2026 Complete Guide

How Much Does a
Shopify Store Cost?

The complete breakdown of every Shopify cost in 2026 — monthly plans, professional setup fees, themes, apps, hidden charges, and real total cost examples for every type of store.

✓ 15-min read

✓ Updated June 2026

✓ Written by Shopify experts

Basic Store (DIY)

$39/mo

Shopify plan only

Professional Setup

$229–$599

One-time build fee

Custom Store

$1,400–$4,999

One-time build fee

Shopify Plus

$2,500+/mo

Enterprise tier

Quick Answer: How Much Does a Shopify Store Cost?

The short answer: A professionally built Shopify store costs between $229 and $4,999 as a one-time setup fee, plus Shopify's monthly subscription of $39–$399/month. Your total first-year cost is typically $697–$9,787 depending on the complexity of your store.

But the real answer is more nuanced. Shopify's pricing has multiple layers — the platform subscription, the cost of building the store, themes, apps, and payment processing fees. Understanding each layer helps you budget accurately and avoid expensive surprises.

This guide breaks down every single cost associated with running a Shopify store in 2026 — from the initial platform subscription to the full annual cost of a high-performing e-commerce operation. We cover store setup, custom themes, apps, and everything else you need to know before you start.

Shopify Monthly Plans: What Does Shopify Actually Charge?

Shopify's monthly subscription is the baseline cost that every merchant pays. There are five main tiers, each with different features and transaction fee structures. Here's exactly what each plan includes and costs in 2026:

Plan	Monthly	Annual (save 25%)	Transaction Fee	Best For
Starter	$5/mo	$5/mo	5%	Social selling only (no online store)
Basic	$39/mo	$29/mo	2% (0% with SP)	New stores, first-time sellers
Shopify	$105/mo	$79/mo	1% (0% with SP)	Growing stores, 5 staff accounts
Advanced	$399/mo	$299/mo	0.5% (0% with SP)	Scaling stores, advanced reports
Plus	$2,500+/mo	$2,300+/mo	0.2% (0% with SP)	Enterprise, B2B, high volume

SP = Shopify Payments. If you use Shopify's own payment processor (Shopify Payments), transaction fees drop to 0%. You only pay standard card processing rates (2.4–2.9% + 30¢ per transaction). We strongly recommend using Shopify Payments for all UK, US, Australian, and Canadian merchants.

Our recommendation: Start with Basic ($39/month) for most new stores. You can always upgrade as your revenue grows. Shopify Basic handles everything most stores need — unlimited products, 24/7 support, and all essential e-commerce features. See our full Shopify vs WooCommerce cost comparison to understand how this stacks up against alternatives.

Shopify Store Setup Costs: DIY vs Professional Agency

There are two ways to build a Shopify store: do it yourself or hire a professional agency. The costs vary enormously, as does the quality of the result. Here's an honest breakdown:

🛠️ DIY (Do It Yourself)

Platform cost$39/mo

Free theme$0

Your time40–120 hours

Learning curveSignificant

Result qualityVariable

Launch time2–12 weeks

✅ Professional Agency (Recommended)

Platform cost$39/mo

Build fee$229–$4,999

Your time2–5 hours (reviews)

Learning curveNone

Result qualityProfessional

Launch time7–30 days

Here's how professional agency costs break down by store type. These are real market rates for UK, US, and Australian agencies:

Store Type	Setup Cost	Products	Timeline	Best For
Starter Store	$229–$499	Up to 10	7–14 days	First-time sellers, testing ideas
Growth Store	$599–$999	Up to 25	14–21 days	Growing product brands
Professional Store	$1,400–$1,999	Up to 50	21–30 days	Established brands scaling online
Executive Store	$2,499–$4,999	Up to 250	30–45 days	High-volume consumer brands
Shopify Plus Build	$10,000–$50,000+	Unlimited	6–12 weeks	Enterprise, B2B, global brands

How Much Does a Shopify Theme Cost?

Your Shopify theme is the design foundation of your store. There are three approaches, each with very different costs and outcomes:

Free Themes

Shopify's free themes (Dawn, Craft, Crave, Debut) are genuinely excellent starting points. They are mobile-optimised, fast, and regularly updated by Shopify. For many small stores, a customised free theme is entirely sufficient.

✓ Zero cost, Shopify supported✗ Used by thousands of stores, limited differentiation

Premium Themes (Theme Store)

$180–$350 one-time

The Shopify Theme Store sells professionally designed themes from vetted developers. You pay once and own the theme permanently. Popular options include Impulse, Prestige, Motion, and Turbo.

