopify plans, including Shopify Plus. The second, Shopify POS Pro, offers more advanced features. While it can be combined with any Shopify subscription, it comes at an additional cost.

Shopify POS Lite 

Shopify POS Lite is included with all Shopify plans and is best for on-the-go sales and opening temporary stores like pop-up shops. Shopify plans start from $39 per month. If you’re already selling online with Shopify, you can start using Shopify POS Lite to sell in-person right away, at no cost. 

Shopify POS Pro

Shopify POS Pro is an add-on subscription for $89 a month that unlocks additional features of your POS. If your retail business has several locations, multiple tiers of staff, a large product catalog, or high sales volume, consider upgrading to POS Pro. The advanced subscription gives you faster workflows for inventory management and checkout, greater control over staff permissions and access, and deeper reporting and insights into your business.

Basic POS system cost

shopify pricing philippines

A typical POS system costs between $0 to $2,000 initially, encompassing software, hardware, and first-year installation. Annual fees thereafter range from $500 to $1,000, contingent on business specifics.

POS cost per month

Monthly fees for retail POS systems vary by provider. For instance, Shopify POS charges either $39 or $89 monthly, based on business scale and feature needs.

POS transaction processing system cost

Shopify POS offers in-house payment processing through Shopify Payments. Transaction fees are between 2.4% to 2.7%, with no added charges per transaction, contingent on your chosen plan.

Transaction Fees of Shopify Philippines

shopify pricing philippines

Transaction fees are an essential aspect of Shopify costs, applied to every transaction made via third-party payment providers. The fee’s rate varies based on your Shopify subscription. Specifically, for Philippines Shopify users, the Basic Shopify plan has a 2% fee, the standard Shopify plan charges 1%, and the Advanced Shopify plan takes 0.5%. However, by opting for Shopify Payments, Shopify’s in-house payment gateway, these additional charges can be circumvented.

Credit card rates of Shopify Philippines

Credit card rates are crucial to consider when calculating the costs of a Shopify store, as they directly impact your profit margins. Accepting payments via credit cards incurs a fee with Shopify, often higher than other methods due to the inherent risks of credit card transactions.

The specific rates vary based on your Shopify plan. For the Basic Shopify plan, you’re looking at 2.9% + $0.3 for online transactions and 2.7% for in-person ones. The Standard Shopify plan charges 2.6% + $0.30 online and 2.5% in-person. Lastly, the Advanced Shopify plan rates are 2.4% + $0.30 for online and an identical 2.4% for in-person credit card payments.

Additional Shopify Philippines costs

Shopify Experts

shopify pricing philippines

Shopify Experts, which include agencies and freelancers, provide a range of services, from marketing to store setup. A review suggests that a Shopify web developer’s fee ranges from $1500-5000 (PHP 75,000-250,000) for small tasks, $3000-8000 (PHP 150,000-400,000) for mid-sized projects, and can go beyond $20,000 (PHP 1M+) for extensive projects.

Shopify Themes

shopify pricing philippines

At present, the Shopify Theme market offers 12 free themes. Additionally, there are 151 paid themes, priced between USD 150-350 (PHP 7,500-17,500). Investing in a theme provides you with a lasting license for one store.

If merchants prefer, they can also choose themes from third-party platforms like ThemeForest rather than opting for those directly from Shopify.

Shopify Apps

shopify pricing philippines

Although Shopify is robust, it might not cater to every business’s unique needs. This is where the third-party apps come into play, enhancing the platform’s capabilities. Fortunately, Shopify boasts a library of over 3,000 apps through the Shopify App Store to boost your store’s functionality. These range from free to paid options, allowing users to tailor their stores effectively.

Domain Name

Shopify simplifies the process for store owners by including domain names in all its plans, eliminating the need for external installation or hosting. Owners can opt for a free myshopify.com domain or purchase a custom domain, which ranges from $11 to $81 annually, depending on the chosen domain type. If you’ve already secured a domain, you can easily connect it to your Shopify store without additional fees.

Email Hosting

Currently, Shopify doesn’t offer built-in email hosting. Instead, you’ll need to use a third-party service, typically costing around USD 10 (PHP 500) monthly.

Which Philippines Shopify subscription plan is best for you?

