It is often said that "the higher the plan, the lower the transaction fees." Indeed, Shopify's higher-tier plans have lower transaction rates, but their monthly fees are also higher. It's not always guaranteed that upgrading will be beneficial. Many people probably wonder which plan is the cheapest for their company's sales volume.
This article is written for those who are starting an e-commerce site or small and medium-sized businesses. To get straight to the point, most small and medium-sized businesses will find Basic or Grow sufficient. Advanced, or Shopify Plus above that, should only be considered when sales have grown significantly or when absolutely necessary features arise.
In this article, we compare Shopify's three plans (Basic, Grow, and Advanced) based on the total amount of "monthly fee + transaction fees." There is a quick reference table by monthly sales, so you can immediately see "which plan is the cheapest for my sales." We have also organized how the conclusion changes if you choose annual billing or use external payment methods, so only those who need it can read it.
If you are considering introducing Shopify, please also refer to the article explaining "How to Get Started with Shopify: The Basics."
Table of Contents
- Conclusion: Recommended Plans by Monthly Sales
- Two Costs to Consider in Shopify Pricing
- Quick Reference Table for Cheapest Plan by Monthly Sales (Comparison of Monthly Fee + Transaction Fees)
- Who is Basic, Grow, and Advanced suitable for?
- Points to Note When Choosing Annual Billing
- Check Only if Using External Payment Methods
- Other Costs Beyond Plan Fees
- When Should You Consider Shopify Plus?
- Frequently Asked Questions (Shopify Fees/Charges)
- Summary
1. Conclusion: Recommended Plans by Monthly Sales
Let's start with the answer. Looking at the "total monthly cost," which is the sum of the monthly fee and transaction fees, the cheapest plan is divided into three categories depending on your monthly sales (assuming monthly billing and Shopify Payments). First, roughly determine which zone your company's monthly sales fall into. A detailed quick reference table with figures is provided in Chapter 3.
| Estimated Monthly Sales (Annual Sales) | Cheapest Plan | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 〜Approx. ¥5.77 million (Annual Sales 〜Approx. ¥69 million) |
Basic | The low monthly fee is effective. |
| Approx. ¥5.77 million to ¥30 million (Annual Sales Approx. ¥69 million to ¥360 million) |
Grow | Lower transaction fee rate offsets the higher monthly fee. |
| Over Approx. ¥30 million (Annual Sales Over Approx. ¥360 million) |
Advanced | However, most businesses do not reach this level, so it's essentially chosen for its features. |
※This indicates the cheapest plan in terms of cost, assuming monthly billing and Shopify Payments. The basis for the monthly sales thresholds where plans change (approx. ¥5.77 million and approx. ¥30 million) will be explained in Chapter 3.
The three key points are as follows:
- Basic is the cheapest for monthly sales up to approx. ¥5.77 million (annual sales up to approx. ¥69 million). In this zone, the low monthly fee is more impactful than the difference in transaction fees.
- Grow is the cheapest for monthly sales from approx. ¥5.77 million to ¥30 million (annual sales from approx. ¥69 million to ¥360 million). In this zone, the savings from the lower transaction fee rate offset the difference in monthly fees.
- Advanced is the cheapest for monthly sales over approx. ¥30 million (annual sales over approx. ¥360 million). However, since most businesses do not reach this level, Advanced should be considered a plan chosen for its necessary features rather than its cost.
2. Two Costs to Consider in Shopify Pricing
Why do plans change based on monthly sales? The reason is that Shopify's pricing consists of "two costs." Understanding this will help you easily grasp the numbers in the quick reference table.
As of June 2026, Shopify's official pricing (jp/pricing) is as follows. This article focuses on small to medium-sized e-commerce businesses with annual sales up to tens of millions of yen, so we compare Basic, Grow, and Advanced (Shopify Plus is covered in Chapter 8). Both monthly and annual billing options are summarized in one table. Annual billing is about 25% cheaper than monthly billing.
| Plan | Monthly Fee (Monthly Billing) |
Monthly Fee (Annual Billing - 25% off) |
Transaction Fee Rate (Shopify Payments) |
Transaction Fee Rate (External Payment) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | ¥4,850 | ¥3,650 | 3.55% | 2.0% |
| Grow (formerly Standard) |
¥13,500 | ¥10,100 | 3.40% | 1.0% |
| Advanced | ¥58,500 | ¥44,000 | 3.25% | 0.6% |
| (Reference) Plus | ¥368,000〜 (Global version $2,300〜) |
2.90% | — | |
As the table shows, higher plans have higher monthly fees but lower transaction fee rates. The only two factors that differentiate plan choices are these "monthly fees" and "transaction fees." In this article, we compare plans based on the total of these two amounts. Here, we refer to the total monthly cost as "total expenses."