✓ Professional design, one-time cost✗ Used by many stores, some customisation limits

Custom Theme (Agency Built)

$2,500–$15,000+

A custom Shopify theme is built from scratch specifically for your brand. It is 100% unique, optimised for your specific products, and includes exactly the sections and functionality you need — nothing more, nothing less.

✓ Completely unique, optimised for conversion✗ Higher upfront investment

At Shopify Plus Designers, all our packages from starter builds upward include professional theme customisation. Our custom Shopify theme development service starts from $2,500 for brands that need a fully unique storefront.

Shopify App Costs: The Monthly Subscription Stack

Shopify has 8,000+ apps in its app store, and while many are free, the apps that drive the most revenue are paid. Here's what a typical growing store's app stack costs per month:

App Category	Recommended App	Free Tier?	Paid Cost
Email Marketing	Klaviyo	Yes (250 contacts)	$20–$800/mo
Product Reviews	Judge.me	Yes (excellent)	$15/mo (Pro)
Loyalty Programme	Smile.io	Yes (limited)	$49–$199/mo
Upsell / Post-Purchase	ReConvert	No	$4.99–$29.99/mo
Subscriptions	Recharge	No	$99+/mo
Customer Support	Tidio / Gorgias	Yes (Tidio)	$19–$300/mo
Shipping & Tracking	AfterShip	Yes (limited)	$11–$119/mo
Page Builder	Pagefly	Yes (limited)	$24–$199/mo
Search & Filter	Searchpie / Boost	Yes	$19–$99/mo
Bundle Builder	Bold / Bundler	No	$6.99–$24/mo

Starter App Stack

$0–$40/mo

Klaviyo (free), Judge.me (free), AfterShip (free)

Growth App Stack

$100–$200/mo

Klaviyo paid, Judge.me Pro, Smile.io, Tidio, ReConvert

Scaling App Stack

$300–$600/mo

Full Klaviyo, Gorgias, Recharge, Smile.io Pro, Yotpo

Hidden Shopify Costs Most Guides Don't Tell You

Beyond the obvious subscription and setup costs, there are several Shopify costs that catch new merchants by surprise. Here's everything you need to know:

💳

Transaction Fees on Third-Party Gateways

If you use PayPal, Stripe directly, or any gateway other than Shopify Payments, Shopify charges an additional 0.5–2% transaction fee on every sale. On $10,000/month in sales, that's $50–$200 extra every month. Solution: use Shopify Payments where available.

📧

Email Marketing Costs Scale with List Size

Klaviyo's free plan covers 250 contacts. Once your list grows to 1,000 contacts, you pay $20/month. At 10,000 contacts, it's $150/month. At 50,000 contacts, $700+/month. Budget for this as you scale.

🔒

SSL Certificate

Good news: Shopify includes SSL for free on all plans. No extra cost here, unlike some alternatives.

🌐

Custom Domain Name

You'll need to buy a custom domain ($10–$20/year from Shopify Domains, Google Domains, or Namecheap). A small but necessary cost that is often forgotten.

📸

Product Photography

Professional product photography is one of the most impactful investments you can make. Budget $300–$2,000+ for a professional shoot, or $50–$200 for a DIY lightbox setup.

🛡️

Ongoing Maintenance

Shopify stores need regular maintenance — app updates, theme updates, bug fixes, seasonal content changes. Budget $99–$499/month for a maintenance retainer, or learn to do it yourself.

🌍

International Commerce Setup

Selling to multiple countries requires Shopify Markets configuration, currency conversion, and potentially additional apps for duties and taxes. Budget $20–$99/month for international commerce tools.

Shopify Payment Processing Fees Explained

Every time a customer pays you, the payment processor takes a small percentage. This is separate from Shopify's monthly fee. Here's exactly what you'll pay per transaction:

Shopify Plan	Shopify Payments Rate	3rd Party Gateway Fee	Cost on $1,000 sale
Basic	2.9% + 30¢ online	2% extra	$29.30 (SP) / $49.30 (3rd)
Shopify	2.6% + 30¢ online	1% extra	$26.30 (SP) / $36.30 (3rd)
Advanced	2.4% + 30¢ online	0.5% extra	$24.30 (SP) / $29.30 (3rd)
Plus	2.15% + 30¢	0.2% extra	$21.50 (SP) / $23.50 (3rd)

Key insight: Always use Shopify Payments if available in your country (UK, USA, Australia, Canada, Ireland, and many more). It eliminates the additional transaction fee and gives you the best card processing rates on your plan. See our guide on Shopify store setup for payment configuration details.

