Shopify Pricing 2026 (Plans, Fees, and What You Actually Pay)

I pulled together all the Shopify pricing plans in one spot because it’s annoying having to bounce around trying to piece it together.

Most people land here because they are looking for specific answers on:

• Shopify Starter (the social selling plan)
• Annual Discounts (Which is around 25%)
• Best plan to start with (which usually is Basic)
• Fees most people miss (transaction and credit card rates)

So let’s open the Shopify pricing books and make it simple.

I’m going to break down each plan, what you get, and what you actually pay, including the fees that matter.

If you’re not sure where to start, read my recommendations closely because the “best plan” depends on what you’re selling and how you plan to run the store.

Check out my full Shopify hub for more guided help.

Shopify Pricing Plans Quick Picks

Plan	Price	Best For	Key Features
Starter	$5	Doing your social media side hustle	Sell on social and messaging apps Checkout link for direct sales No full website included
Basic	$29 monthly when paid annually	Best for your first real store	Full online store & blog 0 staff accounts Basic reports Up to 77% shipping discounts
Grow	$79 monthly when paid annually	Best when you are getting steady orders	5 staff accounts Professional reports Better shipping discounts Lower transaction fees
Advanced	$299 monthly when paid annually	Best when you need deeper reporting and shipping control	15 staff accounts Custom reports Lowest transaction fees Third-party shipping rates
Shopify Plus	Starts at $2,300	Best when you are scaling hard and need more customization	Fully customizable checkout Enterprise-level support Scalability for global brands Advanced automation tools

Testing & Researching Shopify pricing: Before I update this page, I open a fresh Shopify test store and check the prices inside Settings → Plan so the numbers match what Shopify is showing right now. I also run the yearly math (like Basic at $348/year) and watch for promos like the 3-day trial and the $1 for 3 months deal. Then I double-check fees the clean way: card processing rates vs Shopify’s extra third-party transaction fee (Basic 2%, Grow 1%, Advanced 0.6%).  You can see my full Shopify Hub here if you need more guides and help.  Chris Pontine: Lead Researcher & Tester

How Can You Choose The Right Shopify Plan

So, since every business is quite different, everyone has certain needs for their business.

They might need 5 staff accounts that fall under the Shopify plan

Or

Maybe they’re fine with no staff accounts which would be great for the Basic Shopify Plan

So, just to break it down I want to share a stat of where the people I help with Shopify start.

Around 82% are starting here based of feedback and ratings I’m seeing with the Basic Shopify Plan.

I find this is a great starting point for a lot of eCommerce businesses because it has everything the Shopify Starter Plan has

and, it also gives you the ability to have an online store.

Now, keep in mind if you’re a larger business or scaling fast, sure you might upgrade fast

But that is a click of a button to upgrade

Probably the best thing to do is to start your free trial

1.  Sign Up
2. Fill Out The Business Info To Gain Access To Your Store
3. Select A Plan
4. Contact Shopify VIA Chat Right Then And Talk To Them For Peace Of Mind

Test Shopify Free  

What about the annual discount on Shopify pricing?

Ok ok 🙂

Shopify lets you pay monthly or yearly. If you choose yearly, Shopify shows a lower “per month” price, but you’re paying for the full year up front.

Here’s what that looks like using the yearly-billed monthly prices:

Shopify Starter

• No annual discount on this plan.

Basic (yearly billing)

• $29/month when billed yearly
• $348 per year total
• That’s about $120 less per year compared to paying monthly.

Grow (yearly billing)

• $79/month when billed yearly
• $948 per year total
• That’s about $312 less per year compared to paying monthly.

Advanced (yearly billing)

• $299/month when billed yearly
• $3,588 per year total
• That’s about $1,200 less per year compared to paying monthly.

A quick note when testing discounts: When using the free trial don’t worry about signing up during the onboarding process.  They will offer it but get comfy with your 3 day set up.  Look to for that annual discount + the $1 for 3 months deal going on to maximize your overall cost.  When your in the dashboard the upgrade feature is in the settings areas but they will email you and as well have pop ups reminding you so you won’t miss anything.  Chris Pontine: Lead Researcher & Tester

See More On Shopify Pricing  

Shopify transaction fees vs credit card fees (don’t mix these up)

This is where most pricing posts get messy, so let’s keep it clean.

2 types of fees you need to know:

1. Credit card processing fees

This is the normal fee for running a card. Every platform has it.

2. Third-party payment provider fees

This is the extra fee Shopify charges if you do not use Shopify Payments and instead use another payment provider.

