Shopify Plans at a Glance
- Online store + blog
- Unlimited products
- 2 staff accounts
- 24/7 support
- 2% transaction fee (if not using Shopify Payments)
- Basic reports
- Everything in Basic
- 5 staff accounts
- 1% transaction fee
- Professional reports
- USPS cubic pricing
- Gift cards
- Everything in Shopify
- 15 staff accounts
- 0.5% transaction fee
- Advanced reports
- Third-party calculated shipping rates
- Custom pricing by market
Which Plan Should Beginners Start With?
Start with the Basic plan. It has everything you need to launch a real store, process orders, and start generating revenue. The limitations — fewer staff accounts, basic reports, and a slightly higher transaction fee — are irrelevant when you are just starting out.
Upgrade to the Shopify plan when you are consistently doing over $2,000/month in revenue and need more detailed analytics to understand where sales are coming from.
What About Shopify Starter?
Shopify also offers a Starter plan at $5/month. This gives you a buy button and checkout you can embed on an existing website or social profile — but no full online store. It is useful for creators who already have an audience and just need a simple way to sell. For anyone wanting a real store, start with Basic.
Hidden Costs to Know About
- Transaction fees: If you use a payment provider other than Shopify Payments, Shopify charges 2% (Basic), 1% (Shopify), or 0.5% (Advanced) on every transaction. Use Shopify Payments where available to eliminate this.
- Apps: Many useful Shopify apps have monthly fees ranging from $5 to $50+. Budget $30–$60/month for a basic app stack as you grow.
- Theme: Paid Shopify themes cost $150–$350 one-time. The free themes are genuinely good — start with Dawn or Craft.
- Domain: Shopify charges ~$14/year for a .com domain, or you can connect one from GoDaddy, Namecheap, etc.
Ready to start? The Basic plan is $1/month for your first 3 months through our affiliate link. That is the cheapest way to launch a real Shopify store.
Start Shopify yourself here →Affiliate disclosure — we earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.