Shopify Fees 2026: How Much Does It Cost to Sell on Shopify

If you’re considering starting an online store, Shopify is one of the most popular eCommerce platforms for sellers worldwide. Its user-friendly interface, robust features, and scalability make it an attractive option for beginners and experienced entrepreneurs alike. However, before launching your store, it’s crucial to understand Shopify fees—the costs associated with running your business on this platform.

Knowing how much does shopify cost upfront can help you plan your budget effectively, avoid unexpected expenses, and maximize your profits. Many new sellers overlook the variety of costs involved, from monthly subscription fees to transaction charges and additional app expenses. These can add up quickly if not accounted for.

In this comprehensive guide, we will break down how much it costs to sell on Shopify in 2026, including a detailed look at pricing plans, transaction fees, optional costs, and tips to reduce expenses. By the end of this article, you’ll have a clear understanding of the financial commitment required to run a Shopify store, helping you make informed decisions for your business.

If you’d rather skip the setup and launch faster, explore how a done-for-you Shopify store works in 2025.

Overview of Shopify Fees

Before launching a Shopify store, understanding the different types of fees is essential. Shopify charges fees in several categories, and these costs vary depending on your chosen plan, payment method, and additional features. Being aware of these fees helps sellers budget accurately and optimize their profits.

Monthly Subscription Fees

The first cost to consider is the monthly subscription fee. Shopify offers multiple pricing plans, each providing different features and support levels. The plan you choose determines your base cost, access to advanced tools, and transaction fee rates.

Transaction Fees

Shopify applies transaction fees on each sale, which depend on your subscription plan and whether you use Shopify Payments or a third-party payment gateway. These fees typically range from 0.5% to 2% per transaction. Using Shopify Payments can reduce or eliminate additional transaction fees, making it a cost-effective option for many sellers.

Payment Processing Fees

In addition to transaction fees, sellers must consider payment processing fees. These are charged by the payment gateway you use, such as Shopify Payments, PayPal, or Stripe, and usually range between 2.4% and 2.9% per transaction plus a fixed fee per sale. These fees are separate from Shopify’s subscription or transaction fees.

Optional and Add-On Fees

Beyond the base costs, many Shopify sellers incur additional expenses for apps, premium themes, custom domains, and marketing tools. While optional, these add-ons can enhance your store’s functionality and customer experience but also increase overall costs.

Key Takeaway:

Shopify fees are not limited to a single monthly payment. Sellers must account for subscription plans, transaction and payment processing fees, and potential add-ons. Understanding these categories ensures a realistic picture of the total cost of selling on Shopify.

Explore trending beauty and cosmetic products for 2025 and find high-demand items perfect for boosting your online store’s sales.

How Much Does it Cost to Sell on Shopify?

Shopify Subscription Plans

Shopify Starter Plan

While Shopify’s core ecommerce pricing plans are the most common choice for online stores, Shopify also offers a Starter plan that lets entrepreneurs sell through social media, messaging apps, and simple product links. This plan is significantly cheaper than full online store plans and is ideal for sellers who don’t need a full website immediately.

Key Features:

Affordable entry point (as low as $5/month in some markets)
Sell via Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and messaging apps
Simple buy button & checkout link functionality
Works well for early-stage sellers or micro-businesses

Best For:
Beginners or side-hustle sellers who want to test demand and generate sales before investing in a full online storefront.

Basic Shopify Plan

Price:

$19/month (if billed annually — Shopify’s recommended pricing)
$25/month (billed monthly)

Who It’s For:

New ecommerce sellers launching their first online store.

Key Features:

Fully hosted online storefront (no coding required)
Unlimited products and file storage
SSL certificate for secure checkout
24/7 customer support via chat and email
Up to 10 inventory locations
Abandoned cart recovery (helps recover lost sales)
Sell on multiple channels (online store, social media)
Discount codes & promotional tools
Basic analytics dashboard
In-person selling via Shopify POS
Shipping discounts (up to ~77%)

Payment Fees (Shopify Payments):

2.9% + 30¢ per online transaction
2.6% + 10¢ for in‑person sales
2.0% fee if using a third‑party payment provider instead of Shopify Payments

This plan gives you everything needed to start selling online without advanced reporting or heavy customization.

Shopify Grow Plan

Price:

$49 USD per month (if billed annually)
$65 USD per month (if billed monthly)

Who It’s For:

Stores with increasing sales volume that need better reporting and lower fees.

