Note: This blog has been updated with new information and is accurate as of December 4th, 2023
New and established eCommerce merchants alike get confused about the differences between the Shopify plans. With so many features to choose from, choosing the right plan can be difficult. That’s why Fyresite has broken down the pros and cons of every Shopify plan, so you can find the right one for you!
Looking to build your store? Use our affiliate link to get started with Shopify today!
What Plans Does Shopify Offer?
Shopify offers 6 plans in total: three core plans, and three specialty plans. The core plans are Shopify Basic ($39/mo), Shopify ($105/mo), and Shopify Advanced ($399/mo). There’s also Shopify Starter ($9/mo) for small businesses, Shopify Retail ($89/mo) for brick and mortar businesses looking to have a simple online presence, and Shopify Plus ($2,000/mo or % of month’s profit) for enterprises.
The best part? For every plan except Shopify Plus, you can try it for $1/mo for the first three months!
Note: Shopify used to offer a plan called Shopify Lite, which is only available to merchants that were already on this plan. It has since been replaced by Shopify Starter, which is available for any merchant to join. If you’re on Shopify Lite and are looking at other plans, please be aware that you will not be able to go back to the Lite plan once you switch.
All About Shopify Starter
Shopify Starter gives merchants the tools to get started immediately. This plan allows you to sell online, in-person, and almost anywhere you can post a link.
It costs $9/mo, and 5% transaction fees when you use Shopify Payments.
This plan is ideal for merchants who are just starting their business, or want to see if there is a demand for their product before committing to a larger plan.
The Shopify Starter plan has many great features, including a basic website (which includes product pages, a contact page and a check-out page), a mobile POS using POS Lite for 1 POS login, Linkpop, access to Shopify apps, one admin account, and Shopify order management and integrated fulfillment network.
While the price tag is fantastic, this plan is not for everyone. If you are looking for a robust site with extra features, Shopify Starter is not for you.
All About Shopify Retail
Shopify is best known as an eCommerce platform, but that’s not all they do. If you’re a retail store that’s looking to have a simple online presence, they have the plan for you.
At $89/mo, merchants on this plan are given one Shopify POS Pro account, are built on the spotlight theme, two staff accounts, have a basic website, and are allowed up to 1,000 inventory locations.
This plan is made for merchants who sell more in person than they do online.
All About Shopify Basic
The first of the core plans, Shopify Basic offers great quality for a great price. Merchants get a Shopify store, support for unlimited products, and all the other features they need to get started.
For $39/mo, you get a customizable website (which includes a blog!), two staff accounts, SSL certificates, access to international selling and analytic reports for business performance.
This is in addition to these features, available for every core plan.
For small businesses who need a strong website, but not every feature, this is the plan for you.
While this is the perfect plan for smaller businesses or new businesses, if you have a lot of traffic or need lots of features, it’s not the plan for you.
All About the Shopify Plan
Yes, this Shopify Plan is just called Shopify. But there’s nothing “just” about the benefits of this plan.
For $105/mo, you receive all the benefits of Shopify Basic, plus 3 additional staff accounts (for a total of 5), and even lower transaction fees and credit card rates.
This is ideal for small to medium sized businesses.
If you’re outgrowing the confines of Shopify Basic or are a small to medium size business that needs more staff accounts and lower fees, you may benefit from the Shopify plan.
All About Shopify Advanced
The last core plan is Shopify Advanced.
For $399/mo, Shopify Advanced gives all the benefits of Shopify Basic and Shopify, as well as 10 additional staff accounts (for a total of 15), the most competitive transaction and credit card fees of the core plans, and carrier-calculated shipping.
This plan is ideal for big businesses, who are large but not at the enterprise level.
The plan is brilliant for medium or medium-large companies with bigger teams and more locations. However, it’s not the right fit for everyone. If you’re an enterprise level business, Shopify has an even better plan available.
All About Shopify Plus
Shopify Plus is the ultimate solution for enterprise level merchants. Starting at $2000/mo, this plan has every feature a large business needs. And as Arizona’s first Shopify Plus partner, we know this well.
With all the benefits of the above core plans, there are also many benefits that are exclusive to Shopify Plus merchants. This includes B2B, unlimited staff, nine expansion stores, integrations, and the Shopify Plus Academy, just to name a few!
With such a large price tag, it can be off-putting for merchants. Even when you’re making a lot of money, you don’t want to spend it. But here’s the thing – for large, enterprise businesses, Shopify Plus can actually SAVE you money.
Shopify Plus comes with all the bells and whistles. For more details, see our blog post about Shopify Plus.
However, these features don’t come cheap. Businesses must speak directly to a sales representative to use this plan, and pricing starts at a minimum of $2,000 per month.
Businesses that are not enterprise level may not find the benefits of Shopify Plus worth the cost. And that’s okay. There are many plans so you can get on the right one for your business.
Which Shopify Plan Is Right For Me?
There is no one answer to this question. The ideal Shopify Plan is going to depend on your business and your business needs. The beauty of Shopify is that you can start on a smaller plan and upgrade along with your business.
Want to get started with Shopify? Contact Fyresite today!