How much does Shopify cost, and what are the advantages of each subscription?

Thinking about Shopify? Let’s talk about costs first. If you’re considering using Shopify as your eCommerce platform, good call. It’s one of the most powerful and flexible solutions out there for modern brands. From intuitive design tools to built-in automation and global selling features, Shopify gives businesses everything they need to grow.

As a Shopify expert and certified partner, Flatline Agency helps brands launch high-performing Shopify stores, migrate from outdated systems, and optimize existing setups to unlock growth.

One of the most common questions we hear is: “What does Shopify cost?” The answer isn’t as straightforward as it might seem. In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about Shopify’s subscription plans, transaction fees, and additional costs. By the end of this article, you’ll have a clear understanding of how to choose the best plan for your business, and even discover a smart way to save up to 25% on your subscription. 

Note: Shopify regularly updates its pricing plans, and so do we. This blog is based on the most recent figures from Shopify’s official pricing page and will be updated as things change.

We’ll break down the numbers, explore the perks, and explain the fine print so you can focus on building a business that works for you. Let’s dive in!

Overview of Shopify subscription plans

Shopify is a complete eCommerce operating system designed to help businesses grow at every stage. Whether you’re a solo entrepreneur testing the waters or a global enterprise managing thousands of transactions daily, Shopify has a solution tailored for you.

The platform offers four primary subscription tiers, each catering to different stages of business growth, from small startups to large-scale enterprises. Here’s a breakdown of what each plan offers:

Basic: Perfect for small businesses or those just starting out

• Includes everything you need to get up and running, such as unlimited product listings, basic reports, and abandoned cart recovery.
• Ideal for entrepreneurs who want an affordable yet powerful way to launch their online store.

Grow: A step up for growing brands

• Adds professional reporting tools, better transaction rates, and robust support for both retail and online sales.
• Designed for businesses ready to grow and expand their reach.

Advanced: Built for scaling businesses

• Offers custom reporting, lower transaction fees, and advanced international selling tools.
• Best suited for medium to large businesses with ambitious growth plans.

Shopify Plus: Made for high growth and enterprise level businesses

• Provides complete flexibility, advanced automation, and dedicated support.
• Tailored for companies with high revenue and transaction volumes that need an adaptable platform.

To give you a clearer picture of how these plans compare, we’ve summarized the key features, pricing, and best use cases in the table below. This will help you quickly identify which plan aligns with your business needs.

Disclaimer: The payment processing fees and rates listed in this blog were retrieved from Shopify’s official pricing page on May 1, 2025, and may be subject to change.

As you can see, each plan is designed to cater to specific business needs, whether you’re just starting out or managing a large-scale enterprise. The table above highlights the differences in features and pricing, making it easier for you to choose the right plan for your business. In the following sections, we’ll dive deeper into the costs and additional advantages of each subscription.

How much does Shopify cost? Breaking down subscription fees

Now that you understand the different Shopify plans, let’s dive deeper into the subscription fees for each plan. Understanding these costs will help you budget effectively and make an informed decision about which plan suits your business needs.

Monthly vs. annual pricing

Shopify offers two payment options: monthly or annual billing. While monthly payments provide flexibility, paying annually can save you up to 25% on your subscription. Below is a breakdown of the costs for each plan:

As you can see, opting for annual billing can lead to significant savings. For example:

• Basic Plan: Save €84 per year.
• Shopify Plan: Save €630 per year.
• Advanced Plan: Save €1,140 per year.

Why pay annually?

Paying annually not only reduces your overall costs but also ensures long-term commitment to a platform that grows with your business. Additionally, Shopify often runs promotions, such as paying just €1/month for the first three months, which can further reduce your initial expenses.

Shopify Plus pricing

For Shopify Plus, pricing is customized based on your business needs and revenue. Starting at $2,300/month for a three-year contract, this plan is ideal for enterprises with high transaction volumes. If you’re considering Shopify Plus, it’s worth noting that the platform becomes cost-effective for businesses with annual revenues exceeding €5 million, as transaction fees are waived when using Shopify Payments.

To explore whether Shopify Plus is the right fit for your business, dive into Shopify Plus features and benefits.

Additional savings tip!

Currently, Shopify is running a promotion where you can pay just $1/month for the first three (3) months (not applicable for Shopify Plus). This is a great way to test the platform without committing to the full subscription cost upfront.

Transaction costs: Understanding payment fees

What Is Shopify Payments? Shopify Payments is Shopify’s built-in payment gateway that allows you to accept payments directly in your store without needing a third-party provider. By using Shopify Payments, you avoid additional transaction fees and benefit from competitive rates for all supported payment methods. Additionally, Shopify Payments includes fraud analysis tools to help detect and prevent suspicious transactions.

Shopify Payments is available in several countries, including:

• Australia
• Belgium
• Canada
• Denmark
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Ireland
• Italy
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Singapore
• Spain
• United Kingdom
• United States (excluding territories except Puerto Rico)

If you’re located in one of these countries, you can use Shopify Payments seamlessly. However, even if you’re outside these regions, you can still use Shopify Payments to accept international orders, though domestic transactions may require a third-party provider.

