Shopify vs Shopify Plus is a big choice for anyone starting or growing an online store in 2025. Both platforms owned by Shopify Inc. help you sell online, but they’re built for different types of businesses. Shopify is simple, affordable, and great for small to medium-sized stores. Shopify Plus is for big businesses that need extra power, customization, and support. In fact, by 2025 Shopify supports over 4.8 million active online stores globally 1, and in 2024 those stores handled around $292 billion in sales2 (gross merchandise volume). – illustrating the massive scale and importance of choosing the right plan.
Let’s break down what each offers, their prices, and how to pick the right one for you. Whether you’re just starting or scaling up, understanding Shopify vs Shopify Plus will help you make the best decision for your business.
What Is Shopify?
Shopify is an easy-to-use platform for creating and running online stores. Started in 2006, it’s now used by millions of businesses worldwide. In fact, Shopify stores span 175+ countries3, and the platform accounts for roughly 26% of all e-commerce websites globally4, making it one of the most popular choices. Shopify lets you set up a store quickly with features like:
- Customizable themes for your store’s look
- Tools for managing products and payments
- Apps to add extra features like email marketing (Shopify’s App Store offers over 12,000 apps to extend your store3)
- SEO tools to help customers find you
What Is Shopify Plus?
Shopify Plus is Shopify’s premium version for big businesses and fast-growing brands. Companies like Tesla and Nestlé are using it to handle high sales and complex needs. Shopify Plus includes everything in Shopify, plus extras like:
- Custom checkout pages
- Advanced tools for global selling
- Unlimited staff accounts
- Dedicated support from a personal manager
- Connections to big systems like Salesforce
Shopify vs Shopify Plus: Key Differences
Here’s how Shopify and Shopify Plus compare:
- Size and Speed: Shopify works well for small to medium stores with regular traffic. Shopify Plus handles huge traffic and sales, perfect for big brands.
- Customization: Shopify lets you tweak themes and add apps, but it’s limited. Shopify Plus allows deep changes, like custom checkouts or unique designs.
- Automation: Shopify has basic tools for things like inventory. Shopify Plus automates more tasks and connects to advanced systems for smoother operations.
- Support: Shopify offers 24/7 help via chat or email. Shopify Plus gives you a dedicated manager and faster support.
- Global Selling: Shopify supports multiple languages and currencies with apps. Shopify Plus has built-in tools for selling worldwide, like local taxes and shipping.
- Team Size: Shopify limits how many staff can access your store. Shopify Plus allows unlimited users, great for big teams.
Pricing: Shopify vs. Shopify Plus
Pricing is a big factor when choosing between Shopify and Shopify Plus.
Shopify Plans:
- Basic ($39/month): Basic tools, 2 staff accounts, 4 locations.
- Shopify ($105/month): More reports, 5 staff accounts, 5 locations.
- Advanced ($399/month): Advanced reports, 15 staff accounts, 8 locations. You may pay extra for apps, themes, or transaction fees (2.9% + $0.30 per sale, unless using Shopify Payments).
Shopify Plus:
Starts at ~$2,000/month (can vary). Includes no transaction fees (with Shopify Payments), unlimited staff, and premium features. Extra costs may come from custom apps or integrations.
Shopify is cheaper for small budgets. Shopify Plus saves money for big businesses by handling high sales without extra fees.
Limitations of Shopify and Shopify Plus You Need to Know in 2025
Shopify Limitations:
- Limited checkout customization: You can’t modify the checkout unless you’re on Shopify Plus.
- Transaction fees: Unless you use Shopify Payments, additional fees apply.
- Limited scalability: May not support complex B2B setups or high-volume needs without workarounds.
Shopify Plus Limitations:
- High cost: Starts at $2,000/month, which may not be viable for smaller brands.
- Developer dependency: Custom scripts, flows, and checkout edits often require expert support.
- No complete backend control: Still a hosted SaaS platform with some restrictions vs. open-source solutions.
Shopify vs Shopify Plus: Which Should You Choose?
Choose Shopify if:
- You’re a small or medium-sized business with moderate sales.
- You want an affordable, easy-to-use platform.
- You need basic features like product listings and payments.
- You’re new to e-commerce or don’t need complex tools
Choose Shopify Plus if:
- You’re a large business with high sales (e.g., $1M+/year).
- You need custom designs or advanced automation.
- You sell globally and need multi-currency or local checkouts.
- You want dedicated support and big-system integrations.
For example, a small boutique might love Shopify’s Basic plan. A global brand with millions in sales needs Shopify Plus for its power and flexibility. Think about your budget and growth plans to decide.
Why Choose Glossy IT for Your Shopify or Shopify Plus Store in 2025?
Glossy IT is an expert Shopify website development company that can set up or improve your Shopify or Shopify Plus store. We guide you in choosing between Shopify and Shopify Plus based on your business goals. From custom development to full-scale Shopify Plus solutions, with years of experience and thousands of happy clients, we offer:
- Custom Stores: Build a store that matches your brand and works on all devices
- Theme Design: Create or tweak themes for a unique, fast store.
- App Integration: Add tools for marketing, reviews, or global selling.
- Migration: Move your store from platforms like WooCommerce without losing data.
- SEO and Speed: Boost your store’s ranking and loading time.
- Support: Get ongoing help to keep your store running smoothly.
Whether you choose Shopify or Shopify Plus, Glossy IT can make your store shine.
Explore our Shopify Development Services now.
Takeout
Shopify is affordable ($39–$399/month) and great for small to medium stores with simple setups. Shopify Plus ($2,000+/month) is for big brands needing advanced tools, global selling, and custom options. Compare their features, pricing, and support to pick the right one. Glossy IT has top Shopify developers; they can help you build, optimize, or scale your store on either platform.
So, in which category do you find yourself? It should now be easier for you to make a decision on Shopify vs Shopify Plus.
Choose wisely to grow your e-commerce business in 2025.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the difference between Shopify and Shopify Plus?
Answer: Shopify is designed for small to mid-sized businesses, while Shopify Plus is built for high-volume and enterprise-level brands with more customization and support.
2. Is it worth upgrading to Shopify Plus?
Answer: Shopify Plus is worth it for large or fast-growing brands with high sales ($1M+/year) needing to handle heavy traffic and order volumes. Its lower transaction fees (with Shopify Payments) can boost profits, offsetting the ~$2,000/month cost. You also get custom checkouts, global selling tools, and dedicated support.
3. Do I need a developer for Shopify Plus?
Answer: Not always, but to fully leverage features like Script Editor or advanced integrations, having a developer helps.
4. Is Shopify better than WooCommerce?
Answer: Shopify is a fully hosted, all-in-one eCommerce platform with easy setup and built-in tools, perfect for beginners. WooCommerce, a self-hosted WordPress plugin, offers more customization but requires managing hosting and plugins. Shopify’s plans ($39–$399/month) cover everything, while WooCommerce is free but incurs costs for hosting and add-ons. Shopify ensures a smooth experience with minimal upkeep; WooCommerce gives flexibility for WordPress users. Choose Shopify for simplicity or WooCommerce for control.
5. What is the best eCommerce platform?
Answer: There are several great eCommerce platforms available in 2025, each serving different business needs. The 5 best ecommerce platforms:
- Shopify
- WooCommerce
- BigCommerce
- Wix
- Squarespace