Shopify fees explained: How much does Shopify really cost?

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Opening an online store takes financial planning, particularly when considering the full range of Shopify fees. Shopify stands as a leading ecommerce platform, yet many new merchants don’t realize its pricing extends beyond the monthly subscription.

Your total investment includes subscription plans, credit card rates, extra transaction costs, and various add-ons needed for a functioning shop.

Throughout this guide, we’ll go into every Shopify fee that merchants encounter — from monthly plans and payment processing to domains, themes, apps, and marketing tools.

Plus, you’ll learn practical ways to cut unnecessary Shopify fees and improve your profit margins without sacrificing store quality or customer experience.

Shopify pricing plans: How much does Shopify cost per month?

Before getting into the nitty-gritty, let’s explore the core subscription options that determine your monthly Shopify fees. 

It all depends on your business needs, as Shopify offers four main pricing tiers, each designed for different business sizes and needs.

Let’s break down each plan in the table below. This comparison will help you understand what you get at each price point and decide which option offers the best value for your specific business needs:

Plan	Monthly cost	Transaction fees	Extra fees	Best for
Basic	$39/month ($29 paid annually)	2.9% + 30¢ online, 2.6% + 10¢ in-person, 2% for third-party payment providers	2% if not using Shopify Payments	New businesses and small sellers
Shopify	$105/month ($79 paid annually)	2.7% + 30¢ online, 2.5% + 10¢ in-person, 1% for third-party payment providers	1% if not using Shopify Payments	Growing businesses with moderate sales volume
Advanced	$399/month ($299 paid annually)	2.5% + 30¢ online, 2.4% + 30¢ in-person, 0.6% for third-party payment providers	0.6% if not using Shopify Payments	High-volume merchants needing advanced features
Plus	$2,300/month (on a three-year contract)	Negotiable based on volume, 0.2% third-party payment providers	Custom enterprise pricing	Large businesses with complex needs

1. Basic ($39/month)

The Basic plan is the entry-level plan designed for new merchants just starting their ecommerce journey. When considering how much Shopify costs a month, the Basic plan is priced at $39/month (or $29/month when billed yearly).

Shopify Basic provides all the essential features needed to build a professional online store while keeping your Shopify fees manageable. With this plan, you’ll enjoy:

• Unlimited product listings with no restrictions on catalog size
• Access to all sales channels, including online marketplaces and social media
• Basic analytics and reporting tools
• Shopify POS Lite for occasional in-person selling
• Unlimited collaborator accounts, perfect for giving developers, designers, or marketing agencies restricted access to help with your store

When it comes to payment processing, Basic charges are 2.9% + 30¢ per online transaction through Shopify Payments.

If you opt for third-party payment providers, you’ll face an additional 2% transaction fee on every sale, which can significantly impact your profit margins over time as these Shopify fees accumulate.

2. Shopify ($105/month)

The Shopify plan costs $105/month (or $79/month with annual billing) and serves as the middle-tier option for businesses that have moved beyond just starting a Shopify store. This plan balances cost and enhanced features to support growing operations while keeping Shopify fees reasonable.

Key advantages of the Shopify plan include:

• Five additional staff accounts for team management as your business expands
• Professional reports with deeper analytics and insights into your store’s performance
• Gift cards and discount code capabilities
• Lower transaction fees compared to the Basic plan
• Access to USPS shipping discounts of up to 88% and shipping insurance options

The Shopify plan reduces your payment processing Shopify fees to 2.7% + 30¢ for online transactions and 2.5% + 10¢ for in-person sales. If you choose not to use Shopify Payments, the additional transaction fee drops to 1% (compared to 2% on Basic), creating meaningful savings as your sales volume increases.

This tier works well for established stores processing moderate order volumes or those requiring multiple staff members to manage operations without excessive Shopify fees.

3. Advanced ($399/month)

Advanced targets high-volume merchants with its $399 monthly subscription ($299 when paid annually). This premium tier provides sophisticated tools and the lowest transaction fees among the standard Shopify plans.

With Advanced, you’ll access third-party calculated shipping rates directly at checkout and refined reporting capabilities for in-depth business analysis. The plan supports up to 15 staff accounts, making it suitable for larger operations with multiple team members.

Your store also benefits from improved checkout capacity — handling up to 10 times more transactions during high-traffic events compared to lower-tier plans, all while maintaining lower Shopify fees.

The Advanced plan reduces payment Shopify processing fees to 2.5% + 30¢ for online sales and 2.4% for in-person transactions.

The additional transaction fee for this plan drops to just 0.6%, a substantial savings for businesses processing numerous transactions daily.

Other advantages include API rate limits with improved access, making this plan ideal for stores requiring complex integrations or custom applications. The Advanced plan makes financial sense once your monthly sales reach a volume where the reduced Shopify fees offset the higher subscription cost.

4. Plus ($2,300+/month)

The Plus plan caters to enterprise-level ecommerce operations, with custom pricing starting at $2,300 monthly when entering into a three-year contract. This high-end solution serves established brands and high-volume businesses that have outgrown standard ecommerce capabilities and require the most flexible Shopify fee structure.

