Shopify vs Shopify Plus: Detailed Feature & Pricing Comparison

Shopify offers solutions for different customer bases. The regular version has all the essentials you need, while Shopify Plus is more advanced.

Choosing the right fit for your online store can be confusing since the difference between Shopify and Shopify Plus isn’t immediately clear. Plus, Shopify Plus lacks a free trial. 

Don’t worry—we’ve compared Shopify vs Shopify Plus in detail, covering key features, pricing, support, and everything else you need to decide. 

Shopify vs Shopify Plus: What are They, and How Do They Differ?

Many people confuse Shopify (core) with Shopify Plus, but that’s a common misconception. In reality, they serve different customer needs and scales but share a common foundation. So, how much do they differ, and what makes each one unique?

What is Shopify?

Shopify (core) is a comprehensive e-commerce platform designed to help small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) create, manage, and grow their online stores. It is known for its user-friendly interface, making it an excellent choice for beginners and those new to e-commerce. Shopify offers three main pricing plans: Basic Shopify, Shopify, and Advanced Shopify to meet different customer needs. These plans provide essential tools for store management, marketing, and customization. 

As of 2024, over 4.7 million live websites use Shopify to power their online stores. Shopify is a worthwhile platform for those looking to start small without coding knowledge and grow their business over time at an affordable cost.

What is Shopify Plus?

Shopify Plus is an upgraded version of Shopify that’s designed for larger, more complex businesses. Shopify Plus has all of the core Shopify features along with advanced capabilities to handle larger sales volumes and complex business needs. Enterprise-level businesses that need omnichannel solutions with more customization and dedicated support can use it.

Shopify Plus includes advanced features like custom checkout options, higher levels of customization, automation tools, dedicated account management, etc. It also offers the ability to manage multiple stores from a single dashboard, making it a favorite for big brands that operate in multiple regions or have various product lines. 

As of 2024, there are more than 61,000 Shopify Plus stores worldwide, leveraging its advanced features for expansive business operations.

Shopify vs Shopify Plus: Comparison at Glance

Feature	Shopify	Shopify Plus
Scalability	Moderate	High
Infrastructure	Basic	High-Capacity
Admin Interface	Designed to manage one store	Designed to manage multiple stores
Inventory Management	Limited	Advanced
Additional Staff Accounts	0-15 (depending on the tier)	Unlimited
Customization	Limited	Extensive (custom apps and integrations)
Theme Options	Pre-built themes with limited customization	Full theme control and editing
Script Editing	No	Yes
API Access	Limited	Extensive
Headless Storefront	1	Up to 25
Checkout Customization	Limited	Extensive
Conversion Optimization Features	Limited	Extensive (custom apps, features)
Checkout Capacity	Standard (10x)	40x
Reporting & Analytics	Standard	Custom/Advanced
Support	24/7 Live chat, Email	24/7 Priority support,Merchant Success Manager,Launch team support
Pricing Plans	$25 to $399 Monthly (depending on the plan)	$2300/month on a 3-year term,$2500/month on 1-year term

Shopify vs Shopify Plus: How Do Both Handle Growth?

Shopify scales well for growing businesses, offering a range of pricing plans and features to support SMBs. As your business grows, you can seamlessly upgrade your plan to a higher tier. Each plan offers increased resources, such as higher storage limits, more staff accounts, and additional features.

While you can add more products and manage increased traffic to a certain extent, handling massive spikes or complex inventory management can be challenging with the regular version. 

Shopify’s Scalability

• Inventory locations: up to 10
• Headless storefronts: 1
• Additional staff accounts: 0-15 (depending on the tier)
• Checkout capacity: standard – 10x
• Localized Selling (Global sales): up to 3 markets, but with the advanced plan, you can add extra markets @ $59/month per added market.

On the other hand, Shopify Plus is built to handle high volumes of traffic, transactions, and complex e-commerce operations. With its dedicated infrastructure and resources, it lets you manage multiple storefronts and expand internationally at scale. 

Features like bulk updates, multi-location inventory tracking, and API integrations enable efficient inventory management at scale.

Shopify Plus’s Scalability

• Inventory locations: up to 200
• Headless storefronts: up to 25
• Additional staff accounts: Unlimited
• Checkout capacity: 40x
• Localized Selling (Global sales): 50 markets included

Shopify vs Shopify Plus: How Customizable Are They?

A unique online presence is a must to stand out in the crowded e-commerce market. Shopify and Shopify Plus offer different levels of customization to meet different business needs and complexities. 

