By the Dropship Stair team. Last reviewed: November 2026.
Key takeaways:
- How much does a Shopify store cost depends on the plan, the theme, the apps, the domain, and the payment fees on each sale, not on the plan price alone.
- Most beginners start on Basic at $39 per month, or $29 per month billed yearly, with the online store, hosting, and checkout.
- A domain costs about $10 to $15 per year, a free theme costs $0, and the plan is the main fixed cost at launch.
- On Basic, Shopify Payments charges 2.9 percent plus 30 cents per online standard card sale.
- A lean first year costs about $363 before payment fees and ads, with Basic billed yearly, a domain, and a free theme.
How much does a Shopify store cost in 2026? A beginner can run a store on Basic for $29 per month billed yearly, or $39 per month billed monthly, plus about $15 a year for a domain, plus payment fees on each sale.
That short answer covers the fixed cost, but not the full bill. A store has a plan cost, a domain cost, a theme cost, app costs, and a fee on every sale. Some costs stay fixed, while others rise only when you sell. Use this guide to work out how much does a Shopify store cost for you.
How much does a Shopify store cost per month?
How much does a Shopify store cost per month starts with the plan. For most beginners, the honest monthly cost is $29 to $39 for Basic, plus about $1.25 per month for a domain spread across 12 months. Free apps and a free theme add $0, which puts a lean store at about $30.25 per month before payment fees.
Payment fees are the part many beginners miss. Shopify charges a fee on each sale, so your real monthly cost rises with sales. A store with no sales pays only the plan and the domain, while a selling store pays a fee on every order too. That fee is part of how much does a Shopify store cost each month.
What does each Shopify plan cost in 2026?
Shopify lists four main plans on its pricing page, with US prices from November 2026. Basic costs $39 per month billed monthly, or $29 per month billed yearly. Grow costs $105 or $89, Advanced costs $399 or $359, and Plus starts at $2,300 per month for high volume stores only.
Note the change on yearly billing. Shopify raised Grow from $79 to $89 per month and Advanced from $299 to $359 per month in October 2026. Monthly prices did not change, and Basic stayed at $29 per month billed yearly. Check the live page before you sign up.
Basic fits most new stores. It includes the online store, unlimited products, hosting, a free SSL certificate, and discount codes. Grow adds 5 staff accounts and lower card rates, and Advanced adds 15 staff accounts and third party calculated shipping rates. Stay on Basic until you need staff accounts or your sales make the lower card rate worth the higher price, because the plan drives how much does a Shopify store cost each month. Yearly billing saves $120 on Basic, $192 on Grow, and $480 on Advanced, but you pay the full year upfront.
How much does a domain name cost for a Shopify store?
A domain name is the smallest line in most budgets. Every Shopify store gets a free myshopify.com address, but a real domain looks more like a brand and is easier to remember. A common .com costs about $10 to $15 per year, and you can buy it through Shopify or connect one you bought elsewhere. Check the renewal cost, because it can differ from the first year price. That small yearly cost is still part of how much does a Shopify store cost.
Should you use a free theme or a paid theme?
Start with a free theme. Shopify offers free themes, including Dawn, that are fast and mobile friendly. A free theme costs $0, so you can spend your early budget on products and traffic. It also keeps how much does a Shopify store cost low at launch.
Paid themes cost $100 to $500 as a one time purchase in the Shopify Theme Store, and they buy more sections and features such as lookbooks and mega menus. Buy one only when a free theme cannot do something your store truly needs. A custom design costs far more, so get a written quote first. A $300 theme adds $25 per month to your first year cost over 12 months, then $0 after that, and that cost counts in how much does a Shopify store cost in year one.
How much do Shopify apps cost?
Apps are where a Shopify bill grows quietly, and they are a real part of how much does a Shopify store cost each month. Many apps have free plans, and a new store can run well on free apps for reviews, email, and marketing. Paid apps charge a monthly fee that varies by app, so the total depends on how many you install.
Install an app only when it solves a clear problem. If you need email marketing, pick one email app, not three. Check the monthly price and whether the free plan covers your needs, and remove any app you do not use, because Shopify keeps charging until you uninstall it. Supplier apps often have free plans to start. Read our guide on how to start dropshipping on Shopify before you add apps.
What payment fees will you pay on each sale?
Payment fees are a cost on every order, and they depend on your plan and provider. With Shopify Payments, the online standard card rate is 2.9 percent plus 30 cents on Basic, 2.7 percent plus 30 cents on Grow, and 2.5 percent plus 30 cents on Advanced. On a $100 order, that is $3.20, $3.00, and $2.80. That fee is a key part of how much does a Shopify store cost once you start selling.