The takeaway: You can avoid the extra third-party fee by using Shopify Payments. But you still pay normal credit card processing fees either way.

Shopify Payments rates (what you should expect)

Shopify lists “starting at” payment rates by plan. That means rates can vary by country and setup.

Basic (starting at)

• Online: 2.9% + 30¢
• In person: 2.6% + 10¢

Grow (starting at)

• Online: 2.7% + 30¢
• In person: 2.5% + 10¢

Advanced (starting at)

• Online: 2.5% + 30¢
• In person: 2.4% + 10¢

Third-party payment provider fee (extra Shopify fee)

If you use a third-party payment provider instead of Shopify Payments, Shopify adds an extra fee on top.

• Basic: 2%
• Grow: 1%
• Advanced: 0.6%

One more quick heads up: fee rules can have edge cases, like gift cards or store credit in certain setups. So I always tell people to confirm their exact payment setup inside Shopify before they commit.

Shopify Starter Plan Pricing

The Shopify Starter Plan will be taking over for the Shopify Lite Plan

This will offer many of the same features Shopify Lite will but just at a better price point.

As well, I like the fact you will have a basic storefront for $5 bucks

Key Things to Know:

• $5 Monthly
• For selling on social media
• Transaction fees are 5% when using Shopify Payments
• Link pop included
• Fast upgrade to another plan if needed

Who is the Shopify Starter plan best for?

The Shopify Starter plan is perfect for anyone that needs eCommerce functionality if you already have a blog, social media accounts, or WordPress website.

Basic Shopify Plan ($39 monthly or $29 when paid annually)

Shopify’s Basic plan is the one most people start with when they are building their first real store.

It gives you the core Shopify setup without paying for the extra “scaling” features you might not need yet.

Basic plan pricing

• $39/month if you pay monthly
• $29/month if you pay annually

Quick note: Shopify pricing can vary a bit by country, and promos can change, so always double check what Shopify shows you during signup.

Who this plan is best for

Basic is best if:

• You are launching your first store
• You are running it solo (or with a very small setup)
• You want a clean, legit checkout and product system fast

Staff accounts

This is the part you want to be clear on.

Basic is meant for a solo store owner. If you need multiple staff logins, you will usually end up moving up to Grow because that plan is built for small teams and includes staff accounts.

If you are planning to have a helper from day one, I’d look at Grow right away.

Credit card rates (Shopify Payments)

Shopify lists payment rates as “starting at,” meaning your exact rate can depend on location and setup.

For Basic, you’ll commonly see:

• Online: 2.9% + 30¢
• In-person: 2.6% + 10¢

Transaction fees

This is different from credit card processing.

• If you use Shopify Payments, Shopify does not charge an extra third-party transaction fee.
• If you use an external payment provider, Shopify adds a 2% fee on top of whatever that provider charges.

Key features you get on Basic

Basic covers the stuff most beginners care about:

• Full online store with themes and a built-in editor
• Unlimited products
• Shopify checkout
• Discount codes
• Shipping label printing and Shopify Shipping perks
• Basic reporting inside your dashboard
• 24/7 support
• Ability to sell online and in person
• Multiple inventory locations (up to 10)

Can you upgrade later?

Yes, and that’s one of the best parts of Shopify.

Start on Basic, launch, get a few sales, then upgrade when you actually need:

• More team access
• Better reporting
• More advanced shipping and operational tools

Bottom line

If you are just starting an eCommerce business, Basic is a safe place to start.

You are not locked in, and upgrading later is easy once your store grows.

 Test The Basic Plan Free  

Grow Plan (about 10% of my readers start here)

Shopify’s second main plan is called Grow.

This is the plan I point people to when they are not just “testing an idea” anymore. You’re getting orders, you want a smoother operation, and you need a little more than Basic without jumping into Advanced pricing.

Grow plan pricing

• $105/month if you pay monthly
• $79/month if you pay annually

Quick note: Shopify sometimes runs promos and pricing can vary by country, so always confirm the exact numbers you see during signup.

Why people upgrade to Grow

Grow builds on Basic, but the real value is that it supports a business that is moving faster.

This is usually when you start caring about:

• Better reporting
• Recovering abandoned carts
• Team access so you are not sharing one login
• Lower payment costs compared to Basic

Credit card rates (Shopify Payments)

Shopify shows rates as “starting at” numbers and they can vary by location.

For Grow, you’ll typically see:

• Online: 2.7% + 30¢
• In-person: 2.5% + 10¢

If you do a mix of online sales plus pop-ups, markets, or in-person service, Grow starts making a lot more sense.

