Many people use Shopify as their go-to platform for building an online store. However, figuring out which one best fits your business can be daunting with various plans available. Let’s explore the details of Shopify Plus vs Shopify, comparing their features, costs, and benefits to help you make an informed decision.
Statistics
Before we dive into the specifics of Shopify Plus vs Shopify, let’s look at some stats that underscore Shopify’s prominence in the e-commerce world:
- 1.7 million businesses in over 175 countries use Shopify.
- Shopify has processed over $200 billion in sales since its inception.
- Over 5,300 Shopify Plus merchants leverage the platform’s advanced features to scale their businesses.
What Is Shopify? A Detailed Overview
Shopify is a comprehensive e-commerce website development platform designed to help individuals and businesses create and manage online stores.
With its user-friendly interface, even those with minimal technical expertise can quickly set up a store. Shopify offers various plans tailored to different business needs, making it accessible for startups and growing enterprises.
What Is Shopify Plus? A Detailed Overview
Let’s break down the latter half of Shopify Plus vs Shopify.
Shopify Plus is the enterprise-level solution within the Shopify ecosystem. Tailored for high-volume businesses, Shopify Plus offers advanced features and greater customization options.
It’s perfect for large-scale operations that need to optimize and scale their e-commerce activities efficiently.
Shopify Plus VS Shopify: Common Features Across All Shopify Plans
No matter which plan from Shopify Plus vs Shopify you choose, Shopify provides a set of core features designed to help you run your online store smoothly:
- Unlimited Products: Sell as many products as you want without limitations.
- Unlimited Bandwidth: Handle large amounts of traffic without performance issues.
- Brand Assets: Manage and use your brand assets across your store.
- Fraud Analysis: Protect your store with built-in fraud analysis tools.
- Manual Order Creation: Create orders manually for your customers.
- Discount Codes: Offer discount codes to attract and retain customers.
- Custom Pricing by Market: Set different prices for different markets.
- Abandoned Cart Recovery: Recover lost sales by sending automated emails to customers who abandon their carts.
- Staff Logins: Allow multiple staff members to manage your store.
- Analytics: Gain insights into your store’s performance with detailed analytics.
- Financial Reports: Comply monitor your store’s financial health with comprehensive reports.
- Customer Support: Access 24/7 support to help you resolve any issues.
Shopify Plan Features
Shopify offers three main pricing plans: Basic, Shopify, and Advanced. Here’s a basic analysis of each plan to help you choose between Shopify Plus vs Shopify:
Basic Shopify
- Competitive transaction fees
- Five staff accounts
- Basic reports
- International commerce capabilities
Shopify Plan
- All features of the Basic plan
- Professional reports
- More robust international commerce options
Advanced Shopify
- All features of the Shopify plan
- Advanced report builder
- Third-party calculated shipping rates
Shopify Plus vs Shopify: Shopify Plus Features
Shopify Plus offers a range of advanced features designed to support large-scale businesses:
- Organization Settings: Manage multiple stores under one organization.
- Advanced Apps and Channels: Access exclusive apps and sales channels.
- Fully Customizable Checkout: Customize the process to fit your brand and business needs.
- More API Resources: Utilize advanced API resources for custom integrations.
- Unlimited Staff: Add an unlimited number of staff members.
- Additional Permissions: Assign specific permissions to different staff members.
- More Expansion Stores: Open multiple stores to target different markets.
- Unlimited Development Stores: Create unlimited development stores for testing and development.
- Shopify Plus Partner Program: Access a network of Shopify Plus partners for additional support.
- Themes Flexibility: Enjoy more flexibility with theme customization.
- More POS With Shopify POS Pro: Access advanced point-of-sale features.
- Integrations: Integrate with a broader range of third-party tools and services.
- Shopify Plus Academy: Access exclusive training and resources to help you grow your business.
Shopify Pricing Tiers
One of the most important things to consider when choosing between Shopify and Shopify Plus is the pricing. Here’s a breakdown of the costs:
Shopify
Within the Shopify ecosystem, there are three standard pricing plans:
- Basic: $39 per month ($29 per month when billed annually)
- Shopify: $105 per month ($79 per month when billed annually)
- Advanced: $399 per month ($299 per month when billed annually)
For point-of-sale pro versions, add an additional monthly fee of $89.
Shopify Plus
Shopify Plus is designed for high-volume businesses, and its pricing is more complex. The fees for Shopify Plus are based on your sales volume and are billed on terms of one year or three years.
The minimal cost for a three-year term is $2,300 per month. To get exact pricing, you’ll need to contact a Shopify representative.
