Shopify Plus Pricing Guide: How Much Does It Really Cost?

Thu Mar 06 2025 - Yena Lam

Shopify Plus Pricing Guide: How Much Does It Really Cost?

Table of content

  • I. Shopify Plus Pricing Overview
  • Monthly License Fee
  • Variable Platform Fee
  • Transaction Fees (Shopify Payments vs. Third-Party Gateways)
  • App & Integration Costs
  • Customization & Development Costs
  • B2B-Specific Costs (Wholesale & Multi-Store Operations)
  • Additional Operational Expenses
  • II. Who Should Use the Shopify Plus Plan?
  • III. Unique Features of the Shopify Plus Plan
  • IV. How Much Does Shopify Plus Migration Cost?
  • V. Shopify Plus Pricing vs. Other Platforms
  • Shopify Plus vs. Standard Shopify Pricing
  • Shopify Plus vs. Magento 2
  • Shopify Plus vs. WooCommerce
  • Shopify Plus vs. BigCommerce Enterprise
  • Shopify Plus Pricing by Region
  • VI. When should you upgrade?
  • Conclusion

Shopify Plus is Shopify’s enterprise-level plan, designed for high-growth businesses that need advanced customization, scalability, and automation. However, the pricing structure can be complex, with costs extending beyond the base subscription fee. This guide explores Shopify Plus pricing, migration costs, comparisons with other platforms, and unique features that make it an attractive option for scaling brands.

I. Shopify Plus Pricing Overview

1. Monthly License Fee

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The base Shopify Plus plan starts at $2,000 per month, but the final price varies based on contract duration:

  • $2,500/month – 1-year contract
  • $2,300/month – 3-year contract

What’s Included in the Monthly Fee?

√ 10 free expansion stores (ideal for global & B2B eCommerce) √ Unlimited staff accounts √ Advanced automation tools (Shopify Flow, Shopify Scripts) √ Customizable checkout experience

Compared to Shopify Advanced ($399/month), Shopify Plus offers significantly more scalability and flexibility.

2. Variable Platform Fee

Unlike standard Shopify plans, Shopify Plus pricing scales with your business revenue. If your store exceeds $800,000/month, a 0.25% fee applies to revenue beyond this threshold.

Example Calculation:

  • $1,000,000/month → $2,500/month ($2,000 base + 0.25% of $200,000)
  • $10,000,000/month → $25,000/month
  • $16,000,000/month+ → Capped at $40,000/month

💡 Key Insight: Shopify Plus caps this fee at $40,000/month, ensuring predictable costs for large enterprises.

3. Transaction Fees (Shopify Payments vs. Third-Party Gateways)

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Even with Shopify Plus, merchants must pay payment processing fees, which vary depending on whether Shopify Payments or an external gateway is used.

# Using Shopify Payments

√ No additional Shopify transaction fees

√ Only standard credit card processing rates, which are lower on Shopify Plus than on lower-tier plans:

  • Visa/Mastercard (U.S.): 2.15% + $0.30 per transaction
  • Amex (U.S.): 3.15% + $0.30 per transaction
  • International transactions: 3.15% + $0.30 per transaction

# Using Third-Party Gateways (PayPal, Authorize.net, etc.)

PlanTransaction Fee (Third-Party Gateways)
Shopify BasicUp to 2.0% per transaction
Shopify Advanced~0.5% per transaction
Shopify Plus~0.15% – 0.20% per transaction

If your business processes high sales volume, using Shopify Payments can help eliminate additional Shopify transaction fees and save costs.

4. App & Integration Costs

Many Shopify Plus merchants use third-party apps for added functionality. Common app costs include:

  • Third-party apps: $500 – $1,000+
  • Paid integration tools (e.g., CRM, ERP): Subscription-based pricing
  • Custom API integrations: $5,000 – $30,000+ (one-time development) Shopify Plus has a vast app ecosystem, but businesses must budget for premium apps and custom API integrations.

5. Customization & Development Costs

One of Shopify Plus’s biggest advantages is advanced customization, but these modifications often require professional development work.

  • Minor theme updates: $500 – $5,000
  • Moderate integrations: $5,000 – $15,000
  • Advanced API & checkout customizations: $15,000 – $30,000
  • Enterprise-level development (headless commerce, complex integrations): $30,000+

While Shopify Plus allows more flexibility, custom development can be expensive. Businesses should budget for initial development and ongoing maintenance.

6. B2B-Specific Costs (Wholesale & Multi-Store Operations)

Shopify Plus is a top choice for B2B eCommerce, offering custom pricing lists, bulk ordering, and wholesale storefronts. However, managing B2B operations at scale can incur additional costs.

