Shopify Pricing Explained: Plans, Fees & Startup Costs

Wondering how much to budget for your Shopify store? In the US, Shopify pricing starts at $39/month, or $29/month billed annually, for a full online store. Advanced costs $399/month, while Plus starts at $2,300/month with a three-year commitment. Your plan is only part of the bill, so let’s break down the extras.

Shopify Pricing Plans

Prices checked November 2026. Figures use US pricing in USD and exclude promotional discounts, applicable taxes, and additional services. Annual totals equal the advertised monthly equivalent multiplied by 12. Prices and payment options vary by country.

Third-party transaction fees are separate from your provider’s processing charges. Exceptions and gift-card rules are explained in the Transaction Fees section below.

Starter is unavailable to new stores. Existing merchants should check their account’s pricing before changing plans.

Shopify pricing at a glance: Start with Basic for a full online store. Annual billing lowers the subscription cost but requires upfront payment. Add processing fees, products, shipping, and any paid tools to your budget. Upgrade when a feature you need or measurable fee savings justify it. BYS can simplify the store setup; Shopify’s ongoing charges still apply.

How Much Does Shopify Cost? Plan By Plan

Here’s what you get at each level, who it suits, and which limitations are most likely to matter as your store grows.

Shopify Starter: For Existing Social Sellers

If you’ve seen Shopify advertised at $5/month, you’re probably thinking of Starter. There’s an important catch: Starter is unavailable to new stores, according to Shopify’s Help Center. Existing users should check their account for current pricing and regional fees.

Starter supports product links and a simplified storefront, making it useful for selling through social posts or messages. However, it lacks product collections, additional staff accounts, and the flexibility to create new page templates. If you’re planning a complete online store, Basic is the more relevant starting point. Existing Starter users also cannot return after switching plans.

Shopify Basic: A Starting Point For Your Store

The Shopify Basic plan costs $39/month, or $29/month billed annually. It’s a practical starting point for a solo seller: you get a customizable storefront, product and order management, a blog, and reporting, including custom reports.

Hosting and SSL are included, and eligible shipments can access discounted shipping labels. You can build and run your store without immediately paying for a higher tier.

The main limitation is team access: Basic doesn’t include additional staff accounts. It also lacks third-party carrier-calculated shipping, and its payment rates are higher than those on Grow and Advanced.

Shopify Grow: More Room For Your Team

Grow, formerly called Shopify, costs $105/month, or $79/month billed annually. It includes Basic’s features, adds up to five staff accounts, and lowers card processing rates and third-party transaction fees. It’s worth considering when you’re sharing daily tasks or processing enough sales for those savings to add up.

Before upgrading, compare the extra subscription cost with your expected fee savings. If you need staff access sooner, that feature can justify the difference on its own.

Its main limitation is scale: five staff accounts may eventually feel restrictive, and full checkout customization remains reserved for Plus.

Shopify Advanced: For More Complex Operations

Advanced costs $399/month, or $299/month billed annually. You get up to 15 staff accounts, lower payment rates, and third-party carrier-calculated shipping. That shipping feature lets you display rates from connected carrier accounts at checkout, which can help when your shipping setup becomes more complex.

It’s a useful step up when more people need access or your shipping requirements outgrow the lower plans.

The catch is the subscription jump. At lower sales volumes, smaller payment fees may not offset the extra cost. We’ll calculate that break-even point later so you can compare it with your own sales.

Shopify Plus: For Enterprise Requirements

Shopify Plus starts at $2,300/month with a three-year commitment, or $2,500/month with a one-year term. More complex, higher-volume businesses may pay a variable platform fee instead, so those starting prices aren’t a universal quote.

Plus adds capabilities such as full checkout customization, unlimited staff accounts, and priority phone support. It’s an option for businesses whose operational requirements go beyond the standard plans.

Plus is unlikely to belong in a beginner’s launch budget. The subscription and contract are a substantial commitment, so start with the specific capabilities your business needs and ask Shopify for a tailored quote.

