How Much Does Shopify Cost? Plans, Fees & Extras

If you want to start an online store using Shopify,  but you don’t know how much does Shopify cost? Then you are at the right place. It’s important to know the full cost before you begin. This helps you plan your budget, avoid surprises, and pick the plan that fits your needs best.

Shopify offers various subscription plans depending on your business size, but the plan fee is not the only expense. There are other costs: payment fees, apps, themes, maintenance, and more. In this guide, you’ll learn about all these elements, making it easy even if you don’t have much technical or business experience.

What Is Shopify?

Shopify is a platform that lets you build and run an online store without needing coding or technical knowledge. With Shopify, you can list products, manage inventory, take payments, and even handle shipping from one dashboard.

It’s suitable for different kinds of sellers — from small sellers with a few products, to larger stores with many items. You can also use Shopify if you sell via dropshipping (i.e. without stocking products yourself), or if you combine online sales with a physical retail store using Shopify’s Point‑of‑Sale (POS) tools.

Shopify offers built-in tools like analytics, multiple sales channels (online store, social media, marketplaces), and options for customizing your store design. You can either use free themes or choose paid themes or custom designs if you want a unique look.

Knowing what Shopify offers helps you understand why its cost varies depending on what features you need.

How Much Does Shopify Cost in India vs Global? 

Shopify pricing varies depending on your location and the plan you choose. While India’s pricing is listed in INR, global pricing is usually in USD, GBP, or other local currencies.Let’s have a look at the table below to compare how much does Shopify costs in India vs Global.

Plan	India (INR)	Global (USD)
Basic / Entry	₹1,499/month	US $39/month
Standard	₹5,599/month	US $105/month
Advanced	₹22,680/month	US $399/month
Enterprise / Plus	₹1,75,000/month (on 3‑year plan)	Starts at US $2,300+ / month (for high‑volume businesses)

How Much Does Shopify Cost Yearly

If you pay for your Shopify plan yearly rather than monthly, you often get a discounted rate compared with paying month to month. This can lower your overall cost if you plan to run the store long‑term. 

Here’s a rough yearly cost estimate (subscription only):

• Basic Plan → ₹1,499 × 12 = ~ ₹17,988/year 
• Grow Plan → ₹5,599 × 12 = ~ ₹67,188/year 
• Advanced Plan → ₹22,680 × 12 = ~ ₹2,72,160/year 

Remember: these numbers cover only the subscription fee. Real yearly cost will likely be higher after adding transaction fees, paid apps, themes, and other expenses.

Hidden or Additional Costs You Should Know

Subscription price is just the start. Most Shopify store owners need extra tools or services — and those bring additional costs.

Here are the main extra costs:

• Transaction & Payment Fees: Because built‑in payment solutions may not be available in India, you may use third‑party payment gateways. Shopify charges extra fees per transaction, depending on your plan. This adds up as you sell more. 
• Apps and Plugins: Many stores use apps for marketing, SEO, dropshipping, shipping integration, customer support, etc. While some apps are free, others cost money, often a monthly charge. 
• Themes and Store Design: Shopify offers free themes, but if you want a custom design or premium theme, that adds a one‑time or recurring cost. 
• Maintenance, Store Management, Overheads: As your store grows, you may need to invest in inventory handling, staff, shipping, packaging, and content updates all of which affect your total cost. 
• Domain Name, Marketing and Ads (optional but common): A custom domain name is usually paid separately. If you do advertising, run campaigns, or focus on SEO & marketing, the budget must include these. 

Putting all these together gives a realistic view of what it costs to run a Shopify store — especially in the long run.

Which Shopify Plan Should You Choose?

Your ideal Shopify plan depends on your business size, product range, and sales volume. Here’s a clear breakdown:

1. You are just starting out or testing products:

 

• • Plan: Starter (India) / Basic (Global)

Low monthly cost, minimal setup required, ideal for selling a few products or via social media. Perfect for testing the market without committing a large budget.

 

2. You are selling a few products and expect consistent orders:

 

• • Plan: Basic (India & Global)

Provides unlimited product listings, a professional online store, basic reports, and 24/7 support. Good for small solo entrepreneurs or part-time stores.

 

3. You run a growing store with many products, shipping requirements, or multiple staff:

 

• • Plan: Shopify / Grow (India: ₹5,599/month; Global: ~$105/month)

Adds advanced features like multiple staff accounts, professional reporting, better shipping rates, and more customization options. Suitable for stores with moderate volume.

