The number on Shopify’s pricing page is real, and it is the smaller half of what you will pay. This page lays out the plans, then adds everything else a first year actually costs — with every assumption printed next to its number, so you can swap in your own.
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The plans
| Plan | Billed yearly | Billed monthly | Online card rate | Extra fee, other gateways | Staff accounts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $29/mo | $39/mo | 2.9% + 30¢ | 2% | None |
| Grow | $79/mo | $105/mo | 2.7% + 30¢ | 1% | Up to 5 |
| Advanced | $299/mo | $399/mo | 2.5% + 30¢ | 0.6% | Up to 15 |
| Plusthree-year term | from $2,300/mo | — | Custom | 0.2% | Unlimited |
Figures from Shopify’s published US pricing, checked 24 September 2026. Prices differ by country — Shopify’s pricing page shows the ones that apply to you.
What each plan actually adds
Basic ($29/month billed yearly) has everything needed to sell: the online store, unlimited products, the checkout, discount codes, abandoned checkout recovery and email campaigns. What it lacks is staff accounts — it is a plan for one person.
Grow ($79/month) adds up to five staff accounts and a lower card rate. Nothing else on it changes how you sell; it is the plan for a small team, and for the point where the rate saving pays for itself.
Advanced ($299/month) adds up to fifteen staff accounts, the lowest standard card rate, real-time third-party shipping rates at checkout, and per-region storefront customisation. It is for stores already selling internationally at volume.
Plus starts at $2,300/month on a three-year term, with unlimited staff, 200 inventory locations and a fully customisable checkout. If you need it, you will not be reading a comparison page to find out.
Monthly or yearly billing?
Billed yearly, Basic costs $29 a month against $39 billed monthly — roughly a quarter off, on every plan. But in the first year the introductory offer changes the sum: 3 months at $1, then the monthly price, comes to $354 for Basic, against $348 paid upfront for the year.
Near enough the same money, with one difference that matters: monthly billing lets you leave. Pay monthly in year one, and switch to yearly once you know the store is staying.
What a first year really costs
A small store on Basic: $2,000 a month in sales at a $50 average order, a free Shopify theme, and $30 a month of apps.
| Line | Assumption | Year one |
|---|---|---|
| Basic plan, billed yearly | $29/mo, paid upfront | $348 |
| Card processing | $2,000 a month in $50 orders, at 2.9% + 30¢ | $840 |
| Theme | a free Shopify theme | $0 |
| Apps | $30 a month in subscriptions | $360 |
| Total | plan price is 22% of it | $1,548 |
A growing store on Grow: $15,000 a month at a $60 average order, a $350 premium theme, and $120 a month of apps.
| Line | Assumption | Year one |
|---|---|---|
| Grow plan, billed yearly | $79/mo, paid upfront | $948 |
| Card processing | $15,000 a month in $60 orders, at 2.7% + 30¢ | $5,760 |
| Theme | one-off premium theme | $350 |
| Apps | $120 a month in subscriptions | $1,440 |
| Total | plan price is 11% of it | $8,498 |
In both, the plan is a minority of the bill. Card processing grows with you and apps creep — which is why the only plan decision that really matters is when the next one up pays for itself.
When to move up a plan
Each plan up costs more per month and charges a lower card rate. Past a certain monthly card revenue, the saving covers the difference. Because the fixed cents per order are the same on every plan, this figure is exact rather than an estimate:
| Upgrade | Extra plan cost | Card rate saving | Pays for itself above |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic → Grow | $50/mo | 0.2 pts | $25,000/mo |
| Grow → Advanced | $220/mo | 0.2 pts | $110,000/mo |
Start on Basic. Move to Grow when you need a second login or pass the threshold above, whichever comes first. More on this in our decision guide.
Questions we get asked
Is there a free Shopify plan?
No. There is a free trial, then an introductory price for the first months — the terms are on our free trial page. Themes, on the other hand, can be entirely free: all 24 free themes are made by Shopify.
Can I change plan later?
Yes, up or down. Billing adjusts from the change, which is why starting on the smallest plan that works costs you nothing.
Are there costs not on the pricing page?
Apps, premium themes, a custom domain, and the card fees themselves. The fees page lists everything that can appear on a Shopify bill.
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