Shopify’s pricing structure looks simple at first glance — three main plans plus Shopify Plus. But the real cost depends heavily on your payment gateway choice, monthly revenue, and the apps you need. This guide breaks down every variable so you can pick the right plan from day one.
All Shopify Plans and Costs in 2026
| Plan | Monthly (billed monthly) | Monthly (billed annually) | Transaction Fee* | Staff Accounts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $39 / £29 | $29 / £22 | 2% | 2 |
| Shopify | $105 / £79 | $79 / £59 | 1% | 5 |
| Advanced | $399 / £299 | $299 / £225 | 0.5% | 15 |
| Plus | From $2,300 | Custom contract | 0.15% | Unlimited |
*Transaction fee applies only when using a third-party payment gateway (e.g., Razorpay, Stripe, PayPal). Using Shopify Payments removes this fee entirely. If Shopify Payments is not available in your country, this fee is unavoidable and should factor into your plan decision.
What Changes Between Plans
Beyond the transaction fee and staff accounts, the differences between plans are more nuanced than the pricing page suggests.
Shipping discounts: Basic gives up to 77% off shipping label rates (US only). Shopify gives up to 88%. Advanced gives up to 88% plus calculated rates at checkout using real carrier APIs.
Reports: Basic includes only the standard analytics dashboard. Shopify adds professional reports. Advanced adds custom report builder — useful for multi-location stock tracking and detailed sales analysis.
International pricing: Shopify Markets (multi-currency, multi-language) is available on all plans, but Advanced allows more market-specific pricing rules without a transaction surcharge.
Hidden Costs to Factor In
- Apps: The average Shopify merchant spends £50–£200/month on apps (email, reviews, subscriptions, loyalty, upsell). Budget for this from the start.
- Theme: Premium themes cost £140–£350 as a one-time purchase. Free themes are production-ready but have fewer built-in sections.
- Domain: £11–£15/year via Shopify, or £5–£10/year from third-party registrars.
- Transaction fees: On £10,000/month revenue using a third-party gateway on Basic, you pay £200/month in fees alone — more than the cost of upgrading to Advanced.
When to Upgrade Your Plan
The transaction fee calculation is the most reliable trigger. If you are using a third-party gateway:
- Upgrade Basic → Shopify when monthly revenue exceeds £5,000 (1% fee saving = £50, plan difference = £50)
- Upgrade Shopify → Advanced when monthly revenue exceeds £24,000 (0.5% saving covers the £220 plan difference)
- Upgrade to Plus when you need automation (Shopify Flow), B2B wholesale, or multi-store management
Annual vs Monthly Billing
Annual billing saves roughly 25% across all plans. On Basic, that is £84/year saved. On Advanced, it is £888/year. If you are confident Shopify is the right platform, annual billing is the obvious choice. Start monthly only if you are still validating your business model.
For stores scaling rapidly toward enterprise volumes, our Shopify Plus agency services can help you evaluate when the jump to Plus makes financial sense given your revenue trajectory and feature requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Shopify charge a transaction fee on every plan?
Only if you use a third-party payment gateway. Using Shopify Payments eliminates the transaction fee on all plans. Shopify Payments is available in the UK, US, Australia, Ireland, Canada, and select other markets.
Can I change my Shopify plan at any time?
Yes. You can upgrade or downgrade at any time from Settings → Plan. Shopify prorates the billing adjustment. Downgrading mid-cycle credits the unused portion.
Is Shopify Plus worth the cost for growing brands?
Shopify Plus becomes cost-effective when you need advanced automation, B2B wholesale portals, multiple storefronts, or custom checkout scripts. Most brands see value at £500,000+ in annual revenue, though the feature requirements vary considerably by business type.
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