Key Features Include:

Everything included in Basic Shopify
Up to 5 staff accounts (for team collaboration)
Professional reporting tools for business insights
Better shipping discounts and shipping insurance
Improved ecommerce analytics
Support for multiple sales channels (online store + marketplaces)
Lower third-party payment fee (1.0% if not using Shopify Payments)

Payment Fees (Shopify Payments):

2.7% + 30¢ per online sale
2.5% + 10¢ for in‑person transactions
Third‑party payment fees reduced to about 1.0%

This plan is ideal when your store has steady traffic and you want deeper insights and better fee structures.

Advanced Shopify Plan

Price:

$299 USD per month (if billed annually)
$399 USD per month (if billed monthly)

Who It’s For:

Established sellers with high sales volume, complex inventory, or advanced fulfillment needs.

Key Features Include:

All Shopify plan features
Up to 15 staff accounts
Third-party calculated shipping rates (real-time carrier rates at checkout)
Enhanced inventory and fulfillment tools
Local storefronts by markets (sell internationally with localized settings)
Higher shipping discounts (up to ~88%)
Advanced analytics and reports

Payment Fees (Shopify Payments):

2.5% + 30¢ online
2.4% + 10¢ in‑person
0.6% fee if using a third‑party payment provider

Advanced Shopify is tailored for merchants who need real‑time shipping insights, more team access, and deeper reporting.

Shopify Plus Plan

Price:

Starting at $2,500 USD per month on a 1‑year contract
Around $2,300 USD per month on a 3‑year contract
May include a variable platform fee depending on revenue and business model

Who It’s For:

High‑volume sellers, enterprise brands, and stores requiring advanced customization, wholesale/B2B tools, and priority support.

Key Features Include:

Unlimited staff accounts
Up to 200 inventory locations
Fully customizable checkout experience
Shopify POS Pro (multiple POS locations included)
Built-in B2B and wholesale features
Unlimited staging stores for testing and development
Managed Markets for global sales with localization tools
Priority 24/7 phone support
Access to advanced analytics tools such as ShopifyQL

Transaction Fees:

Shopify Plus often negotiates lower card processing fees, but exact rates depend on region and sales volume.

This plan is designed for merchants who need enterprise‑grade performance, flexibility, and support.

Want to expand beyond cosmetics? Learn how to dropship from AliExpress to Shopify with this complete 2025 guide.

Start a free trial and enjoy 3 months of Shopify for $1/month

🚀 Start Shopify Trial

Trusted by over 2,000,000 businesses worldwide

Designs and Templates Fees

Shopify allows sellers to design their online store using pre-built themes available in the Shopify Theme Store. These themes control the layout, branding, and overall user experience of your store.

Shopify currently offers both free and paid themes. Free themes are suitable for beginners and small stores, while paid themes provide advanced design flexibility and built-in features.

Shopify offers approximately 10+ free themes
There are 70+ paid themes available in the official theme marketplace
Paid Shopify themes typically cost between $150 and $350 (one-time payment)

Some premium themes are sold by third-party theme developers such as Pixel Union, Out of the Sandbox, and Archetype. These themes often include advanced customization options, enhanced performance, and additional support.

Third-party premium themes can cost up to $500 as a one-time fee

There are no recurring charges for Shopify themes. Once purchased, the theme can be used indefinitely on a single store. However, switching themes later may require additional customization or development work.

Key Insight:

Themes are a one-time cost, but premium designs can significantly impact conversion rates, branding, and user experience.

Shopify Transaction Fees

Whenever a sale is made on Shopify, a transaction fee may apply. This fee is charged on top of payment processing fees and depends on whether you use Shopify Payments or a third-party payment provider.

Transaction fees are calculated as a percentage of the order value, and the rate decreases as you upgrade your Shopify subscription plan.

Transaction Fees by Plan (Using Shopify Payments)

Basic Shopify Plan:
2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
Shopify Plan:
2.7% + $0.30 per transaction
Advanced Shopify Plan:
2.5% + $0.30 per transaction

This means higher Shopify plans offer lower transaction fees, which can result in significant savings for high-volume sellers.

Third-Party Payment Gateway Fees

If you choose to use a third-party payment provider instead of Shopify Payments, Shopify charges an additional transaction fee:

Basic Shopify: 2.0%
Shopify Plan: 1.0%
Advanced Shopify: 0.6%

Key Insight:

Using Shopify Payments eliminates extra transaction fees, making it the most cost-effective option for most sellers.

Explore the best print-on-demand jewelry suppliers in 2025 to expand your beauty store with unique accessories

Shopify Payment Processing Fees

Payment processing fees are charged by the payment gateway when a customer completes a purchase. These fees apply regardless of whether the transaction is online or in-person.

Shopify supports multiple payment methods, including credit cards, debit cards, digital wallets, and local payment providers. Each payment provider has its own fee structure.

