Shopify pricing plans: The complete 2024 guide
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Are you considering starting an online store or scaling your existing business with Shopify in 2024? Navigating Shopify's diverse pricing plans can be daunting, but don’t worry—we’re here to help.
This guide will walk you through each of Shopify's pricing plans, breaking down the features and Shopify costs to help you find the perfect fit for your needs.
You'll also learn how integrating with Gelato can maximize your product offerings and streamline your print on demand services, ensuring your business is poised for global success.
So, let’s dive in and find the best Shopify plan for your store!
Main takeaways from this article:
Shopify offers various pricing plans for different business needs, from Starter to Shopify Plus.
Each pricing plan has its own features, including varying online credit card rates and transaction fees.
The number of staff accounts and the level of reporting capabilities increase with the higher-tier plans.
Choosing the right plan depends on your business size, sales volume, and specific operational requirements.
Gelato's integration with Shopify apps enhances print on demand services, helping businesses expand their product range and global reach.
Overview of Shopify's pricing plans
Understanding the different Shopify plans is essential for tailoring the right tools to your business goals. Let's dive into each plan's features, costs, and benefits to help you make an informed decision.
Starter
The Starter plan is Shopify's most affordable entry point, aimed at helping new entrepreneurs and small businesses kick start their online sales journey. At $5 per month and $9 per month annually, it provides an affordable way to test the waters of ecommerce without a significant financial commitment. This plan is perfect for those who want to sell via social media, email marketing, and messaging apps without setting up a full-fledged online store.
This plan includes an online credit card rate of 5% + 30¢ per transaction and a transaction fee of 5% per sale if you use a third-party payment gateway. This plan does not include additional staff accounts, making it ideal for solo entrepreneurs or small operations.
Basic
If you have already forayed into ecommerce or are running a small business, the Basic Shopify plan will be perfect for you. This plan costs $29 monthly, but opting for an annual subscription can save you money with a reduced rate of $26 per month when paid upfront. It includes an online credit card rate of 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction, and if you choose not to use Shopify Payments, a 2% transaction fee will be applied to each sale.
You can also create up to two staff accounts, unlocking essential access for a small team to manage the store effectively.
This plan provides all the fundamental tools you need to set up your online store and start selling. It includes all standard reports, including financial reports, inventory reports, sales reports, and marketing reports, offering insights into your store’s performance and helping you make informed business decisions.
Retail
This plan is tailored specifically for businesses with a strong physical presence, offering tools that enhance in-store customer experiences. Whether you operate a single shop or multiple shops across different locations, the Retail plan equips your business with the necessary features to thrive.
The retail plan's monthly cost is competitively set at $83, and choosing the annual billing option can save you $780, effectively reducing the monthly equivalent to $74.
The online credit card rate is 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction, with a 2% transaction fee if not using Shopify Payments. This plan includes up to five staff accounts, detailed in-store analytics, and insights into customer behaviors and sales trends.
Shopify
The standard Shopify plan is ideal for expanding your business. This plan provides a balanced suite of tools and resources to help you easily manage a growing online store.
The Shopify cost is $79 per month, but opting for an annual subscription reduces the monthly cost to $71.10, billed annually at $853.20. The online credit card rate is 2.7% + 30¢ per transaction, and if not using Shopify Payments, a 1% transaction fee applies to each sale.
This plan allows for up to five staff accounts, which helps delegate various roles and manage different aspects of your store. With advanced reporting capabilities, this plan offers detailed insight into customer behaviors, sales trends, and more, empowering you to make informed business decisions.
Advanced
The Shopify advanced plan is geared toward growing businesses requiring more sophisticated scaling and automation tools.
It offers a comprehensive suite of features tailored to meet the needs of businesses looking to expand their operations, manage large inventories, and leverage detailed analytics for strategic decision-making. The monthly price is $299, and the annual pricing model totals $3,188.
