Fee Overview
| Fee Type | Details |
|---|---|
| Who It's For | New ecommerce entrepreneurs starting their first online store. Best value for getting started with a full-featured platform. |
| What's Included | Unlimited products, 2 staff accounts, 24/7 support, Shopify POS Lite, and a basic online store with a free theme. |
| Transaction Fees | 0% with Shopify Payments, 2% with external payment providers on this plan. |
| Credit Card Rates | Online: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction. In-person: 2.7% per transaction with Shopify POS. |
Key Takeaway
Entry-level Shopify online store
Pro Tips
ðĄ Tip: Shopify Basic includes unlimited products â there's no cap on product listings. Focus on building a focused catalog rather than spreading yourself thin across too many SKUs. A smaller, well-curated product range often outsells a large generic catalog.
ðĄ Tip: Use abandoned cart recovery on Basic Shopify to recover lost sales. This feature alone can recover 5-15% of abandoned checkouts â at $10K monthly revenue, that's an extra $500-$1,500/month recovered at no extra cost.
ðĄ Tip: The 2% external payment gateway fee on Basic Shopify adds up fast. If you process $5,000/month through PayPal or Stripe, you're paying $100/month in extra fees. Enable Shopify Payments to eliminate this entirely.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many products can I sell on Shopify Basic?
Shopify Basic allows unlimited products in your store â there's no cap on product listings. You get 2 staff accounts, 24/7 support, a free SSL certificate, and abandoned cart recovery. However, you pay a 2% transaction fee on external payment gateways (PayPal, Stripe, etc.) vs 0% on Shopify Payments. At $50,000/month in revenue, the 2% fee costs $1,000/month in extra fees â upgrade to Shopify Payments or switch to the Shopify plan to reduce this.
What are the storage limits on Shopify Basic?
Shopify Basic includes unlimited file storage for images, videos, and documents â there's no storage cap. You can upload as many product images, blog posts, and files as you need. Shopify's CDN ensures fast global delivery regardless of file count. The only practical limits on Basic Shopify are the 2% external transaction fee and the lack of professional reports (available on the $105/month Shopify plan).
Can I use Shopify Basic for in-person sales?
Shopify Basic includes Shopify POS Lite for in-person card payments. In-person rates are 2.7% per transaction (vs 2.9% + $0.30 online). This is perfect for craft fairs, pop-up shops, or markets. For full POS features like inventory management and hardware, upgrade to Shopify POS ($79+/month).
What's the difference between Basic Shopify and Shopify Lite?
Shopify Lite ($9/mo) only allows Buy Buttons and Facebook/Instagram selling â no actual online store. Basic Shopify ($39/mo) gives you a full online store with unlimited products, abandoned cart recovery, professional reports, and 2 staff accounts. If you need anything beyond Buy Buttons, Basic Shopify is the minimum plan required.
Key Takeaways
- Use Shopify Payments to eliminate the 2% external gateway fee â saves $200+/year at $10K revenue.
- Upgrade to Shopify Plan ($105/mo) once you exceed $1,000/month in sales â the 1% fee reduction pays for itself.
- Annual billing saves 25% vs monthly ($39 vs $49/mo on Basic). Use our Shopify calculator to compare plan costs.
Data Methodology & Disclaimer
Fee data and benchmarks in this article are sourced from official platform documentation and cross-referenced with publicly available rate schedules as of April 2026. Calculations use standard fee formulas; individual results vary based on product category and specific listing details.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice. Check the latest rates at each platform's official seller fees page. Fee structures reflect publicly available information as of April 2026 and are subject to change. Always verify current rates before making financial decisions.