Shopify Monthly Cost: Monthly vs Annual Billing

Your Shopify monthly cost depends on both the plan you choose and how you pay for it. Annual billing lowers the monthly equivalent, but you pay the full year upfront. That $29/month Basic price means a $348 subscription payment when your annual billing cycle begins.

Here’s how the standard US prices compare, before taxes, promotions, or extras:

Prices checked November 2026, in USD. Savings equal 12 monthly payments minus the annual subscription price. Percentages use the cost of 12 monthly payments as the baseline. Shopify’s monthly subscription cycle runs every 30 days, so actual billing dates shift.

Plus uses separate contract terms, so it isn’t included in this comparison.

Is Annual Billing Worth It?

If you’re confident you’ll run your store for the next year, annual billing can reduce a predictable expense. On Basic, that leaves $120 for other parts of your business.

Still testing your products? Monthly billing keeps more cash available upfront and lets you reassess after each billing cycle.

Before choosing annual billing, keep these points in mind:

• Subscriptions are generally non-refundable. Canceling doesn’t automatically return the money for unused months. Shopify can review eligible refund requests, but approval isn’t guaranteed.
• Switching from annual to monthly billing takes effect after your existing annual cycle ends.
• To stop your subscription from renewing, cancel before the next billing cycle begins. Deactivation takes effect at the end of your current cycle.
• Annual billing covers your plan subscription. Apps and other charges can still generate separate bills throughout the year.

Choose annual billing when the upfront payment fits comfortably alongside your other launch expenses.

Shopify Free Trial And $1 Offer

Want to try Shopify before paying the regular subscription price? As of November 2026, Shopify advertises three days free, followed by $1/month for three months for eligible merchants and plans. You don’t need a credit card to start the free trial.

The clock starts when you sign up, so have your product details and images ready. Use those first days to add products, test your theme on mobile, and review payment and shipping settings.

Before choosing a plan, check the offer shown in your account, including eligibility, billing cycle, and the regular price after the promotion. Paid apps can incur separate charges during the trial, so review those subscriptions too.

Set a reminder before promotional pricing ends. For the full timeline and setup checklist, see our Shopify free trial guide.

The Real Cost Of A Shopify Store (Beyond The Plan)

Your subscription gives you the store, but it doesn’t cover every expense involved in running it. Some costs grow with your sales, while others depend on the tools and design choices you make. Here’s what to add to your budget, and where you can keep things simple.

Prices and rates checked November 2026. All figures are in USD; payment rates below refer to US stores.

Transaction Fees

Shopify charges an additional fee on eligible transactions processed through third-party payment providers: 2% on Basic, 1% on Grow, 0.6% on Advanced, and 0.2% on Plus. Your provider’s processing charges come on top.

For example, a $100 transaction subject to Basic’s 2% rate adds $2 in Shopify fees before your payment provider takes its share. Shopify calculates this fee on the order total after discounts, including shipping and tax.

Payments processed through Shopify Payments avoid this additional third-party fee. Manual payments, such as bank transfers and cash on delivery, are also exempt. PayPal transactions are exempt when Shopify Payments is your primary provider.

One less obvious exception: for stores created on or after May 12, 2025, amounts paid using gift cards or store credit can incur transaction fees even when the store uses Shopify Payments.

Before budgeting around Shopify Payments, check its supported countries and eligibility requirements. It’s available in markets including the US, UK, Canada, and Australia, but not everywhere. Your business location and category matter, not just where your customers live.

Card Processing Rates

Even when you avoid third-party transaction fees, accepting card payments still costs money. Shopify Payments charges a percentage plus a fixed amount per transaction.

Published US rates. Confirm your store’s rates in Shopify admin; Plus merchants should also confirm their contracted terms. Manually entered payments have separate rates.

On Basic, a $50 payment using a standard domestic online card costs $1.75 to process: $50 × 2.9% + $0.30.