Total Expenses = Monthly Fee + Transaction Fees (Monthly Sales × Transaction Fee Rate)
Note: The above are official prices as of June 2026. Campaigns offering the first three months at ¥150/month may be available for new sign-ups. Eligible plans, conditions, and duration are subject to change and may end as determined by Shopify. Please check the official pricing page (shopify.com/jp/pricing) for the latest information.
① Monthly Fee: A fixed monthly cost regardless of sales
The first is the monthly fee. This is a fixed monthly cost, whether your sales are 0 yen or 10 million yen. As you move up to a higher plan, the monthly fee increases, but in return, the transaction fee rate (the second cost) decreases.
② Transaction Fees: Costs that increase with sales
The second is transaction fees. These are calculated as "monthly sales × fee rate," and the amount increases as sales grow.
In other words, a plan with a lower monthly fee is advantageous when sales are small, while a plan with a lower transaction fee rate becomes advantageous as sales grow. The threshold where the savings from lower transaction fees begin to outweigh the higher monthly fee is the "monthly sales threshold where plans switch," as mentioned in Chapter 1. We will look at the specific amounts in the quick reference table in the next Chapter 3.
Transaction fees vary depending on whether you use "Shopify Payments" or "External Payments."
One more premise to clarify. The breakdown of transaction fees changes depending on the payment method used.
If you use Shopify's native payment function, "Shopify Payments," only the transaction fee rate in the table above (e.g., 3.55% for Basic) applies. On the other hand, if you use an external payment method other than Shopify Payments (e.g., a payment gateway company), a "transaction fee" (Basic 2.0% / Grow 1.0% / Advanced 0.6%) is added to Shopify's payment, in addition to the payment gateway's fees.
Since this difference can change the conclusion, the quick reference table in this article will first assume Shopify Payments. If you use external payment methods, please refer to Chapter 6 for additional information.
3. Quick Reference Table for Cheapest Plan by Monthly Sales (Comparison of Monthly Fee + Transaction Fees)
This is the core of this article. For each monthly sales bracket, we have listed the total cost of "monthly fee + transaction fees" for the three plans side-by-side, and highlighted the cheapest plan in that row in bold + color (assuming monthly billing and Shopify Payments). Please use the row closest to your own monthly sales as a guide.
This quick reference table does not just compare transaction rates. It compares the "total monthly cost," which is the monthly fee for each plan plus the transaction fees for each monthly sales amount. The amounts in the Basic, Grow, and Advanced columns of the table represent the total monthly cost of "monthly fee + transaction fees."
| Annual Sales (Estimate) | Monthly Sales | Basic Monthly Fee + Fees |
Grow Monthly Fee + Fees |
Advanced Monthly Fee + Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ① Basic is the cheapest (Monthly Sales 〜Approx. ¥5.77 million)｜Low monthly fee is effective | ||||
| ¥12 million | ¥1 million | ¥40,350 | ¥47,500 | ¥91,000 |
| ¥36 million | ¥3 million | ¥111,350 | ¥115,500 | ¥156,000 |
| ¥48 million | ¥4 million | ¥146,850 | ¥149,500 | ¥188,500 |
| ¥51.6 million | ¥4.3 million | ¥157,500 | ¥159,700 | ¥198,250 |
| ¥60 million | ¥5 million | ¥182,350 | ¥183,500 | ¥221,000 |
| ② Grow is the cheapest (Monthly Sales Approx. ¥5.77 million to ¥30 million)｜Savings from fees start to outweigh the difference in monthly fees | ||||
| ¥72 million | ¥6 million | ¥217,850 | ¥217,500 | ¥253,500 |
| ¥120 million | ¥10 million | ¥359,850 | ¥353,500 | ¥383,500 |
| ¥240 million | ¥20 million | ¥714,850 | ¥693,500 | ¥708,500 |
| ¥271.2 million | ¥22.6 million | ¥807,150 | ¥781,900 | ¥793,000 |
What is clear from this table is simple.
- Basic is the cheapest for monthly sales up to approximately ¥5.77 million. The low monthly fee is more impactful than the difference in transaction fees.
- Grow is the cheapest for monthly sales between approximately ¥5.77 million and ¥30 million. The savings from the 0.15% transaction fee difference outweigh the monthly fee difference (¥8,650), leading to a reversal.
- Advanced is the cheapest for monthly sales over approximately ¥30 million. The difference in transaction fees alone allows Advanced to pay for itself.
It's important to note that Advanced is never the cheapest plan in the quick reference table, even up to monthly sales of ¥22.6 million (annual sales over ¥270 million). Advanced only becomes the cheapest in terms of fees alone when monthly sales exceed approximately ¥30 million. For most small and medium-sized businesses, it is not a viable option in terms of cost at present. Advanced should be considered a plan chosen for its necessary features, not its price.
