Shopify powers over 4 million stores worldwide, but choosing the right plan isn't straightforward. The monthly fee is just the starting point — transaction fees, credit card rates, and the features you actually need all factor into your true cost. This guide breaks down every Shopify plan for 2026 so you can make the right call for your business size.
What Are Shopify's Pricing Plans in 2026?
| Plan | Monthly Fee | Transaction Fee (Shopify Payments) | Transaction Fee (External) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Shopify | $39/mo | 2.9% + $0.30 | 2.0% |
| Shopify | $105/mo | 2.6% + $0.30 | 1.0% |
| Advanced Shopify | $399/mo | 2.4% + $0.30 | 0.5% |
| Shopify Plus | Custom ($2,000+/mo) | Negotiated | Negotiated |
The transaction fee differences matter. If you process $100,000/month with external payment providers (like Stripe or PayPal), upgrading from Basic ($2,000/month in external fees) to Shopify ($1,000/month in external fees) saves you $1,000/month — or $12,000/year.
What Features Does Each Shopify Plan Include?
Basic Shopify — $39/mo
Best for: New stores, dropshippers, side-project sellers.
- 2 online stores + unlimited POS Lite
- 2 staff accounts
- Free SSL certificate
- Shopify App Store access
- Manual order creation
- Discount codes
- Up to 1,000 inventory locations
Good fit if: You're just starting, have low volume, and don't need advanced reporting or shipping discounts.
Shopify — $105/mo
Best for: Growing businesses with consistent sales ($5Kโ$50K/month).
- Everything in Basic
- 5 staff accounts (vs 2)
- Professional reports
- Up to 5 locations
- Cart recovery emails
- Reduced Shopify Payments fee (2.6% vs 2.9%)
- Reduced external payment fee (1.0% vs 2.0%)
Good fit if: You're growing and need better reporting, more staff access, and lower transaction fees.
Advanced Shopify — $399/mo
Best for: Scaling businesses with $50K+/month in sales.
- Everything in Shopify
- 15 staff accounts
- Advanced report builder
- Third-party calculated shipping rates
- Lowest payment processing rates (2.4%)
- Bespoke shipping carrier accounts
- Customizer report builder
Good fit if: You need carrier-calculated real-time shipping rates (third-party apps) and advanced analytics. The 0.2% rate reduction vs Shopify plan saves $200/month per $100K in sales.
Which Shopify Plan Saves You the Most Money?
Scenario: Your store processes $50,000/month in sales. You use Shopify Payments for all transactions.
| Plan | Monthly Fee | Payment Fees ($50K) | Total Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $39 | $1,450 | $1,489 |
| Shopify | $105 | $1,300 | $1,405 |
| Advanced | $399 | $1,200 | $1,599 |
At $50K/month with Shopify Payments, the Shopify plan ($105/mo) is actually the cheapest overall. The monthly fee savings outweigh the rate reduction benefits until you hit ~$130K/month.
What Are Shopify's Transaction Fees vs External Payment Providers?
Using Shopify Payments (Shopify's built-in payment processor) eliminates external transaction fees. If you use Stripe, PayPal, or any other payment provider, you'll pay Shopify's external transaction fee on top of the provider's fees.
- Basic + External provider: 2.0% extra
- Shopify + External provider: 1.0% extra
- Advanced + External provider: 0.5% extra
For most stores, Shopify Payments is the best choice because it eliminates this surcharge entirely. However, Shopify Payments isn't available in all countries — check availability for your location.
When Should You Upgrade Your Shopify Plan?
- Upgrade to Shopify from Basic when: You need more than 2 staff accounts, professional reports, or you're processing $20K+/month and the rate reduction pays for the upgrade.
- Upgrade to Advanced from Shopify when: You need third-party calculated shipping rates or process $130K+/month with Shopify Payments.
- Consider Shopify Plus when: You process $2M+/year, need custom checkout, dedicated support, and API access for wholesale/B2B channels.