If you use a third party provider instead of Shopify Payments, Shopify adds a transaction fee on top of that provider’s own fees: 2 percent on Basic, 1 percent on Grow, and 0.6 percent on Advanced. Using Shopify Payments avoids that extra fee, which is why most new stores start there. PayPal Wallet rates start at 3.49 percent plus 49 cents. Watch small orders, because the fixed 30 cents weighs more on a $10 order.
How much does a Shopify store cost in total for the first year?
How much does a Shopify store cost in total for the first year depends on how lean you launch. The table below shows two realistic first year budgets, using the verified plan prices above, a domain at about $15 per year, and a paid theme example of $300 spread across the first year. Both totals leave out payment fees and ad spend.
| Cost line | Lean launch | Standard launch |
|---|---|---|
| Shopify plan per month | $29, Basic billed yearly | $39, Basic billed monthly |
| Domain per month | $1.25, about $15 per year | $1.25, about $15 per year |
| Theme | $0, free theme | $25 per month, $300 theme over 12 months |
| Apps per month | $0, free apps only | $20 per month, one or two paid apps |
| Monthly total before payment fees | $30.25 | $85.25 |
| First year total before payment fees | $363 | $1,023 |
The lean launch fits a beginner who tests one product idea. The first year costs $363 before payment fees: $348 for Basic billed yearly plus $15 for the domain. The standard launch fits a beginner who wants a paid theme and paid apps from the start. The first year costs $1,023 before payment fees: $468 for Basic billed monthly plus $15 for the domain, $300 for the theme, and $240 for apps. That gap shows how much does a Shopify store cost when you add a paid theme and apps.
How much does it cost to get design help for a Shopify store?
Design help is optional, and many beginners skip it at launch. A free theme, clean product photos, and honest policies can carry a new store. If you want help, you can buy a paid theme and set it up yourself, hire a freelancer, or buy a pre-built store that is ready to sell. That choice changes how much does a Shopify store cost at launch, so pick the path that fits your budget.
A pre-built store suits a beginner who wants the setup done and wants to focus on products and traffic. Our pre-built Shopify store option gives you a store that is already built, so you skip the theme setup and page building. To compare options, read our guide on prebuilt Shopify stores for sale and our guide on buying a prebuilt Shopify store. Get the price in writing first, and check what it covers.
What mistakes make a Shopify store cost more than it should?
The most common mistake is buying too much before the first sale. A paid theme, five paid apps, and a yearly plan add up fast, and none of them bring a customer. Start lean, prove the product can sell, then spend on what helps a working store grow. The second mistake is keeping apps you do not use, which quietly raises how much does a Shopify store cost each month. Check your app list each month and remove anything that has not earned its fee.
The third mistake is ignoring payment fees when you set prices. Your price has to cover the product cost, shipping, the payment fee, and marketing, and still leave profit. A price that looks fine before fees can lose money after fees on small orders. The fourth mistake is upgrading too early. Grow and Advanced lower the card rate, but the saving only pays for the higher plan when sales are high enough.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest way to run a Shopify store?
Start on Basic billed yearly at $29 per month, use a free theme and free apps only, and buy a domain for about $10 to $15 per year. That keeps the fixed cost near $30 per month before payment fees, and you can add paid tools once sales cover them.
Is the Basic plan enough for a new store?
Yes, Basic is enough for most new stores. It includes the online store, unlimited products, hosting, checkout, discount codes, and gift cards. Upgrade to Grow only when you need staff accounts or your sales make the lower card rate worth the higher price.
Do I need a paid theme to sell on Shopify?
No, you do not need a paid theme to sell. Free themes like Dawn are fast and mobile friendly, and they work well for a new store. Buy a paid theme only when a free theme cannot do something your store truly needs.
How do payment fees affect my profit?
Payment fees take a small share of each sale, so they reduce profit on every order. On Basic with Shopify Payments, a $100 standard card sale costs $3.20 in fees. Price your products with that fee in mind, and watch small orders closely, because the fixed 30 cents weighs more.
Can I start a Shopify store for free?
You can try Shopify with a short free trial, then a low priced intro period, but a live store needs a paid plan. Basic is the cheapest real option, and the trial helps you build and test before you pay the full plan price.
Ready to plan your budget? Start with Basic, a free theme, and a domain, and add paid tools when sales cover them. If you want the store built for you, our pre-built Shopify store gets you selling faster. For more guides, browse the blog, or read our guide on dropshipping vs Shopify.