Shopify fees in 2026: plan, processing, apps
Shopify’s per-sale rate is lower than a marketplace commission — because you are paying for software, not demand. Here is the full bill.
The 30-second version
- Basic: $29/month (annual), 2.9% + 30¢ online with Shopify Payments.
- Grow: $79/month, 2.7% + 30¢.
- Advanced: $299/month, 2.5% + 30¢.
- Third-party gateway: add 2% (Basic), 1% (Grow), or 0.6% (Advanced), plus the gateway’s own fee.
- Apps: typically $50–$200/month; themes, domain, and ad spend are separate.
The three parts of a Shopify bill
Every Shopify bill has three layers: the monthly subscription, the payment-processing fee, and — only if you use a third-party gateway — Shopify’s extra transaction fee. Everything else (apps, themes, shipping labels, POS hardware) is optional or usage-based.
2026 plan comparison
| Plan | Monthly | Online processing | Third-party surcharge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $29 | 2.9% + 30¢ | +2% |
| Grow | $79 | 2.7% + 30¢ | +1% |
| Advanced | $299 | 2.5% + 30¢ | +0.6% |
Prices shown are annual billing; monthly billing is slightly higher. In-person rates are lower than online rates. If Shopify Payments is not available in your country, you will need a third-party gateway and the surcharge applies.
What a $50 order actually costs
| Line | Basic | Grow | Advanced |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processing fee | $1.75 | $1.65 | $1.55 |
| Plan cost at 200 orders | $0.15 | $0.40 | $1.50 |
| Platform cost per order | $1.90 | $2.05 | $3.05 |
| Effective rate | 3.8% | 4.1% | 6.1% |
At 200 orders/month, Basic is the cheapest total. Advanced only wins when its lower processing rate and extra features save more than the $270/month difference — typically at much higher volume.
The break-even volume
The plan cost per order falls as volume rises. At 100 orders, Basic’s $29 adds $0.29 per order; at 1,000 orders, it adds $0.03. But the processing rate also changes with plan. The crossover from Basic to Grow depends on average order value:
- Grow costs $50/month more than Basic but saves 0.2% per sale.
- Break-even sales volume = $50 ÷ 0.002 = $25,000/month.
- Above roughly $25,000/month, Grow’s lower rate can pay for itself; below it, Basic is usually cheaper.
This ignores the value of Grow’s extra staff accounts and shipping discounts. If those save you money, the crossover is lower.
Shopify vs the marketplaces
On a $55 sale, Shopify’s platform cost is roughly $2.19 at 100 orders/month, versus $5.68 on Etsy and $7.88 on eBay. That looks like a clear win — until you add the cost of getting the customer. A Shopify store with no traffic has no revenue. If paid ads cost 20% of revenue, the fully loaded cost is higher than the marketplace fee.
| Channel | Platform cost on $55 | Demand included? | Customer data |
|---|---|---|---|
| eBay | $7.88 | Yes | Limited |
| Etsy | $5.68 | Yes | Limited |
| Shopify | $2.19 | No | Yes |
| Amazon FBA | $13.41 | Yes, plus logistics | Limited |
Five hidden Shopify costs
- Apps: $50–$200/month is typical; each app adds to the effective per-order cost.
- Premium themes: $100–$380 one-time.
- Currency conversion: 1.5–2% on multi-currency sales.
- Chargebacks and disputes: fees plus lost product.
- Ad spend: the largest variable; not a Shopify fee, but part of the real cost of a sale.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Shopify take per sale in 2026?
Basic is 2.9% + 30¢ per online sale with Shopify Payments; Grow is 2.7% + 30¢; Advanced is 2.5% + 30¢. Third-party gateways add 2%, 1%, or 0.6% respectively, plus the gateway’s own processing fee.
Is Shopify cheaper than Etsy or Amazon?
Per sale, usually yes. Shopify’s platform fee is lower, but you pay a monthly plan and you bring the traffic. Marketplaces charge more per sale but include demand. Compare total cost of acquiring a sale, not just the platform fee.
When should I upgrade from Basic to Grow?
The processing difference is small per order (0.2%). Upgrade when the extra staff accounts, shipping discounts, and features are worth the $50/month difference — often around $25,000/month in revenue, depending on your average order value.
Do I need to pay the third-party gateway fee if I use Shopify Payments?
No. The extra 2%/1%/0.6% applies only when you process payments outside Shopify Payments. If Shopify Payments is available in your country, using it avoids the surcharge entirely.
Tools worth a look
Optional tools that pair with this platform. Fee math does not depend on them.
Storefront, checkout, and payments in one platform.
The lowest per-sale fee only matters if you can drive traffic; Shopify is the storefront most sellers pair with a content or ads engine.
Explore Shopify →Bookkeeping and tax prep for sellers.
Marketplace fees are deductible; clean books make the deduction easy at year end.
Explore QuickBooks →Some links may be affiliate links; if you sign up through one, FeeNook may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We only list tools relevant to the platform. Affiliate disclosure.
FeeNook is independent and not affiliated with eBay, Amazon, Etsy, or Shopify. Fee rules change; confirm the current rate in your seller dashboard. This article is general information, not financial or tax advice.