Shopify Pricing (2026): Basic vs Shopify vs Advanced vs Plus
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Shopify is the most popular ecommerce platform for small to mid-size businesses. It’s known for its ease of use and all-in-one approach. But the pricing can be confusing with transaction fees, app costs, and plan tiers.
Here’s a complete breakdown of Shopify pricing in 2026.
Shopify Pricing Plans (2026)
| Plan | Monthly Price | Credit Card Rate | Transaction Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $39/mo or $29/mo billed annually | Check region | Up to 2.0% with third-party provider |
| Grow | $105/mo or $79/mo billed annually | Check region | Up to 1.0% with third-party provider |
| Advanced | $399/mo or $299/mo billed annually | Check region | Up to 0.6% with third-party provider |
| Plus | From $2,300/mo on a 3-year term | Custom | Custom |
Shopify can change introductory offers by region and date. Payment-processing rates also depend on country, card type and whether Shopify Payments is available. Check current Shopify plans and local rates before choosing a billing term.
Basic Plan: $39/month
The Basic plan is for new and small businesses.
What you get:
- Online store with blog
- Unlimited products
- 2 staff accounts
- 24/7 support
- Sales channels (social, marketplaces)
- Discount codes
- Abandoned cart recovery
- Gift cards
- Fraud analysis
- Manual order creation
- Shipping labels
What’s limited:
- Basic reports only
- Limited shipping discounts
- No professional reports
- No custom report builder
Best for: New businesses and solo entrepreneurs starting with ecommerce.
Grow Plan: $105/month or $79/month annually
The Shopify plan adds professional features.
What you get (beyond Basic):
- 5 staff accounts
- Professional reports
- Better shipping discounts
- USPS Priority Mail Cubic pricing
- International pricing
Best for: Growing businesses that need better reporting and shipping rates.
Advanced Plan: $399/month or $299/month annually
Advanced is for scaling businesses.
What you get (beyond Shopify):
- 15 staff accounts
- Custom report builder
- Third-party calculated shipping rates
- Best shipping discounts
- Advanced report builder
Best for: Established businesses with significant volume that need advanced reporting and shipping.
Plus Plan: From $2,300/month on a 3-year term
Plus is for enterprise businesses.
What you get:
- Unlimited staff accounts
- Custom checkout
- Dedicated support
- Advanced automation
- Custom integrations
- SLA guarantees
Best for: Enterprise businesses with complex requirements.
Hidden Costs
Transaction fees
If you don’t use Shopify Payments, you pay transaction fees on top of credit card fees:
- Basic: 2.0%
- Shopify: 1.0%
- Advanced: 0.5%
Using Shopify Payments eliminates these fees.
Apps
Most stores need apps for features not included in the base platform:
- Email marketing: $20-100/month
- Reviews: $10-50/month
- Upsells: $10-30/month
- SEO tools: $10-50/month
- Custom functionality: varies
Budget $50-200/month for essential apps.
Themes
Free themes are available, but premium themes cost $150-400 one-time.
Domain
Shopify charges $14/year for a domain. You can connect your own domain from another registrar.
Shopify vs WooCommerce
| Feature | Shopify Basic ($39) | WooCommerce (free + hosting) |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of use | Excellent | Moderate |
| Hosting included | Yes | No ($10-50/mo) |
| Transaction fees | 2.9% + $0.30 | Payment gateway fees |
| Apps/extensions | 8,000+ | 50,000+ |
| Customization | Good | Excellent |
| Maintenance | Managed | Self-managed |
Shopify wins on: Ease of use, managed hosting, support, quick setup.
WooCommerce wins on: Customization, no transaction fees, content management, cost at scale.
Verdict: Shopify is better for businesses that want simplicity. WooCommerce is better for businesses that want full control and have technical resources.
Shopify vs BigCommerce
| Feature | Shopify Basic ($39) | BigCommerce Standard ($39) |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of use | Excellent | Good |
| Built-in features | Good | Excellent |
| Transaction fees | Yes (if not Shopify Payments) | No |
| Apps | 8,000+ | 1,000+ |
| Scalability | Good | Excellent |
Shopify wins on: Ease of use, app ecosystem, brand recognition.
BigCommerce wins on: Built-in features, no transaction fees, scalability.
Verdict: Shopify is better for businesses that want simplicity and a large app ecosystem. BigCommerce is better for businesses that want more built-in features and no transaction fees.
Who Should Choose Shopify?
Choose Basic ($39) if: You’re a new business starting with ecommerce.
Choose Shopify ($105) if: You need professional reports and better shipping rates.
Choose Advanced ($399) if: You have significant volume and need advanced reporting.
Choose WooCommerce instead if: You want full customization and have technical resources.
Choose BigCommerce instead if: You want more built-in features and no transaction fees.
After choosing a platform and plan, compare Shopify AI tools for images, search and operations without duplicating features already included in Shopify.
The Bottom Line
Shopify is the best all-in-one ecommerce platform for small to mid-size businesses. At $39/month (Basic), it’s affordable and easy to use. The transaction fees add up if you don’t use Shopify Payments, but the convenience and support make it worth the cost for most businesses.
Related reading: Best Software for Ecommerce · Mailchimp Pricing (2026) · Best AI Tools for Marketers · Calendly Pricing (2026) · QuickBooks Pricing (2026)
Not in ecommerce? See AI tools for teachers or AI tools for lawyers.
FAQ
Is Shopify really $39/month?
The Basic plan is $39/month, but you’ll also pay credit card fees (2.9% + $0.30) and potentially transaction fees (2.0% if not using Shopify Payments). Budget for apps ($50-200/month) as well.
Does Shopify have a free trial?
Yes, 3-day free trial, then $1/month for 3 months. Enough time to set up your store and test the platform.
Can I avoid Shopify transaction fees?
Yes, by using Shopify Payments. If you use a third-party payment gateway, you’ll pay transaction fees on top of credit card fees.
Is Shopify good for small businesses?
Yes, Shopify is excellent for small businesses. The Basic plan is affordable, the platform is easy to use, and the support is good. The app ecosystem allows you to add features as you grow.
How does Shopify compare to Etsy?
Shopify is your own standalone store. Etsy is a marketplace where you sell alongside other sellers. Shopify gives you more control and branding but requires more marketing effort. Etsy gives you built-in traffic but less control.