How Much Does Shopify Plus Cost? Fee and Payment Processing Fee Simulations by Annual Revenue [2026 Edition]

Shopify's pricing page is easy for anyone to check. Monthly fees start from ¥3,650 for Basic, ¥10,100 for Grow, ¥44,000 for Advanced, and ¥368,000 for Plus.

However, the amount that enterprise-level companies actually pay to Shopify differs significantly from these monthly fees. For brands with annual sales in the billions of yen, a large portion of the billing amount consists of items not listed on the pricing page.

Therefore, this article estimates "how much an enterprise-level e-commerce site in Japan would pay to Shopify each month" based on four hypothetical brands set up using publicly available information, assuming Japanese yen and Japanese payment rates.

We hope this information will be useful as a reference for businesses and e-commerce managers considering migrating to Shopify or selecting a platform, helping them understand the overall cost structure and estimates.

1. Breakdown of Costs Incurred in Shopify Operations

The monthly costs paid to Shopify can be broadly divided into the following four categories. As the business grows, the proportion of monthly plan fees decreases, and other costs account for a larger proportion.

• ① Basic Plan Fee: The monthly usage fee from Basic to Plus. This is the most easily understood cost as it is listed on the pricing page.
• ② Payment Processing Fees: Fees incurred for each payment, such as credit card payments. As described below, this accounts for a large proportion for many brands.
• ③ App Fees: Usage fees for apps introduced to extend functionality. The amount varies greatly depending on the required functions and is not necessarily proportional to sales volume.
• ④ Other Costs: Includes custom domains, theme purchase fees, and ongoing development and maintenance costs.

In this article, we will set up four hypothetical brands and perform calculations based on Japanese yen and domestic payment processing rates. To facilitate comparison, we have prepared four annual sales patterns: ¥300 million, ¥2 billion, ¥5 billion, and ¥10 billion.

Four brands set as preconditions for this article

Brands B, C, and D are all set as enterprise-level brands using Shopify Plus.

Brands B and C are high-priced, low-order volume models with an average order value of ¥100,000, while Brand D is a mid-priced, high-order volume model with an average order value of ¥20,000. This setup allows for comparison of how cost structures change based on business models, even for companies using the same Shopify Plus.

Preconditions
The four brands in this article are hypothetical models created based on publicly available information and do not analyze actual billing data. Amounts are converted at an exchange rate of 1 USD = 160 JPY (the actual exchange rate as of June 2026 is approximately 159 JPY).

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2. Understanding Base Fees and Shopify Plus Pricing

First, let's look at the basic plan fees, which are the easiest to understand.

Shopify's pricing plans in Japan have been offered in Japanese Yen since May 2024. The official rates as of June 2026 (monthly equivalent for annual payment) are as follows:

The "Third-Party Payment Transaction Fee" is a separate fee paid to Shopify when using payment services other than Shopify Payments (such as payment processing companies like GMO Epsilon).

On the other hand, this transaction fee is not incurred when using Shopify Payments. Therefore, to simplify the estimation in this article, we assume that all four brands use Shopify Payments.

Note that in some Japanese enterprise companies, existing contracts with payment service providers or operational requirements may lead them to choose payment methods other than Shopify Payments. In such cases, the transaction fee for third-party payments, as defined for each plan, will be incurred separately.

For detailed differences and how to choose each plan, please refer to the article explaining "Shopify Pricing Plans and How to Get Started."

Understanding Shopify Plus's Sales-Dependent Pricing

One important aspect of Shopify Plus is its sales-dependent pricing structure.

While Plus pricing is often stated as "from ¥368,000 per month," this represents the minimum fee. In reality, the fee fluctuates based on sales volume, and the monthly usage fee is determined by comparing the following two options, with the higher amount being applied (they are not combined):

• Base fee: ¥368,000 per month (for a 3-year contract)
• Sales-dependent fee: Monthly sales × 0.25%

If monthly sales increase and "Monthly sales × 0.25%" exceeds the base fee, then the sales-dependent fee will be applied.

For example, the sales-dependent fee exceeds the base fee of ¥368,000 at a monthly sales level of approximately ¥150 million. Therefore, for brands above a certain scale, the sales-dependent fee may be applied instead of the fixed fee.

There is also an upper limit to the fees, with the monthly usage fee capped at approximately ¥6.4 million. Additionally, the 0.25% rate applies to a 3-year contract, while a 1-year contract has a rate of 0.40%.