The Plus plan removes most restrictions found in lower tiers while adding exclusive features like checkout customizations, B2B capabilities, and better API access.

You’ll receive unlimited staff accounts, 50 available market locations for international selling (compared to just three in other plans), and access to Shopify POS Pro at no additional cost, representing significant savings on Shopify fees.

Payment processing rates become negotiable based on your sales volume, often resulting in the lowest overall Shopify fees for qualifying merchants. Plus, subscribers receive enterprise-level checkout capacity — handling up to 40 times more transactions than standard plans during flash sales or product launches.

Enterprise-exclusive features include Shopify Audiences for improved customer targeting, Launchpad for coordinating marketing campaigns, and advanced bot protection.

Merchants also gain access to custom app development with Shopify Functions and specialized academy training programs — all with Shopify fees tailored to enterprise needs.

This tier makes sense for businesses processing hundreds of thousands in monthly sales or companies with complex multinational requirements. It’s also great for brands needing extensive customization beyond what regular Shopify plans offer and who can justify the higher Shopify fees.

Shopify transaction fees

Beyond your monthly subscription, Shopify fees include additional transaction fees whenever you process a sale through third-party payment providers rather than Shopify Payments. These Shopify transaction fees vary depending on your plan:

• Basic: 2% per transaction
• Shopify: 1% per transaction
• Advanced: 0.6% per transaction
• Plus: 0.2% per transaction

These Shopify fees are calculated on the total transaction amount and come on top of what your payment processor already charges.

For example, if you sell a $100 product on the Basic plan using PayPal, you’ll pay PayPal’s standard fee plus an additional $2 to Shopify.

Using Shopify Payments eliminates these extra transaction fees completely, making it the most cost-effective option where available.

However, if Shopify Payments isn’t available in your country or doesn’t support your business type, upgrading to a higher plan can help reduce these additional costs as your sales volume grows.

Shopify payments fees

Shopify Payments serves as Shopify’s integrated payment solution, eliminating the additional transaction fees charged when using third-party processors.

While using Shopify Payments saves you from extra transaction fees, credit card processing fees still apply and vary based on your subscription plan. For online transactions, here’s how it breaks down:

• Basic: 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction
• Standard: 2.7% + 30¢ per transaction
• Advanced: 2.5% + 30¢ per transaction
• Plus: Negotiable rates

Meanwhile, in-person transactions through Shopify POS have lower rates:

• Basic: 2.6% per transaction
• Standard: 2.5% per transaction
• Advanced: 2.4% per transaction

American Express cards incur higher fees (3.5% + 30¢ on Basic), and international sales (outside the US) add a 2% currency conversion fee.

While Shopify Payments fees offer competitive rates, not all merchants qualify. Businesses selling certain restricted products or operating in unsupported countries must use alternative payment providers and accept the additional transaction fees.

Additional Shopify fees to consider

Beyond subscription and transaction costs, several other Shopify fees impact your total operating expenses. These additional costs often surprise new store owners who haven’t accounted for them in their initial business planning:

1. Shopify app fees

The Shopify App Store offers thousands of add-ons to strengthen your store’s functionality. While some apps are free, many charge monthly subscription fees ranging from $5 to over $100, depending on their complexity and value.

Common app categories that add to your Shopify fees include email marketing tools, inventory management systems, SEO tools, and customer service solutions. Most stores require at least a few paid apps to deliver the experience customers expect.

Some apps charge based on usage rather than flat monthly fees. For example, email marketing apps might charge per email sent or SMS delivered, while others take a percentage of sales they help generate. These variable costs can grow substantially as your business scales.

Before installing paid apps, carefully evaluate whether their features truly benefit your business model and if similar functionality exists in your current subscription plan or in more affordable alternatives.

2. Shopify domain fees

While Shopify offers a free myshopify.com subdomain, professional stores typically need a custom domain name to build brand identity and customer trust.

Domain registration through Shopify costs $11-$16 annually for common extensions like .com or .net. Shopify domains include free WHOIS privacy protection, which shields your personal information from public view.

You can also use domains purchased through third-party registrars like GoDaddy or Namecheap. This approach sometimes offers lower initial pricing, though renewal fees often match or exceed Shopify’s rates.

Using external domains requires proper configuration to connect with your Shopify store.

3. Shopify theme fees

Your store’s visual appearance significantly impacts customer trust and conversion rates. While Shopify offers free themes, many merchants opt for premium designs that offer enhanced features and better customer experiences.

Premium Shopify themes cost between $100 and $500 as a one-time purchase. Popular options like Bespoke ($360) provide advanced customization tools, multiple style variations, and specialized features for different industries.

Unlike many Shopify fees, theme purchases represent a one-time cost rather than recurring expenses.

However, major theme updates sometimes require additional payments, and some merchants choose to refresh their store design every few years to stay current with web design trends.

