Shopify Pricing 2026: Every Plan Compared (+ Transaction Fees Explained)
Shopify's monthly fee is just the starting point. Transaction fees, apps, and themes can significantly change your total cost. Here's the full picture.
Last updated: May 2026 · By Dave Hassell
Shopify powers over 4 million online stores worldwide, but its pricing structure trips up a lot of new merchants. The subscription is straightforward — $39 to $399/month — but the real cost depends on your payment processor, which apps you need, and your sales volume.
Shopify Plans at a Glance
| Feature | Starter ($5/mo) | Basic ($39/mo) | Shopify ($105/mo) | Advanced ($399/mo) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online store | No (social only) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Products | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Staff accounts | 1 | 2 | 5 | 15 |
| Inventory locations | 2 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Shopify Payments rate | 5% + $0.30 | 2.9% + $0.30 | 2.6% + $0.30 | 2.4% + $0.30 |
| 3rd party gateway fee | 5% | 2% | 1% | 0.6% |
| Shipping discount | None | Up to 77% | Up to 88% | Up to 88% |
| Reports | None | Basic | Professional | Advanced |
| Duties & taxes | No | No | No | Yes |
| Annual (per mo) | $5 | $29 | $79 | $299 |
Starter — $5/month
$5/month
The Starter plan doesn't include a full online store. Instead, you get product pages and checkout links you can share on social media, messaging apps, or embed on an existing website. Think of it as a payment link service, not an e-commerce platform.
- Product pages with checkout
- Shareable product links
- Shopify Inbox (chat)
- Order management
- 5% + $0.30 per transaction
Best for: Creators selling 1-2 products on social media who don't need a full store. The 5% transaction fee is steep — at $1,000/mo revenue, you're paying $55 in fees plus $5 subscription.
Basic — $39/month
$39/month
Basic is the real starting point for most merchants. You get a full online store, unlimited products, and reasonable transaction rates. Annual billing drops this to $29/month — a meaningful savings for new stores.
- Full online store with all themes
- Unlimited products
- 2 staff accounts
- 10 inventory locations
- 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction (Shopify Payments)
- Up to 77% shipping discount
- Manual order creation
- Discount codes
- Free SSL certificate
- Abandoned cart recovery
Best for: New and small e-commerce businesses doing under $10,000/month in sales. The 2.9% rate is industry-standard and the shipping discounts provide real savings.
Shopify — $105/month
$105/month
The mid-tier plan drops your payment processing rate to 2.6% and adds professional reports and 5 staff accounts. The lower transaction rate starts saving money around $10,000+/month in sales.
- Everything in Basic, plus:
- 5 staff accounts
- 2.6% + $0.30 per transaction
- Professional analytics reports
- Up to 88% shipping discount
- USPS Priority Mail Cubic pricing
Best for: Growing stores doing $10,000-$50,000/month. At $20,000/mo revenue, the 0.3% rate reduction saves $60/month — more than covering the $66/month price difference from Basic.
Advanced — $399/month
$399/month
Advanced is for high-volume merchants who benefit from the lowest transaction rates (2.4%) and need advanced reporting, 15 staff accounts, and estimated duties for international selling.
- Everything in Shopify, plus:
- 15 staff accounts
- 2.4% + $0.30 per transaction
- Advanced report builder
- Estimated duties & import taxes
- Third-party calculated shipping
- 0.6% third-party gateway fee (lowest)
Best for: Established stores doing $50,000+/month. At $100k/month revenue, the 0.2% rate reduction from Shopify tier saves $200/month.
When to Upgrade: The Break-Even Math
The only reason to upgrade plans is lower transaction fees (assuming you use Shopify Payments). Here's the math:
| Upgrade | Monthly Fee Increase | Rate Savings | Break-Even Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic → Shopify | +$66/mo | 0.3% per sale | $22,000/mo |
| Shopify → Advanced | +$294/mo | 0.2% per sale | $147,000/mo |
If your monthly revenue is below $22,000, stick with Basic. If it's below $147,000, stick with Shopify. The math is that simple.
Hidden Costs to Budget For
Apps: Most stores need 5-10 apps for reviews, SEO, email marketing, etc. Budget $50-200/month for essential apps.
Theme: Free themes work fine, but premium themes ($180-$350 one-time) offer more customization and features.
Domain: $14/year through Shopify or ~$10/year through a registrar like Namecheap.
Shopify Email: First 10,000 emails/month free, then $1 per 1,000 additional emails.
Transaction fees: Even at 2.9%, a $50,000/month store pays ~$1,480 in processing fees.
Which Plan Should You Choose?
Choose Starter ($5/mo) if: You're selling 1-2 products on social media and don't need a full store. Be aware the 5% fee adds up fast.
Choose Basic ($39/mo) if: You're launching a real online store. This plan covers everything 90% of new merchants need. Pay annually to drop it to $29/mo.
Choose Shopify ($105/mo) if: Your monthly revenue exceeds $22,000 and you need professional reports and more staff accounts.
Choose Advanced ($399/mo) if: You're doing $100,000+/month and sell internationally. The estimated duties feature prevents surprise costs for international buyers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Shopify cost per month?
Shopify costs $39/month (Basic), $105/month (Shopify), or $399/month (Advanced). There's also a $5/month Starter plan for social selling. Annual billing saves 25% on all plans.
What are Shopify's transaction fees?
With Shopify Payments: 2.9% + $0.30 (Basic), 2.6% + $0.30 (Shopify), or 2.4% + $0.30 (Advanced). Using a third-party gateway adds an extra 2%, 1%, or 0.6% on top.
Is Shopify worth it for a small business?
Yes. The Basic plan at $39/month includes everything needed to run a professional online store. The break-even point is roughly $500-1,000/month in sales to justify the subscription cost after factoring in transaction fees.