Selecting the right Shopify plan is an important decision that you need to make when you launch your online store. There are different pricing options offered by Shopify, each with varying features catering to different business needs.
Whether you’re just starting or scaling your eCommerce empire, selecting the right plan ensures that your store is well-equipped to handle growth while staying cost-effective. In this article, we’ll guide you through the different Shopify plans and help you determine which one is best suited to your business.
1. Understanding Shopify’s Pricing Tiers
Shopify offers three main pricing plans for businesses to choose from: Basic, Shopify, and Advanced. Each plan comes with a different set of features, and the price increases as you move up the tiers.
- Basic Shopify Plan
- Price: $39/month
- Best For: New businesses or startups
- Features:
- Online store (website and blog)
- Unlimited product listings
- 2 staff accounts
- Basic reporting
- Discount codes
- 24/7 support
- Access to Shopify’s app marketplace
- Shopify Plan
- Price: $105/month
- Best For: Growing businesses with more sales and customer interaction
- Features:
- All features of the Basic plan
- 5 staff accounts
- Professional reports (more detailed insights into sales and customer data)
- Gift cards
- Lower transaction fees
- Advanced shipping options
- Shopify POS for in-person sales
- Advanced Shopify Plan
- Price: $399/month
- Best For: Established businesses with higher volumes of sales
- Features:
- All features of the Shopify plan
- 15 staff accounts
- Advanced report builder (allows deeper insights into data)
- Lower transaction fees
- Third-party calculated shipping rates
- International pricing support
2. Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a Shopify Plan
Selecting the right Shopify plan depends on a variety of factors. Here are some important considerations:
- Size of Your Business
If you’re just starting out, the Basic plan might be all you need. As your sales and customer base grow, you can upgrade to the Shopify plan or Advanced plan for more sophisticated features like better reporting and lower transaction fees. - Sales Volume
For businesses making fewer than $10,000 in monthly sales, the Basic plan will likely be sufficient. However, if you’re bringing in $10,000 or more per month, you might want to consider the Shopify plan or Advanced plan, as they offer lower transaction fees, which can help you save money as your sales increase. - Staff Access
The Basic plan offers up to 2 staff accounts, while the Shopify plan gives you up to 5 and the Advanced plan offers up to 15. If you have a growing team or need more people to manage your store, you might want to consider the higher-tier plans. - Advanced Features
The Shopify and Advanced plans come with additional reporting tools that provide more in-depth insights into your store’s performance, customer behavior, and sales trends. These advanced reports can be invaluable for businesses that need detailed analysis for decision-making. - Customization Needs
If you need more customization and control over your store’s design, both the Shopify and Advanced plans offer greater customization options, such as the ability to access more themes and customize the checkout process.
3. Do You Need Shopify Plus?
If you’re running an enterprise-level business, Shopify also offers a premium plan called Shopify Plus. This is best suited for businesses with high-volume sales and advanced needs, such as multinational companies, wholesalers, or businesses that need highly customized workflows. Shopify Plus pricing varies based on your specific needs, and it includes features like:
- Unlimited staff accounts
- Advanced API integrations
- Dedicated account manager
- More powerful reporting tools
- Custom checkout experience
While Shopify Plus offers a lot of power and flexibility, it’s generally more than what small businesses need, so it’s usually reserved for large-scale businesses.
4. Shopify’s Transaction Fees and Payment Processors
One of the key differences between the plans is the transaction fees that Shopify charges. If you use Shopify Payments (their built-in payment processor), these fees are lower. However, if you use a third-party payment gateway, Shopify charges an additional transaction fee (up to 2% on the Basic plan, 1% on the Shopify plan, and 0.5% on the Advanced plan).
This is an important consideration if you’re planning to use a third-party processor like PayPal or Stripe, as the fees can add up quickly. Shopify Payments, however, integrates seamlessly with your store and doesn’t charge additional fees, making it the most cost-effective option.
5. How to Switch Plans
As your business grows, you may find that you need to upgrade or downgrade your Shopify plan. Luckily, Shopify makes it easy to change your plan at any time. You can upgrade to a higher plan if you need more features, or downgrade if your business needs change. The transition is seamless, and your store will continue running smoothly during the switch.
6. Conclusion: Which Shopify Plan Is Right for You?
Ultimately, the best Shopify plan for your business depends on your specific needs and goals. If you’re just starting out, the Basic plan will give you all the essentials to build and run your store. As your business grows and you need more advanced features, consider upgrading to the Shopify or Advanced plans for better reporting, lower transaction fees, and more staff access.
Take into account your sales volume, team size, and the features you need when making your decision. Remember that you can always upgrade as your business expands. By selecting the right Shopify plan from the start, you can set your store up for long-term success.