This plan's online credit card rate is 2.5% + 30¢ per transaction. If you choose not to use Shopify Payments, the transaction fee is 0.6%. The Advanced plan allows you to create up to 15 staff accounts, facilitating better team collaboration. It also offers advanced reporting capabilities for generating custom reports, including access to the Advanced Report Builder tool.
Shopify Plus
Shopify Plus is designed for high-growth, high-volume businesses that require advanced capabilities and scalability. Starting at $2,300 per month, this plan offers robust features to meet the diverse needs of large enterprises. The plan allows for tailored pricing if you prefer an annual commitment and offers custom credit card rates based on your agreement and sales volume.
Shopify Plus provides unlimited staff accounts, enabling you to scale operations and manage a large team without extra costs. The plan also includes advanced, customizable reporting features, offering detailed analytics, custom reports, and insights.
Which plan is right for your Shopify store?
Now that you have the lowdown on the various Shopify pricing plans, let's break down how each plan caters to different business needs so you can make an informed decision.
Shopify Starter plan
This plan offers a simplified and streamlined setup, making it perfect for those just starting out and wanting to establish an online presence without a hefty financial commitment.
This plan is ideal for hobbyists, small businesses, and individuals looking to sell a limited number of products online.
Key advantages
Cost-effective: At a lower price point, this plan offers a budget-friendly way to start an online store.
Social media integration: Sell directly through social media platforms, leveraging your existing audience for immediate sales opportunities.
Payment gateway: Integrated payment processing through Shopify Payments helps streamline the transaction process.
Main limitations/drawbacks
Limited features: The Shopify Starter plan lacks advanced features such as professional reporting, in-depth analytics, and extensive customization options.
Restricted growth: As your business scales, you may quickly outgrow the Starter plan and need to upgrade to access more features and flexibility.
Transaction fees: If you choose not to use Shopify Payments, higher transaction fees apply, which could impact your overall profits.
Shopify Basic plan
This plan is an excellent starting point for entrepreneurs and small businesses venturing into the ecommerce world. It balances affordability and basic functionalities, making it an attractive choice for those looking to establish an online presence without a substantial initial investment.
This plan is ideal for small business owners, hobbyists, and new entrepreneurs who are ready to take their products online.
Key advantages
Customizable online store: Access to a range of free themes and basic customization options to match your brand's identity.
Sales channels: Ability to sell on multiple platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and more, thus expanding your reach.
Discount code creation: You can offer promotions and discounts easily to attract and retain customers.
Main limitations/drawbacks
Higher transaction fees: If you don't use Shopify Payments, you'll incur higher transaction fees per sale.
Limited staff accounts: The plan allows only up to two staff accounts, which might be insufficient for larger teams.
Fewer advanced features: Some advanced features like professional reports and international pricing are lacking, which are available in higher-tier plans.
Shopify Retail plan
The Shopify Retail plan is specifically designed for businesses with a physical storefront or those seeking to expand their online store to a brick-and-mortar presence. It combines the functionality of online sales with robust in-person selling features, making it a versatile choice for omnichannel retailing.
This plan is optimal for merchants who already have a physical store or are planning to open one.
Key advantages
Integrated POS system: The plan includes a powerful POS system, which is integral for businesses handling sales in both online and physical stores.
Hardware compatibility: Shopify provides compatible hardware like card readers and receipt printers, ensuring smooth in-store operations.
Advanced inventory management: Easily manage stock levels across multiple locations from a single dashboard.
Main limitations/drawbacks
Higher costs: The additional features for retail businesses are more expensive than the Basic and Starter plans.
Complex setup: Initial hardware and system integration setup can be more complex and time-consuming.
Dependency on Shopify POS: This plan's full benefits are realized only if you commit to using Shopify’s POS system, which may not be ideal for all businesses.
