As of 2024, the license fees Shopify Plus plan has experienced a 25% price increase, bringing the monthly cost from $2,000 to $2,500. Also, the transaction fee (for third-party payment gateways) rises from 0.15 per transaction to 0.20%.
Designed for large, fast-growing businesses, Shopify Plus is a premium version of the popular Shopify e-commerce platform. It caters specifically to the unique requirements and challenges faced by companies with extensive product catalogs, diverse customer bases, and high sales volumes.
In light of this price hike, a key question arises: is Shopify Plus still a worthwhile investment in 2025?
This article will explore these questions and delve into the current Shopify Plus pricing
Shopify Plus Pricing Breakdown
Fixed monthly costs on Shopify Plus
When you sign up for Shopify Plus, you’re subscribing to a premium version of Shopify designed for fast-growing or high-volume businesses. Unlike regular Shopify plans (like Basic, Shopify, or Advanced), Shopify Plus gives you more control, support, and performance — but at a higher cost.
Let’s break down the two main types of fixed monthly fees you’ll need to consider:
1. Shopify Plus Subscription Fee
This is your base monthly cost for accessing Shopify Plus. Think of it as your “membership fee” to use the platform.
So, how much does it cost?
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$2,300 per month if you commit to a 3-year contract
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$2,500 per month if you choose a 1-year contract
This fee includes full access to all the enterprise-level features that Shopify Plus offers, such as:
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A dedicated Launch Engineer to help you get set up
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Advanced automation tools like Shopify Flow
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Access to the Shopify Plus Partner network
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Custom checkout with Shopify Scripts
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Up to 9 expansion stores (more on this below)
Important notes:
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This is a flat fee, meaning it doesn’t change based on how many products you sell or how much revenue you generate — unless you’re on a revenue-based plan (more rare and negotiated for huge businesses).
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You will pay this fee every month, even if you’re just starting and haven’t made any sales yet.
2. Expansion Store Fees (If Applicable)
An expansion store is an extra Shopify Plus store under your account. You might want additional stores if you:
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Sell in multiple countries or regions and want different languages or currencies
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Run separate brands or business units
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Want to test new markets or concepts without affecting your main store
As we mentioned above, Shopify Plus includes your main store + up to 9 expansion stores at no extra cost. If you need more than 9 extra stores, you’ll pay: $250 per store per month beyond the 9 included
For example, if you run 12 stores in total (1 main + 11 expansions), your extra store fees would be:
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2 extra stores × $250 = $500/month
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So your total monthly cost becomes $2,300 (or $2,500) + $500 = $2,800–$3,000
Transaction & payment processing fees on Shopify Plus
On Shopify Plus, there are two main types of fees you need to know when it comes to transactions:
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Transaction fees
This is a fee Shopify may charge just for using their platform to process a sale — it’s separate from credit card fees. If you use Shopify Payments (Shopify’s own built-in payment system), Shopify charges no transaction fee.
If you choose to use a third-party payment gateway like: PayPal, Stripe, Authorize.net, others…Shopify will charge you: 0.15% to 0.20% per transaction. For example: If a customer buys something for $100 using PayPal, Shopify may charge you an extra $0.20 just because you’re not using Shopify Payments.
⚠️ Special considerations: If you process over $1M/month, Shopify may offer custom rates (e.g., lower than 2.15%) — but only through a Plus account manager.
2. Credit Card Processing Fees
These are the fees charged by credit card companies (Visa, MasterCard, etc.) when a customer pays you with a card. These go to the payment processor, not Shopify.
If you’re based in the United States and use Shopify Payments, typical rates are:
- 2.15% + $0.30 per transaction for Visa, MasterCard, Discover
- 3.15% + $0.30 per transaction for American Express, International cards
That means:
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For a $100 order paid with Visa, you’ll pay $2.15 + $0.30 = $2.45
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For a $100 order paid with Amex, you’ll pay $3.15 + $0.30 = $3.45
So, what if you’re in another country? Rates vary depending on the country you’re selling from. Shopify will show you the exact fees when setting up Shopify Payments in your region.
Design & development costs on Shopify Plus
Shopify Plus gives you a powerful, flexible platform — but how your store looks, feels, and works is up to you. That means you’ll likely spend some time and money on design (how it looks) and development (how it works). These costs can be one-time or ongoing, depending on your needs.
