An Insight Into Shopify Pricing Plans 2025
1. Starter Plan — $5/month
If you’re just starting and sharing your products through Instagram DMs or a WhatsApp group, this plan keeps things simple. This $5/month plan is built to provide you the opportunity to launch or test your sales idea without an extensive setup.
Great for: Sellers just starting, especially those who rely on social selling.
This simple store is designed for solopreneurs or new businesses who boast a strong social media following. While this plan will allow you to accept online and credit card payments with basic transaction fees, what you get on the website is a mere product page with unlimited listing, a contact page, and a Shopify checkout system.
It’s lightweight, link-based, and works best if you’re just pushing products. However, don’t expect a fully customizable website; this pack is too basic for all of that.
2. Basic Plan — $39/month ($29 annually)
While the starter plan felt like a puddle to dip your toe in, the basic plan is like a pool; that’ll allow you to practice some of your strokes. The $39/month plan is for those who are ready to show up.
Great for: New online stores that want a storefront + checkout, + growth tools; All inside a budget.
It’s easily Shopify’s most popular plan, but there’s a significant limitation that can be experienced only after spending some time. While you get unlimited products, 24/7 support, discount codes, and Shopify’s native payment processor alongside sales tracking and POS Lite (Point of Sale) for occasional in-person sales. This is barely even enough.
The Basic Plan keeps things simple; You get no advanced marketing tools, limited 2 staff accounts, and lacks professional reporting features. As you grow your business, you’ll likely outgrow this plan and need a plan with better insights and team flexibility options available.
3. Shopify Plan — $105/month ($79 annually)
The pool now turns into a pond, built for brands picking up speed, gaining traction, and needing sharper tools to keep up. At this stage, you are not just building – you’re optimizing.
Great for: Growing brands with sales momentum and marketing needs.
With this plan, you get everything from the Basic tier — plus a few serious upgrades. Now you’ll have five staff accounts to distribute your workload, professional reports, gift cards, better shipping discounts (up to 88%), and lower transaction fees. It’s ideal for brands gaining traction and looking to make smarter, data-backed moves.
This plan also unlocks deeper insights with advanced analytics, helping you understand your audience better. However, it will still hold back the advanced reports, automation, and full team scalability. So if you expect the growth to be fast, you may as well outgrow it quickly. Still, this plan is a strong middle ground for most scaling stores.
4. Advanced Plan — $399/month ($299 annually)
Now, if you are scaling fast and managing large teams, and your business needs precision tools to make smart, data-driven decisions at speed, the advanced plan is for you.
Great for: Established businesses needing custom analytics and shipping logic.
This plan gives you the work you need: 15 staff accounts availability, the ability to assign inventory across 8 locations, and the gold standard in reporting with custom reports, referral tracking, and advanced analytics. You also get real-time shipping rates at checkout, enhanced customer support, and lower transaction fees, which add up fast at volume.
It’s Shopify’s most robust standard plan, but it comes with a steep jump in cost. For brands ready to scale with intention and clarity, this is the toolkit worth investing in.
5. Shopify Plus — Starting at $2,300/month
This is the ultimate Jacuzzi of the Shopify Plans. This luxurious plan is designed for enterprises that are already operating at scale and now need a platform that accelerates growth with flexibility, security, and deep control.
Great for: Enterprise-level eCommerce giants and high-volume B2B sellers.
This beast gives you advanced automation workflows, API access, unlimited staff accounts, multi-currency checkout, up to 200 inventory locations, and priority phone support.
It’s Shopify on steroids; powerful, but not plug-and-play. If you’re building something big, this is the enterprise engine to grow with.
| Shopify Plan | Monthly Billing | Annual Billing | Best For | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $5 | N/A | Creators & social-first sellers | Sell via WhatsApp/Instagram, minimal setup |
| Basic Shopify | $39 | $29 | New small businesses | Full online store, unlimited products, essential integrations |
| Shopify | $105 | $79 | Growing teams | Better shipping rates, more staff accounts, lower fees |
| Advanced Shopify | $399 | $299 | High-volume sellers | Custom reporting, advanced shipping, priority support |
| Shopify Plus | Starts at $2,300/mo | Annual only | Enterprise/Wholesale brands | B2B features, advanced APIs, launch engineer & account manager |
Pro Tip: All plans (except Plus) come with a 3-day free trial, then $1/month for the first 3 months. Start small. Shopify makes it easy to upgrade as your store grows. Unless you’re launching with 500+ SKUs or a complex setup, the Basic or Standard plans will cover you just fine.
What Extra Costs Come with Shopify Besides the Plans?
Beyond your monthly plan, there are quiet costs that add up fast, and most of them hit your profit margins directly. Transaction fees on every sale (especially with third-party gateways), domain registration, and the one-time cost of a premium theme can quickly turn into essential investments as you grow.
These are foundational to the overall cost to start a Shopify store, and they vary based on how big you want to launch.
1. Transaction Fees
Transaction fees are a quiet but constant cost — a percentage plus a flat fee on every sale, especially if you’re using a third-party payment provider. While Shopify Payments helps you skip those extra transaction fees, the standard card processing fees apply regardless.
- Basic Plan: 2.9% + 30¢ (online), 2.7% (in-person)
- Shopify Plan: 2.6% + 30¢
- Advanced Plan: 2.4% + 30¢
- Shopify Plus: 2.15% + 30¢
Along with these charges, add a percent or two extra for premium and international cards.
| Plan | Standard Cards (Visa, MC) | Premium Cards (Amex, Corp) | International Cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | 5.0% | 5.0% | +1% |
| Basic Shopify | 2.9% + 30¢ | 3.4% + 30¢ | +1% |
| Shopify | 2.6% + 30¢ | 3.3% + 30¢ | +1% |
| Advanced Shopify | 2.4% + 30¢ | 3.0% + 30¢ | +1% |
| Shopify Plus | 2.15% + 30¢ | 2.7% + 30¢ | +1% |
Note: These rates apply to U.S. cards. Other countries may vary slightly. In-person POS rates are different.
