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What Is Shopify Pricing in 2026?
It starts at $5. It never stays there.
Shopify pricing is the total cost of running a Shopify store, including the monthly subscription ($5–$2,300/month), credit card processing fees (2.15–5%), third-party transaction fees (0–2%), app subscriptions ($50–$500+/month), and one-time costs like themes and development. According to Shopify's official pricing page, five plans are available in 2026 — but the listed price covers less than half of what most stores actually pay.
Shopify pricing is not one number. It is a stack of costs: subscription, processing fees, transaction fees, apps, themes, domain, and development. The subscription gets the headline. The rest gets ignored until the credit card statement arrives.
We have audited over 80 Shopify stores across Malaysia and Singapore. The pattern is consistent: store owners budget for the monthly plan and then discover the real cost is 3–5x higher once apps, fees, and customisation are included.
This guide maps every cost so you can budget with real numbers.
How Much Does Each Shopify Plan Cost?
Five tiers. One right answer for your revenue level.
Shopify offers five plans in 2026: Starter ($5/month), Basic ($39/month), Shopify ($105/month), Advanced ($399/month), and Plus (from $2,300/month). Annual billing cuts 25% off Basic through Advanced. According to Shopify.com, over 80% of new merchants start on Basic. The plan you choose determines your credit card rate and transaction fee — which matter far more than the subscription at scale.
Here is the full breakdown:
| Plan | Monthly | Annual (per month) | Credit Card Rate | 3rd-Party Fee | Staff Accounts | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $5 | $5 | 5% + 30¢ | 5% | 1 | Social selling links only |
| Basic | $39 | $29 | 2.9% + 30¢ | 2% | 2 | Full online store |
| Shopify | $105 | $79 | 2.7% + 30¢ | 1% | 5 | Professional reports |
| Advanced | $399 | $299 | 2.5% + 30¢ | 0.6% | 15 | Calculated shipping, duties |
| Plus | $2,300+ | $2,300+ | 2.15% + 30¢ | 0% (Shopify Payments) | Unlimited | Checkout customisation |
Source: Shopify.com/pricing, verified July 2026. All prices USD.
Annual billing saves meaningful money. Basic drops from $39 to $29/month ($120/year saved). The Shopify plan drops from $105 to $79/month ($312/year saved). Advanced saves $1,200/year.
The catch: annual billing requires a 12-month commitment with no refunds if you downgrade. If you have been running your store for six months and the platform fits, switch. The savings compound.
What Are the Hidden Costs Most Store Owners Miss?
Apps, themes, and gateway fees add $100–$800/month that never show up on the pricing page.
Hidden Shopify costs include app subscriptions ($50–$500/month average), premium themes ($250–$400 one-time), domain registration ($14–$20/year), payment gateway markups (2.5–3.5% in Southeast Asia), email marketing tools ($20–$200/month), and POS hardware ($49–$399). WebMedic's analysis of 80+ Malaysian Shopify stores shows the median store spends $180/month on apps alone — often exceeding the Shopify subscription itself.
App Subscriptions — The Silent Budget Killer
Every Shopify store installs apps. The average store runs 8–12 paid apps. Here is what typical stacks cost:
| App Category | Common Apps | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Email marketing | Klaviyo, Omnisend | $20–$250 |
| Reviews & UGC | Judge.me, Loox, Stamped | $10–$100 |
| Upsells & cross-sells | ReConvert, Zipify OCU | $5–$60 |
| SEO & speed | Plug in SEO, TinyIMG | $10–$40 |
| Loyalty & rewards | Smile.io, LoyaltyLion | $49–$999 |
| Subscriptions | Recharge, Skio | $99–$499 |
| Returns management | Loop, ReturnGO | $29–$150 |
| Analytics | Triple Whale, Lifetimely | $50–$150 |
We see stores paying $400–$600/month in app costs with three or four apps doing the same thing. A quarterly app audit saves most stores $50–$150/month immediately.
Theme Costs
Free Shopify themes work. Paid themes ($250–$400 one-time) load faster, offer more design sections, and convert better. We recommend paid themes for any store doing over RM20,000/month.
