“How much does Shopify cost?” has a short answer (a monthly plan fee) and a real answer (plan
- payment fees + apps + theme). Here’s the full picture so there are no surprises.
The monthly plan
Shopify sells tiered monthly plans — from an entry Basic plan up to Advanced, with Shopify Plus for high-volume and enterprise merchants. Higher tiers lower your transaction fee and unlock reporting and automation. Pay annually and the monthly rate drops.
Payment & transaction fees
Two different things people confuse:
- Card-processing fee — a percentage + flat fee on each sale, charged by the payment processor (lower on higher plans).
- Shopify transaction fee — an extra cut Shopify takes only if you use a third-party gateway instead of Shopify Payments. Use Shopify Payments and this is waived.
The costs people forget
- Apps — most stores run a few paid apps (reviews, email, upsells). Budget for them.
- Theme — a free theme (Dawn, Horizon) is $0; premium themes are a one-time fee.
- Domain and any custom development.
So what does it really cost?
For most new stores: plan fee + ~a few paid apps + processing fees on sales. As you grow, the math shifts toward higher plans (lower fees) and Plus. If you’re weighing Shopify against another platform, see WooCommerce vs Shopify.
Setting up or moving a store and want it done right? We offer Shopify development and migrations — done for you.