Shopify offers several plans at very different price points, and choosing between them is one of the first decisions you’ll face — usually before you fully understand what each one gives you. Pick too high and you’re paying for features you don’t use; pick too low and you may hit limits as you grow. Neither is a disaster, but getting it roughly right from the start saves money and hassle.
This is a plain-English guide to Shopify’s plans for Australian businesses — what each tier is really for, the costs beyond the headline price, and a simple way to decide. Prices change, so treat the figures here as a guide and confirm the current numbers on Shopify’s pricing page before you commit.
The short answer: most small businesses start on Basic
If you want the quick version: the great majority of small Australian businesses launching a store should start on the Basic plan. It includes everything you need to run a proper online store — unlimited products, secure checkout, and the core selling tools — and you can always upgrade later once your sales justify it. Starting lean and upgrading when the numbers make sense is almost always smarter than paying for a higher tier “just in case.”
The rest of this guide explains when that’s not the right call — and, just as importantly, the costs that sit underneath the plan price and catch people out.
The Shopify plans, explained simply
Shopify’s standard plans run Basic, Grow and Advanced, with Plus sitting above them for large enterprises. Here’s what each is genuinely for (prices shown are the annual-billing rate at the time of writing, in Australian dollars):
Basic — around $42/month (annual)
The right choice for most new and small stores. You get unlimited products, your full online store, secure checkout and 24/7 support. It carries the highest card-processing rate of the standard plans, but for lower sales volumes that barely matters. If you’re starting out, this is almost certainly where you begin.
Grow — around $114/month (annual)
A sensible step up once you’re selling steadily. The draw isn’t just extra features (more staff accounts, professional reports) — it’s slightly lower card-processing fees. Past a certain sales volume, that lower rate can offset much of the higher subscription cost, which is exactly when upgrading makes financial sense rather than being an expense.
Advanced — around $431/month (annual)
Built for established, higher-volume stores — typically those turning over many thousands of dollars a month. It brings the lowest standard card rates, advanced reporting, more staff accounts, and features like custom third-party shipping rates and international pricing tools. For most small businesses this is more than they need; for a genuinely scaling store, the lower fees start to pay for it.
Plus — enterprise level
Shopify Plus runs into the thousands per month and is aimed at large, high-volume and international operations. If you’re asking whether you need Plus, you almost certainly don’t yet — stores that need it usually know exactly why.
The costs that sit beneath the plan price
Here’s where honesty matters, because the plan fee is not the whole story. The number on Shopify’s pricing page is the starting point, not the total. Budget for these too:
- Payment processing — you pay a card-processing fee on every sale (around 1.75% + 30c for domestic cards on Basic, lower on higher plans). This often adds up to more than the subscription itself.
- The third-party gateway penalty — if you use a payment provider other than Shopify Payments, Shopify adds its own extra fee on top (2% on Basic, less on higher plans). This is why almost everyone uses Shopify Payments.
- GST — 10% is added to your subscription unless you enter a valid ABN in your billing settings. A two-minute step that many owners miss.
- Apps — features Shopify doesn’t include (reviews, loyalty, advanced email, upsells) come from apps, most priced $10–$100+ per month each. These add up fast if you’re not disciplined.
Once you factor these in, a typical small Australian store trading steadily tends to budget somewhere around $150–$300 a month all-in, rather than the $42 headline. That’s not a criticism of Shopify — it’s just the real picture, and it’s better to know it going in.
The one fee that decides when to upgrade
The most useful thing to understand is this: Basic has the lowest subscription but the highest card-processing rate, while higher plans cost more upfront but charge less per sale. That means the right plan depends on your sales volume.
At low volumes, Basic is cheapest overall. As your sales grow, there’s a tipping point where a higher plan’s lower processing rate saves you more than the extra subscription costs — and that’s the moment to upgrade. Rather than guessing, model both plans at your actual monthly sales and compare the all-in cost. Upgrading should be a numbers decision, not a feeling that you’ve “outgrown” Basic.
A quick decision guide
- Just launching, or under a few thousand dollars a month? Start on Basic.
- Selling steadily and processing decent volume? Model Grow against Basic — the lower card rate may already pay for it.
- Established, high-volume, or expanding overseas? Advanced’s lower fees and advanced tools start to make sense.
- Large enterprise with complex needs? That’s Plus territory — and you’ll usually know.
When in doubt, start lower. Upgrading takes a couple of clicks and your store isn’t disrupted; paying months of higher fees you didn’t need is money you don’t get back.
Get set up on the right plan from the start
Choosing a plan is only one piece of setting up a Shopify store that actually sells — the bigger decisions are around how the store is built, structured and optimised. If you’d like help getting your store set up properly on the right plan for your stage, that’s exactly what we do.
Take a look at our Shopify packages to see how we build stores for Australian businesses, learn more about working with our Shopify experts, or get in touch for a free chat. New to the platform? Start with our guide on whether Shopify is worth it in Australia.
Which Shopify plan should I choose?
For most small Australian businesses just starting out, the Basic plan is the right choice — it includes everything you need to run a proper online store, and you can upgrade later once your sales justify it. Higher plans (Grow and Advanced) become worthwhile mainly when your sales volume is high enough that their lower card-processing fees offset the bigger subscription. The smart approach is to start lower and upgrade when the numbers make sense, rather than paying for features you won’t use. Always confirm current pricing on Shopify’s pricing page before committing.
How much does Shopify really cost in Australia?
The Basic plan starts at around $42 AUD per month on annual billing (about $56 month-to-month), but that’s only the subscription. On top of it you pay card-processing fees on every sale, plus GST unless you’ve entered a valid ABN, plus any apps you add. Once these are counted, a typical small store trading steadily tends to budget somewhere around $150–$300 AUD per month all-in. It’s worth knowing the real figure upfront rather than being surprised by it later.
What’s the difference between the Shopify plans?
The main differences are card-processing rates, the number of staff accounts, and the depth of reporting and advanced features. Basic has the lowest subscription but the highest card rate; Grow and Advanced cost more upfront but charge less per sale and add more tools. Advanced also brings features like custom third-party shipping rates and international pricing. For most small businesses the practical difference that matters is the trade-off between subscription cost and per-sale fees, which depends on your sales volume.
Can I change my Shopify plan later?
Yes — you can upgrade or downgrade at any time from your Shopify admin, and it only takes a couple of clicks. Your store, products and data aren’t disrupted when you change plans, so there’s no risk in starting on a lower tier and moving up as you grow. This is exactly why starting on Basic is usually the smart move: you’re not locked in, and you only pay for a higher plan once you genuinely need it. Review your plan against your actual usage every few months.
Do I have to pay extra transaction fees on Shopify?
You always pay card-processing fees on sales, but you can avoid Shopify’s additional transaction fee by using Shopify Payments, its built-in payment system. If you use a different payment gateway instead, Shopify adds its own fee on top of that gateway’s charges — 2% on Basic, and less on higher plans — which is why almost every Australian store uses Shopify Payments. For most businesses, Shopify Payments is both the cheaper and the simpler option. It’s worth setting up from the start.
Is the cheapest Shopify plan always the cheapest overall?
Not necessarily — and this catches people out. Basic has the lowest subscription but the highest card-processing rate, so once you’re selling in higher volumes, a more expensive plan with a lower per-sale rate can actually work out cheaper overall. The only way to know is to model both plans at your real monthly sales and compare the all-in cost, including processing fees. At low volumes Basic wins on total cost; past a certain point, upgrading saves money. Treat the upgrade decision as a calculation, not a guess.