Here’s how Shopify and Shopify Plus compare on customization:

Design & Themes Flexibility

All Shopify plans give you access to hundreds of themes, including 13 free ones and 193 paid options. These themes can be modified using a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface, making them accessible for users without coding knowledge. Regular Shopify plans let you add up to 20 themes to your account, while Shopify Plus accounts can add up to 100 themes.

Shopify lets you tweak basic things like colors, fonts, and layouts. But these options are a bit limited, making it tough to get a truly unique look. You can do some code edits, mainly HTML and CSS, but going deeper often means needing a Shopify developer‘s help. This can be a bit of a hurdle for businesses that want extensive customization.

On the other hand, Shopify Plus gives you full access to Shopify’s theme code, Liquid, for endless theme and functionality customization. This means you can create highly personalized layouts, features, and a unique brand experience.

Apps & Integrations

Shopify provides access to a vast app store with thousands of apps that can extend the functionality of your store. These apps cover a wide range of needs, from marketing and SEO to inventory management and customer service. 

However, the customization capabilities of these apps are somewhat limited by the platform’s API call limits and the inability to modify the backend code directly.

Shopify Plus offers all the apps available to standard Shopify users, plus exclusive apps designed for high-growth brands. These include Shopify Flow for automating workflows and Launchpad for scheduling and automating sales events. 

Shopify Plus users gain early access to new features and beta programs, keeping them ahead of the curve. They benefit from higher API limits, which are essential for managing large data volumes. Support for complex integrations makes it easy to connect with other systems, allowing users to build a personalized, integrated online store with ease.

Shopify API limits vary depending on the API type and your account tier. 

Here’s a quick breakdown:

API	Rate Limit Type	Standard	Advanced Shopify	Shopify Plus
GraphQL Admin API	Calculated Query Cost	100 points/second	200 points/second	1000 points/second
REST Admin API	Request-based	2 requests/second	4 requests/second	20 requests/second
Storefront API	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Payments Apps API (GraphQL)	Calculated Query Cost	910 points/second	910 points/second	1820 points/second
Customer Account API	Calculated Query Cost	100 points/second	200 points/second	200 points/second

For a detailed breakdown of these limits, refer to the official Shopify documentation.

Custom Scripts

Script editing is available exclusively on the Shopify Plus plan. This feature allows you to create personalized shopping experiences. This includes customizing checkout processes, applying discounts, and modifying shipping options based on specific conditions. Regular Shopify plans do not have access to this feature.

When writing a script, you can select a template and modify it to suit your store’s requirements. Here are some templates you can customize:

• percentage off a product (%)
• amount off a product ($)
• percentage and amount off a product (% and $)
• bulk discounts
• buy one get one free (BOGO) and more

Shopify Plus also supports Shopify Functions, enabling developers to extend Shopify’s server-side business logic with custom code, providing micro-customizations without the need for hosting or maintaining the code. This feature is exclusive to Shopify Plus users, giving them unparalleled control over their store’s functionality.

Customizable Checkout

A smooth and personalized checkout process can really boost your conversion rates. With standard Shopify plans, you can’t customize the checkout process, even with third-party apps, because the checkout.liquid file is only available with Shopify Plus for security and consistency reasons.

Shopify Plus lets you craft a checkout experience that truly showcases your unique brand. You have full control over the layout, branding, info collected, and order flow. 

Moreover, Shopify Plus users can leverage advanced API integrations, such as Shopify GiftCard, Shopify Multipass, and Shopify User, to further enhance the checkout process. 

Checkout Extensibility

Shopify is transitioning from Checkout Liquid to Checkout Extensibility (a feature that allows for no-code customization while being upgrade-safe). All users, especially those on Shopify Plus, will need to upgrade to take advantage of the new features and improvements in customization and performance.

Merchants can add custom fields, modify layout elements, and implement specific functionalities within the framework provided by Shopify’s Checkout Extensibility features. Here’s what you can do:

• Add custom banners and fields like warnings and disclaimers.
• Add product offers, upsells, promotions, donations, etc.
• Add loyalty programs, rewards points, etc.
• Integrate custom payment gateways for a seamless checkout experience.
• Modify, hide, or reorder shipping options and pricing based on your needs.

Shopify vs Shopify Plus: Managing Multiple Stores

In the standard Shopify plans, the admin interface is designed to manage a single store. This means that tasks such as user management, billing, and analytics must be handled separately for each store. It does not provide the centralized management capabilities that are available in Shopify Plus.

Shopify Plus includes the Shopify Organization Admin, a powerful tool that allows businesses to manage multiple stores from a single location. This feature is particularly beneficial for large enterprises and high-growth businesses that operate multiple storefronts or have complex organizational structures.

