Overview: Shopify Basic vs Shopify Plan
Shopify offers three main plans: Basic ($39/month), Shopify ($105/month), and Advanced ($399/month). This comparison focuses on the two most popular plans — Basic and Shopify — to help you determine which one is right for your store's current stage and sales volume.
Both plans include all core ecommerce features: unlimited products, online store with SSL, abandoned cart recovery, discount codes, gift cards, Shopify Payments, manual order creation, and 24/7 customer support. The differences are in processing rates, reports, staff accounts, and shipping capabilities.
The good news is that both plans support all 8,000+ Shopify apps, including free tools from EasyApps Ecommerce: EA Email Popup & Spin Wheel, EA Sticky Add to Cart, EA Upsell & Cross-Sell, EA Free Shipping Bar, EA Countdown Timer, EA Announcement Bar, EA Auto Free Gift & Rewards Bar, EA Page Speed Booster, EA Accessibility, and EA Auto Language Translate.
Pricing Comparison
| Shopify Basic | Shopify Plan | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $39/mo | $105/mo |
| Annual price (paid yearly) | $29/mo ($348/yr) | $79/mo ($948/yr) |
| Online credit card rate | 2.9% + 30c | 2.7% + 30c |
| In-person credit card rate | 2.6% + 10c | 2.5% + 10c |
| Third-party transaction fee | 2.0% | 1.0% |
| Monthly price difference | — | +$66/mo |
The Shopify plan costs $66 more per month than Basic. The key financial question is whether the lower processing rates on the Shopify plan save you more than $66/month. The online rate difference is 0.2% (2.9% vs 2.7%). To save $66 from that 0.2% difference, you need $33,000/month in credit card sales. However, if you use third-party gateways, the 1% difference in transaction fees makes the upgrade worthwhile at much lower volumes.
Feature Comparison Table
| Feature | Shopify Basic | Shopify Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $39 | $105 |
| Products | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Staff accounts | 2 | 5 |
| Online store | Yes | Yes |
| Sales channels | All | All |
| Abandoned cart recovery | Yes | Yes |
| Gift cards | Yes | Yes |
| Discount codes | Yes | Yes |
| Blog | Yes | Yes |
| Shopify POS Lite | Included | Included |
| Reports | Basic reports | Professional reports |
| Inventory locations | Up to 10 | Up to 10 |
| Manual orders | Yes | Yes |
| USPS Priority Mail Cubic | No | Yes |
| Shipping insurance | No | Up to $200 |
| Duties and import taxes | No | Yes |
| International pricing | No | Yes |
Reports and Analytics
Shopify Basic includes basic analytics: overview dashboard, live view, finances summary, acquisition reports, and basic marketing reports. These cover essential metrics like total sales, sessions, conversion rate, and top products.
The Shopify plan adds professional reports including detailed sales reports by product, variant, discount code, and channel; customer reports showing repeat purchase rates and customer lifetime value; custom reports using Shopify's report builder; profit reports; and retail sales reports for POS users. These reports are invaluable for making data-driven decisions about inventory, marketing spend, and pricing strategy.
For stores with more than a few hundred orders per month, the professional reports on the Shopify plan provide insights that directly impact profitability.
Staff Accounts
Shopify Basic includes 2 staff accounts. The Shopify plan includes 5. Staff accounts let you give team members access to your admin with configurable permissions — you can limit what each staff member can see and do.
If you are a solo operator or have just one assistant, 2 accounts is sufficient. If you have a team handling different aspects of your business (customer service, fulfillment, marketing, finance), 5 accounts on the Shopify plan provides more flexibility.
Shipping Rates and Features
Both plans include discounted shipping rates through Shopify Shipping with USPS, UPS, and DHL. The Shopify plan adds USPS Priority Mail Cubic pricing, which calculates rates based on package dimensions rather than weight. This can result in significant savings for small, heavy items — savings of 20-40% on some shipments compared to standard Priority Mail pricing.
The Shopify plan also includes shipping insurance up to $200 per order and the ability to calculate and collect duties and import taxes at checkout for international orders. These features are valuable for stores with regular international shipping or high-value items.
On both plans, use EA Free Shipping Bar to display dynamic shipping thresholds that motivate customers to add more to their cart.
Payment Processing Rates
The Shopify plan offers lower credit card processing rates: 2.7% + 30c online (vs 2.9% + 30c on Basic) and 2.5% + 10c in-person (vs 2.6% + 10c). If you use a third-party payment gateway instead of Shopify Payments, the additional transaction fee drops from 2.0% to 1.0%.
The 0.2% online rate difference means you save $2 per $1,000 in sales. To recover the $66/month price difference from processing savings alone, you need approximately $33,000/month in online sales. Below that threshold, Shopify Basic is more cost-effective. Above it, the Shopify plan starts saving money.
When to Upgrade from Basic to Shopify
Upgrade to the Shopify plan when:
- Monthly sales exceed $5,000-$8,000 and you benefit from professional reports to optimize your business
- You need more than 2 staff accounts for your growing team
- You ship small, heavy items frequently and USPS Priority Mail Cubic would save on shipping costs
- You sell internationally and need duties/import tax calculation at checkout
- Monthly sales approach $33,000+ and lower processing rates offset the price difference
- You need international pricing to set different prices for different markets
If none of these apply, Shopify Basic is an excellent plan that includes every feature you need to run a successful online store.