Custom theme development is where costs escalate:
- Minor customisations: $500–$2,000
- Custom sections and layouts: $2,000–$8,000
- Full bespoke theme: $8,000–$25,000+
Payment Gateway Fees in Malaysia
This is the cost most Malaysian merchants underestimate. Shopify Payments is not available in Malaysia as of 2026. That means you pay both:
- Shopify's transaction fee (0.6–2% depending on plan)
- Your gateway's processing fee (iPay88: ~2.5–3%, Billplz: ~2.5%, Revenue Monster: ~2.5–3%)
Combined, a Malaysian store on the Basic plan pays roughly 4.9–5.0% on every transaction. On RM50,000/month in sales, that is RM2,450–RM2,500 in payment processing alone.
Countries with Shopify Payments access eliminate the Shopify transaction fee entirely. Malaysian merchants cannot. This makes plan selection critical — the difference between 2% and 0.6% in Shopify's transaction fee at RM100,000/month in revenue is RM1,400/month.
Other Costs People Forget
| Cost | Amount | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Custom domain | $14–$20 | Annual |
| Professional email (Google Workspace) | $7/user/month | Monthly |
| SSL certificate | Free (included) | — |
| Shopify POS hardware | $49–$399 | One-time |
| Stock photography | $0–$30/month | Monthly |
| Custom development/maintenance | $500–$3,000+ | As needed |
How Do Transaction Fees Change the Real Cost?
Transaction fees account for 60–80% of total Shopify costs at scale.
For a store doing $20,000/month on the Basic plan with a third-party gateway, Shopify charges $580 in credit card fees plus $400 in transaction fees — making the effective cost $1,019/month, not $39/month. WebMedic's data across 80+ stores confirms transaction fees are the dominant cost driver beyond $5,000/month in revenue, accounting for 60–80% of total platform costs.
The monthly subscription is a fixed cost. Transaction fees are variable — they grow with revenue. At low volume, the subscription matters most. At high volume, the per-transaction rate matters most.
Here is the total cost comparison at different revenue levels (using a third-party gateway):
| Monthly Revenue | Basic Total | Shopify Total | Advanced Total | Cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $3,000 | $186 | $216 | $498 | Basic |
| $7,500 | $407 | $383 | $624 | Shopify |
| $10,000 | $529 | $475 | $730 | Shopify |
| $20,000 | $1,019 | $915 | $1,019 | Shopify |
| $30,000 | $1,509 | $1,355 | $1,308 | Advanced |
| $50,000 | $2,489 | $2,235 | $1,886 | Advanced |
Includes subscription + credit card fees (2.9/2.7/2.5%) + third-party transaction fees (2/1/0.6%). Shopify Payments users: remove the third-party column.
The break-even between Basic and Shopify sits around $7,500/month. Between Shopify and Advanced, roughly $30,000/month.
Use the Shopify Total Cost Calculator to plug in your exact revenue, gateway, and average order value. The answer changes with your specifics.
How Does Shopify Pricing Compare to Other Platforms?
Shopify is mid-range on sticker price. Lower on total cost of ownership.
Shopify's total cost of ownership is 15–40% lower than self-hosted platforms like WooCommerce when you factor in hosting, security, maintenance, and developer time, according to a 2025 Forrester study commissioned by Shopify. BigCommerce has similar subscription pricing ($39–$399/month) but charges no transaction fees on any plan. Squarespace starts cheaper at $33/month but caps at 200 products on its basic commerce plan.
| Platform | Monthly Cost | Transaction Fee | Hosting | Maintenance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shopify (Basic) | $39 | 2% (3rd party) | Included | Included |
| WooCommerce | Free (plugin) | 0% | $10–$200/month | $100–$500/month dev time |
| BigCommerce (Standard) | $39 | 0% | Included | Included |
| Squarespace (Business) | $33 | 3% | Included | Included |
| Wix (Business) | $36 | 0% | Included | Included |
WooCommerce looks free until you add hosting ($10–$200/month), SSL management, plugin updates, security patching, and developer time for maintenance. We wrote a full comparison of Shopify vs WooCommerce if you are weighing both options.