Shopify vs Shopify Plus: POS (Point of Sale)

Shopify POS is one of the most popular point-of-sale solutions since it integrates perfectly with Shopify stores and offers a powerful suite of features. Both Shopify and Shopify Plus provide POS features. Let’s take a look at how they compare.

Shopify POS Lite

Shopify POS Lite is included at no extra charge with all standard Shopify plans. It is primarily designed for single-location businesses and small merchants who want an easy and affordable way to sell in person. 

POS Lite offers basic features like in-person payments, basic customer info collection, limited returns and exchanges, payment processing, and staff & inventory management.

Shopify POS Pro

Shopify POS Pro is the upgraded version designed for retail stores and businesses with multiple locations. It gives you more control over staff usage and includes customer-focused features. POS Pro offers advanced tools like omni channel selling, inventory management, staff roles and permissions, custom receipts, local pickup options, and more.

POS Pro costs $89 per month per location for standard Shopify plans. However, the first 20 POS Pro locations are included for free with the Shopify Plus plan.

Shopify vs Shopify Plus: Reporting & Analytics

(Insights from analytics in the Shopify store dashboard, Source: Shopify)

Understanding customer behavior and your store’s performance is the key to optimizing your online store and driving business growth. Shopify and Shopify Plus offer 60+ analytics to track your store’s performance. 

Shopify Analytics

Shopify’s basic plans provide standard reporting options. These reports cover the common reporting and analysis needs of most store owners, providing insights into recent activity, visitor behavior, web performance, and store transactions.

Shopify allows exporting reports in CSV format, a common spreadsheet format. This lets you analyze your data outside of Shopify using tools like Excel for deeper insights.

Shopify Plus Analytics

Shopify Plus takes reporting and analytics to a higher level. Compared to standard plans, it provides more advanced reporting and analytics features. Plus, merchants have access to additional custom reports and deeper insights to support larger-scale operations.

Shopify Plus merchants can access the ShopifyQL Notebooks tool exclusively. This tool offers more detailed analytics and allows the creation of customized reports, helping you gain a deeper understanding of your business’s performance. 

(Advanced analytics insights with Shopify Notebooks, Source: Shopify)

Integration with Analytics Companies

Shopify Plus lets you access advanced data about your store and customers by working with analytics companies like KISSmetrics, Google Analytics, or Klaviyo. This integration allows businesses to use advanced analytics platforms and gain deeper insights into their data.

Shopify vs Shopify Plus: Support and Resources

Running a successful online store sometimes requires a helping hand. Both Shopify and Shopify Plus offer support resources. Here’s a breakdown of how Shopify and Shopify Plus stack up in these areas:

Support and Resources in Shopify

Shopify offers basic  24/7 email and live chat support for general inquiries. This is a good starting point for straightforward questions or troubleshooting common issues, such as setting up your store, managing inventory, or resolving basic technical glitches. 

Dedicated support or Phone support access is not available for standard plans. However, Shopify offers a range of self-service resources, including a help center knowledge base with articles, tutorials, video guides, and FAQs. 

Additionally, users can access community forums for peer support, making it easier to find solutions to common issues.

Support and Resources in Shopify Plus

Shopify Plus takes support to the next level, offering a more personalized and responsive experience. Shopify Plus offers enhanced support, including 24/7 live chat and phone support with faster response times. Shopify Plus users benefit from:

Launch Team Support

Moving to a new platform can be tricky, but Shopify Plus makes it easier. They provide a dedicated launch team to help with data migration, store setup, and a smooth launch. This reduces downtime and makes the transition seamless.

Dedicated Account Manager

One of Shopify Plus’s best perks is having a dedicated account manager for your store. This expert partner gives ongoing support, strategic advice, and helpful suggestions to reach your business goals.

Shopify Plus Partner Program

This program connects you with vetted Shopify Plus agencies and developers. It gives you access to expertise for custom development, advanced integrations, and strategic advice. This ensures your Shopify Plus store is tailored to your needs, functions well, and achieves great results.

Shopify vs Shopify Plus: How Expensive Are They?

There’s no denying that Shopify Plus is significantly more expensive than the basic or advanced Shopify plans. The higher price of Shopify Plus reflects its extensive feature set. It offers many additional capabilities compared to the entry-level plans, justifying the higher cost. 

Besides the monthly fixed fees, you will also need to consider expenses for development, third-party apps, Shopify apps, and other services, which can add up significantly. 

