Shopify Pricing Explained (2025): When It Makes Sense to Upgrade

Whether you’re just launching your first online store or scaling a fast-growing brand, choosing the right Shopify pricing plan can make a noticeable difference to your bottom line.

In this article, we’ll:

• Break down Shopify’s pricing (monthly vs yearly)

• Highlight hidden costs from 3rd-party payment providers

• Share formulas to calculate break-even points

• Help you decide when to upgrade based on your revenue

Shopify Pricing Plans Overview (2025)

Monthly Pricing:

• Basic: €27/month

• Grow: €74/month

• Advanced: €384/month

• Plus: $2,300/month (3-year contract)

Yearly Pricing (25% cheaper):

• Basic: €19/month billed yearly

• Grow: €56/month billed yearly

• Advanced: €289/month billed yearly

3rd-Party Payment Fees:

• Basic: 2%

• Grow: 1%

• Advanced: 0.6%

• Plus: Custom rates

Other Key Features:

• All plans: 10 inventory locations, POS Lite, 24/7 support

• Grow: 5 additional staff accounts

• Advanced: 15 additional staff accounts

• Plus: 200 inventory locations, unlimited staff, 50-market selling, priority support, B2B tools

What Are 3rd-Party Payment Fees?

If you’re not using Shopify Payments (e.g. using Stripe or PayPal), Shopify adds a transaction fee on top:

• Basic: 2%

• Grow: 1%

• Advanced: 0.6%

For example, if your store processes €10,000/month via Stripe:

• On Basic: €200 in Shopify fees

• On Grow: €100 in fees

• On Advanced: €60 in fees

That difference can add up fast.

When Does It Make Sense to Upgrade?

Use this formula to determine when an upgrade becomes financially smart:

Break-even Revenue = (New Plan Cost – Current Plan Cost) / (Old Fee % – New Fee %)

Example: Upgrading from Basic to Grow

• Plan cost increase: €74 – €27 = €47

• Fee reduction: 2% → 1% = 1%

• Break-even revenue: €47 / 1% = €4,700/month

If your store consistently earns over €4,700/month and you use a 3rd-party gateway, upgrading saves you money.

Example: Grow to Advanced

• Plan cost increase: €384 – €74 = €310

• Fee reduction: 1% → 0.6% = 0.4%

• Break-even revenue: €310 / 0.4% = €77,500/month

Why Go Yearly?

If you’re committed to Shopify, yearly billing saves around 25%:

• Basic: €19/month vs €27/month = €96/year saved

• Grow: €56/month vs €74/month = €216/year saved

• Advanced: €289/month vs €384/month = €1,140/year saved

Combined with lower transaction fees, this can significantly increase your profit margins.

When to Consider Shopify Plus?

Shopify Plus is made for high-volume, enterprise-level businesses.

Starts at $2,300/month on a 3-year contract. You get:

• 200 inventory locations

• Unlimited staff accounts

• Customizable checkout

• Wholesale/B2B features

• Support for 50 global markets

• Priority 24/7 phone support

You should consider Shopify Plus if:

• Your annual revenue is over $1 million

• You want B2B features or custom development

• You run multiple international storefronts or large-scale operations

Summary Table: When to Upgrade (If Using 3rd-Party Payments)

Final Thoughts

Upgrading your Shopify plan isn’t just about more features — it’s about saving money as your business grows.

If you’re relying on 3rd-party payment providers, the extra fees can become a silent drain. Use the break-even formula to make a data-driven choice, and revisit your plan as you scale.

Start small, grow smart.