Applying these conditions to each brand, the plan fees are as follows. Brands B, C, and D, which use Shopify Plus, are subject to sales-dependent fees, while Brand A, which uses the Advanced plan instead of Shopify Plus, has a fixed monthly fee of ¥44,000.

Note: Detailed terms and conditions regarding Shopify Plus pricing are not publicly disclosed. This article estimates based on certain assumptions derived from publicly available information. Actual fees may vary depending on contract details.

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3. Estimating "Payment Processing Fees," which account for a large proportion, using Japanese rates

Payment processing fees represent a significant portion of Shopify's operating costs. Especially as sales grow, payment processing fees have a greater impact than monthly plan fees.

Note that payment processing fees are not unique to Shopify. They are incurred on other e-commerce platforms and self-hosted e-commerce sites as long as credit card payments are accepted. They can be categorized as a common cost across all e-commerce businesses.

Shopify Payments Processing Fee Rates

For Shopify Payments in Japan, the processing fee rate for domestically issued cards is set per plan.

• Basic: 3.55%
• Grow: 3.40%
• Advanced: 3.25%
• Plus: 2.90%

These fees are calculated as a percentage of sales. For Shopify Payments within Japan, there is no fixed fee added per transaction.

Therefore, applying the above rates to each brand's monthly sales, the monthly payment processing fees are as follows:

For Brand D, with annual sales of ¥10 billion, payment processing fees amount to approximately ¥24.0 million per month, or about ¥290 million annually (this figure does not include plan fees or other costs). This is more than 10 times the Shopify Plus plan fee (approximately ¥2.08 million per month).

Thus, as sales volume increases, payment processing fees have a greater impact than monthly plan fees, accounting for a large proportion of Shopify-related costs.

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4. App, Domain, Theme, and Development Costs (Costs Not Proportional to Sales)

Unlike the plan fees and payment processing fees discussed so far, app fees and development costs do not increase proportionally with sales volume.

Instead, these costs are determined by the complexity of business requirements and operational structures. As a result, there are significant differences between companies, and these items are often overlooked when considering Shopify adoption or migration.

App fees are not proportional to sales

Most Shopify stores use multiple apps to extend functionality.

App pricing structures can be broadly categorized into two types:

• Subscription-based, with a fixed monthly fee
• Usage-based, with charges based on email delivery volume or usage

In practice, it is common to combine both types. However, to facilitate comparison, this article will exclude usage-based fees, which vary greatly by company, and will only estimate the basic monthly usage fees.

An interesting point is that app fees are not proportional to sales volume. For example, Brand D, with annual sales of ¥10 billion, has app fees of approximately ¥190,000, while Brand C, with annual sales of ¥5 billion, has app fees of approximately ¥300,000.

This is because app fees are determined by the required functionality and operational policies, rather than sales volume. The cost varies significantly depending on which functions are implemented via apps and which are handled by in-house development.

Furthermore, enterprise-level companies may optimize the number of apps and licensing fees by replacing existing apps with in-house developed functions. Therefore, it is difficult to estimate app fees based solely on sales volume.

Domain, Theme, and Ongoing Development Costs

Custom Domain

The cost of a custom domain is approximately ¥1,600 to ¥3,200 per month. From the perspective of overall e-commerce operating costs, this is a limited expense item.

Theme

If you use a paid theme, there is an initial cost of approximately ¥50,000 to ¥80,000. However, this is a one-time initial cost, not a recurring monthly expense.

Ongoing Development and Maintenance Costs

Among "other costs," ongoing development and maintenance fees tend to show the greatest variation. When commissioning a production company or freelancer for feature additions, site improvements, external system integrations, etc., the monthly cost in Japan can range from hundreds of thousands to several millions of yen, depending on the requirements.

Ongoing development and maintenance costs are important investments that arise with the growth of an e-commerce business. The necessary budget varies greatly depending on the extent of efforts, such as adding features, improving UI/UX, supporting cross-border e-commerce, and optimizing business operations.

Therefore, for enterprise-level e-commerce sites, it is crucial to plan not only for initial construction costs but also for the budget required for continuous improvement activities.

For specific cost benchmarks, please also refer to the article explaining "Shopify Store Building Cost Estimates."