Transaction fees

This is separate from card processing.

• If you use Shopify Payments, Shopify does not add an extra third-party provider fee.
• If you use an external payment provider, Shopify adds a 1% fee on top of whatever that provider charges.

Key features you get on Grow

Grow is basically “Basic, but built for scaling.”

You still get the core store features like unlimited products and theme building, but Grow adds the features that help you run a tighter business:

• Staff accounts for a small team
• Professional reporting (better than Basic)
• Abandoned cart recovery (this alone can pay for the upgrade)
• Gift cards
• Stronger selling tools as you start handling more customers and more orders

Who should use Grow?

Grow is a good fit if:

• You are getting consistent sales and want to tighten up your store
• You have a small team and need staff logins
• You care about recovering carts and tracking what’s working
• You want better reporting without paying Advanced plan pricing

Bottom line

If Basic feels like “I can launch,” Grow feels like “I can run this.”

If you are already selling and you know Shopify is the platform you’re sticking with, Grow is a smart starting point. You get the better tools and you start shaving down some of the payment costs at the same time.

Test The Grow Plan Free  

Advanced Shopify Plan

Advanced is for store owners who are past the “growing pains” stage.

You are doing real volume, you need better reporting, and shipping is getting more serious. This is also the plan where Shopify drops the payment rates again, which can matter a lot once your order count climbs.

Advanced plan pricing

• $399/month if you pay monthly
• $299/month if you pay annually

What this plan is built for

Advanced is best when:

• You need deeper reporting (not just basic dashboards)
• You want more control over shipping and rates
• Your store is scaling and the “small business” tools are starting to feel limited

Credit card rates (Shopify Payments)

Shopify lists these as “starting at” numbers, so your exact rate can vary by location.

For Advanced, you’ll typically see:

• Online: 2.5% + 30¢
• In-person: 2.4% + 10¢

This is the lowest set of rates out of the three core plans.

Transaction fees

This is separate from card processing.

• If you use Shopify Payments, Shopify does not add an extra third-party provider fee.
• If you use an external payment provider, Shopify adds a 0.6% fee on top of whatever that provider charges.

Key features you get on Advanced

Advanced includes what you get on Basic and Grow, plus the stuff larger stores start needing:

• Advanced report builder (way more flexible)
• Third-party calculated shipping rates (more control as shipping gets complex)
• Stronger operational features for higher-volume stores

Who should use Advanced?

Advanced is a good fit if:

• You are doing enough volume that small fee changes actually matter
• You need better reporting and more control over shipping
• You have a bigger operation and want more tools inside Shopify instead of stacking extra apps

Bottom line

Advanced costs more, but it’s built to handle a bigger store.

If you are at the point where reporting and shipping are a daily thing, and you are processing enough orders that payment rates matter, Advanced is usually worth it.

Shopify Plus Pricing

Shopify Plus is Shopify’s enterprise plan. It’s built for high-volume stores, fast-growing brands, and companies that need more control than the normal plans can give.

Quick Shopify Plus highlights

• Built for high volume and complex operations
• Pricing is contract-based and can change based on your setup and volume
• Priority support and a dedicated Plus team
• More flexibility for custom checkout and deeper integrations

How much does Shopify Plus cost?

For standard setups, Shopify Plus starts at:

• $2,300 USD/month on a 3-year term
• $2,500 USD/month on a 1-year term

For higher-volume or more complex businesses, Plus can move into a variable platform fee based on revenue and business model.

Transaction fees on Shopify Plus

This part is usually misunderstood, so here’s the clean version.

• If you use Shopify Payments as your main gateway, third-party transaction fees are waived.
• If you use a third-party processor as your primary gateway, Shopify adds 0.20% per transaction (on top of whatever your processor charges).

Who is Shopify Plus for?

Shopify Plus is a fit if:

• You are already doing serious revenue or you are scaling fast
• You need a lot more customization and integration options
• You want priority support because downtime is not an option
• You have teams running different parts of the business and need tighter control

Bottom line: Plus is not “the next step after Advanced” for most stores. It’s for brands that are already operating at scale and want enterprise-level support and flexibility.

Shopify Commerce Components 

This is an area you will need to contact sales for this.

Shopify commerce components will give you the flexibility to build out your store.

Here is some info on it:

• Build custom storefronts with Headless API, Headless SDK, and Headless hosting.
• Detailed card and checkout with leveraging Shopify’s API.

