Shopify Plan Comparison
At what revenue level does upgrading to Shopify Advanced actually save you money? The answer is more specific than you think.
Shopify Basic costs $39/month. Shopify Advanced costs $399/month. The price jump feels steep until you understand that the Advanced plan has lower credit card processing fees that save money at higher volumes. Plus reporting, international features, and staff accounts that growing stores need.
The break-even point where Advanced saves more in fees than it costs in subscription is around $80K-$100K/month in revenue (with Shopify Payments). Below that, Basic is fine. Above that, you are overpaying on transaction fees.
$39
Basic Monthly
$399
Advanced Monthly
$80-100K
Break-Even Revenue
150+
Stores Optimised
This comparison helps you decide whether upgrading to Advanced is worth it based on your actual revenue and feature needs.
Shopify Basic vs Shopify Advanced — feature by feature
| Feature | Shopify Basic | Shopify Advanced |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Cost | $39/month. | $399/month. |
| Credit Card Rates (Shopify Payments) | 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction. | 2.4% + $0.30 per transaction. 0.5% savings per transaction. |
| Reports | Basic reports. Limited analytics. | Advanced report builder. Custom reports. Better analytics for data-driven decisions. |
| Staff Accounts | 2 staff accounts. | 15 staff accounts. Essential for growing teams. |
| International | Basic Shopify Markets support. | Enhanced international features. Duties and import tax calculation at checkout. |
| Third-Party Shipping Rates | Not available. Use Shopify Shipping or manual rates. | Third-party calculated shipping rates at checkout. Essential for complex shipping needs. |
Our recommendation
Under $80K/month: stay on Basic. The fee savings on Advanced do not offset the higher subscription cost.
$80K-$100K/month: evaluate. If you need advanced reports, more staff accounts, or international features, upgrade. If not, Basic still works.
Above $100K/month: upgrade to Advanced. The 0.5% transaction fee savings alone exceed the $360/month cost difference.
Pick Shopify Basic if...
Stay on Basic if you are under $80K/month in revenue, have a small team (2 or fewer needing Shopify access), and do not need advanced reporting or international features.
Pick Shopify Advanced if...
Upgrade to Advanced when revenue exceeds $80-100K/month, when you need more than 2 staff accounts, when custom reporting is needed, or when selling internationally with duties calculation.
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