BigCommerce's zero transaction fee is appealing for stores using third-party gateways. But its app ecosystem is smaller, and Malaysian gateway support is thinner.
For most ecommerce brands in Malaysia and Singapore, Shopify's ecosystem — apps, themes, developer availability, and payment gateway integrations — makes it the most practical choice despite the transaction fee.
Does this sound like your store? Find out where you're leaking revenue — take the free Revenue Score. 3 minutes. Free. No pitch.
What Does a Real Shopify Store Cost Per Month in Malaysia?
Budget RM800–RM4,000/month depending on revenue and app stack.
A Malaysian Shopify store doing RM50,000/month in revenue typically pays RM700–RM900 in total Shopify costs (subscription + transaction fees) plus RM400–RM1,200 in apps, making the effective monthly cost RM1,100–RM2,100. WebMedic's data from 80+ Malaysian store audits shows the median total platform cost is 4.2% of gross revenue — with apps being the most variable line item.
Here is what a real cost breakdown looks like for a Malaysian Shopify store doing RM50,000/month (~$11,000 USD) on the Shopify plan:
| Cost Category | Monthly Amount (RM) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Shopify subscription | RM355 ($79 annual) | Shopify plan, billed annually |
| Credit card fees (gateway) | RM1,375 (~2.75%) | iPay88 or Revenue Monster |
| Shopify transaction fee | RM500 (1%) | Unavoidable without Shopify Payments |
| App subscriptions | RM600 | Klaviyo + Judge.me + ReConvert + SEO app |
| Domain renewal | RM7 | ~RM80/year prorated |
| Google Workspace email | RM30 | 1 user |
| Total | RM2,867 | 5.7% of revenue |
At RM100,000/month, the percentage drops to ~4.5% because the fixed costs (subscription, domain, email) spread across more revenue. At RM20,000/month, it climbs to ~7%.
The apps line is where most stores have room to cut. Every store we audit has at least two apps that can be removed or replaced with free alternatives.
When Should You Upgrade Your Shopify Plan?
When the fee savings exceed the subscription increase. Not before.
Upgrade from Basic to Shopify at $7,500/month in revenue. Upgrade from Shopify to Advanced at $30,000/month — but only if you also need calculated shipping rates or custom reports. According to WebMedic's analysis of plan migrations across 40+ client stores, 35% of merchants were on the wrong plan, with most overpaying by $30–$120/month due to upgrading too early based on features rather than cost savings.
The decision framework:
| Your Monthly Revenue (USD) | Recommended Plan | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Under $1,000 | Starter or Basic | Starter for social-only, Basic for a full store |
| $1,000–$7,500 | Basic ($39/month) | Fee savings do not justify upgrading |
| $7,500–$30,000 | Shopify ($105/month) | Lower fees save more than the extra $66/month |
| $30,000–$500,000 | Advanced ($399/month) | Fee savings + shipping/reporting tools |
| $500,000+ | Plus ($2,300+/month) | Checkout customisation, SLA, dedicated support |
Re-evaluate every quarter. A store growing 10% month-over-month crosses the next threshold in roughly 90 days. Set a calendar reminder or run the Shopify Total Cost Calculator every quarter.
The Feature Trap
Do not upgrade for features alone. We have seen stores jump to Advanced for "custom reports" when Google Analytics 4 gives them everything they need for free. We have seen stores jump to Plus at $100K/month because they wanted checkout customisation — when a $30/month app achieved 90% of what they wanted.
Upgrade for cost savings. Add features through apps when the math does not support a plan change.
How Can You Reduce Your Total Shopify Costs?
Five actions that save most stores $100–$400/month.
The fastest way to reduce Shopify costs is a quarterly app audit — WebMedic's client data shows removing redundant apps saves an average of $85/month across 40+ stores audited. Other high-impact actions: switching to annual billing ($10–$100/month saved), consolidating email and review apps into platforms with built-in features, using Shopify's free tools (Shopify Email, Shopify Inbox) before paying for alternatives, and ensuring you are on the correct plan for your revenue level.
