COMPARISON
Shopify vs Shopify Plus: when the $2,300 pays back.
Most stores under $1M a year do not need Plus. Here is what the upgrade actually buys and the revenue where it starts to make sense.
OUR VERDICT
Stay on Shopify (Advanced if you need the reports) until you need Checkout Extensibility, native B2B, 50 markets or the lower card rates at volume. That is usually past $1M a year, often past $2M.
SIDE BY SIDE
Shopify vs Shopify Plus, row by row.
Green marks the better option for most DTC stores; amber means it depends on your setup.
| Shopify | Shopify Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Platform fee | $39–$399 / moBetter | From $2,300 / mo, variable above ~$800k/mo |
| Card rates | 2.9% + 30¢ down to 2.4% | From ~2.15%, negotiableBetter |
| Checkout control | Branding editor only | Extensibility + FunctionsBetter |
| B2B / wholesale | Via apps | Native company accounts, price lists, termsBetter |
| Markets | Up to 3 | Up to 50, expansion storesBetter |
| Staff accounts | Up to 15 | UnlimitedBetter |
| Launchpad & Flow | Flow yes; Launchpad no | BothBetter |
| Support | Standard | Priority + Merchant SuccessBetter |
| Hydrogen / Oxygen | Hydrogen yes; Oxygen limited | Full Oxygen hostingBetter |
| Break-even | —Depends | Usually $1M–$2M/yr, or any B2B needDepends |
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Questions about Shopify vs Shopify Plus
Still torn?
We’ll look at your store on a 30-minute call.
Book a callWhat does Shopify Plus actually cost at our volume?
Plus starts from about $2,300 a month, and at higher sales volume the fee becomes a percentage of revenue. Shopify quotes the exact number for your store; we can help you get that quote and check whether the upgrade pays back.
Do we need Plus for B2B?
For native B2B, yes: company accounts, price lists and payment terms are Plus features. Smaller wholesale programs can run on standard plans with apps, so the answer depends on how your trade customers buy. See B2B & wholesale.
Can we customise checkout without Plus?
Partly. All plans can brand the checkout and use some apps, but checkout UI extensions and custom checkout logic through Checkout Extensibility are Plus features. See checkout customisation.
Is there a downside to Plus?
Cost, if you don't use what it adds. Plus pays back through checkout customisation, B2B, more markets and lower card rates at volume; a store that needs none of those is paying for headroom it doesn't use.
Can we move from Shopify to Plus without a rebuild?
Yes. Upgrading to Plus changes your plan, not your store, so your theme, products, customers and orders stay as they are. The work is turning on what Plus adds, such as checkout extensions or B2B.
You've reached the end, so now…
Tell us what you're selling.
Send us your store. Within one business day you get a short Loom from a senior: the three things we'd fix first, what it would cost, and whether we're the right team for it.
- No pitch deck, no discovery-call theatre
- You keep the audit whether or not you hire us
- Fixed-scope quotes, no hourly surprises
Prefer to talk? Book 20 minutes with Haniel or call +1 855-764-4977