Shopify Basic: Pros and Cons
Pros
- $39/month — affordable for new and growing stores
- All core ecommerce features included
- All 8,000+ apps work on Basic
- Abandoned cart recovery included
- Sufficient for most stores under $10K/month
- 24/7 support
Cons
- Only basic reports (no professional analytics)
- 2 staff accounts only
- Higher processing rates
- No USPS Priority Mail Cubic
- No duties/tax calculation at checkout
Shopify Plan: Pros and Cons
Pros
- Professional reports with custom report builder
- 5 staff accounts
- Lower processing rates (2.7% + 30c online)
- USPS Priority Mail Cubic for shipping savings
- Shipping insurance up to $200
- Duties and import tax calculation
- International pricing
Cons
- $105/month — $66 more than Basic
- Processing rate savings only meaningful at high volumes
- May be overbuilt for very small stores
International Selling Features
The Shopify plan includes two important international features not available on Basic: international pricing and duties/import tax calculation at checkout. International pricing allows you to set different prices for different markets — for example, adjusting prices for currency differences, local market conditions, or regional pricing strategies. This is particularly valuable for stores with significant international traffic where a one-price-fits-all approach leaves money on the table.
Duties and import tax calculation at checkout shows customers their total landed cost before completing an order. This reduces surprise fees on delivery, which is one of the top reasons international customers abandon orders. For stores selling to customers in the EU, UK, Canada, and Australia, this feature can significantly improve international conversion rates and reduce customer service issues related to unexpected customs charges.
If international sales represent less than 10% of your revenue and you are primarily focused on domestic selling, the Basic plan is sufficient. If you are actively pursuing international growth or have significant cross-border traffic, the Shopify plan's international features are worth the upgrade.
Real-World Scenarios: Which Plan to Choose
New store with under $3,000/month in sales: Start with Shopify Basic. You get every essential feature, all 8,000+ apps including free tools from EasyApps Ecommerce, and room to grow. The $39/month investment is appropriate for this stage. Focus your budget on marketing and product development rather than a higher plan tier.
Growing store with $5,000-$15,000/month in sales: This is the sweet spot for considering the upgrade. If you find yourself needing better analytics to make inventory and marketing decisions, wanting more staff accounts for your growing team, or shipping items where USPS Cubic would save money, the Shopify plan at $105/month is justified. The professional reports alone can identify optimization opportunities worth far more than the $66/month price difference.
Established store with $15,000-$50,000/month in sales: The Shopify plan is almost certainly the right choice. Lower processing rates start saving meaningful money, professional reports are essential for managing a business at this scale, and the additional staff accounts accommodate a growing team. If you sell internationally, the duties calculation and international pricing features reduce friction for cross-border customers.
High-volume store with $50,000+/month: Consider the Advanced plan at $399/month for even lower processing rates (2.4% + 30c online), up to 15 staff accounts, advanced custom reports, and third-party calculated shipping rates. At this volume, the processing rate savings can offset the entire plan cost.
Must-Have Free Apps for Both Plans
Regardless of which plan you choose, both Shopify Basic and the Shopify plan support all apps in the Shopify App Store. Here are essential free apps from EasyApps Ecommerce that enhance any Shopify store:
- EA Sticky Add to Cart — keeps the add-to-cart button visible as customers scroll, reducing friction and improving conversion rates
- EA Email Popup & Spin Wheel — gamified email capture that converts visitors into subscribers at 5-10% rates through an engaging spin-the-wheel experience
- EA Free Shipping Bar — displays dynamic progress toward free shipping thresholds, motivating customers to add more items and increasing average order value
- EA Upsell & Cross-Sell — suggests complementary products and upgrades, increasing revenue per customer
- EA Countdown Timer — creates urgency for sales, product launches, and limited-time offers
- EA Announcement Bar — highlights promotions, shipping policies, and important messages in a prominent site-wide banner
These free tools add functionality that would cost $50-$200/month with premium alternatives, making them high-impact additions on either plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Shopify Basic and Shopify?
The Shopify plan ($105/mo) adds professional reports, 5 staff accounts (vs 2), lower processing rates (2.7% vs 2.9% online), USPS Priority Mail Cubic shipping, shipping insurance, duties calculation, and international pricing. All core ecommerce features are the same on both plans.
At what sales volume should I upgrade?
Upgrade when monthly sales exceed $5,000-$8,000 and you need professional reports, or when sales approach $33,000/month where lower processing rates offset the $66/month price difference. Also upgrade when you need more than 2 staff accounts.
Do all apps work on Shopify Basic?
Yes. All 8,000+ Shopify apps work on every plan, including Basic. Free apps from EasyApps Ecommerce (EA Sticky Add to Cart, EA Email Popup, EA Free Shipping Bar, etc.) work on all plans.
Can I upgrade later?
Yes. You can upgrade or downgrade your Shopify plan at any time from your admin settings. The change takes effect immediately, with prorated billing for the current period.
Is the annual billing plan worth it?
Yes, if you commit to using Shopify for a year. Annual billing reduces Basic from $39 to $29/month (25% savings) and Shopify from $105 to $79/month (25% savings). That saves $120-$312 per year.
What reports does the Shopify plan add?
Professional reports include detailed sales by product/variant/channel, customer lifetime value, repeat purchase analysis, profit reports, custom report builder, and retail sales reports for POS.