You can check out Shopify Commerce components fully here

Other Shopify Costs

Running into additional costs is normal when you are running an eCommerce business. 

Here are some extra costs to keep in mind.

Domain Costs

Shopify allows you to purchase a domain through them for right around $14 annually but doesn’t include email hosting.

The easiest thing to do is look elsewhere like Name Cheap or Godaddy and just buy your domain there and utilize their email options.

Don’t worry either, it’s a piece of cake to connect a domain to your Shopify store.

Email Costs

You have to purchase your own email options.

Shopify doesn’t provide email hosting.

Thankfully, you can do that right where you purchase your domain.

You can send up to 10,000 emails monthly for free and then after that, it’s $1 per 1,000 additional emails.

App Pricing Costs

Now there are plenty of free Shopify apps but some require you to pay.

So, it’s just good to keep that in mind.

I’d say though, there are plenty of free ones that should fit your needs.

But:

Sometimes it’s worth paying because of the value it brings to the table.

The price range in general is going to be free to $299 monthly.

Shopify Theme Costs

Shopify themes range from free to about $180 based on what is offered on Shopify.

In my opinion:

It’s a fair cost when it comes to getting your eCommerce site up and running.

If you are looking to get even more in-depth you can hire someone or get more customized themes that could cost you way more

Bottom line:

Plan on spending up to $180

VAT Charge Added (Value-added tax)

Shopify is required to charge this to all EU (European Union) goods and services.

Keep in mind this is only charged here and not outside of EU. 

This standard rate is 20% but can vary a bit depending on where your customer is.

You can check out rates here

Currency Conversion Fee

Just keep in mind when you sell to customers in other countries you will have the currency conversion fee.

There is a market rate at which the currency is exchanged for.

One key thing to keep in mind is if there is a refund given you aren’t given back this fee.

The key rates are:

• 1.5% in the US
• 2% in all other countries and regions with Shopify Payments

Shopify POS Pricing 

With all this talk about Shopify’s amazing online options, I thought it would be nice to understand their POS system for their retail location or offline.

The nice thing bout the Shopify POS is it works nicely with your online setup which lets you cover all of your business needs online and offline.

Let’s cover a few quick questions you may have:

• What is POS? – A point-of-sale system helps to make sales in person.  It’s the combination of software and a device people use to make a transaction and accept payment.
• What is an example of POS – imagine going to Target and you go to check out to purchase something.  This would be a POS system. 🙂

Pricing for Shopify POS

With this comes the Shopify POS Lite and as well the Shopify POS Pro

The Lite plan is actually included with all the Shopify plans already.

Shopify POS Pro is included with Shopify Plus

The Shopify POS Pro is going to cost you an additional $89 monthly per location.

Here is a side-by-side comparison of the Shopify POS plans.

 

Learn More About Shopify POS

How I Test And Verify Shopify Pricing

Shopify pricing can look simple at first, then you realize there’s the plan price, billing options, and a few “it depends” areas that can change what you actually pay.

So before I update this page, I test and verify the details using a simple checklist that helps tie everything together to show you.

What I tested inside Shopify

1. Plan selection and billing options
   I go into the plan area and confirm what Shopify shows for monthly vs annual billing so the pricing on this page matches what you’ll actually see when you pick a plan.
2. What unlocks when you upgrade
   I check what changes between plans by looking at the areas that matter most for running a store, like staff access, reporting, and shipping settings.
3. Fees and payment details
   I verify the difference between credit card rates with Shopify Payments and transaction fees that can apply if you use a third-party payment provider.

What I verified outside of Shopify

1. Official pricing information
   I cross-check Shopify’s official pricing page so the plan prices and plan names match what Shopify is publicly listing.
2. Common extra costs people forget
   I double-check typical add-ons that can change your real monthly budget, like:

• A domain
• Paid apps
• Paid themes
• Email marketing tools
• Shipping labels and carrier costs (depending on how you ship)

Why pricing may look different for you

Your Shopify cost can vary based on:

• Your country and currency
• Taxes (VAT or sales tax)
• Promo offers running when you sign up
• Optional add-ons you choose

That’s why I include a “Last verified” date and refresh this page when Shopify updates pricing, plan features, or promos.