Shopify Benefits: Business Growth And More…
Shopify
- Affordable cost: Ideal for small to medium-sized businesses.
- Scalable features: Grow your store as your business expands.
- Basic CSS or HTML editing: No extensive coding knowledge is required.
- Ease of setup: Quick and straightforward to set up your online store.
- Access to third-party apps: Integrate with various apps to enhance your store’s functionality.
Shopify Plus
- More flexibility: Advanced customization options to tailor your store.
- Greater customization options: Access your store’s underlying code for more profound modifications.
- Higher-level customer support: Priority support and a dedicated account manager.
- More integrations: Seamlessly integrate with a broader range of third-party tools.
- End-to-end automated workflows: Streamline your company’s critical processes with automation.
Shopify Plus VS Shopify: E-Commerce Platform Comparison
| Feature | Shopify | Shopify Plus |
| Costs | $29/month for Basic, $79/month for Shopify, $299/month for Advanced (paid annually) | Costs start at $2,000/month for standard setups and integrations; variable fee option for higher volume businesses |
| Payment Processing Fees | Basic: 2.9% + 30¢ per online card sale, 2.7% flat for in-person salesShopify: 2.6% + 30¢ per online card sale, 2.5% flat for in-person salesAdvanced: 2.4% + 30¢ per online card sale, 2.4% flat for in-person sales | Credit card fees vary by country. 0.15% per transaction for third-party payment processors; fee waived if using Shopify Payments |
| Sales Limits | Technically unrestricted, but Shopify suggests a limit of 100,000. Beyond this, consider upgrading to Shopify Plus | Unrestricted sales limits |
| Contract Requirements | Monthly, annually, or biennially | Monthly, annually, or biennially |
| Software Support | 24/7 live support via email, phone, or chat | 24/7 live support via email, phone, or chat |
| Extra Features | Sell unlimited products (including digital products), abandoned cart recovery, gift cards, and professional reports | All Shopify features plus an advanced report builder and real-time carrier shipping |
| Best For | Ecommerce businesses of any size selling any products, netting under $1 million in annual revenue | Enterprise-level businesses consistently selling hundreds of thousands of products and bringing in well over $1 million annually |
How Can Wide Ripples Help?
At Wide Ripples, we specialize in helping businesses navigate the complexities of e-commerce platforms like Shopify and Shopify Plus.
Whether you’re just starting or looking to scale your online store, our team of experts can provide the guidance and support you need to succeed.
We offer website design, development, SEO, and paid ads services to ensure your e-commerce business thrives.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the advantages of Shopify Plus?
Shopify Plus offers greater flexibility, advanced customization options, higher-level customer support, and access to exclusive features and integrations. It’s designed for high-volume businesses that require a more robust platform to scale efficiently.
2. How does Shopify Basic differ from Shopify Plus?
Shopify Basic is more affordable and suitable for small to medium-sized businesses, offering essential e-commerce features. On the other hand, Shopify Plus provides advanced features, customization, and support, catering to high-volume companies with complex needs.
3. Which businesses benefit most from Shopify Plus?
Large-scale businesses with high sales volumes, complex requirements, and a need for advanced customization and support will benefit most from Shopify Plus. It’s ideal for enterprises looking to optimize and scale their e-commerce operations.
4. What are the costs associated with Shopify Plus?
The costs for Shopify Plus are based on your sales volume and are billed on a yearly or three-year basis. The minimal cost for a three-year term is $2,300 per month. To get precise pricing, you’ll need to contact a Shopify representative.
5. How can Shopify help scale my e-commerce business?
Shopify offers scalable features, a user-friendly interface, and various apps and integrations to help your business grow. Whether you choose Shopify or Shopify Plus, the platform provides the tools to manage and expand your online store.
6. What features does Shopify offer for online stores?
Shopify offers unlimited products, bandwidth, fraud analysis, manual order creation, discount codes, custom pricing by market, abandoned cart recovery, staff logins, analytics, finance reports, and 24/7 customer support.
7. How do Shopify themes impact store performance?
Shopify themes are responsive and customizable, ensuring a seamless shopping experience for your customers. A well-designed theme can improve your store’s performance, increase engagement, and boost conversions.
8. Can I upgrade from Shopify Basic to Shopify Plus?
Yes, you can upgrade from Shopify Basic to Shopify Plus. The upgrade process involves contacting Shopify to discuss your business needs and setting up a new plan to suit your requirements.
9. What support does Shopify provide for store owners?
Shopify provides 24/7 customer support, extensive documentation, community forums, and access to Shopify Experts for additional assistance. Shopify Plus users also get a dedicated account manager and priority support.