Online Credit Card Processing Fees

When customers pay online using Shopify Payments, the following fees apply:

Basic Shopify: 2.9% + $0.30
Shopify Plan: 2.7% + $0.30
Advanced Shopify: 2.5% + $0.30

In-Person Payment Processing Fees

For in-person transactions using Shopify POS and card readers:

Basic Shopify: 2.7% + $0.30
Shopify Plan: 2.5% + $0.30
Advanced Shopify: 2.4% + $0.30

Alternative Payment Providers

Payment gateways such as PayPal, Klarna, Clearpay, Apple Pay, and Google Pay may charge additional or separate fees based on their own pricing structures.

Key Insight:

Payment processing fees are unavoidable, but choosing the right Shopify plan and payment provider can significantly reduce overall selling costs.

Get inspired by top Shopify T-shirt store examples in 2025 and learn how successful brands design high-converting product pages.

Shopify Domain Fees

Every Shopify plan includes a free myshopify.com subdomain when you create your store. This allows you to launch and test your store without purchasing a custom domain.

However, most sellers choose to use a custom domain name to improve brand credibility and customer trust.

Custom domains can be purchased directly through Shopify or from third-party registrars
Domain pricing depends on the extension (e.g., .com, .store, .co, .io)

Typical domain costs:

Standard domains usually cost between $11 and $20 per year
Premium or specialty domains can cost up to $81 or more per year

Domain renewal fees are charged annually. Prices may increase depending on the domain provider and extension chosen.

Key Insight:

Using a custom domain is not mandatory, but it is strongly recommended for branding, SEO, and customer confidence.

Shopify App Fees

Shopify offers a large app ecosystem that allows merchants to extend store functionality beyond the core platform features. Apps can help with marketing, SEO, reporting, inventory management, accounting, customer support, and automation.

The Shopify App Store includes thousands of apps
Some apps are completely free
Others charge monthly subscription fees or usage-based pricing

Typical app pricing:

Free apps: $0 per month
Paid apps: $5 to $100+ per month
Advanced enterprise apps can exceed $300 per month

Some apps offer free trials, while others charge based on usage (orders, emails, or customers).

Key Insight:

While apps can increase efficiency and conversions, installing too many paid apps can significantly raise monthly Shopify costs.

Shopify Email Fees

Shopify includes a built-in email marketing tool called Shopify Email, available on all subscription plans.

Each Shopify plan includes a monthly free email allowance.

2,500 free emails per month are included
Each additional email costs $0.001

Shopify automatically provides a cost estimate before sending emails that exceed the free monthly limit, allowing merchants to control spending.

Example:

Sending 10,000 emails in a month would cost approximately $7.50 beyond the free allocation.

Key Insight:

Shopify Email is cost-effective for small to medium businesses and eliminates the need for third-party email tools in many cases.

Find the best third-party logistics providers to help scale your Shopify business through fast, reliable, and cost-effective order fulfillment.

Start a free trial and enjoy 3 months of Shopify for $1/month

🚀 Start Shopify Trial

Trusted by over 2,000,000 businesses worldwide

Shopify Marketplace Connect Fees

Shopify Marketplace Connect allows merchants to integrate their Shopify store with major online marketplaces such as Amazon, eBay, and Walmart. This feature helps centralize inventory, orders, and product listings.

Pricing Structure:

The first 50 marketplace orders synced to Shopify each month are free
Orders beyond this limit incur a 1% transaction fee per order

There is a monthly fee cap:

Merchants are never charged more than $99 per month, regardless of the number of synced orders

This pricing structure ensures predictable costs even for high-volume marketplace sellers.

Key Insight:

Marketplace Connect fees scale with usage but remain capped, making it a cost-controlled solution for multi-channel selling.

Shopify Shipping Fees

Shopify includes an integrated shipping solution that allows merchants to purchase and print shipping labels directly from the Shopify admin dashboard. This feature helps streamline order fulfillment and reduce shipping costs.

Merchants can access discounted shipping rates from major carriers, including:

DHL Express
UPS
USPS
Canada Post (for Canadian sellers)

Depending on the Shopify plan and shipping destination, discounts can reach up to 77% off standard carrier rates.

Shipping Insurance (Beta Feature)

Shopify has introduced a shipping protection beta feature for eligible Shopify Shipping labels.

Merchants receive up to $200 coverage per eligible shipment
Coverage applies in cases of lost or damaged packages
This protection helps reduce financial risk for both sellers and customers

Key Insight:

Shopify Shipping discounts and built-in protection can significantly lower fulfillment costs, especially for businesses shipping high order volumes.

