How Much Does Shopify Cost? A Full Breakdown for Store Owners
If you're asking how much does Shopify cost, you're likely serious about launching or scaling your online business. And while Shopify’s pricing plans are easy to find, the real cost of using Shopify goes beyond the monthly fee.
In this guide, we’ll break down the full picture: Shopify pricing tiers, transaction fees, theme costs, app subscriptions, development work, and the hidden costs most merchants overlook.
Shopify’s Monthly Pricing Plans
Shopify offers three core pricing tiers (in USD):
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Basic Shopify – $39/month
Great for small stores or first-time sellers. Includes everything you need to launch a store. -
Shopify – $105/month
Ideal for growing stores. Unlocks more reports and staff accounts. -
Advanced Shopify – $399/month
For scaling brands that need advanced reporting, shipping discounts, and automation.
There’s also Shopify Plus, starting at $2,000/month, designed for enterprise-level businesses.
Transaction Fees: What You Actually Pay Per Sale
If you use Shopify Payments, you avoid extra fees—but you’ll still pay credit card processing:
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2.9% + 30¢ per transaction on Basic
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2.6% + 30¢ on the Shopify plan
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2.4% + 30¢ on Advanced
If you use an external gateway like PayPal or Stripe, Shopify adds a 0.5%–2% transaction fee on top.
📌 Total Cost Tip: If your average order value is high, upgrading your plan could save you more in processing fees than you’ll spend in plan fees.
Themes: Free vs Paid
Shopify has great free themes, but most growing brands invest in a premium theme priced at a one-time cost of $200–$350. These often include better layout options, performance, and mobile UX.
Many agencies (like ours) also customize themes to match your brand, which can add development time but improves conversion rates dramatically.
Apps: The Ongoing Costs Most Merchants Miss
Apps are Shopify’s secret weapon—but they also add to your monthly costs.
Common app categories and average prices:
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Reviews: $15–$30/month
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Upsells and bundles: $20–$40/month
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SEO tools: $10–$20/month
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Subscription management: $50–$100/month
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Advanced filtering or metafields: $10–$25/month
Most stores use 3–10 apps, so you’re likely looking at an extra $50–$200/month in app fees.
Development & Agency Support
If you’re doing it all yourself, Shopify’s tools go a long way. But many merchants work with a Shopify Partner agency (like us) for:
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Store setup and branding
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Theme customizations
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UX and conversion optimization
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Ongoing support or retainers
💡 Projects often range from $3,000 to $10,000+ depending on complexity, but many stores make that back quickly with improved performance and higher conversion rates.
Hidden Costs to Be Aware Of
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Time: DIY setup takes longer and often leads to mistakes that cost more later.
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Missed conversions: A poor layout or unclear messaging will cost you sales.
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Cheap themes: Saving money on design can limit growth long-term.
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Unnecessary apps: Too many apps can slow your site down or create feature overlap.
Total Cost of Ownership (TCO): What Shopify Really Costs
Let’s say you’re launching a Shopify store with:
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Basic Shopify plan: $39/month
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One paid theme: $300 one-time
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5 apps: $100/month
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Payment fees: 2.9% on all sales
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Basic dev help: $5,000 one-time
In Year 1, your total cost of ownership might range from $7,500–$10,000+, depending on your volume and complexity.
But remember: Shopify isn’t just a cost—it’s a growth platform. When set up properly, your store can earn back those expenses quickly with the right strategy, design, and marketing in place.
Final Thoughts
If you're researching how much Shopify costs, don’t stop at the monthly fee. Think about the full ecosystem: themes, apps, support, and long-term growth. That’s your real cost of ownership—and it’s exactly what we help our clients plan for.
Need help building your Shopify store the right way—without overspending or missing key details? Book a free discovery call with our team and we’ll guide you step-by-step.