Shopify costs & pricing
What a Shopify store really costs: the subscription, payment fees, apps, a theme or a custom build, and the work after launch.
The price of a Shopify plan is the number everyone compares, and it is rarely the number that decides what a store costs. The real budget is the subscription plus everything around it: payments, apps, the theme or build, and the people who keep the store growing.
The subscription
Shopify sells a handful of plans, from Basic up to Shopify Plus for larger and more complex businesses. The higher plans lower some fees and unlock features such as more staff accounts, advanced reports and, on Plus, the most control over checkout, B2B and automation. Prices change and differ per region, so check Shopify's own pricing page for current numbers.
Payment fees
Every order carries a payment processing fee. With Shopify Payments that is the only fee; with a third-party provider most plans add a Shopify transaction fee on top. On a store with real volume, this line is often bigger than the subscription. More on that in Payments & checkout.
Apps, theme and development
Apps add features at a monthly price each, and they add up quickly. A premium theme is a one-off cost; a custom theme or a headless build is a project with its own budget, and the right choice depends on how far your store needs to move from a standard layout. We explain what goes into that on our Build page.
After launch
A store is never finished. Budget for SEO, conversion work, new features and maintenance, whether that is time from your own team or from a partner.
Questions
What people ask about this topic.
The subscription is only part of it. Add payment fees, apps and any ongoing development or marketing. For a small store the monthly total can stay modest; for a growing brand, apps and work on the store usually cost more than the plan itself.
When volume, complexity or control start to matter more than the plan price: high order volumes, B2B, several storefronts, advanced checkout customisation or automation. For most smaller stores a standard plan is enough.
Upfront, yes. A premium theme is a one-off purchase, a custom theme is a design and development project. It pays off when your brand, catalog or conversion goals need more than a theme can do without heavy workarounds.