4. Shopify email and SMS marketing costs

Effective customer communication is essential for ecommerce success. Shopify provides basic email marketing tools with limited free usage:

• Shopify Email allows you to send up to 10,000 emails/month across all plans. Beyond this limit, additional costs apply based on your email volume.
• For SMS marketing, Shopify relies on third-party apps or integrations that typically charge per message sent. These rates vary by country and provider but generally range from $0.01-$0.05 per message.
  
  While this seems small, costs can accumulate quickly with large customer lists or frequent campaigns.

Email and SMS marketing expenses aren’t fixed Shopify fees — they scale with your marketing activity and customer base. Carefully track these costs against the revenue they generate to ensure your marketing efforts remain profitable.

How to reduce Shopify fees and maximize profits

Running a successful Shopify store requires balancing costs with growth opportunities. Here are proven Shopify best practices to reduce your Shopify fees while maintaining a professional, high-performing store:

1. Use Shopify Payments to avoid transaction fees

The simplest way to reduce your Shopify fees is by using Shopify Payments as your payment processor. This integrated solution eliminates the additional transaction fees (0.6%-2%) charged when using third-party payment providers.

Shopify Payments processes all major credit cards and offers competitive rates that improve as you upgrade your plan. Setting it up takes minutes — just provide your business and banking information during store setup or in your payment settings.

Beyond avoiding extra transaction fees, Shopify Payments offers extra benefits like unified reporting, faster payouts, and simplified chargeback management. The service is available in 22 countries, including the US, UK, Canada, Japan, Australia, and most of Europe.

If your business type or location doesn’t qualify for Shopify Payments, consider whether the savings from reduced transaction fees might justify upgrading to a higher plan as your sales volume increases.

2. Choose the right Shopify plan for your business size

Paying for features you don’t need wastes money, while choosing a plan that’s too basic can limit growth and result in higher transaction fees. Evaluate your actual needs rather than selecting a plan based on aspirational goals.

Start with the Basic plan if you’re new to ecommerce or are processing fewer than 50 orders monthly.

As your business grows, calculate whether the reduced transaction fees and additional features of higher plans would actually save you money based on your current sales volume.

For example, if you’re processing $10,000 monthly through third-party payment providers on the Basic plan, you’re paying about $200 in additional transaction fees. Upgrading to the standard Shopify plan would reduce these fees to $100, nearly covering the difference in monthly subscription costs.

3. Reduce app costs by using built-in Shopify features

Before adding paid apps to your store, explore the native capabilities included in your subscription. Shopify regularly adds new features that previously required third-party apps.

For example, Shopify now includes abandoned cart recovery, basic email marketing, gift cards, and customer segmentation tools on all plans. Using these built-in features can save you $20-$100 monthly in app subscription costs.

When you do need apps, prioritize those offering the highest ROI. Consider multi-function apps that replace several single-purpose tools, and don’t hesitate to uninstall apps that aren’t delivering value.

Many app developers offer tiered pricing — choose the plan that matches your actual usage rather than paying for capabilities you might end up not using.

4. Optimize your marketing activities

Marketing expenses often represent a significant portion of Shopify fees, especially for growing businesses. Implementing a strategic approach to email and SMS marketing can dramatically improve your ROI while reducing costs.

This is where email marketing platforms like Omnisend shine as valuable tools for Shopify merchants.

Unlike basic marketing tools that charge based solely on contact count, Omnisend offers a more efficient approach with omnichannel capabilities that integrate email, SMS, and push notifications into one platform. Here’s a more detailed feature list on the Shopify app store:

Kate Backdrop, a global leader in photography backdrops, achieved an impressive 1:300 ROI after switching to Omnisend. 

“The platform’s extensive automation capabilities, global SMS support, and free push notifications really stood out,” says Shan Jiang, Customer Growth Manager at Kate Backdrop.

The brand’s welcome emails consistently generate the highest open rates, reaching 87% in its post-purchase automation sequences.

By combining time-sensitive promotions with SMS and push notifications, Kate Backdrop created a seamless customer experience across multiple channels. 

Its “Deal of the Day” campaigns feature five new products at 50% off daily, driving immediate action without overwhelming customers with excessive emails.

Wrap up

Understanding Shopify fees is crucial for planning your ecommerce business and maximizing profitability. From monthly subscriptions to transaction costs, apps, domains, themes, and marketing expenses — these Shopify fees impact your bottom line in different ways.

The right Shopify plan depends on your business size, sales volume, and specific needs. While Basic Shopify works well for new stores, growing businesses benefit from reduced Shopify transaction fees and additional features in higher tiers.

Using Shopify Payments eliminates extra Shopify fees, making it the most cost-effective option for eligible merchants.

Remember, your ecommerce success comes from more than minimizing costs. You also need to be thinking about how to maximize value. Investing in the right tools, particularly marketing solutions like Omnisend that deliver measurable ROI, can significantly increase your revenue while keeping expenses manageable.

With the right Shopify marketing strategy, you can build a thriving online store that balances Shopify fees with growth opportunities.

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