International cards can add a 1% surcharge to the published US online card rates. Currency conversion is separate: US stores pay a 1.5% conversion fee when a payment is converted into their payout currency. Both can apply to the same order.

That means your customers’ card types, locations, and payment currencies can change your actual processing bill.

Domain

Every Shopify store includes a free myshopify.com address. A custom domain is an optional additional purchase, although it gives customers a more recognizable address to remember.

Shopify advertises domains starting at $9/year, with the exact price depending on the extension and name. Treat that as a starting price, not a guaranteed quote for a .com domain.

You can also buy elsewhere and connect the domain to Shopify. As of November 1, 2026, Namecheap lists eligible .com registrations at $12.08 for the first year, plus a $0.20 ICANN fee. Its listed renewal price is $19.98 before that fee. Compare the renewal cost as well as the introductory offer.

You don’t need separate hosting or SSL for your Shopify store. For help choosing and connecting your address, see our Shopify domain guide.

Themes

You can launch with a free Shopify theme and keep using it as your business grows. A paid theme isn’t a requirement, and many stores never need one.

Paid themes are generally a one-time purchase. Current Shopify Theme Store examples include Maximize at $220, Mono at $300, and Wonder at $390. These examples range from $220 to $390; they aren’t the minimum and maximum prices across the store.

Before buying, name the feature you’re missing. Better navigation or a specific product layout may justify a paid theme. If the issue is presentation, improving your photos, descriptions, and spacing may be enough.

Apps

Apps are where small subscriptions can quietly become a meaningful monthly bill. Start with a job you need done, then check whether Shopify or your theme already handles it.

Here are current examples from common app categories:

• Email marketing: Omnisend has a free plan with sending limits. Standard starts at $16/month, while Pro starts at $59/month. Costs increase with your billable contact count, and SMS can cost extra.
• Product reviews: Judge.me offers a free plan and a paid Awesome plan at $15/month.
• Dropshipping: AutoDS lists Shopify plans at $26.90, $39.90, and $66.90/month. Features and product limits vary; product purchases, shipping, and applicable extras need their own budget.

Start with the tools you’ll actually use. You can add more once you know what your store is missing.

App billing cycles can differ from your Shopify subscription. Check trial expiry dates and usage limits, then remove tools you don’t need before charges begin. Shopify’s free trial doesn’t cover paid app fees.

Other Costs To Budget For

Your store budget also needs room for expenses outside the platform:

• Products and samples: Order samples to check quality. If you hold inventory, include the initial stock purchase; with dropshipping, keep cash available to pay suppliers.
• Shipping and returns: Account for fulfillment, packaging where relevant, replacements, and return costs you agree to cover.
• Marketing: Set a deliberate advertising budget if you plan to run paid campaigns. Content creation can also cost time or money.
• Tax tools and bookkeeping: Additional software or professional support may be needed as your operations become more complex.
• Branding: A logo, product photography, or custom design work can add setup costs, depending on what you create yourself.

Get quotes for the expenses that apply to your business. Keeping optional purchases small at launch leaves you more room to test products and respond to what customers actually need.

What Does A Shopify Store Really Cost To Start? (Example Budgets)

Here are two ways to budget for the store itself: a lean setup using free tools and a beginner dropshipping setup with paid email marketing and product-management apps.

Both use Basic, a free theme, and a custom .com domain. These are software and setup budgets; products, shipping, and marketing are added separately.

Example Budgets: November 2026

Figures are in USD. The domain example uses Namecheap’s $12.08 first-year .com offer plus the $0.20 ICANN fee for an eligible, non-premium name. Renewal is excluded. Each 12-payment column includes the domain purchase once.

Here’s the math:

• Lean setup: $39 × 12 + $12.28 = $480.28.
• Setup with paid apps: ($39 + $16 + $39.90) × 12 + $12.28 = $1,151.08.

These examples use standard prices, excluding Shopify’s introductory $1 offer and app trials. They assume unchanged prices and contact counts within the selected email tier. The longer-term totals cover 12 subscription payments, not an exact calendar year: 30-day billing cycles can produce a thirteenth charge before a full year has passed.

