If you’re planning to launch or grow your online store, one of the first decisions you’ll need to make is which Shopify plan to choose. With multiple options ranging from $5 to $399+ per month, it’s not always obvious which plan fits your needs — or your budget.
In this guide, we’ll break down each Shopify plan, highlight what you’re actually paying for, and share real recommendations based on your business stage.
💡 Quick Overview of Shopify Plans (as of late 2025)
| Plan | Monthly Price (AUD, approx) | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | ~$7 | Selling via social media or link-in-bio |
| Basic | ~$39 | New online stores |
| Shopify | ~$105 | Growing stores needing more tools |
| Advanced | ~$550 | High-volume businesses needing custom reports and lower fees |
| Shopify Plus | From $3,000+ | Large brands needing enterprise-level features |
🧾 Plan Breakdown: What You Get
1. Shopify Starter – For Social Selling
- Price: ~$7/month
- Includes:
- Sell via links on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, email, etc.
- Shopify Checkout
- No online store (just product pages)
- Who it’s for: Creators, side hustlers, and anyone testing the waters with online selling.
🟢 Recommended if you’re not ready for a full store but want a professional way to collect payments online.
2. Basic Shopify – For New Online Stores
- Price: ~$39/month
- Includes:
- Full online store + blog
- 2 staff accounts
- Standard reports
- Basic customer support
- Who it’s for: Small businesses launching their first online store.
🟢 Great for local Sydney retailers, service providers, and niche product businesses getting started online.
3. Shopify Plan – For Growing Businesses
- Price: ~$105/month
- Includes:
- 5 staff accounts
- Professional reports
- Lower transaction fees
- More control over branding
- Who it’s for: Businesses with consistent sales who need deeper analytics and better team access.
🟢 Ideal if you’ve outgrown the Basic plan or are scaling up marketing and fulfilment.
4. Advanced Shopify – For High-Volume Stores
- Price: ~$550/month
- Includes:
- Custom reporting
- 15 staff accounts
- Best transaction rates
- Advanced shipping rules
- Who it’s for: Larger online retailers with high order volume or complex business rules.
🟢 Worth it if you need detailed analytics or want to squeeze every cent out of transaction savings.
5. Shopify Plus – For Enterprise Brands
- Price: From $3,000/month
- Includes:
- Everything in Advanced +
- Custom checkout
- Dedicated account manager
- Unlimited staff
- Wholesale/B2B functionality
- Who it’s for: Large brands, franchises, or high-growth startups needing full customisation.
🟢 Overkill for most small businesses, but powerful for scaling to national or global markets.
🤔 So, Which Plan Should You Choose?
Here’s a quick recommendation guide based on where your business is at:
| Business Stage | Suggested Plan |
|---|---|
| Just starting, testing ideas | Starter or Basic |
| Running a small online store (under $10K/month revenue) | Basic |
| Growing steadily, need better reports | Shopify |
| Doing $50K+/month and want full control | Advanced |
| Scaling nationally/internationally | Shopify Plus |
🔍 Other Costs to Consider
- Apps & themes: Many features (like subscriptions, reviews, or upsells) require paid apps.
- Domain name: ~$20/year unless you already own one.
- Payment fees: Shopify takes a percentage of each sale. These get lower with higher-tier plans.
- Email marketing: Shopify Email is included but limited; others like Klaviyo or Omnisend may be needed.
🧠 Final Thoughts: Start Small, Scale Smart
You don’t need to overcommit on day one. Start with the Basic plan, keep costs lean, and upgrade when the numbers make sense. Shopify makes it easy to switch plans as your business grows.
💬 Need help choosing the right Shopify setup for your business?
Let’s chat! As a Sydney-based Shopify expert, I can help you launch or optimise your store — without paying for features you don’t need.