Shopify Plus is the enterprise tier of Shopify, positioned at brands turning over $1M+ annually or those needing advanced automation, B2B functionality, or deeper customisation. But the feature list can be confusing — Shopify layers capabilities across plans, and some “Plus features” are actually available on Advanced too. This guide clarifies exactly what you get.
Shopify Plus vs Advanced: Feature Comparison
The table below covers the most commercially significant differences between Shopify Advanced and Shopify Plus as of 2026.
| Feature | Advanced | Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Checkout Extensibility (UI Extensions) | Limited | Full access |
| Shopify Functions | Yes | Yes |
| Script Editor (legacy) | No | Deprecated, migrating to Functions |
| Shopify Flow | No | Yes |
| B2B (native) | No | Yes |
| Markets Pro | No | Yes |
| Staff accounts | 15 | Unlimited |
| Admin API rate limit | Standard | 4× higher |
| Wholesale channel | No | Yes |
| Merchant Success Manager | No | Yes (dedicated) |
| Transaction fees (Shopify Payments) | 0.5% | 0.15%–0.25% |
| Custom checkout branding | Basic | Full |
| Launchpad (campaign scheduling) | No | Yes |
| Expansion stores | No | Up to 9 included |
What Is NOT Included in Shopify Plus
It is worth being direct about what Plus does not include, because partners and vendors sometimes oversell the plan. Shopify Plus does not include: ERP or WMS software, a built-in PIM, advanced subscription billing (you need a third-party app), native multi-warehouse inventory management, or a built-in loyalty programme. These are solved via apps or custom development regardless of plan.
When Shopify Plus Features Become Valuable
Shopify Flow becomes valuable as soon as your operations team is manually tagging customers, emailing teams about low stock, or cancelling fraudulent orders one by one. Even a single automation saving 2 hours per week pays back quickly at scale.
B2B matters the moment you sell to wholesale buyers alongside direct consumers and need separate price lists, net payment terms, and company account management — without maintaining a separate Shopify store.
Checkout Extensibility is critical if your conversion rate is a key growth lever. Being able to add loyalty point redemption, custom upsell widgets, or bespoke gift messaging directly in checkout — without hacks — is a measurable revenue driver.
Markets Pro makes sense when you are selling into multiple countries and want Shopify to handle duties, taxes, and local payment methods natively rather than bolting on third-party solutions.
Expansion stores become relevant for multi-brand groups or region-specific storefronts that share a single Shopify Plus contract and back-end team.
API Limits and Developer Implications
Shopify Plus raises Admin API bucket size and restore rate by 4×. For stores running real-time inventory sync, ERP integrations, or high-frequency order processing, this difference is material. Standard plan API limits are frequently hit by mid-scale integrations; Plus removes that bottleneck for most use cases.
If you are planning custom app development or complex integrations alongside your store upgrade, see how OneOnic’s Shopify Plus agency team approaches technical scoping before you commit to the plan.
The Merchant Success Manager
Every Plus merchant gets a dedicated Merchant Success Manager (MSM) from Shopify. This is not a sales contact — the MSM has technical knowledge, can escalate support tickets with priority, and can connect you with Shopify’s internal teams on product feedback. For brands doing significant revenue, this access has real commercial value beyond the feature list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Shopify Flow on the standard Shopify plan?
No. Shopify Flow is exclusive to Shopify Plus. On lower plans you would need to use third-party automation tools such as Mesa or Alloy to achieve similar workflow automation.
How many expansion stores do I get with Shopify Plus?
Shopify Plus includes up to nine expansion stores in addition to your primary store, all under one contract. Additional stores beyond nine can be added for an extra monthly fee. Expansion stores are commonly used for regional storefronts, wholesale channels, or separate brand properties.
Is Checkout Extensibility only available on Shopify Plus?
Checkout UI Extensions require Shopify Plus for full access, as the checkout is otherwise locked on lower plans. Shopify Functions (which handle logic like custom discounts and shipping rules) are available on all plans, but customising the checkout interface itself remains a Plus-exclusive capability.
Ready to Grow Your Shopify Store?
Our Shopify experts at OneOnic have helped hundreds of brands launch, optimise, and scale. Let’s talk about your project.
