Over 5 million businesses in 175 countries use Shopify, from startups to global brands. In this article, we’ll compare Shopify’s standard plans with its enterprise solution, Shopify Plus, and help you decide when it’s time to upgrade.
If you’re new to Shopify, it’s a powerful all-in-one ecommerce platform that lets you sell across multiple channels, offer localized shopping experiences with different languages and currencies, and manage your entire business from one place. With built-in tools for handling orders, products, content, and customers, Shopify helps brands grow and succeed online.
The platform gives access to thousands of trusted apps through the Shopify App Store, and its features are constantly being improved by both Shopify and its global network of tech partners. It’s one of the most scalable and fast-growing ecommerce platforms available.
However, if you’re a fast-growing business with high sales volume, you might want to look at Shopify Plus — the enterprise-level solution used by nearly 40,000 brands worldwide.
We’ve compared Shopify vs. Shopify Plus to help you decide which one fits your needs. Shopify also includes detailed analytics, giving you insights into conversions, average order value, customer behavior, and more — all while keeping your data secure with built-in fraud and bot protection.
As your business grows and operations become more complex, the standard Shopify plans might not offer everything you need. That’s where Shopify Plus comes in — designed specifically for high-revenue, global brands ready to scale.
This article, crafted by experts at a Shopify development company, breaks down the pricing, features, and benefits of Shopify Plus — and helps you determine the right time to upgrade. If you’re still unsure whether Shopify Plus is the right fit for your business, we’re here to help — feel free to reach out!
If you decide to upgrade to Shopify Plus, you’ll be joining top-tier brands like Allbirds, Heinz, Red Bull, and Staples — all of whom trust the platform to support their high-volume ecommerce operations. Shopify Plus is the go-to choice for fast-growing enterprises looking for power, flexibility, and scalability.
Considering Shopify Advanced? See our article that compares Shopify Plus vs Advanced plans.
Is Shopify Plus Right for Your Growing Business?
Shopify started in 2006 to support small and medium-sized businesses selling online. But as your business grows, so does its complexity — and that’s where Shopify Plus comes in.
So, what exactly is Shopify Plus?
Shopify Plus is the enterprise version of Shopify, built for high-volume brands and fast-scaling businesses. It offers the same easy-to-use dashboard and core features as regular Shopify, but with added power: advanced integrations, more customization, greater bandwidth, priority support, and exclusive tools designed for big businesses.
With Shopify Plus, you can create a highly customized ecommerce store that grows with you. It’s ideal for brands needing advanced features to increase order values, boost conversion rates, and manage high volumes of traffic and sales — all while maintaining speed and stability.
However, Shopify Plus isn’t for everyone. If you’re a small or mid-sized business without complex needs, a standard Shopify plan might be more than enough. But if you’re running into limitations as you scale, it may be time to consider the upgrade.
Not sure if it’s the right fit? Our expert team can walk you through the decision and help you choose the best option for your business.
Is Upgrading to Shopify Plus Worth It?
Many fast-growing brands eventually consider making the leap to Shopify Plus — and for good reason. But before upgrading, it’s important to weigh the costs against the added value.
Shopify Plus unlocks a host of advanced features not available on standard plans. These include access to exclusive apps, the ability to fully customize the checkout experience, build custom applications, and tap into Shopify’s B2B capabilities.
You’ll also benefit from:
- Increased checkout capacity (more checkouts per second)
- Priority merchant support
- Lower transaction fees
- Greater control and scalability
For rapidly scaling brands, Shopify Plus can be a game-changer — and compared to platforms like Magento, it often comes with a lower total cost of ownership and quicker time to market.
Still unsure if it’s right for you? We can help assess your current setup and growth plans to see if Shopify Plus is the right move.
What Does Shopify Plus Really Cost?
When comparing Shopify vs. Shopify Plus, it’s crucial to understand how pricing works — and whether the upgrade makes financial sense for your business.
Unlike standard Shopify plans, Shopify Plus pricing is usage-based, meaning it scales with your monthly sales volume. The more revenue you generate, the more resources and support Shopify provides — which is reflected in the cost.
- Base price: Shopify Plus starts at $2,300 USD per month.
- Once revenue exceeds $800,000/month, the cost shifts to 0.25% of your monthly revenue.
Example:
- If you make $1 million/month, your Shopify Plus fee would be $2,500 USD.
- You’d need to hit $16 million/month in sales to reach the maximum capped fee of $40,000 USD.
This flexible pricing structure makes Shopify Plus accessible for growing brands while ensuring it scales with your business.
Understanding Shopify Plus Transaction Fees
Beyond the monthly subscription, Shopify Plus merchants also pay transaction fees, which depend on where the customer’s credit card is issued. Typically, these range from 1.6% to 2.3%, but we recommend reaching out for the most current rates.
One of the key perks of Shopify Plus is reduced transaction fees compared to standard Shopify plans — a major benefit for high-volume stores looking to maximize margins.
Using Shopify Payments helps you avoid extra costs. If you opt for a third-party payment gateway, Shopify adds a 0.5% fee per transaction. That said, some third-party processors offer highly competitive rates, so it’s not always a bad choice — just something to weigh up depending on your setup.
