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Shopify costs $39 a month on the Basic plan, or $29 a month billed yearly. On top of that you pay card processing (2.9% + 30¢ per online sale on Basic in the US), any paid apps, and a domain. Most small stores should start on Basic and only upgrade when the lower card rates on Grow save more than the higher fee, which happens at roughly $25,000 a month in online sales.
Shopify’s pricing page looks simple, but your real monthly bill depends on your plan, how you take payments, which apps you install and how much you sell. This guide breaks down every cost so you can predict what you will actually pay.
Every Shopify plan explained
| Plan | Billed monthly | Billed yearly | Online card rate (US) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $5/mo | n/a | 5% + 30¢ | Selling via social media, links and messaging |
| Basic | $39/mo | $29/mo | 2.9% + 30¢ | New and small stores |
| Grow | $105/mo | $79/mo | 2.7% + 30¢ | Growing stores with a small team (5 staff accounts) |
| Advanced | $399/mo | $299/mo | 2.5% + 30¢ | High-volume stores (15 staff accounts) |
| Plus | Custom | Custom | Negotiated | Enterprise brands |
US prices as of 2026. Yearly billing saves about 25% on Basic, Grow and Advanced.
- Starter ($5/month): for selling through social media, links and messaging apps rather than a full online store. Its card rate is much higher, so it only makes sense for very low sales volumes.
- Basic: a complete online store with unlimited products, discount codes, abandoned checkout recovery, gift cards and shipping labels. The right starting point for nearly everyone.
- Grow: adds 5 staff accounts, better reports and lower card rates.
- Advanced: 15 staff accounts, advanced reports and the lowest standard card rates.
- Plus: enterprise features and negotiated pricing for large brands.
Free trial and first-month deals
Shopify typically offers new stores a short free trial followed by a heavily discounted first few months. In 2026 this has been a 3-day trial and then $1 a month for the first three months. Offers change, so check Shopify’s pricing page before signing up.
Card processing rates
Every sale incurs a card processing fee. With Shopify Payments, the rate depends on your plan:
| Plan | Online (standard cards) | In person |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | 2.9% + 30¢ | 2.6% + 10¢ |
| Grow | 2.7% + 30¢ | 2.5% + 10¢ |
| Advanced | 2.5% + 30¢ | 2.4% + 10¢ |
| Plus | Negotiated | Negotiated |
Business cards and American Express can carry higher online rates. Rates differ outside the US.
Third-party payment provider fees
If you use a payment provider other than Shopify Payments, Shopify charges an additional transaction fee on every sale, on top of your provider’s own fees:
| Plan | Extra Shopify fee |
|---|---|
| Basic | 2% |
| Grow | 1% |
| Advanced | 0.6% |
| Plus | 0.2% |
On $3,000 a month in sales, a 2% fee is an extra $60 a month. If Shopify Payments is available in your country, using it is almost always cheaper.
Other costs to budget for
- Apps: the biggest variable. Many are free; paid apps typically cost $5 to $50+ a month each.
- Theme: free themes are excellent; paid themes are a one-time purchase.
- Domain: about $10 to $20 a year.
- Shopify POS Pro: optional, charged per location if you need advanced in-person features.
- Shipping labels: paid per label, often at discounted rates.
- Email marketing: Shopify’s own email tool includes a free monthly allowance; other tools vary.
Real monthly cost examples
These illustrative examples assume Shopify Basic billed yearly, Shopify Payments, US online card sales and a $50 average order.
| Monthly sales | Orders | Plan | Card fees | Apps (example) | Estimated total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | 20 | $29 | about $35 | $15 | about $79 |
| $3,000 | 60 | $29 | about $105 | $30 | about $164 |
| $10,000 | 200 | $29 | about $350 | $50 | about $429 |
| $25,000 | 500 | $29 | about $875 | $75 | about $979 |
As sales grow, card processing becomes by far the largest cost, which is why lower card rates on higher plans eventually pay for themselves.
When to upgrade from Basic to Grow
Grow costs $50 more a month than Basic on yearly billing ($79 vs $29) and saves 0.2% on online card sales (2.7% vs 2.9%). The upgrade pays for itself at about $25,000 a month in online sales ($50 ÷ 0.002). On monthly billing, the break-even is about $33,000 a month.
Upgrade earlier if you need what Grow adds, such as staff accounts or better reports. Moving from Grow to Advanced on yearly billing breaks even at around $110,000 a month in online sales.
How to pay less for Shopify
- Pay yearly to save about 25% on your plan.
- Use Shopify Payments to avoid extra transaction fees.
- Audit your apps every few months and remove ones you do not use.
- Start with a free theme and upgrade later if needed.
- Upgrade plans only when the math works, using the break-even figures above.
Shopify Basic at $29 a month billed yearly is the right starting point for most stores. Use Shopify Payments, keep your app list lean and upgrade only when your sales make the lower card rates worth it.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Shopify cost per month?
Shopify Basic costs $39 a month, or $29 a month billed yearly. Grow is $105 ($79 yearly), Advanced is $399 ($299 yearly), and Starter is $5 a month.
Does Shopify charge a fee per sale?
You pay card processing on every sale, such as 2.9% + 30¢ online on Basic. Shopify adds an extra fee only if you use a third-party payment provider.
Is there a free version of Shopify?
No, but there is usually a short free trial and a discounted first few months.
Which Shopify plan should I start with?
Basic, for almost every new store. Upgrade when you need staff accounts or when your online sales reach roughly $25,000 a month.
Can I cancel Shopify anytime?
Monthly plans can be cancelled anytime. Yearly plans are paid upfront for the year.
Is Shopify more expensive than WooCommerce?
Usually a little, in cash terms. See our Shopify vs WooCommerce comparison for a full cost breakdown.
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