  • Wholesale transaction fees: 0.18% per B2B order
  • Additional stores beyond 10 included: $250/month per store
  • ERP & backend integrations: Subscription-based pricing or $100+/hour for developers
  • Wholesale portal customization: Varies based on business needs

Shopify Plus offers strong B2B features, but transaction fees, additional stores, and ERP integrations can increase operational costs.

7. Additional Operational Expenses

Beyond apps, development, and payment processing, Shopify Plus merchants may face additional hidden costs.

  • Premium themes: $150 – $350 (pre-made) or $5,000 – $20,000+ (custom)
  • POS system (for retail stores): $89/month per location
  • Advanced analytics & BI tools: $100+ per month (e.g., Looker, Tableau)
  • Domain & marketing: $10 – $20/year (domain), varies for email/SMS marketing.

II. Who Should Use the Shopify Plus Plan?

Shopify Plus is designed for high-growth businesses that need advanced customization, scalability, and automation. This premium plan is ideal for enterprises experiencing rapid expansion, requiring a robust infrastructure to handle increased sales and operations.

Your business should consider Shopify Plus if:

  • You are experiencing significant and sustained growth
    If your eCommerce store is generating high revenue and scaling rapidly, you need a platform that can support your growth without performance bottlenecks. Shopify Plus ensures seamless scalability, whether you're handling thousands or millions of orders.

  • Your website attracts heavy traffic
    High-traffic stores need a stable and high-performing platform to maintain fast page load speeds and ensure a smooth shopping experience. Shopify Plus efficiently handles flash sales, holiday spikes, and large-scale product launches without downtime.

Who Should Use the Shopify Plus Plan.png

  • You require advanced customization
    If your business needs a fully customized checkout process, unique pricing strategies, or personalized user experiences, Shopify Plus offers:

    • Shopify Scripts to customize cart and checkout behavior
    • Checkout Extensibility for deeper personalization
    • Access to Shopify's APIs for custom integrations
  • Standard Shopify plans are too limiting
    If the features in Shopify Basic, Shopify Advanced, or Shopify’s mid-tier plans no longer meet your business requirements, Shopify Plus unlocks exclusive tools and integrations tailored for enterprise-level operations.

  • Exceptional customer support is a necessity
    Shopify Plus provides 24/7 priority support, including a dedicated account manager (Merchant Success Manager) and a Launch Engineer to assist with store migration, setup, and optimization.

  • You plan to expand globally
    Selling internationally? Shopify Plus enables:

    • Multi-currency support for global transactions
    • Localized storefronts with multiple expansion stores
    • Multilingual capabilities to reach different markets
  • Security and compliance are top priorities

    Enterprise-level businesses must ensure their customers’ data is secure. Shopify Plus includes:

    • PCI Level 1 compliance for secure transactions
    • Built-in fraud protection tools
    • Advanced user permissions to control staff access

III. Unique Features of the Shopify Plus Plan

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1. Customization & Checkout Optimization

  • Shopify Scripts & Checkout Extensibility allow businesses to modify checkout logic, custom discounts, and payment options.
  • Multi-currency support with automatic currency conversion for global sellers.

2. Automation & Efficiency

  • Shopify Flow: Automates repetitive tasks such as tagging customers and fraud detection.
  • Launchpad: Schedules sales, product drops, and theme changes in advance.
  • Bulk Account Inviter: Simplifies customer migration when replatforming.

3. B2B & Multi-Store Capabilities

  • Dedicated wholesale channel with custom pricing and bulk discounts.
  • Up to 10 Shopify Plus stores for global expansion, localized pricing, and multiple currencies.

4. Dedicated Support & API Access

  • 24/7 priority support with a Launch Engineer for setup assistance.
  • Access to Shopify’s API for advanced integrations.

IV. How Much Does Shopify Plus Migration Cost?

Migrating from another platform to Shopify Plus involves:

  • Data migration (products, customers, orders): $5,000–$25,000
  • Custom theme redevelopment: $10,000–$50,000
  • Custom API integrations: $5,000–$50,000

Factors Affecting Migration Costs

  • Number of SKUs and product variations
  • Complexity of the existing platform
  • Customization and integrations required

V. Shopify Plus Pricing vs. Other Platforms

1. Shopify Plus vs. Standard Shopify Pricing

FeatureShopify Advanced ($399/month)Shopify Plus ($2,000+/month)
Monthly Cost$399Starts at $2,000
Staff Accounts15Unlimited
Custom Checkout❌ No✅ Yes
Shopify Flow & Scripts❌ No✅ Yes
API & Automation Access❌ Limited✅ Full Access
Multi-Store Management❌ No✅ Up to 10 stores
B2B & Wholesale Features❌ No✅ Yes

  • Shopify Advanced is perfect for growing businesses that need a powerful platform but don’t require enterprise-level features. It’s a great choice for brands that want an affordable monthly cost while still benefiting from Shopify’s powerful eCommerce tools.