Shopify Tax Fees

Managing sales tax can be complex, particularly for businesses selling across multiple regions. Shopify Tax is designed to automate and simplify tax calculations.

Shopify Tax provides:

Accurate tax calculations at checkout
Product-specific tax rate handling
Address-based tax calculations
Automatic updates for tax rate changes, regulation updates, and tax holidays
Centralized tax tracking within the Shopify admin

Shopify Tax Pricing (U.S. Merchants)

The first $100,000 in U.S. online sales per calendar year with tax calculations is free
After exceeding this threshold, Shopify charges 0.35% per transaction
Fees are capped at $0.99 per order
Annual Shopify Tax fees are capped at $5,000 per year

This capped pricing structure helps prevent tax calculation fees from scaling uncontrollably as sales increase.

Key Insight:

Shopify Tax automates compliance while keeping costs predictable for growing businesses.

Master proven tactics for driving high-quality traffic to your Shopify store using SEO, social media, paid ads, and influencer marketing.

Shopify & VAT (Value Added Tax)

For merchants selling to customers in the European Union and other VAT-regulated regions, VAT compliance is a critical requirement.

Shopify assists with VAT management by:

Automatically calculating VAT rates based on the customer’s location
Applying VAT rules depending on the product type
Supporting VAT-inclusive and VAT-exclusive pricing
Helping merchants remain compliant with EU VAT regulations

Shopify also applies VAT to its own subscription and service fees in applicable regions. This VAT is charged based on the merchant’s billing address and local tax laws.

Key Insight:

Automated VAT calculations reduce compliance risks and minimize manual tax errors for international sellers.

Shopify Point of Sale (POS) Fees

Shopify’s Point of Sale (POS) system allows merchants to sell products in physical locations while keeping inventory, customers, and orders synced with their online store.

Shopify POS Lite

Included free with all Shopify subscription plans
Supports in-person payments and basic inventory tracking
Suitable for pop-ups, events, and small retail setups

Shopify POS Pro

For merchants who need advanced in-store capabilities, Shopify offers POS Pro.

$89 USD per month per location
Faster checkout workflows
Advanced staff roles and permissions
Detailed in-store inventory and sales reporting
Enhanced omnichannel selling tools

POS Pro is typically used by brick-and-mortar retailers or businesses operating multiple physical locations.

Key Insight:

POS Lite is sufficient for basic in-person selling, while POS Pro is designed for retailers with complex operational needs.

Stay ahead of the curve with trending, high-demand products to sell on your Shopify store in 2025.

How to Reduce Shopify Seller Fees

Reducing Shopify seller fees is essential for maximizing profit margins and scaling your e-commerce business efficiently. While Shopify provides a powerful platform, unchecked fees—like transaction costs, app subscriptions, and payment processing charges—can quietly eat into earnings. Fortunately, with smart strategies, you can significantly reduce these expenses and improve overall profitability.

Use Shopify Payments

One of the easiest and most impactful ways to lower fees is by using Shopify Payments instead of third-party gateways like PayPal or Stripe. Shopify charges extra transaction fees (0.5%–2%) when you use external processors—switching to Shopify Payments eliminates those surcharges entirely.

Choose the Right Plan

Evaluate your store’s sales volume and plan tier. Higher Shopify plans often come with lower transaction and credit card processing rates, which can save money as your revenue grows. Sometimes the added subscription cost is offset by these lower fees.

Review and Consolidate Apps

App subscriptions can quietly add up. Regularly audit your installed apps and remove those with overlapping features or low ROI. Consolidating functionality into one all-in-one solution can cut monthly costs and improve site performance.

Audit Fees Regularly

Make it a habit to review Shopify’s fee reports to identify patterns and unexpected costs. This can highlight opportunities to encourage more cost-effective customer behaviors—like using low-fee payment methods.

Reduce Refunds & Chargebacks

Chargebacks and refunds not only hurt revenue but often incur non-refunded processing fees. Clear return policies, quality product descriptions, and fraud tools can minimize these occurrences.

Optimize Theme Costs

While Shopify offers free themes with basic functionality, many sellers invest in premium themes ($150–$350 one-time) for better design and conversions. To reduce these costs:

Start with a free theme and customize as you grow.
Avoid unnecessary premium features that don’t directly boost sales.
Use lightweight, performance-optimized themes that reduce the need for paid speed-boosting apps.

By strategically optimizing your payment setup, plan choice, and app usage, you’ll see more of every sale stay in your pocket—boosting profit without compromising growth.

Start a free trial and enjoy 3 months of Shopify for $1/month

🚀 Start Shopify Trial

Trusted by over 2,000,000 businesses worldwide

Discover the best Shopify dropshipping suppliers in 2026 to scale your store efficiently and boost profits.