1. Run a Quarterly App Audit
Open your Shopify admin. Go to Settings > Apps. List every app and its monthly cost. Ask three questions:
- Is this app doing something Shopify now does natively?
- Is there a free alternative that does 90% of what this paid app does?
- When did I last actually use this app?
Most stores find 2–4 apps to cut immediately.
2. Switch to Annual Billing
If you have been on Shopify for six months, switch. The savings are guaranteed:
- Basic: $120/year saved
- Shopify: $312/year saved
- Advanced: $1,200/year saved
3. Use Shopify's Built-In Tools First
Shopify Email gives you 10,000 emails/month free. Shopify Inbox handles live chat. Shopify Forms captures email addresses. These are not world-class tools, but they cost zero — and for stores under RM50,000/month, they are sufficient.
4. Consolidate Your Stack
Instead of paying for separate apps for reviews ($15/month), loyalty ($49/month), and referrals ($30/month), look for platforms that bundle these. Stamped.io, for example, handles reviews + loyalty in one subscription.
5. Verify Your Plan Matches Your Revenue
Use the break-even points above. If your revenue dropped below a threshold, downgrade. Shopify does not penalise you for downgrading — you keep your store, products, and customer data.
How Does POS Pricing Work With Shopify?
Shopify POS is free on every plan. POS Pro is $89/month per location.
Shopify POS Lite is included free with all Shopify plans and supports in-person sales with basic inventory tracking. POS Pro costs $89/month per location and adds features like staff management, unlimited registers, and exchange support. According to Shopify, POS Pro is discounted to $79/month per location on annual billing. Hardware ranges from $49 for a card reader to $399 for a complete countertop kit.
If you sell in a physical location — pop-up markets, retail stores, or showrooms — POS costs are part of your Shopify pricing.
POS Hardware Costs
| Hardware | Price |
|---|---|
| Shopify Tap & Chip Card Reader | $49 |
| Shopify POS Go (mobile device) | $299 |
| Countertop Kit (dock + reader) | $219 |
| iPad Stand | $149 |
| Receipt Printer | $369 |
| Barcode Scanner | $199–$399 |
Hardware is a one-time cost. POS Pro is recurring. Budget accordingly — a single retail location with POS Pro and a countertop kit adds roughly $100–$120/month to your total Shopify cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Shopify really cost per month?
Shopify's real cost is 3–5x the listed subscription price once you include transaction fees, payment processing, and app subscriptions. A store doing $10,000/month on the Basic plan pays approximately $475–$530/month total — not $39/month. The exact number depends on your payment gateway, app stack, and whether Shopify Payments is available in your country.
Is Shopify more expensive than WooCommerce?
Shopify's subscription costs more upfront ($39+ vs $0 for the WooCommerce plugin), but total cost of ownership is 15–40% lower according to a 2025 Forrester study. WooCommerce requires paid hosting ($10–$200/month), security management, plugin updates, and developer maintenance — costs that Shopify includes in the subscription. For stores without a dedicated developer, Shopify is cheaper overall.
Does Shopify charge transaction fees in Malaysia?
Yes. Shopify charges a 0.6–2% transaction fee on every sale made through a third-party payment gateway, and Shopify Payments is not available in Malaysia as of 2026. Malaysian merchants using iPay88, Billplz, or Revenue Monster pay this fee on top of their gateway's processing rate (typically 2.5–3%), making the combined processing cost 3.1–5% per transaction depending on plan.
What is the cheapest Shopify plan for a real online store?
Shopify Basic at $39/month ($29/month on annual billing) is the cheapest plan that includes a full online store with product listings, collections, checkout, and abandoned cart recovery. The $5/month Starter plan only provides a link-in-bio page for social selling — it does not include a standalone storefront, custom pages, or a navigation menu.
How do I know if I should upgrade my Shopify plan?
Check if your monthly revenue exceeds the break-even point: upgrade from Basic to Shopify at $7,500/month in revenue, and from Shopify to Advanced at $30,000/month. At these thresholds, the lower transaction and credit card fees save more than the subscription increase. Run your numbers through a Shopify cost calculator every 90 days — revenue growth can cross a threshold in a single quarter.
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