Which Shopify Plan Is Best?

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Shopify Plans and Features
3. Other Key Considerations
4. Which Shopify Plan Is Best for You?
5. Conclusion
6. FAQ

Introduction

When it comes to launching an ecommerce store, Shopify stands out as one of the leading platforms. But with several plans to choose from, the big question for many entrepreneurs remains: which Shopify plan is best? Making the right choice can be overwhelming, especially with the nuances in features and costs. Understanding these differences is crucial for aligning your business needs with the most suitable plan.

By the end of this post, you'll have a clear understanding of each Shopify plan's features, pricing, and the type of businesses they best serve. We’ll also provide some practical examples and considerations to help you decide. Let's dive in and figure out the best Shopify plan for you.

Shopify Plans and Features

Shopify offers five main pricing plans: Shopify Starter, Basic Shopify, Shopify (Standard), Advanced Shopify, and Shopify Plus. Each plan is tailored for different stages of a business, from startups to established enterprises.

Shopify Starter Plan

Cost: $5/month Transaction Fees: 5% + 30¢ per transaction

The Shopify Starter Plan is the most economical option and is ideal for entrepreneurs who want to test the waters without a significant investment. Unlike other plans, it doesn't provide a complete ecommerce website. Instead, it allows selling through social and messaging apps like Facebook and SMS.

Key Features:

• Basic sales functionality
• Ability to share products via SMS, email, and social media
• Single Storefront
• Inventory management

Ideal for: Small-scale sellers leveraging social media platforms or messaging apps to sell their products without needing a full-fledged website.

Basic Shopify Plan

Cost: $39/month Transaction Fees: 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction

The Basic Shopify Plan is perfect for businesses ready to establish an online presence. It includes a fully functional ecommerce website along with all the essential tools needed to manage a small online store. Notably, it introduces features like abandoned cart recovery, which can significantly boost your sales.

Key Features:

• Complete ecommerce website with blog functionality
• Abandoned cart recovery
• Up to 2 staff accounts
• Discount codes
• Shopify Payments for seamless transaction processing
• Free SSL certificate

Ideal for: Small businesses or startups looking to sell online and manage their store more efficiently without advanced reporting needs.

Shopify (Standard) Plan

Cost: $105/month Transaction Fees: 2.6% + 30¢ per transaction

The Shopify (Standard) Plan is designed for growing businesses that need more advanced features such as professional reports and better shipping discounts. This plan allows you to scale your store with additional staff accounts and better reporting capabilities.

Key Features:

• 5 staff accounts
• Professional reports
• Better shipping discounts (up to 88%)
• Standard tools for order and inventory management
• Gift cards

Ideal for: Medium-sized businesses that have steady sales and need more advanced tools to manage growth.

Advanced Shopify Plan

Cost: $399/month Transaction Fees: 2.4% + 30¢ per transaction

For businesses that are scaling rapidly, the Advanced Shopify Plan provides enhanced features such as custom reporting and third-party shipping rates calculation. This plan is tailored for businesses with significant sales volumes and requires fine-grained reporting capabilities.

Key Features:

• 15 staff accounts
• Advanced report builder for custom reports
• Third-party shipping rates calculability
• Premium support

Ideal for: Larger businesses with high-volume sales that need detailed insights into their sales data and customer behavior.

Shopify Plus Plan

Cost: Starting at $2,300/month Transaction Fees: Custom rates

Shopify Plus is tailored for enterprise-level companies with complex needs. It offers a robust infrastructure to support high-volume sales and includes features such as a dedicated account manager and priority support.

Key Features:

• Fully customizable checkout experience
• Lower transaction fees
• Dedicated account manager
• Advanced automation through Shopify Flow
• Extensive API support

Ideal for: Large enterprises looking for a scalable, customizable solution with premium support and extensive feature set.

Other Key Considerations

Shopify Payments

Using Shopify Payments can help you avoid additional transaction fees. This proprietary payment solution is integrated seamlessly with your Shopify store, offering hassle-free payment processing.

Shopify Apps

The Shopify App Store offers over 6,000 apps to extend your store’s functionality. Most apps come with a small monthly fee, so it’s important to budget for these additional costs.

Shopify Point of Sale (POS)

If you have a physical storefront, adding Shopify POS Pro to your plan can help manage in-person sales more efficiently. This service incurs an additional $89/month per location.

Shopify Domains and Email

Secure your custom domain directly from Shopify starting at $11 per year. For email marketing, Shopify allows you to send up to 10,000 emails per month for free, and charges $1 per 1,000 additional emails thereafter.

Which Shopify Plan Is Best for You?

To simplify your decision-making process:

• Use Shopify Starter if you want to sell through social media or messaging apps without a full website.
• Choose Basic Shopify if you're ready to create a complete online store but don't need advanced features.
• Opt for Shopify (Standard) if your business is growing and you need better reporting and additional staff accounts.
• Go with Advanced Shopify if you require custom reporting and advanced insights for your high-volume store.
• Select Shopify Plus if you run a large enterprise with complex needs and require full customization and premium support.

Conclusion

Each Shopify plan caters to different business needs. Understanding these can help you make an informed choice, ensuring you get the best value for your investment. Remember, you can always start with a lower-tier plan and upgrade as your business grows.

FAQ

What is the cheapest Shopify plan that includes an ecommerce website?

The cheapest plan with a full ecommerce website is the Basic Shopify plan, priced at $39 per month.

Can I change my Shopify plan later?

Yes, you can upgrade or downgrade your Shopify plan at any time based on your business needs.

Is Shopify Plus worth it?

Shopify Plus is worth it for large businesses that need extensive customization, premium support, and lower transaction fees. It offers features that are essential for enterprises managing high-volume sales.

By exploring each plan, you can determine which one aligns best with your business goals and growth trajectory. Wishing you success and growth in your ecommerce journey!