Short answer
Shopify Basic costs $39 a month, or $29 on yearly billing (as of Oct 26, 2026). On top come 2.9% + 30¢ per card payment, apps (often $5 to $30 each) and the domain. A small store with 60 orders a month runs about $120 a month before ads.
Shopify plans at a glance
Prices from shopify.com, checked on October 26, 2026.
| Plan | Monthly | Yearly (per month) | Online card rate | Third-party payment fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $39 | $29 | 2.9% + 30¢ | 2% |
| Grow | $105 | $79 | 2.7% + 30¢ | 1% |
| Advanced | $399 | $299 | 2.5% + 30¢ | 0.6% |
| Plus | from $2,300 | – | 2.25% + 30¢ | 0.2% |
Basic is enough to start. Grow only pays off when its lower card rate saves more than the higher plan costs: with a 0.2 point difference that's around $33,000 in monthly sales.
Costs people forget
- Apps: reviews, upsells and dropshipping connectors often cost $5 to $30 a month each. Three apps can cost more than the plan.
- Theme: the free themes are fine. Premium themes cost about $150 to $400 once.
- Domain: about $10 to $20 a year.
- PayPal and other providers charge their own fees. If Shopify Payments isn't your main provider, Shopify's third-party fee is added on top.
- Ads: usually the biggest cost. Budget $150 to $300 for a first test.
Worked example: small dropshipping store
Assumes Basic on yearly billing, 2 apps, free theme, 60 orders a month at $30 each.
| Cost | per month |
|---|---|
| Shopify Basic (yearly) | $29 |
| 2 apps | about $20 |
| Domain (spread out) | about $1.50 |
| Card fees (60 × $30) | about $70 |
| Total before ads | about $120 |
That's about $2 per order. With $10 profit per sale before fixed costs, you keep around $8 before ad spend.
How to make Shopify cheaper
Pay yearly, which saves 25%. Use as few apps as possible: much of what apps promise (bundles, discount codes, simple reviews) Shopify now does itself. And use Shopify Payments as your main provider to avoid the third-party fee.
5minstore builds your store upfront: products, copy, design and policy templates. You start the Shopify subscription once the store is ready instead of paying for weeks of tinkering.
FAQ
Is Shopify free?
There's a free trial and often a reduced price for the first months. A full store is not free long term.
Which Shopify plan is best for dropshipping?
Basic. Higher plans only pay off at high five-figure monthly sales, because the fee savings are smaller than the price difference until then.
What does a Shopify store cost in the first month?
Without ads usually $50 to $150, depending on apps and theme. Including a test ad budget, plan for $300 to $500.
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Updated: 26 October 2026. General information, not legal or tax advice.