- Premium theme purchase
Shopify offers free themes that are clean, responsive, and beginner-friendly. But, if you want something fancier, you can buy a premium theme from the Shopify Theme Store with pricing from $150–$500. Fortunately, this is one-time cost. Premium theme often comes with more design options, layouts, and advanced features
2. Custom theme design
If you want your store to look totally unique? You can hire an agency or designer to build a custom Shopify theme just for your brand. This is perfect if:
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You want a unique brand experience
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You’re targeting luxury or lifestyle customers
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You want a high-end, polished storefront
So, how much does it cost?
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Light customization (tweak a theme): $1,000–$3,000
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Fully custom theme from scratch: $5,000–$15,000+
Take an example, a beauty brand wants a custom homepage, mega menu, and mobile-first design — they might pay around $7,000 for a full theme revamp.
3. Custom development
“Custom Shopify development” is about adding special features your store doesn’t have by default — the functional side of your site. For examples: Product customizer (e.g. build your own bundle), wholesale pricing rules, interactive size guides, custom checkout flows,…
To implement custom development for your Shopify plus store, you need to pay:
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Basic tweaks (layout, buttons): $500–$1,500
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Mid-level features (filters, quizzes, custom carts): $2,000–$5,000
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Advanced development (apps, logic, integrations): $5,000–$20,00
4. Ongoing maintenance & updates (Recurring cost)
Once your store is up and running, it needs to be maintained, just like any other software system. Maintenance here includes: Fixing bugs or layout issues, making seasonal design updates (e.g., holiday banners), updating apps or theme versions, optimizing speed and mobile performance,….
The maintenance and updates can either be handled in-house or outsourced, depending on your team structure and resources. If you choose to hire an in-house developer, the monthly salary typically ranges from approximately $3,000 to $6,000, depending on the region and level of expertise. Alternatively, if you work with a freelance developer or an agency on a retainer basis, the cost usually falls between $500 and $2,000 per month, depending on the scope of services required.
App & integration costs
To truly customize it for your business needs, you’ll likely use apps and integrations. These help you add more features, automate tasks, and connect your store with other tools (like your accounting system or CRM). Here are specific cost for this investment:
1. Shopify Apps (Monthly Subscription Fees)
The cost of Shopify apps varies depending on their functionality and level of service. Some apps are completely free and offer basic features that may be enough for small or simple stores. Many popular apps, however, operate on a monthly subscription model, typically ranging from $20 to $200 per app. These often include more robust tools for marketing, SEO, reviews, and inventory management.
For larger businesses using Shopify Plus, enterprise-grade or high-traffic apps—such as those offering advanced analytics, loyalty programs, or personalized shopping experiences—can cost significantly more, often between $500 and $1,000 or more per month.
📌 Important to note: As your store grows, you’ll likely rely on multiple apps. It’s common for Shopify Plus merchants to spend $500 to $1,000 or more per month on apps alone, depending on how many you use and how advanced they are.
2. Third-party integrations
Shopify Plus gives merchants the flexibility to integrate their online store with various third-party systems essential for running a modern business. These integrations help connect your Shopify store with external platforms such as ERP systems (like NetSuite or SAP); CRM tools (like Salesforce or HubSpot), accounting software (such as QuickBooks or Xero),…..
The cost of integrating these systems depends on how the integration is done. If the tool you’re using already has a pre-built app available in the Shopify App Store, the setup is usually simple and affordable, often costing between free and $200 per month. However, if your business needs a custom solution—perhaps because the tool doesn’t have a Shopify-compatible app or your workflow is more complex—you’ll need to hire a developer to build a tailored integration. These custom-built integrations can range from $1,000 to over $20,000, depending on the complexity and scope of the work. Some merchants opt for phased development to spread out the cost over time.
Migration costs
Conclusion
Starting the Shopify Plus journey is an investment that you should make carefully for the future of your online store. Your company may succeed in the ever-changing world of online sales by figuring out the nuances of Shopify Plus pricing and taking a proactive, strategic strategy. You can use this guide as a compass to help you navigate the strategic decisions and cost-saving process necessary for a customized Shopify Plus solution.
Read more: Shopify Pricing Plans (2023): Which Shopify Plan is For You?