Compare Shopify Pricing To Other Options

	Top Uses For Website Builder	Starting Monthly Pricing
Shopify	eCommerce	$29 Monthly
Wix	Basic Site, eCommerce, Photography	$29 Monthly
Bigcommerce	eCommerce	$29.95 Monthly
Weebly	Basic Site, Photography	$10 Monthly
Volusion	eCommerce	$35 Monthly
Squarespace	Basic Site, eCommerce & Photography	$16 Monthly
Strikingly	Basic Website Builder	$12 Monthly
Jimdo	Basic Website Builder	$9 Monthly
Zyro (Rebranding To Hostinger)	Basic Website Builder & eCommerce	$11.99 Monthly

Shopify Pricing Plans Conclusion

Just to recap:

The 5 Shopify pricing plans are:

• Shopify Starter Plan – $5/Monthly – The Shopify Starter Plan is $5 monthly and taking place of Shopify Lite
• Basic Shopify – $29/Monthly
• Grow – $79/Monthly
• Advanced Shopify – $299/Monthly
• Shopify Plus – Starts at $2300 Monthly

As you can see the 3 main options are packed with tools and features to help your business succeed.

It’s just a matter of finding the perfect price point for you to start at.

The best thing of all is you can scale or downgrade if needed.

You’re never trapped with something you don’t want.

Common FAQ Shopify Pricing Questions

What’s the best free trial period?

For most people, the best trial offer is the standard one Shopify promotes: 3 days free (no credit card required), then $1 per month for 3 months.

I have also seen longer trial offers through special programs or partnerships, like the 1 Million Black Businesses program. Those can be great when they are available, but I would not treat them as the normal trial everyone gets.

What is the $1 dollar a month for 3 months Shopify?

It’s a promo that usually comes right after the free trial.

So it typically goes like this:
You start with the free trial, then you pay $1 per month for 3 months, then it switches to normal plan pricing after that.

What’s included with Basic Shopify?

Basic Shopify is geared toward newer stores that want a real online store, not just a checkout link.

On Basic, you get the core tools you need to sell online, like your online store, unlimited products, checkout, orders, customers, sales channels, and 24/7 support.

One important update: Basic is more of a solo plan. You do not get extra Shopify admin users (staff accounts) on Basic. If you need to add team members, that is when Grow starts making more sense.

Can I upgrade my Shopify plan later on?

Absolutely, you can.

This is one of the things I like about Shopify. You can start simple, then upgrade when you hit a real reason, like needing staff accounts, better reports, or more advanced shipping options.

What do we need to know about transaction fees in Shopify?

Here’s the deal, there are two types of fees people mix up:

1. Card processing fees
   These still apply when you use Shopify Payments.
2. Shopify’s third-party transaction fee
   This is the extra fee Shopify charges if you use a third-party payment provider instead of Shopify Payments.

If you use Shopify Payments, Shopify removes that second fee.

If you use a third-party payment provider, the third-party transaction fee usually drops as you move up plans:
Basic is 2%
Grow is 1%
Advanced is 0.6%

Is the pricing for Shopify Plus flexible?

Yes, it is.

Shopify Plus is not a simple one price forever plan. For many stores, it starts in the low-thousands per month depending on the term length. And for higher-volume brands, pricing can become more customized based on revenue and business needs.

What features does the Shopify plan offer?

Quick update here: Shopify renamed the old “Shopify” plan to “Grow.”

Grow is the step up from Basic when you are ready to scale. The big difference is that Grow is built for teams and growth, so it includes more Shopify admin users (staff accounts), stronger reporting, and better rates than Basic.

Does Shopify provide domain registration services?

Yes, Shopify does offer domain registration.

You can buy a domain right inside Shopify and keep everything in one place. Domain pricing depends on the extension and renews yearly, so I avoid locking this into one exact number because it can vary.

What does Advanced Shopify bring to the table?

Advanced Shopify is the plan for stores that are scaling harder.

It’s a big step up for operations because you get more Shopify admin users (staff accounts), deeper reporting, and third-party carrier-calculated shipping rates. It’s the type of plan you move to when shipping, reporting, and margins start to matter a lot more.

Any built-in Point of Sale (POS) in Shopify?

Yes.

Shopify plans include POS features so you can sell in person and keep inventory connected with your online store.

If you want the advanced retail features, that is usually Shopify POS Pro, which is a paid add-on per location.

How easy is it to cancel a Shopify plan?

You can cancel from your Shopify admin.

Before you cancel, I always recommend exporting anything important (products, customers, orders) and double-checking what you want to do with your domain if you bought it through Shopify.

Is there a free trial period for Shopify?

Yes.

Shopify offers a free trial so you can test the platform without committing right away. In most cases, you can start without entering a credit card, then decide if you want to continue into the $1 per month for 3 months promo.