Let’s take a look at the pricing for Shopify and Shopify Plus:

Shopify’s Pricing

Shopify offers three standard plans with fixed monthly fees:

• Basic Shopify: $25 per month
• Shopify: $65 per month
• Advanced Shopify: $399 per month

All standard Shopify plans offer a free 3-day trial and a discounted rate for your first month if you choose to sign up.

Additional Costs

• Transaction Fees: 0.6% to 2%, depending on the plan when using third-party payment providers.
• POS Pro Feature: Additional $89/month costs will apply if you use the POS Pro feature.

Read more: Shopify Website Development Cost 2024 [Complete Breakdown]

Shopify Plus’s Pricing

Shopify Plus pricing starts at $2,500 per month for a 1-year plan or $2,300 per month for a 3-year plan. This base cost is designed for enterprise-level businesses and companies with specific demands.

Once your monthly sales reach $800,000, additional fees apply. The pricing structure transitions to 0.25% of monthly Gross Merchandise Volume (GMV), capped at a maximum monthly fee of $40,000.

Also, if you don’t use Shopify Payments, you will be charged a transaction fee of 0.2% per credit card transaction.

To know how much Shopify Plus really costs, read our comprehensive guide on Shopify Plus Pricing. (link)

Shopify vs Shopify Plus: Pros and Cons

Here’s a comparison of the pros and cons of Shopify and Shopify Plus:

Shopify Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Great for Small and Medium-Sized BusinessesAffordable PricingEasy to useScalable featuresPOS SolutionsWide range of apps and integrationsScalabilityVibrant Community	Higher transaction fees for non-Shopify PaymentsLimited API integrations and customization optionsLimited Number of Staff AccountsLimited Checkout Customization OptionsLimited Support

Shopify Plus Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
All the power needed to scaleExclusive tools and featuresLowest transaction feesTailored for high-volume businessesEnhanced support and dedicated account managerMore customization optionsUnlimited staff accountsAdvanced analytics and reporting	Higher costRequires more resources or a developerSteeper learning curveComplex pricing structure

Summary: Which Platform Should You Choose?

Choosing between Shopify and Shopify Plus depends on your business’s specific needs and growth stage. Below is a summary of recommendations for each platform.

Go with Shopify if:

• You’re just starting out with your online business.
• You have a small product range and don’t expect it to grow quickly.
• Customizing your store’s appearance isn’t a top priority.
• You’re good with using Shopify’s built-in features and functionalities.

Opt for Shopify Plus if:

• Your business is growing fast, and you need a platform that can scale.
• You handle a large product catalog or have complex product setups.
• You want a highly customized shopping experience that showcases your unique brand.
• Automating tasks and integrating with advanced tools are key for your operations.

If you need help figuring out your needs and finding the best fit for your business, feel free to Contact our Shopify Experts for a FREE consultation.

FAQs

What is the difference between Shopify Plus and Shopify?

Shopify Plus differs from Shopify in terms of target users, features, and pricing. Shopify is designed for small to medium-sized businesses with annual revenues below $1 million, offering a range of plans from $25 to $299 per month. It provides basic e-commerce functionalities for businesses with simpler needs.

In contrast, Shopify Plus is designed for large companies and high-growth merchants with revenue typically over $1 million. You can get it for $2,500 per month, and it comes with advanced features like customizable checkout, unlimited staff accounts, dedicated account management, and lower transaction fees. 

Is Shopify Plus good?

Yes, Shopify Plus is an enterprise-level and high-growth commerce platform. With its advanced features, dedicated support, and extensive customization options, it makes a good choice for businesses that have complex requirements and ambitious growth plans.

Can I upgrade from Shopify to Shopify Plus?

You can upgrade from Shopify to Shopify Plus. The process is straightforward and typically managed by a Shopify Plus Consultant who helps you with the migration.

Is it worth upgrading to Shopify Plus?

If your business grows rapidly, requires advanced customization, or wants enterprise-level features and support, Shopify Plus is worth it. Enhanced scalability, lower transaction fees, personalized assistance, and exclusive tools can make it significantly more beneficial to businesses seeking expansion and efficiency.

Learn more about Is Shopify Plus Worth Investing? (link)

When should I use Shopify Plus?

Your business should use Shopify Plus when its basic functionalities are no longer sufficient and you are consistently reaching transaction thresholds that require substantial transaction fees. Businesses that generate more than $1 million in revenue or handle a high volume of transactions usually benefit from Shopify Plus’s lower transaction fees and enhanced features.Your next read is ready: 12 Reasons Why Brands Migrate to Shopify Plus! (link)