Real Total Cost Examples: Year 1 Shopify Budget

Here's what different types of Shopify stores actually cost in year one, combining all the costs we've covered above:

🌱 Budget Starter Store

A solo founder launching their first product with minimal investment

Professional store setup$229

Shopify Basic (12 months)$468

Domain name$15

Klaviyo (free tier)$0

Judge.me (free tier)$0

Total Year 1$712

📈 Growing Brand Store

An established brand scaling its e-commerce channel

Professional store setup$1,399

Shopify Shopify plan (12 months)$1,260

Domain + email$50

Klaviyo (1,000 contacts)$240

Judge.me Pro$180

Smile.io Starter$588

AfterShip Essential$132

Total Year 1$3,849

🏆 Premium Custom Store

A scaling DTC brand investing in a fully custom premium build

Custom store build$4,999

Shopify Advanced (12 months)$4,788

Domain + email suite$200

Klaviyo (10,000 contacts)$1,800

Gorgias support$3,000

Recharge subscriptions$1,188

Yotpo reviews$1,200

Smile.io Pro$2,388

Total Year 1$19,563

Our Pricing

Our Shopify Store Packages & Pricing

Fixed-price packages with no hidden fees. All include unlimited revisions and our 30-day launch guarantee.

Pricing Plans

E-Commerce Shopify Pricing Plans

Looking for affordable Shopify options? Invest now for the growth and success of your business.

E-CommerceSMMSEM

Beginner — Perfect for First-Time Sellers

Just getting started? This is all you need to launch fast and look professional.

$229$1495

✓ Clean, theme-based design
✓ Up to 10 products
✓ Your own dedicated designer & developer
✓ Optional: Payment setup for just $200 extra
✓ Unlimited edits until you're happy
✓ Satisfaction & unique design guaranteed

Best For: Presenting products that captivate and convert.

💬 Chat Now

Growth — Ideal for Growing Product Brands

A custom, flexible store to support your product growth.

$599$2995

✓ Personalized, custom design
✓ Up to 25 products
✓ Mini-cart to boost conversions
✓ Integrated payment gateway
✓ Search bar for easy product browsing
✓ Dedicated designer + developer
✓ Unlimited edits
✓ 100% satisfaction & design guarantee

Best For: Small brands ready to grow, coaches selling digital or physical products

💬 Chat Now

Level Up — Built for Serious Selling

Get a fully featured, custom Shopify store to scale your business professionally.

$899$4495

✓ Custom design tailored to your brand
✓ List up to 50 products
✓ Full shopping cart + payment integration
✓ Smart product search
✓ 1 free month of Shopify included
✓ Dedicated team, unlimited edits, 100% guarantees

Best For: Growing eCommerce stores, creators expanding product lines

💬 Chat Now

Real Shopify Stores We've Built

See the quality of what we deliver — stores built to convert, designed to impress.

Related Guides & Services

Ready to Get an Exact Quote?

Tell us about your store and we'll give you a fixed, no-obligation quote within 24 hours. No hidden fees, no surprises — just clear pricing.

Frequently
Asked Questions

Have confusions? Don’t worry. Check out some of the commonly asked queries.

A basic Shopify store costs between $229–$599 with a professional agency. Custom-designed stores with advanced features range from $1,400–$4,999. Shopify Plus enterprise builds typically start from $10,000. On top of the build cost, you pay Shopify's monthly subscription ($39–$399/month) plus any app costs.

Shopify offers a 3-day free trial, but there is no permanent free tier. The cheapest paid plan is $5/month (Starter), though this is very limited. For a real e-commerce store, Shopify Basic at $39/month is the recommended minimum.

Shopify plans cost: Basic $39/month, Shopify $105/month, Advanced $399/month, and Shopify Plus from $2,500/month. Annual billing gives approximately 25% discount. The right plan depends on your revenue and feature requirements.

There is no one-time cost for Shopify itself — it is a monthly subscription. However, a professional store setup (design, development, product upload) is typically a one-time project cost ranging from $229–$10,000+ depending on complexity.

Free Shopify themes are available (Dawn, Craft, Crave are excellent). Premium themes from the Shopify Theme Store cost $180–$350 as a one-time purchase. Custom-designed themes built from scratch by an agency cost $2,500–$15,000.

Common hidden costs include: app subscriptions ($20–$500/month for the full stack), transaction fees (0.5–2% if not using Shopify Payments), premium theme ($180–$350), professional setup, email marketing tools (Klaviyo from $20/month), and ongoing maintenance.

Individual apps range from free to $299/month. A typical growing store's app stack costs $100–$400/month total, covering email marketing (Klaviyo), reviews (Judge.me), loyalty (Smile.io), and support (Tidio or Gorgias).

Shopify is not necessarily cheaper than WooCommerce. WooCommerce software is free but requires hosting ($20–$100/month), plugins ($100–$300/year), and developer maintenance. When you factor in all costs, they are often comparable — with Shopify being cheaper in time and stress.

