Shopify Pricing Plans and Fees 2025: Complete Guide to Costs and Features by XOVAK STUDIO

So you’re trying to figure out what Shopify pricing really means in 2025.
 Smart move because that $39 monthly plan you’ve seen on Google? That’s just the beginning.

At XOVAK STUDIO, we’ve built and managed hundreds of Shopify stores for U.S. merchants. We’ve watched small brands grow into multimillion-dollar operations, and we’ve seen too many founders shocked when they realize their “$39 plan” is really costing them thousands more.

Not because Shopify is sneaky, but because no one explains the full picture.

Let’s fix that right now.

The Four Shopify Pricing Plans (and What They Actually Cost)

Shopify offers four main plans. Each unlocks better reporting, lower transaction fees, and more automation as you grow.

1. Basic Shopify – $39 / month

Perfect for new sellers. You can list unlimited products, discount codes, and get 24/7 support from Shopify.

You can list as many products as you want, offer discount codes, and get help at any time of the day.
Here’s some quick math — a $50 order means you’re paying roughly $1.75 in transaction fees. That doesn’t sound like much until you’re processing a hundred orders a day.

Perfect for solo founders or small businesses just getting started, usually under $50K in yearly sales.

2. Grow Plan  – $105 / month

Same core features but lower fees and better analytics.

Transaction Fees

Shopify Payments → 2.7% + 30¢

Third-party gateway → + 1%

Most growing U.S. stores end up here because the fee savings easily cover the higher subscription.

Best for: brands doing $50 K – $500 K per year that want more control.

3. Advanced Shopify – $399 / month

Now you’re scaling. This plan adds advanced reports, up to 15 staff accounts, and third-party-calculated shipping.Transaction Fees

Shopify Payments → 2.5% + 30¢

Third-party gateway → ≈ 0.6%

At $150 K+ monthly revenue, this plan often pays for itself through reduced fees alone.

Best for: established brands between $500 K – $2 M + annual sales.

4. Shopify Plus – Starting at $2,300 / month

This is Shopify’s enterprise level, the same platform used by Gymshark, Fashion Nova, and Kylie Cosmetics.

You either pay $2,300 per month or 0.25% of monthly sales (whichever’s higher), but your card fees can drop as low as 0.15%.

Best for: high-volume stores doing $2 M + per year or managing complex B2B operations.

The Hidden Shopify Fees No One Mentions

The monthly fee is just your ticket in.
 Here’s what actually hits your profit margins:
1. Transaction Fees

If you use Shopify Payments, you’re good.
 Use PayPal or Stripe, and Shopify tacks on its own fee (0.5 – 2 %).

Example: $100 K in monthly sales on the Basic plan + PayPal = $2,000 in extra Shopify fees, that’s $24 K a year.

Pro Tip: Unless you have a strong reason not to, stick with Shopify Payments.

2. App Costs

Most stores run 6 – 10 paid apps for email, reviews, subscriptions, upsells, and inventory.

Typical range: $100 – $500 per month
. Some merchants spend $1 K + without realizing it.
We do quarterly audits at XOVAK STUDIO and often save clients $200–500 monthly in unused apps.

3. Theme & Design Costs

Free Shopify themes work great when you’re just getting started. But once your store begins picking up traction, investing in a well-designed, conversion-focused theme is worth every dollar. 
Expect to spend around $180–$350 one time for a solid premium theme that looks professional and helps you sell more.

4. Shipping & Fulfillment

Shopify displays real-time carrier rates, but you still pay actual postage, packaging, and returns. Expect 10 – 15 % of product cost to go here.

What Real Merchants Actually Spend

 

As your revenue grows, the percentage you spend on Shopify drops.
 That’s the beauty of its pricing model: it scales with you.

When to Upgrade Your Shopify Plan

Most merchants upgrade too late. Here’s a simple roadmap we use at XOVAK STUDIO:

From Basic → Shopify at ≈ $40 K monthly revenue. Fee savings cover the difference.

To Advanced around $150 K monthly sales. Lower fees + advanced reporting = worth it.

Shopify Plus once you hit $2 M + per year or need automation/B2B features.

We help clients model the math before upgrading. Sometimes, waiting a quarter makes sense; sometimes, you’re already losing money by staying put.

Shopify Plus: Is It Worth $2,300 a Month?

If you’re under $1 M a year, probably not yet. 
But beyond that? Absolutely.

Here’s why:

Lower fees can save $10 K – $25 K per year vs Advanced.

Shopify Flow automation saves 20 – 30 hours a week in manual work.

Wholesale/B2B channel adds new revenue streams.

Handles 10 K+ orders per hour during BFCM with zero downtime.

Dedicated Launch & Success Managers on call 24/7.

That’s why enterprise brands stick with it

Shopify Pricing vs Competitors (2025)

 

Shopify isn’t always the cheapest option up front, but it easily saves you thousands later, fewer developer headaches, reliable uptime, and the peace of mind that your store just works, even on your busiest days.

Smart Ways to Cut Shopify Costs in 2025

Use Shopify Payments – avoid extra fees.

Pay annually – save ~10 %.

Audit apps quarterly – delete unused ones.


Invest in design – a theme that converts 3 % vs 1.5 % doubles sales.

Bundle tools – one comprehensive app often beats five cheaper ones.

The Bottom Line on Shopify Pricing

Shopify isn’t the cheapest platform.
 But it’s the most reliable, scalable, and merchant-friendly system for serious ecommerce.

Most stores spend 2 – 4 % of revenue on platform costs (plan + apps + theme).
 That’s a small price for infrastructure running your entire business.

The real question isn’t “Can I afford Shopify?” 
It’s “Can I afford downtime, security issues, or lost conversions?”

Ready to Launch or Scale Your Store?

At XOVAK STUDIO, we’re a Shopify Plus Agency helping U.S. brands build, optimize, and scale high-performing stores.
 We handle everything: custom development, app strategy, CRO optimization, and ongoing support, So you focus on growth.

Book a Free Consultation at Xovak studio
. Let’s build something that actually moves the needle for your business.