Shopify vs. Shopify Plus: Which Plan is Best For Your Brand?
Shopify is one of the most widely used eCommerce platforms today. Individuals, small businesses, and large-scale enterprise brands alike rely on Shopify's easy-to-use features to sell their products online. With a variety of applications ready out-of-the-box, dedicated support from the Shopify team, and no web development skills necessary, users can build their own eCommerce store and begin selling to customers within hours.
More than 6 million websites (historically as well as currently live) have been built with the Shopify platform, according to BuiltWith. Within that 6 million are well-known DTC brands like Allbirds, Liquid Death, Yeti, and the many powerhouse brands that have partnered with Anatta.
An Overview of Shopify
Shopify is a user-friendly eCommerce platform that makes it incredibly easy to sell online. With Shopify, you don't need to worry about building your website from scratch, finding web hosting solutions, or managing your storefront manually.
Shopify offers seamless inventory management tools and a plethora of apps that streamline the day-to-day operations of an online store. Depending on your needs as an online business, Shopify offers different tiers of subscription plans that come with varying prices and features.
Shopify offers three main subscription plans for users: Basic Shopify, Shopify, and Advanced Shopify. Shopify Plus, on the other hand, is Shopify's enterprise-level offering.
Shopify Basic vs "Shopify" vs Advanced Shopify
Shopify Basic: offers essential tools and resources for small businesses and individuals starting their eCommerce journey. Shopify Basic comes with blogging tools, a Free SSL certificate, abandoned cart recovery emails, as well as basic reporting. Shopify Basic is best suited for individual sellers or small businesses.
Cost: Shopify Basic costs $29.99 per month when billed yearly and $39.99 per month on a month-to-month basis. There's also an additional transaction fee of 2.9% + .30 cents USD for purchases made on your online store with a credit card.
Shopify: equips store owners with more robust features like professional reports, automation of some day-to-day store tasks, and reduced transaction fees (2.6% + .30 cents for credit card purchases when using Shopify Payments).
Cost: The Shopify Regular plan costs $79 per month when you sign up for a year or $109 monthly when you sign up month-to-month.
Advanced Shopify: provides increased features for a growing eCommerce business like an advanced report builder, 15 staff accounts, and automatic calculations for import taxes on international orders.
Cost: Advanced Shopify has the highest subscription price at $299 per month when billed annually and $399 per month on a month-to-month plan. However, Advanced Shopify does offer the lowest transaction fees of the three standard Shopify plans: 2.5% + .30 cents for online credit card purchases.
What is Shopify Plus?
Shopify Plus is an enterprise-level eCommerce solution offering the most extensive, comprehensive store features. From an expanded library of applications, store themes, and admin controls to even greater website customization – Shopify Plus is arguably one of the best eCommerce platforms available for fast-growing DTC brands in 2023.
Core Features of Shopify Plus
Shopify Plus greatly extends the features of your Shopify store so you can create an on-brand, state-of-the-art eCommerce experience. Just below is a complete rundown of Plus's core features that can benefit DTC brands as they rise to the mid-market level, and beyond.
Overview of Shopify Plus offerings:
- Even better admin controls and features.
- Unlock educational courses and exclusive webinars via Shopify Plus Academy
- Ability to customize more parts of your website and Shopify checkout via Liquid
- Expanded access to Shopify-developed applications, pre-built Shopify Themes, and store customization.
- A dedicated Merchant Success Manager who helps ensure your success on the Shopify Plus platform.
- Enhanced control over your customer experience online, in international markets, and in brick-and-mortar storefronts.
- Access to the Shopify Plus Partners network so you can easily find a Shopify expert to help your brand with digital marketing, web or app development, brand strategy, and more.
How does it help you?
Access to Advanced Applications: Automate Your Store Functions & Customize Your Customer Experience
The Merchant Success Program & Exclusive Resources
The Shopify Plus Partners Network
Shopify Organization Admin
Enhanced International eCommerce
Expanded Customization of Your Store Theme via Liquid
Multiple Channels For Selling Your Products
Shopify POS Pro with Shopify Plus
Shopify POS Pro helps your business:
How Shopify Plus Benefits Upstarts, Mid-Market Brands & Enterprise-Level Merchants
Frequently Asked Questions - Shopify Plus
When Should I Upgrade to Shopify Plus?
Is Shopify a Different eCommerce Platform than Shopify Plus?
How Much Does Shopify Plus Cost?
Why is Shopify Plus so Expensive?
Is Shopify Plus Worth The Cost?
Is Shopify Advanced the Same as Shopify Plus?
Is Shopify Plus Headless?
Is Shopify Plus Faster Than Shopify?
Is Shopify Plus better than Shopify?