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5. Shopify-Related Costs by Annual Sales and Decision Factors for Enterprises

Based on the cost items discussed so far, the estimated monthly and annual costs for the four hypothetical brands are shown in the table below.

Note that this calculation excludes usage-based apps and one-time theme purchase fees, focusing on recurring costs.

Note: This estimate covers only a portion of the fees paid to Shopify. It does not include construction costs, ongoing development costs, operational personnel costs, advertising costs, logistics costs, or usage-based apps. These need to be separately accounted for when actually operating an e-commerce business.

Payment processing fees account for a large proportion

As the table shows, payment processing fees account for a large proportion of the costs paid to Shopify for every brand. While attention tends to focus on the high monthly plan fees, in reality, credit card transaction fees constitute a larger share.

Moreover, as previously mentioned, this payment processing fee is not unique to Shopify. It is incurred on other e-commerce platforms and self-hosted e-commerce sites as long as credit card payments are accepted.

Therefore, when evaluating costs, it is important to compare the entire cost structure, including payment processing fees, not just the monthly plan fees.

Choosing based on business requirements, not just cost

If payment processing fees do not vary significantly between platforms, other factors besides cost should be compared during selection. Judging solely by the low monthly fee can lead to additional costs or missed opportunities if necessary functions or measures cannot be implemented after launch.

For enterprise companies, it is crucial to consider the following aspects in addition to cost:

• Scalability and Customizability
  Can necessary functions be realized through apps or development? Can it support future function additions and system integrations?
• Cross-border E-commerce Support
  Does it have the necessary functions for international expansion, such as multi-language/multi-currency support, international shipping, and local payment methods?
• Checkout Experience
  Can domestic and international buyers complete payments smoothly? Is the design effective in reducing cart abandonment?
• Scalability, Operability, and Stability
  Can it operate stably during large sales or traffic spikes? Can it scale with business growth?

By evaluating these factors along with costs, it becomes easier to determine whether a platform is suitable for your company. Especially for enterprise-level businesses, the ability to support future business growth and operational efficiency is a more crucial decision factor than the difference in monthly fees.

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6. Summary

This article estimated Shopify-related costs based on four hypothetical brands, assuming Japanese domestic payment rates and pricing structures.

As a result of the estimations, a business with annual sales of ¥300 million would incur approximately ¥1.01 million per month, while a business with annual sales of ¥10 billion would incur approximately ¥26.45 million per month. The actual cost structure cannot be understood by only looking at the monthly fees listed on the pricing page. Payment processing fees, not monthly plan fees, accounted for a large portion of the costs.

However, payment processing fees are not unique to Shopify. They are incurred on other e-commerce platforms and self-hosted e-commerce sites as long as credit card payments are accepted. Therefore, instead of making a decision based solely on the monthly fees on the pricing page, it is crucial to compare the entire cost structure, including payment processing fees.

Furthermore, when selecting a platform, factors beyond cost, such as scalability, cross-border e-commerce capabilities, checkout experience, and operational stability, are also important decision criteria. Especially for enterprise-level businesses, it is necessary to evaluate the platform's ability to support future business growth and operational efficiency.

SOLSTAR Inc. has a team with over 8 years of experience in Shopify development, supporting the operations of Shopify Plus sites with annual sales exceeding ¥6 billion, and assisting with the construction, renewal, and international expansion of large-scale e-commerce sites.

If you are thinking, "How much will it actually cost for my company's sales volume?" or "I want to compare Shopify with other platforms," please feel free to contact us through our free consultation form.

Also, if you are considering selecting a Shopify partner, please refer to the article on "How to Choose a Shopify Partner."

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Sources and Credits
・Reference data for cost breakdown: Coding with Jan "The REAL Cost of Shopify" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yR8_5EDsvW0). This video discusses the costs of multiple brands, and this article estimates a hypothetical model for the Japanese market based on publicly available information.
・Verification of fees and charges: Shopify official pricing page (shopify.com/jp/pricing), Shopify Plus pricing page (shopify.com/plus/pricing)
・Calculation of Plus variable fees: Shopify does not publicly disclose details, so this is an estimate based on commonly presented figures by overseas agencies specializing in Shopify Plus (e.g., Fuel Made, Logeix).
*Fees, charges, and exchange rates are based on information as of June 2026. Actual contract terms may vary depending on the timing and contract details. Author: Hayato Shimabukuro (CEO of SOLSTAR Inc.)