 

4. You have a sizeable customer base, high sales volume, or complex operations:

 

• • Plan: Advanced (India: ₹22,680/month; Global: ~$399/month)

Includes advanced reporting, calculated shipping rates, more staff accounts, and enhanced support. Ideal for stores handling large inventories or multiple sales channels.

 

5. You run a large, high-volume business or enterprise-level operations (multiple stores, wholesale/B2B, complex logistics):

 

• • Plan: Shopify Plus / Enterprise 

Fully customizable, priority support, and designed for high-volume international or multi-store operations. Pricing is custom and higher but offers features that justify the investment for enterprise businesses.

 

You can start with a lower-tier plan and upgrade as your business grows, ensuring your Shopify store scales with your sales and operational needs.

Shopify Cost for Dropshipping

If you plan to use Shopify for a dropshipping store (i.e. you sell products but don’t hold inventory the supplier ships to the customer), the cost structure changes slightly. Dropshipping can reduce upfront costs (no inventory), but some expenses remain or increase.

• Base subscription — Basic plan is often enough to start with. 
• Transaction/payment fees — still apply per sale. 
• Dropshipping apps or tools — these help you connect with suppliers, automate order fulfilment, and manage dropshipping tasks. Many of these come with a monthly fee. 
• Domain, theme, store maintenance — same as any online store. 
• Marketing — crucial in dropshipping to get sales; ads or promotions add cost. 

In many cases, a small dropshipping store may have monthly costs around what your plan plus essential apps and fees require. As sales increase, costs also go up — so it’s wise to track expenses carefully and ensure profit margins cover all costs.

Tips to Keep Shopify Costs Manageable

If you’re on a budget or just starting out, here’s how to keep your Shopify costs under control:

• Start with the lowest plan (Starter or Basic) — upgrade only when needed. 
• Use free themes and free apps wherever possible. Add paid tools only when they give clear value. 
• Choose payment gateways with lower transaction fees (compare gateways). 
• Plan for essential functionality only at first — delay premium themes or many apps until your store earns regularly. 
• Track expenses regularly — once a month or quarter — to see where money is going and remove unnecessary costs. 
• If you use dropshipping, keep product sourcing, app subscriptions, and marketing under control until sales volume stabilizes. 

Being cautious and strategic helps you build a store without overspending, especially important when you’re still figuring out your products and market fit.

Conclusion

Understanding how much does Shopify costs is essential before starting your online store. Subscription fees are just the beginning additional costs like payment processing, apps, themes, and marketing can significantly affect your budget. By knowing the plans, their features, and which option suits your business stage, you can choose the right plan and avoid unexpected expenses.

Whether you are just starting, growing steadily, or running a high-volume enterprise, Shopify offers flexible options that allow you to scale as your business grows. Careful planning, smart use of free tools, and tracking expenses can help you manage costs effectively while building a successful online store.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Does Shopify charge extra fees on top of the monthly plan?

Yes. Besides your monthly (or yearly) subscription, you may incur extra costs such as payment‑processing fees (especially if using a third‑party gateway), transaction fees, app subscriptions, premium themes, and store maintenance expenses. 

Q2. What are the transaction or payment fees on Shopify?

If you don’t use Shopify’s built-in payment solution (when available), Shopify adds a “third‑party transaction fee” on each sale. This fee depends on your plan. For example, sellers on lower-tier plans pay higher transaction fees per order compared to those on advanced or enterprise plans. 

Q3. Can I cancel or change my Shopify plan anytime?

Yes. Shopify allows you to upgrade or downgrade your plan or cancel based on your business needs. This flexibility makes it easier to adapt your store as it grows or as your priorities change. 

Q4. Is Shopify cost-effective for small or part-time sellers?

Yes — for small sellers or those just testing ideas, Shopify’s lower-tier plans (or entry-level options) can be suitable. But it’s important to factor in total costs (plan + transaction fees + apps + extras) before judging affordability.

Q5. How much will a Shopify store cost if I run a dropshipping business or sell internationally?

For dropshipping or international sales, how much does shopify cost depends on several factors: subscription plan, transaction/payment processing fees, dropshipping apps, shipping or import/export support, currency conversion fees, and possible taxes or duties. Estimating these costs beforehand helps you plan your budget effectively.