What These Totals Don’t Cover

These figures cover the selected software and domain costs. Your launch budget still needs to include applicable taxes, payment processing, products or samples, shipping, returns, and any advertising or professional services you choose.

The lean setup also assumes you handle tasks without a paid dropshipping app. That keeps subscriptions down but can mean more manual work.

Add supplier quotes, expected payment fees, and your chosen marketing spend to the relevant column. That gives you a budget you can actually use for your launch.

Which Shopify Plan Do You Need?

For a new store, Basic is usually the sensible starting point. Moving up becomes worth considering when you need a specific feature or when lower payment fees save more than the extra subscription costs.

To find that second point, use this calculation:

Monthly break-even sales = extra subscription cost ÷ fee-rate reduction

For example, Grow costs $66 more per month than Basic on monthly billing. Its standard online card rate is 0.2 percentage points lower, so the calculation is $66 ÷ 0.002 = $33,000 in monthly card sales. At that volume, the processing savings cover the subscription difference.

When Does Upgrading Pay For Itself?

Annual-billing figures use the monthly equivalent of the prepaid annual subscription. Calculations use the US prices and rates checked in November 2026, excluding promotions and taxes on subscriptions.

These are fee-only break-even points, not guaranteed profit thresholds. At the stated volume, the plans cost the same under these assumptions; above it, the higher plan starts saving money.

For Shopify Payments, the calculations assume standard domestic online card transactions and the same number of orders. The fixed $0.30 charge stays unchanged across Basic, Grow, and Advanced, so it cancels out in the comparison.

For third-party providers, they assume your provider’s own charges remain unchanged. Only Shopify’s additional transaction fee changes.

Use the sales volume actually subject to the relevant rate, including applicable shipping and tax amounts. If you accept several payment methods, your total store revenue won’t necessarily match that figure.

Just Starting Or Testing: Basic

If you’re validating products and running the store yourself, start with Basic. With standard online Shopify Payments transactions, it remains the cheaper option below $33,000 in monthly processed sales on monthly billing, or $25,000 with annual billing.

That gives you room to grow without upgrading simply because orders are coming in. Revisit the decision sooner if you need staff accounts.

Steady Sales: Grow

Grow makes financial sense once the relevant Basic-to-Grow threshold is exceeded. For a store using a third-party provider, that can happen much earlier: above $6,600 in monthly eligible transactions, or $5,000 with annual billing.

Its five staff accounts may also justify the upgrade before fee savings alone cover it. The question is whether the additional cost solves a real operating need.

High Volume: Advanced

Advanced becomes cheaper than Grow on standard online card fees above $147,000 in monthly processed sales with monthly billing, or $110,000 with annual billing.

With a third-party provider, the thresholds are $73,500 and $55,000 respectively. More staff accounts or carrier-calculated shipping may justify upgrading sooner, even when fee savings don’t cover the difference.

Enterprise Needs: Plus

Plus deserves a separate calculation using your actual quote, payment mix, and contract terms. Its starting subscription price alone doesn’t establish a reliable revenue threshold for every business.

Use your requirements and a tailored quote to compare Plus with Advanced. A higher sales figure alone isn’t enough to make the decision.

Skip The Setup Work: Let An AI Builder Configure Your Shopify Store

There’s one startup cost that won’t appear on your Shopify invoice: the time you spend putting the store together. Choosing a layout, creating product pages, and making everything look consistent can take attention away from testing your products.

BuildYourStore gives you a free AI-built Shopify store with a customizable theme, preloaded products, and predesigned product pages. You choose a niche, then review and personalize the store instead of starting with an empty storefront.

That can reduce the setup work and, if the included design meets your needs, help you avoid hiring a designer or purchasing a premium theme.

Shopify’s ongoing costs still apply. BYS doesn’t reduce your subscription price or remove payment fees, product costs, or optional app charges. You’ll also need to review your products, policies, payment settings, and shipping details before launching.