Shopify Plus starts from $2,500/month on a 3-year contract. It includes unlimited staff accounts, custom checkout, B2B portal, Shopify Flow, and a dedicated merchant success manager. It makes financial sense when processing $1M+ annually.

For a first store, budget $229–$599 for professional setup plus $39/month for Shopify Basic plus $50–$150/month for essential apps = approximately $289–$789 total for month one. For a premium custom store, budget $1,400–$2,500 for the build plus $89–$250/month ongoing.

At Shopify Plus Designers, all packages are fixed-price with no negotiation needed — what you see is what you pay. We offer payment plans on larger projects. All packages include unlimited revisions and a satisfaction guarantee.

Migration from WooCommerce, Magento, or BigCommerce to Shopify typically costs $599–$2,500 depending on the number of products, orders, and custom features to be transferred. Contact us for a free migration quote.

Yes — ongoing costs include: Shopify monthly subscription ($39–$399), app subscriptions ($50–$400/month depending on stack), optional maintenance retainer ($99–$499/month), and paid advertising budget (separate to Shopify costs).

Our Beginner package starts from $229 — the most affordable professional Shopify store build available. It includes a clean theme-based design, up to 10 products, payment setup, and unlimited revisions. Contact us for a free quote.

Shopify does not take a percentage of sales, but it does charge transaction fees (0.5–2%) if you use a third-party payment gateway instead of Shopify Payments. With Shopify Payments, there are no transaction fees — only standard card processing fees (2.4–2.9% + 30¢).

Client Reviews

Let’s Hear from Our Clients

We've shared a lot about our work. Why don't you take a look at what our clients have to say about our expertise?

Switching to Shopify was a game-changer, and partnering with Shopify Plus Designers was instrumental in our success. They delivered customized solutions with extensive features that exceeded my expectations. Their expertise and support have been invaluable, and I highly recommend them to anyone looking to elevate their e-commerce experience.

★★★★★

Sam Denver

Shopify Plus Designers expertly transformed my vision into a thriving Shopify store. What impressed me most was their ability to deliver exceptional quality at an affordable price. The value I received far exceeded my investment, making it a truly worthwhile partnership. Im grateful for their expertise and highly recommend their services.

★★★★★

Anastasia Luke

Working with Shopify Plus Designers has been a revelation! Their all-encompassing marketing solutions have enabled me to effectively reach and retain a broad customer base, resulting in significant growth for my business. Their services have truly exceeded my expectations!

★★★★★

Richard Issac

Since teaming up with Shopify Plus Designers, we have seen a significant boost in sales and a substantial decrease in cart abandonment rates, all thanks to Shopifys streamlined checkout process. I am absolutely thrilled with the results!

★★★★★

Eric Samuel

Partnering with Shopify Plus Designers has been a game-changer for my business. With their expertise, I have been able to create a thriving Shopify store that is easy to manage, thanks to the intuitive dashboard that lets me oversee all my sales channels in one place.

★★★★★

Veronica Matt

We are absolutely thrilled with the Shopify store that Shopify Plus Designers has created for us. Their talented team of experts has truly exceeded our expectations, and we are confident that they will do the same for you - they are a team that truly delivers!

★★★★★

Kate Oscar

If you are considering building a Shopify store, I highly recommend partnering with Shopify Plus Designers. They have transformed my online store into a stunning and effective sales machine, and I have seen a significant boost in sales within just a few months. Their expertise is truly worth investing in!

★★★★★

Benjamin Clark

I am grateful to Shopify Plus Designers for their exceptional services. Their responsive and attentive team took the time to understand our vision, exceeding our expectations with top-notch results. Their dedication to delivering outstanding work is impressive! We could not be happier with the final product and highly recommend their services.

★★★★★

Whitney Nathan

How Much Does aShopify Store Cost?

Quick Answer: How Much Does a Shopify Store Cost?

Shopify Monthly Plans: What Does Shopify Actually Charge?

Shopify Store Setup Costs: DIY vs Professional Agency

How Much Does a Shopify Theme Cost?

Shopify App Costs: The Monthly Subscription Stack

Hidden Shopify Costs Most Guides Don't Tell You

Shopify Payment Processing Fees Explained

Real Total Cost Examples: Year 1 Shopify Budget

Our Shopify Store Packages & Pricing

E-Commerce Shopify Pricing Plans

Real Shopify Stores We've Built

Related Guides & Services

Ready to Get an Exact Quote?

Frequently Asked Questions

Let’s Hear from Our Clients

How Much Does a
Shopify Store Cost?

Frequently
Asked Questions