In addition to subscription fees, Shopify charges transaction fees for each sale processed through your store. These fees vary depending on whether you use Shopify Payments or a third-party payment provider. Let’s break down the costs and explain how they impact your overall expenses.

Shopify payments vs. third-party providers

Shopify Payments offers competitive rates for various payment methods. Below is a detailed breakdown of transaction fees for each plan, including descriptions of the payment methods:

However, if you choose to use a third-party payment provider (such as Mollie or Adyen), extra fees will apply on top of the costs charged by the provider. These fees are added on top of the costs charged by your chosen payment provider:

For example, if you’re on the Basic plan and use a third-party provider, you’ll pay an additional 2% on every transaction. This makes Shopify Payments a more cost-effective option in most cases.

Advantages of each subscription plan

Each Shopify subscription plan is designed to cater to different business needs and stages of growth. Below is a detailed comparison of the features available in each plan:

What every plan gets you

Every Shopify plan comes with core features that empower your business, regardless of which plan you choose. These include:

1. World’s best checkout:
   Shopify’s checkout converts 15% better on average than other commerce platforms, ensuring higher conversion rates and more sales.
2. In-person selling:
   Sell in person and keep inventory in sync with online sales, all powered by Shopify POS (Point of Sale). This allows you to manage both online and offline sales seamlessly. Shopify POS is included in all Shopify plans, but additional costs may apply depending on your needs. Below is a breakdown of the costs for the Starter and Retail plans:

All pricing information is sourced directly from Shopify’s official pricing page.

POS features by Shopify plan

If you’re considering selling in-person and wondering whether POS Pro fits your business, we’ve covered it all in our Shopify POS guide.

3. Multiple sales channels:
   Promote and sell products on Instagram, TikTok, Google, and other channels, expanding your reach and increasing sales opportunities.
4. In-depth analytics:
   Access reports to track store performance and identify optimization opportunities, helping you make data-driven decisions.
5. Commerce apps:
   Use apps for everything from product sourcing to customizing your store, enhancing functionality without needing custom development.

Key takeaways:

• Basic plan: Perfect for solo entrepreneurs or small businesses just starting out. It offers all essential tools to build and run a fully functional online store without breaking the bank.
• Grow plan: Ideal for businesses ready to expand, both online and offline. It includes additional features like POS Lite for in-person sales and lower transaction fees.
• Advanced plan: Designed for medium to large businesses with ambitious growth plans. It offers advanced tools such as custom reporting, international pricing, and enhanced fraud analysis.
• Shopify Plus: Tailored for high-growth enterprises with complex needs. It provides unparalleled flexibility, adaptability, and customization options.

Selling Internationally with Shopify

Shopify is highly suitable when you want to sell worldwide. Below is a breakdown of how each plan supports international selling:

Why go global with Shopify?

• Reach a wider audience: Expand your customer base globally.
• Customized experiences: Offer localized pricing, languages, and payment methods.
• Streamlined operations: Manage multiple markets from a single dashboard.

Additional costs to consider

While Shopify’s subscription plans cover the core features, there are a few additional costs you may encounter when setting up and running your store. Below is a quick breakdown:

1. Apps

Shopify’s App Store offers over 3,200 apps to enhance your store’s functionality. These apps can help with tasks like email marketing, SEO optimization, loyalty programs, and dropshipping.

• Costs: Free to premium (€2–€300/month), depending on the app.
• Recommendation: For a curated list of top-performing apps that can boost your store’s performance, explore our detailed guide: Top Shopify Apps to boost conversion rates in 2025.

2. Domain

A custom domain is essential for branding and professionalism. While you can use a free Shopify subdomain (e.g., yourstore.myshopify.com), registering a custom domain (e.g., yourbusiness.com) is highly recommended.

• Costs: €14/year via Shopify or through third-party providers like Hosteasy or Mijndomein.
• Why It Matters: A custom domain improves trust, search engine visibility, and overall brand credibility.

3. Email hosting

Shopify provides built-in email hosting with the following features:

• Free Tier: Up to 10,000 emails/month , complete with professionally designed templates.
• Advanced Needs: For businesses requiring more robust email solutions, consider integrating with services like Gmail for Business or similar platforms.

While Shopify’s core plans provide everything you need to get started, these additional costs can enhance your store’s functionality, branding, and efficiency. These additional costs can add value to your store but should be planned for in advance. To better understand the total cost of owning a Shopify store, try our Shopify TCO Calculator. This tool helps you estimate all potential expenses, ensuring your investment aligns with your business goals.

Ready to build smarter with Shopify?

Choosing the right Shopify plan is just the beginning. Understanding the full cost structure, subscription fees, transaction costs, optional add-ons helps you make better business decisions.

As a Shopify expert and official partner, Flatline Agency helps brands set up, migrate, and expand their eCommerce with confidence. As an ecommerce agency that lives in these cost trade-offs daily, we can usually tell within one conversation whether Basic, Advanced, or Plus actually fits your growth stage. From custom storefronts to seamless integrations, we make sure your Shopify setup is built for growth. See our profile on the official Shopify partner directory and discover how we can help you go further, faster.