Overall Financial Pros to Selling on Shopify

Selling on Shopify isn’t just about having an online store — it’s about financial efficiency, scalability, and profit optimization. Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned ecommerce seller, Shopify offers financial advantages that help merchants retain more revenue and grow sustainably.

Lower Long-Term Operating Costs

Unlike marketplace models with variable commissions up to 20% per sale, selling on Shopify means fixed monthly plans and predictable fees. This structure helps merchants forecast expenses and profits more accurately without surprising deductions per item sold.

Better Profit Retention

Shopify allows you to keep more of every sale — especially when you use Shopify Payments to avoid third-party transaction fees. Eliminating extra fees (0.5%–2%) by using Shopify’s integrated payment solution directly increases your net income per order.

Scalability That Reduces Marginal Costs

As your sales grow, Shopify scales with you. With more orders and higher GMV (Gross Merchandise Volume), the cost per sale effectively decreases because fixed platform costs spread over more revenue — improving overall margins as your business expands.

Multi-Channel Revenue Streams

Shopify enables multi-channel selling — syncing products and orders across social media, marketplaces, and your online store from one dashboard. This increases your sales opportunities without proportionally increasing operational costs, leading to higher revenues and better ROI on marketing spend.

Control Over Pricing & Promotions

With Shopify, you set your own pricing, discounts, and sales strategies — giving you control over margins and profitability. You’re not competing with platform rules on pricing or forced promotions like many marketplaces require.

Long-Term Brand Equity

Owning your Shopify store means building brand value and customer loyalty rather than renting exposure from third-party marketplaces. This translates to higher lifetime customer value (LTV) and a more sustainable business model.

Learn how to connect Shopify to Instagram to enable product tagging, boost visibility, and drive more sales through social shopping.

Final Thoughts: Shopify Fees

Understanding the full range of Shopify costs is essential for determining whether this ecommerce platform can support your business’s profitability goals. While Shopify is widely chosen for its powerful tools, ease of use, and scalability, its fees directly influence your margins and long-term sustainability.

From subscription plans and transaction fees to apps, shipping, and taxes, each Shopify cost plays a role in how efficiently your store operates. Evaluating these expenses in advance allows you to set realistic pricing, manage overhead, and plan growth more effectively.

By using the information outlined in this guide, you can better assess whether Shopify’s fee structure aligns with your sales targets and business model. This clarity helps you avoid unexpected expenses and make more informed decisions as your store grows.

FAQ: Shopify Fees

How much does it cost to sell on Shopify?

The cost to sell products on Shopify varies based on the plan and features used.

At a minimum, sellers pay:

$25/month (Basic Shopify, monthly billing)
Payment processing fees starting at 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
Optional costs such as apps, domains, and shipping

For small stores, total monthly costs typically range from $25 to $100. Larger or high-volume stores may spend significantly more depending on tools and transaction volume.

Is Shopify $1 dollar for 3 months?

Yes, Shopify occasionally offers a promotional trial where new users can access the platform for $1 per month for the first 3 months after completing the free trial.

This promotion:

Is only available to new Shopify accounts
Provides access to most core features
Automatically converts to standard pricing after the promotional period

Availability and terms may vary by region and time.

How do I avoid fees on Shopify?

You cannot completely avoid Shopify fees, but you can reduce them significantly.

Ways to minimize fees include:

Using Shopify Payments to avoid extra transaction fees
Choosing the right subscription plan based on sales volume
Limiting paid apps and removing unused tools
Staying within free limits for email and tax calculations
Optimizing shipping and fulfillment costs

Smart optimization helps control costs without limiting growth.

What happens if I never pay Shopify?

If you don’t pay Shopify after your trial or billing period ends, your store will be paused and inaccessible to customers until payment is completed. Shopify retains your store data for a limited time so you can reactivate it by settling the balance, but extended nonpayment may lead to permanent closure.

Does Shopify charge a monthly fee?

Yes, Shopify charges a monthly fee to operate your store. The initial Shopify plan starts at $5 per month.

Need Help? Let’s Build Your Shopify Store the Smart Way With – Stores Automation

Why build alone when you can have a team do it for you? At Stores Automation, we create fully automated, done-for-you Shopify stores that are designed to grow while you focus on profits. No tech stress, no guesswork—just a streamlined system that works for you 24/7.

From store setup to product integration, branding, and automation—we handle everything so you don’t have to.

Call us: 302-204-8244
Email us: info@storesautomation.com
Sign up here and let us take it from there.

Let’s build you a store that runs on autopilot—because your time is better spent earning.