For a beginner watching both time and money, it’s a practical starting point: build your free store with BYS, then focus your budget on getting it ready for customers.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Shopify cost per month?

In the US, Shopify Basic costs $39/month, Grow costs $105/month, and Advanced costs $399/month. With annual billing, their monthly equivalents drop to $29, $79, and $299, respectively, paid upfront for the year. Plus starts at $2,300/month with a three-year commitment. Your total also depends on payment fees and any extras you choose.

What’s included in the Shopify Basic plan?

Basic includes a customizable online store, unlimited products, hosting, SSL, a blog, order management, and reporting, including custom reports. Eligible shipments can access discounted shipping labels. It’s a practical starting point if you’re running the store yourself, but it doesn’t include additional staff accounts or third-party carrier-calculated shipping.

Does Shopify charge transaction fees?

Yes, but the type of fee matters. Card processing charges apply when you accept card payments. Shopify also charges an additional fee on eligible third-party payment transactions: 2% on Basic, 1% on Grow, 0.6% on Advanced, and 0.2% on Plus.

Payments processed through Shopify Payments avoid that additional fee. Separate rules apply to gift cards and store credit, so check those if you plan to offer them.

What’s the cheapest Shopify plan?

For a new, full online store, Basic is the lowest-priced option among the plans covered here: $39/month, or $29/month billed annually in the US. You may still see references to the $5 Starter plan, but Shopify’s Help Center says it’s unavailable to new stores. Introductory promotions can temporarily lower your starting subscription cost.

Is Shopify cheaper if you pay annually?

Yes. At standard US prices, annual billing saves $120 on Basic, $312 on Grow, or $1,200 on Advanced compared with 12 monthly payments. You pay the annual subscription upfront, and charges are generally non-refundable. Monthly billing can be easier on your launch budget while you’re still testing the business.

Can I use Shopify for free?

You can try Shopify through its free trial. The offer checked in November 2026 advertised three days free, followed by $1/month for three months for eligible merchants and plans. That’s a temporary promotion, so budget for the regular subscription afterward. Paid apps can also incur charges during your trial.

Do I have to use Shopify Payments?

No. You can choose a supported third-party payment provider, and you may need one if Shopify Payments isn’t available for your business location or category. Compare the provider’s processing charges together with Shopify’s additional transaction fee. The combined cost gives you a more useful comparison than either rate alone.

What extra costs should I budget for beyond the Shopify plan itself?

Allow for payment processing and, if applicable, a custom domain, paid apps, and a premium theme. Your business budget should also cover products or samples, shipping, returns, marketing, and any professional services you need.

You don’t have to buy everything at launch. A free theme and carefully chosen free app plans can keep recurring costs down while you test your store.

Conclusion

A sensible Shopify budget starts with the essentials: the plan your store needs, payment fees, and enough cash for products and fulfillment. Optional tools can wait until you have a clear use for them.

Choose the billing cycle you can comfortably afford, then revisit your plan as sales grow. The break-even table gives you a starting point; your actual payment mix and team needs make the final decision.

You can also simplify the setup itself. Build your free Shopify store with BuildYourStore to start with a customizable store and product pages already in place. Shopify’s ongoing charges still apply, but you’ll have a starting point you can review, personalize, and prepare for customers.

Start with what you need, keep room in your budget to test, and let your results guide the next investment.

Ready to plan your next steps? These guides can help:

• How To Start A Shopify Store: Step-By-Step Guide
• What Does Sessions Mean on Shopify? (2027 Guide)
• Free Shopify Privacy Policy Template for 2027

Written by:

Caterina Francisca

Caterina has specialized in time-saving SaaS solutions for e-commerce businesses since 2017. With expertise in AI-powered tools, she creates engaging content to simplify complex ideas for dropshippers and small business owners. Her extensive experience with automation tools and background in marketing content tailored to entrepreneurs make her a trusted voice in the industry.

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