Standard Shopify plan
This plan strikes a balance between affordability and feature set. It is designed for growing businesses that need more robust functionalities than the Basic plan offers. This mid-tier plan includes everything you need to manage, market, and expand your online store, with added advantages like professional reports and lower transaction fees.
This plan is ideal for small to medium-sized businesses experiencing steady growth.
Key advantages
Comprehensive reports: Access professional reports that provide deeper insights into your store’s performance, helping you make data-driven decisions.
Advanced marketing tools: Utilize advanced marketing features to target your audience better and boost your sales.
Better shipping discounts: Benefit from superior shipping rates that can lower your fulfillment costs.
Main limitations/drawbacks
Cost: While the Advanced plan is more affordable, the monthly and annual costs are still higher than those of the Basic plan, which might be a consideration for startups or businesses with tight budgets.
Limited advanced features: Despite its strengths, the Standard plan lacks some of the more sophisticated features available in the Advanced and Plus plans, such as advanced report building and third-party calculated shipping rates.
Additional fees: You still incur transaction fees if you opt not to use Shopify Payments.
Advanced Shopify Plan
The Advanced Shopify Plan goes beyond the basics to cater to businesses that are growing rapidly and need more advanced features to scale effectively. Packed with powerful tools and functionalities, this plan offers the flexibility and depth needed for high-volume merchants and those seeking comprehensive analytics to drive their decision-making process.
This plan is ideal for established businesses experiencing significant growth, handling large order volumes, or looking to expand their operations globally.
Key advantages
Customizable checkout: Offering your customers a tailored checkout experience can help increase conversion rates and customer satisfaction.
Third-party calculated shipping rates: Provide real-time shipping rates from third-party services, giving your customers flexibility and transparency in shipping options.
Low transaction fees: Benefit from lower transaction fees than the basic and standard plans, which can significantly improve your bottom line for high-volume transactions.
Main limitations/drawbacks
Higher cost: With advanced features comes a higher price tag. This plan's monthly and annual Shopify fees are considerably higher than the basic plans, which might not be feasible for small businesses or startups.
Complexity: The robust features might be overwhelming for businesses without dedicated technical support or those unfamiliar with using advanced ecommerce tools.
Underutilization risk: Smaller businesses might not fully leverage all the advanced features, leading to underutilization and thus not justifying the higher costs associated with the plan.
Shopify Plus plan
When you're ready to take your business to the next level, the Shopify Plus plan offers unparalleled flexibility and power. This enterprise-level solution is designed to handle massive growth and provide customizations that meet the needs of high-volume businesses.
The Shopify Plus plan is ideal for large businesses and enterprises that require advanced features, superior performance, and customized solutions.
Key advantages
Scalability: Shopify Plus can handle thousands of transactions per minute, ensuring that your store performs well, even during high-traffic events.
Multi-channel capabilities: Easily integrate your online store with multiple sales channels like Amazon, eBay, and social media platforms.
Automation: With Shopify Flow, Plus users can create sophisticated automation workflows to streamline various business operations, from inventory management to customer segmentation.
Main limitations/drawbacks
Cost: Shopify Plus costs $2,300 per month, which can be prohibitive for small—to medium-sized businesses or startups.
Complexity: While the platform offers extensive features, it can be complex to set up and manage without appropriate technical expertise.
Overhead: The advanced features and comprehensive support might be more than what smaller businesses need, potentially leading to resource underutilization.
For easy access to your store, you can use the Shopify app that can easily be downloaded from the Shopify app store.
Grow your Shopify store with Gelato
Choosing the right Shopify plan sets the stage for your business's success, and Integrating Gelato with your Shopify store can elevate your offerings and streamline operations effortlessly.
With Gelato, you gain access to a global network of 130+ print partners, ensuring high-quality products and faster delivery times. Our robust features, like international shipping and easy design customization, make it an invaluable tool for any ecommerce platform aiming to scale efficiently.
Ready to take your Shopify store to the next level? Sign up for Gelato today and choose a subscription plan that suits your needs.