Published December 19, 2025 · Updated June 1, 2026 · 5 min read
Shopify's fee structure is simpler than Amazon's, but there are several layers that affect your actual cost per sale. The plan you choose, whether you use Shopify Payments, and your monthly sales volume all determine your true cost. This guide gives you the exact numbers and tells you which plan makes sense at different revenue levels.
Shopify has three main plans (prices are monthly on annual billing):
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Shopify Payments Rate | Transaction Fee (3rd-party) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $39/mo | 2.9% + $0.30 | 2.0% |
| Grow | $105/mo | 2.7% + $0.30 | 1.0% |
| Advanced | $399/mo | 2.5% + $0.30 | 0.6% |
Annual billing reduces these by about 25%. There is also a Starter plan ($5/month) that only allows selling through social media and messaging apps — not a full online store.
This is the most important fee decision you'll make on Shopify.
If you use Shopify Payments: You pay only the payment processing rate (2.5–2.9% + $0.30). No additional transaction fee.
If you use a third-party processor (PayPal, Stripe, etc.): You pay both the processor's rate AND Shopify's transaction fee (0.6–2.0% depending on plan).
For most sellers, Shopify Payments is the better choice. The main reason to use a third-party processor is if Shopify Payments isn't available in your country or if you have a high-risk product category.
Watch out: If you use PayPal checkout alongside Shopify Payments (a common setup), Shopify will charge the transaction fee on those PayPal orders. Only orders processed through Shopify Payments are exempt from the transaction fee.
Let's see what Shopify actually takes from a $50 sale, using Shopify Payments on each plan:
| Plan | Processing Fee | Transaction Fee | Plan Cost ÷ 100 orders | Total Per Sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $1.75 (2.9% + $0.30) | $0 | $0.39 | $2.14 |
| Grow | $1.65 (2.7% + $0.30) | $0 | $1.05 | $2.70 |
| Advanced | $1.55 (2.5% + $0.30) | $0 | $3.99 | $5.54 |
At 100 orders/month, Basic ($2.14/sale) is cheaper than Grow ($2.70/sale). The plan cost eats up the processing rate savings until you hit higher volume.
The question is: at what monthly sales volume does the lower processing rate save more than the higher plan fee?
Basic → Grow break-even:
Grow → Advanced break-even:
These break-evens only apply if you're using Shopify Payments. If you're on a third-party processor, the transaction fee savings change the math.
Calculate your Shopify profit per order
Enter sale price, product cost, plan, and payment method — see net profit and margin instantly.
Open Shopify Calculator →The average Shopify store uses 6–10 apps, many of which have monthly fees. Common apps: email marketing ($20–100/month), reviews ($15–50/month), upsell/cross-sell ($15–50/month), subscription management ($100+/month). App costs can easily exceed the plan cost itself.
Free themes are available and functional. Premium themes cost $150–$300 as a one-time purchase. If you're starting out, use a free theme until you're generating enough revenue to justify a premium one.
Unless you use Shopify Shipping (which gives discounted USPS/UPS rates), your shipping cost is entirely separate from Shopify's fees. Factor your average shipping cost per order into your profit calculation.
Shopify gives you your own storefront and customer relationships but provides no traffic — you build your own audience. Amazon provides massive traffic but owns the customer relationship and charges higher fees.
| Factor | Shopify | Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| Platform fee per sale | 2.5–2.9% + $0.30 | 8–17% referral |
| Fulfillment | You arrange | FBA: $3.06–$6.34+ per unit |
| Built-in traffic | None | 200M+ Prime shoppers |
| Customer data | You own it | Amazon owns it |
| Brand building | Strong | Weak |
Basic: $39/month, Grow: $105/month, Advanced: $399/month (annual billing). Monthly billing is about 25% higher. All plans include unlimited products, online store hosting, and basic analytics.
Only if you use a third-party payment processor. Fees are 2% (Basic), 1% (Grow), 0.6% (Advanced). Using Shopify Payments eliminates the transaction fee entirely.
Online card processing: 2.9% + $0.30 (Basic), 2.7% + $0.30 (Grow), 2.5% + $0.30 (Advanced). These rates are for US stores. International rates vary by country.
Start with Basic. Upgrade to Grow when you hit roughly $33,000/month in sales — that's when the lower processing rate saves more than the extra plan cost. Upgrade to Advanced at about $147,000/month.