The “best” Shopify plan in the Philippines largely depends on the specific needs and scale of the merchant’s business. Here’s a breakdown to help you decide:

  • Basic Shopify: This plan is ideal for startups or individuals just beginning their online retail journey. It offers all the essential tools to set up and run a small online store.
  • Shopify (Standard): This middle-tier plan is suitable for businesses experiencing growth, needing additional features like professional reports and reduced transaction fees.
  • Advanced Shopify: Best for larger businesses with significant sales volumes, this plan provides advanced features like third-party calculated shipping rates, advanced report builder, and the lowest transaction fees.
  • Shopify Plus: This is for enterprise-level businesses requiring a customizable solution, higher level of support, and the ability to handle large amounts of traffic and sales.

The best plan depends on your business size, sales volume, and specific requirements. Consider your budget, projected growth, and feature needs when choosing.

If you are a brand new online merchant, the best is to take the Starter plan of Shopify Philippines, which will let you try Shopify selling for the first three months at a cheaper price. You can later upgrade your package to a better plan if the business has some progress.

Top 5 Shopify payment methods in Philippines

Shopify integrates with leading global payment services, enabling your customers to pay using their preferred method and local currency. Here are some top payment gateways available for Shopify users in the Philippines.

2Checkout

shopify pricing philippines

For global expansion of your online business, consider Shopify’s 2Checkout payment gateway. It’s an excellent alternative to Paypal, facilitating easy digital payments worldwide. Plus, its multi-currency and language support ensures a localized shopping feel for customers in over 200 countries. 

Transaction Fee: Between 3.5% + $0.35 and 6.0% + $0.60.

BillEase

shopify pricing philippines

In the Philippines, BillEase enhances Shopify payment methods by providing ‘Pay Later,’ ‘Pay in Installments,’ and ‘Pay with Down Payment’ options, catering to many Filipinos without credit cards. This offers customers both flexibility and convenience. They can also spread purchase costs over time at competitive interest rates or make down payments for high-value items beyond their credit limits. 

Transaction Fee: 2.5%.

EBANX

shopify pricing philippines

Boost your sales with EBANX, offering a unified gateway for major Latin American consumers. With features like tailored checkout, easy payment acceptance, mobile transactions, and global payment access, it’s a top choice. 

Transaction Fee: From 2.7% + 30¢, based on the plan.

Dragonpay

shopify pricing philippines

DragonPay, a local Philippine payment system, facilitates payments via online/offline banking and unconventional retail outlets, removing the need for credit cards or PayPal. It provides a more accessible shopping experience, fortified fraud protection, and reduced fees. 

Transaction Fee: PHP10.00 – PHP 20.00 per transaction.

GrabPay

shopify pricing philippines

For an integrated payment method, consider GrabPay within the Grab app. Using the e-Wallet, customers can easily pay for services and items. Offering GrabPay ensures a simplified, recognizable payment process for Grab users. Contact Grab support for Shopify integration details, including fees and steps. 

Transaction Fee: 3.3%.

Final words

Shopify Philippines offers a versatile and user-friendly platform tailored for Filipino merchants, ensuring they have the necessary tools to establish and grow their online businesses. With a range of plans suited for varying needs, from beginners to established enterprises, it remains a preferred choice in the Philippines. The flexibility to use custom domains and integrate with local payment gateways further enhances its appeal, making it a comprehensive solution for e-commerce in the region.

FAQs

Absolutely, Shopify operates in the Philippines. By signing up on the Shopify platform and selecting the Philippines as your location, you’ll gain access to all the features tailored for Filipino merchants.
Choosing the best Shopify plan in the Philippines depends on your specific business needs. If you’re just starting in e-commerce, the Basic plan is a good fit. For those requiring more sophisticated tools, the Shopify and Advanced plans are ideal. Additionally, the Starter plan offers a cost-effective way to experience Shopify for the first three months. But, based on feedback from numerous users, the Shopify plan generally stands out as the most preferred option for Filipino merchants. With its comprehensive tools and professional reporting, it simplifies online store management and optimization.
The Starter plan in Shopify Philippines provides the most basic features. It’s designed to familiarize users with the platform’s tools, easing the transition should they decide to upgrade later.
Certainly, merchants worldwide, including those in the Philippines, can opt for a custom domain for their Shopify store. However, there’s an additional fee for using or changing to a personalized domain name.

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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.