Shopify vs. Shopify Plus Comparing Key Points
Shopify is often the go-to platform for many entrepreneurs. However, as businesses grow, they may find themselves considering an upgrade to Shopify Plus. Both platforms offer powerful tools for e-commerce, but they cater to different needs and scales. Here’s a detailed comparison to help you decide which is right for your business.
Overview
Shopify is a widely-used e-commerce platform that allows businesses of all sizes to create, customise, and manage an online store. It’s known for its user-friendly interface, robust app ecosystem, and affordability.
Shopify Plus, on the other hand, is Shopify’s enterprise solution designed for high-volume merchants and large businesses. It offers additional features and dedicated support that go beyond what’s available in the standard Shopify plans.
Key Differences Pricing
Shopify: Plans range from €29/month (Basic Shopify) to €299/month (Advanced Shopify).
Shopify Plus: Pricing starts at around €2,000 per month and can vary based on your business’s specific needs and sales volume.
Shopify offers different pricing structures and transaction fees for its standard plans and Shopify Plus, its enterprise-level solution. Here’s a detailed comparison of transaction fees between Shopify Plus and standard Shopify plans:
Shopify Standard Plans
Shopify offers three main standard plans:
- Basic Shopify
- Shopify
- Advanced Shopify
Transaction Fees:
-
Online Credit Card Rates (for Shopify Payments users):
- Basic Shopify: 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction
- Shopify: 2.6% + 30¢ per transaction
- Advanced Shopify: 2.4% + 30¢ per transaction
-
In-Person Credit Card Rates (for Shopify Payments users):
- Basic Shopify: 2.7% per transaction
- Shopify: 2.5% per transaction
- Advanced Shopify: 2.4% per transaction
-
Additional Fees for External Payment Gateways:
- Basic Shopify: 2.0% per transaction
- Shopify: 1.0% per transaction
- Advanced Shopify: 0.5% per transaction
Shopify Plus Plan
Shopify Plus is a custom-priced plan tailored for high-volume merchants and large businesses. The pricing structure is more flexible and typically negotiated based on the business’s specific needs and volume.
Transaction Fees:
Online Credit Card Rates (for Shopify Payments users):
- Typically starts at 2.15% + 30¢ per transaction but can be lower based on negotiated terms.
In-Person Credit Card Rates (for Shopify Payments users):
- Similar to online rates and can vary based on the agreement.
Additional Fees for External Payment Gateways:
- Generally 0.15% per transaction, which is significantly lower than standard Shopify plans.
Key Differences
- Lower Transaction Fees: Shopify Plus generally offers lower transaction fees, especially for businesses with high sales volumes. The exact rates are often negotiated and can be tailored to the business’s specific needs.
- Custom Pricing: Unlike the fixed rates in standard plans, Shopify Plus pricing is more flexible and can be adjusted based on the volume and specific requirements of the business.
- Reduced External Payment Gateway Fees: The fee for using an external payment gateway is much lower on Shopify Plus compared to standard plans.
Features and Customisation
Shopify: Provides all the essential tools to set up and run an online store, including templates, payment processing, and basic marketing tools. Customisation is possible, but more complex changes often require third-party apps or custom coding.
Shopify Plus: Includes everything in the standard Shopify plans plus advanced features like Launchpad (for automating campaigns), Shopify Flow (for automating workflows), and access to the Shopify Plus API for deeper integrations and customisations. It also supports multiple storefronts, allowing you to manage several stores from a single account.
Performance and Scalability
Shopify: Suitable for small to medium-sized businesses. It handles moderate traffic and transaction volumes efficiently.
Shopify Plus: Designed for large-scale operations, capable of handling high traffic spikes and large volumes of transactions without compromising performance. Plus merchants get a 99.99% uptime guarantee and dedicated server resources.
Support
Shopify: Offers 24/7 customer support via phone, email, and live chat.
Shopify Plus: Provides a dedicated Merchant Success Manager, who acts as a personal consultant, helping you maximize the platform’s potential. Plus merchants also get priority support and access to the Plus community and exclusive resources.
Checkout Experience
Shopify: Standard checkout customisation options are limited.
Shopify Plus: Allows for a fully customised checkout experience, which can significantly enhance the customer experience and potentially increase conversion rates.
Internationalisation
Shopify: Supports selling in multiple currencies and languages, but with some limitations.
Shopify Plus: Offers more advanced features for global selling, including multiple storefronts to cater to different regions, advanced currency conversion, and localised checkout experiences.
Use Cases
Shopify is ideal for:
Small to medium-sized businesses looking for an affordable, easy-to-use platform.
Startups and entrepreneurs launching their first online store.
Businesses that don’t require highly customised solutions or expect rapid scaling in the near term.
Shopify Plus is best for:
Large businesses with high sales volumes and complex needs.
Brands planning to scale rapidly and expecting significant growth.
Companies requiring advanced customisation and integration capabilities.
Businesses that operate multiple online stores or need a robust international presence.
Conclusion
Choosing between Shopify and Shopify Plus ultimately depends on your business’s current size, growth trajectory, and specific needs. Shopify offers a comprehensive solution for most small to medium-sized businesses, providing all the tools necessary to establish and grow an online presence.
On the other hand, Shopify Plus is tailored for larger enterprises that require advanced features, greater customisation, and dedicated support to handle high volumes and complex operations.
By evaluating your business goals and requirements, you can make an informed decision about which platform is best suited to help you achieve your e-commerce ambitions.