When Should You Upgrade to Shopify Plus?
Shopify Plus isn’t the right fit for every business. For many brands, the standard Shopify plans offer more than enough features. But as your business grows, your needs may outgrow what the standard plans can offer.
In our experience, businesses typically start exploring Shopify Plus when they reach around $950,000 USD in annual revenue. However, revenue alone isn’t a reason to upgrade. The real deciding factor is whether you need advanced features or greater efficiency that standard Shopify just can’t deliver.
Shopify Plus is ideal for fast-scaling businesses that need more control, customisation, and performance. It offers everything from the standard Shopify platform — like content management and a drag-and-drop store editor, plus extra tools for larger teams, higher sales volumes, and more complex operations.
One big advantage? Speed. While legacy enterprise platforms can take up to 18 months to build, a Shopify Plus store can be launched in just 90 days.
Let’s take a closer look at the features that set Shopify Plus apart.
Shopify Plus: Smarter Dashboard, B2B Tools & Custom Checkout
Apps & Integrations
Shopify offers thousands of apps to enhance your store, but many advanced features come with monthly fees. These can include tools for loyalty programs, subscriptions, upsells, automation, reviews, and more. While costs vary—from a few euros to thousands—many of these apps pay for themselves through increased sales.
With Shopify Plus, your developers also get more flexibility to build custom features without relying on third-party apps, saving you money long-term. Plus, you gain access to exclusive Shopify Plus apps not available on other plans.
Built-In Security & Hosting
Shopify and Shopify Plus handle all hosting, maintenance, updates, and security, so you don’t need to worry about servers or technical issues. You get:
- Ultra-fast loading with Shopify’s global server network (CDN)
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Up to 10,000 transactions per minute
- Built-in bot protection and data security
Unlike platforms like Magento or WordPress, there’s no need to manage your own servers, which saves time and money.
Priority Support & Expert Help
Shopify Plus gives you access to the best support Shopify offers:
- 24/7 live chat, phone & email
- Shopify Plus Academy & learning resources
- For larger brands: a dedicated Merchant Success Manager
- You can also hire Shopify Plus Partners for advanced needs, though extra fees may apply.
Sell Globally with Shopify Markets
All Shopify plans support global selling, but Plus takes it further.
- Sell in up to 50 markets from one store
- Get 9 additional expansion stores for separate regions
- Customize by region: languages, currencies, domains, and content
Perfect for brands with a large international reach.
Automate with Shopify Flow & Launchpad
Shopify Flow (now available on all plans) helps automate daily tasks like:
- Sending discount codes after a second order
- Creating support tickets for bad reviews
Shopify Plus adds Launchpad, which lets you schedule major events in advance like:
- Product launches
- Flash sales
- Campaign rollouts
All-in-One Dashboard for Teams
Shopify Plus gives your team a powerful new dashboard to manage everything in one place — from staff accounts and user permissions to store data and performance analytics. With unlimited staff accounts and detailed access controls, it’s built for growing teams managing multiple stores. It helps streamline your operations, promote collaboration, and give you a clear view of your business.
Built-In B2B (Wholesale) Selling Tools
Selling wholesale? Shopify Plus makes it easy with a dedicated B2B channel. You can:
- Create password-protected wholesale storefronts
- Offer custom pricing, order limits, and product visibility for each customer
- Set up unique payment options like deposits and net payment terms
- Tailor messages and visuals for wholesale buyers using the theme editor
Full Checkout Customization
Standard Shopify plans only let you tweak basic visuals like your logo or colours. With Shopify Plus, you get full control over the checkout experience through checkout extensibility. Developers can:
- Add custom fields and upsells
- Change the checkout layout
- Build unique discount logic with Shopify Functions
- Match the checkout flow to your brand identity
Extra Features That Come With Shopify Plus
While we’ve already looked at the main differences between Shopify and Shopify Plus, there are a few more powerful features in the Plus plan worth knowing.
- Unlimited staff accounts – Unlike Shopify Advanced, which limits you to 15, Shopify Plus lets your whole team work in the system.
- More inventory locations – Manage up to 200 locations (vs. 10 on other plans), perfect for businesses with multiple stores, warehouses, or retail points.
- Faster, stronger checkout – Shopify Plus offers 40x more checkout capacity during peak times, helping you handle big sales events with ease.
- Higher API limits – You get 10x the API call limits for advanced custom setups or integrations.
- Headless-ready – Run up to 25 storefronts under one account (vs. just 1), ideal for global or multi-brand operations.
- Advanced customization – From fonts and colours to scripts and discounts, you can deeply tailor the customer experience.
Final Thoughts: Should You Choose Shopify or Shopify Plus?
We’ve covered the main differences between Shopify and Shopify Plus, including which features matter most when deciding to upgrade. While Shopify Plus offers more power and flexibility, it’s not always necessary for every business.
Before making the move, it’s smart to talk to an expert and evaluate your current and future needs. We hope this guide helped clarify your options.
Still unsure? Reach out to our custom Shopify development team — we’re happy to help you choose the right plan for your business.Copy textCopy HTMLRejectDone