Use Third-Party Processors (PayPal, Stripe, etc.)
If you go outside Shopify Payments, get ready for additional platform fees:
- Basic: 2%
- Shopify Plan: 1%
- Advanced: 0.5%
These costs stack fast, especially with large order volumes. Choosing Shopify Payments not only streamlines checkout but saves you from these extra hits.
2. Domain Name Cost
A custom domain isn’t just about looking polished – it builds trust. While Shopify gives every store a free .myshopify.com address, most brands upgrade to something cleaner like yourbrand.com
Expect to pay $10–$30/year for a standard .com domain. Premium or short domains can go much higher, even into the thousands.
You can buy and manage your domain directly within Shopify, which keeps things simple. However, third-party registrars like GoDaddy or Namecheap offer deals as low as $5 for the initial year. Small cost, big impact — especially on credibility.
3. Design Cost
Think of your theme as your storefront window. It shapes how people feel the moment they land. Shopify’s free themes are a decent place to start, especially if you’re testing the waters. But they can feel limited, in both design and flexibility.
That’s where premium themes come in. With a one-time cost ranging from $140 to $500, they offer more polish, better built-in features, and room to grow; without needing a full-time developer.
If you’re aiming for a unique experience or custom functionality, hiring a developer is an option — but it’s a bigger investment, often between $2,000 and $20,000+.
Top Free Themes: Spotlight, Colorblock
Top Paid Themes: Pipeline, Stiletto
At this stage, it’s not just about looking good; it’s about building trust through design, and setting the tone for your brand. Pro brands often go for paid themes — not because they’re flashy, but because they convert better.
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4. App Fees
Think of Shopify’s App Store as your business’s power tools section. With a list of over 8000 tools, there’s an app for almost everything, and most of them charge every month.
Types of App Pricing:
- Free: Basic features only
- Freemium: Free trial → Paid subscription
- Paid: Monthly fees ranging from $5 to $100+
Must-Have App Categories:
- Email Marketing: Klaviyo (free up to 500 contacts), Shopify Email
- Page Builders: PageFly, EComposer, Shogun
- Reviews & UGC: Loox, Judge.me
- Live Chat: Shopify Inbox (free), Tidio, SmartBot
- Upsell/Cross-Sell: Zipify OneClick, ReConvert
While the typical cost range lies between $5–$50/month/app. Some can scale up to $299–$999/month for enterprise-worthy features.
Keep your stack lean early on. Focus on apps that directly contribute to revenue or improve customer experience.
5. Marketing and Launch Cost
No matter how great your store is, if no one sees it, you won’t make a dime. So, marketing is not optional; it’s the engine to reach your potential customers. Here are a few ways you can market your products.
Influencer Marketing
- Micro-influencers often charge $20–$100/post, or even promote for just free products. Great for early traction.
- Costs for TikTok influencers can range from around $800 for nano-influencers to over $7,000 for mega-influencers per post.
Paid Ads
- Meta (FB/IG), TikTok, and Google are your go-to platforms.
- Expect to spend $300–$1,500/month to test, optimize, and scale.
- Start with one platform and scale what works.
Email Marketing
- Klaviyo’s free plan is gold for early lists.
- Prioritize lead capture from Day 1 — email = high ROI.
SEO & Content Marketing
- Slow, but powerful long-term.
- Add a blog, optimize your product pages, and use keywords strategically.
- DIY with Shopify’s built-in SEO tools.
Photography
- DIY: Lightbox + your phone = professional enough for early sales
- Pro photoshoot: $500–$5,000, depending on models, props, and location
Pro Tip: Allocating 7% to 12% of your projected annual revenue toward marketing isn’t just smart — it’s standard. Most businesses hover around 7.7%, striking that balance between staying visible and scaling with intention.
1. Optional but Useful Tools & Costs
POS Pro: $89/month for In-Person Selling
Shopify Marketplace Connect: At 1% commission
Professional services: Legal Advice, Accountancy, or Branding
| Category | Lean Budget | Growth Budget |
|---|---|---|
| Shopify Plan | $29/month | $79/month |
| Domain & Theme | $30–$150 | $200–$500 |
| Design & Branding | Free–$300 | $1,000+ |
| Apps & Tools | $0–$50/month | $100–$300/month |
| Marketing/Ads | $200–$500/month | $1,500+/month |
| Product Samples/Inventory | $0–$200 | $1,000+ |
| Legal & Setup | $100–$500 | $1,500+ |
So, how much will it cost to start a Shopify Business in 2025?
- Starting lean? You can live under $500.
- Building a brand with momentum? Budget for $2,000–$3,000 minimum.
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Final Thoughts: Spend Smart, Scale Smarter
Starting a Shopify business isn’t just about what you spend; it’s about what you prioritize. Yes, some entrepreneurs go all in with a hefty $40K. Others bootstrap with a free theme, a $1 trial, and a clear marketing playbook.
If you know your numbers, stay lean where it matters, and reinvest your profits wisely. Whether you start with only $500 or a big $3000 bill, Shopify offers a scalable path from side hustle to a full-blown eCommerce brand.
Your store doesn’t need to be perfect on Day 1. But make sure you understand the business math. That needs to be rock solid.