  • Shopify Plus, on the other hand, is built for high-volume businesses that require advanced customization, automation, and scalability. It is the best choice for large brands, B2B sellers, and businesses expanding globally.

For high-growth businesses with complex needs, Shopify Plus is worth the investment.

2. Shopify Plus vs. Magento 2

FeatureShopify PlusMagento 2 (Adobe Commerce)
Base License CostStarts at $2,000/month (or $24,000/year)Starts at $22,000/year
HostingIncluded in Shopify’s monthly fee (fully hosted SaaS)Requires self-hosting (extra cost for servers, security, maintenance)
Transaction Fees0% with Shopify Payments, or 0.15% per transaction with third-party gatewaysNo built-in payment processor; fees depend on gateway used
Customization & DevelopmentLower cost (drag-and-drop editor, built-in Shopify Scripts)High cost (custom coding required)
Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)More predictable and scalable pricingCan become very expensive with development, hosting, and maintenance

At first glance, Shopify Plus seems more expensive ($24,000/year vs. $22,000/year). However, Magento 2 incurs significant additional costs for hosting, development, maintenance, and security updates, making it more expensive over time, especially as a business scales.

3. Shopify Plus vs. WooCommerce

FeatureShopify PlusWooCommerce
Base License CostStarts at $2,000/month ($24,000/year)Free plugin, but costs for hosting, security, and maintenance apply
HostingIncluded in Shopify’s pricing (fully hosted)Requires separate hosting (can range from $20/month to $500/month for enterprise solutions)
Transaction Fees0% with Shopify Payments, or 0.15% per transaction with third-party gatewaysDepends on the payment gateway used (PayPal, Stripe, etc.)
Customization & Development CostsLow (drag-and-drop, built-in Shopify Scripts)High (requires coding for advanced features)
Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)More predictable, all-in-one pricingCan be cheaper initially but gets expensive over time due to ongoing maintenance

  • Shopify Plus has a fixed pricing structure, making it easy to budget for.

  • WooCommerce is technically free, but hidden costs (hosting, plugins, maintenance, security, and developer fees) can make it more expensive in the long run, especially for high-traffic stores.

5. Shopify Plus vs. BigCommerce Enterprise

FeatureShopify PlusBigCommerce Enterprise
Base CostStarts at $2,000/month ($24,000/year)Starts at $1,000–$15,000/month (based on revenue)
HostingIncluded in price (fully hosted)Included in price (fully hosted)
Transaction Fees0% with Shopify Payments, or 0.15% per transaction with third-party gatewaysNo transaction fees
Customization CostsLow (drag-and-drop, Shopify Scripts)Low (open customization with APIs)
Total Cost of OwnershipMore predictable pricingMay increase based on sales volume

  • Shopify Plus charges a flat monthly fee with an increase when revenue exceeds $800,000/month.

  • BigCommerce Enterprise offers tiered pricing, meaning costs increase as revenue grows.

6. Shopify Plus Pricing by Region

RegionEstimated Shopify Plus Price
United States$2,000 – $2,500 USD/month
Canada$3,100 CAD/month
United Kingdom£1,750 – £1,800 GBP/month
Europe (Eurozone)€2,000 EUR/month
Australia$2,900 AUD/month
IndiaRs 1,75,000/month

VI. When should you upgrade?

Businesses should consider upgrading when they:

  • Generate $1M+ in annual revenue
  • Require custom checkout, automation, or B2B features
  • Plan to expand internationally or operate multiple brands
  • Need API access for advanced integrations

Best Time to Upgrade:

  • If your business is struggling with high transaction fees, Shopify Plus could lower costs with Shopify Payments.

  • If you’re spending heavily on third-party apps, Shopify Plus may consolidate features under one platform.

  • If checkout customization and performance are a priority, Shopify Plus allows for full control.

Conclusion

Shopify Plus is a premium solution for large-scale eCommerce brands, offering flexibility, automation, and robust support. While the $2,000/month minimum price might seem high, the platform delivers enterprise-level benefits that justify the investment for high-revenue businesses.

Thinking of upgrading to Shopify Plus? Make sure to evaluate your revenue, growth goals, and operational needs before making the leap. 🚀

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