※Near the monthly sales thresholds of ¥5.77 million and ¥30 million, the total costs of adjacent plans are almost the same. There's no need to be overly concerned about a few tens of thousands of yen difference at the boundary. Consider it a guideline for when to review your plan.
※This quick reference table compares monthly costs by summing the monthly fee and transaction fees, assuming monthly billing and Shopify Payments. It does not include app fees, external payment provider fees, or development/maintenance costs (these are explained in Chapter 7).
For those who want to know the detailed calculation formula (how to determine monthly sales thresholds)
The monthly sales threshold at which plans switch can be calculated with a simple formula. If you understand the concept, you can recalculate it yourself even if prices are revised.
Switching Monthly Sales = Difference in Monthly Fees ÷ Difference in Transaction Fee Rates
For monthly billing and Shopify Payments, the difference in transaction fee rates between plans is only 0.15%. Consequently, the switching monthly sales are quite high.
| Plans to Compare | Difference in Monthly Fees | Difference in Transaction Fee Rates | Switching Monthly Sales | Estimated Annual Sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic → Grow | ¥13,500−¥4,850＝¥8,650 | 3.55%−3.40%＝0.15% | ¥8,650÷0.0015＝Approx. ¥5.77 million | Approx. ¥69 million |
| Grow → Advanced | ¥58,500−¥13,500＝¥45,000 | 3.40%−3.25%＝0.15% | ¥45,000÷0.0015＝Approx. ¥30 million | Approx. ¥360 million |
Because the Grow→Advanced switch occurs at a high monthly sales of approximately ¥30 million, Advanced was never the cheapest in the quick reference table.
4. Who is Basic, Grow, and Advanced suitable for?
Once you've identified "which zone your company belongs to" from the quick reference table, next, let's confirm "which business phase that plan is suitable for." We'll examine this from both cost and feature perspectives.
Basic is suitable for: Monthly sales up to approx. ¥5.77 million
This scale falls within the launch and growth stages. This includes side-hustle e-commerce sites, handmade brands with a small number of products, and cosmetic/food brands where advertising has started to generate traffic.
In this zone, Basic is the cheapest. For example, for monthly sales of ¥3 million, the total cost for Basic is approximately ¥111,000. For the same monthly sales, Grow costs approximately ¥116,000, so the difference is only about ¥5,000 per month. The actual transaction fee amount itself is almost the same across the three plans; what matters is the low monthly fee. From a cost perspective alone, there is little reason to force an upgrade.
However, with Grow, you can add more staff accounts and use features like detailed sales reports and multi-location inventory management. If your team has grown, or if you want to analyze data in detail to implement strategies, choosing Grow for a difference of a few thousand yen per month is quite reasonable.
Grow is suitable for: Monthly sales approx. ¥5.77 million to ¥30 million
This scale applies to apparel and general merchandise brands that have entered full-scale operation, with advertising and repeat customers driving sales.
Here, Grow is the cheapest. This is because once monthly sales exceed approximately ¥5.77 million, the transaction fee savings achieved by using Grow become greater than the increased monthly fee (¥8,650). For example, with monthly sales of ¥6 million, the total cost for Grow is approximately ¥217,500, which is slightly lower than Basic (approximately ¥217,900).
This range is also where Grow's features, such as additional staff accounts, detailed reports, and multi-location inventory management, become useful. From both a cost and feature perspective, Grow becomes a more attractive choice.
Advanced is suitable for: When features dictate the choice
Advanced only becomes the cheapest due to its lower transaction fees when monthly sales exceed approximately ¥30 million (annual sales over ¥360 million). Below that, Grow is cheaper, and as shown in the quick reference table, Grow was still the cheapest even at monthly sales of ¥22.6 million.
In other words, Advanced is a plan chosen for its comprehensive features rather than its lower transaction fees. It proves valuable when operations become complex, offering advanced reporting features, more staff accounts, detailed inventory and shipping settings, multi-currency sales, and more. If the difference of tens of thousands of yen per month can be seen as an investment in operational efficiency, then choosing Advanced even at sales levels in the Grow zone is entirely justifiable.
Supplemental: The transaction fees calculated here are not unique to Shopify. Credit card processing fees will similarly incur on other e-commerce platforms or your own e-commerce site. When comparing plans or platforms, it is important to consider the total cost, including transaction fees, not just the monthly fee.
5. Points to Note When Choosing Annual Billing
Up to this point, we have calculated assuming monthly billing. There is only one thing to know: annual billing is cheaper if you plan to use it for a long time, and with annual billing, the threshold for upgrading to a higher plan also decreases. Since the monthly fee is lower with annual billing (25% off), Grow and Advanced become advantageous sooner, even with the same monthly sales.
Specifically, the Basic→Grow switch moves from approx. ¥5.77 million to approx. ¥4.3 million, and Grow→Advanced moves from approx. ¥30 million to approx. ¥22.6 million, both shifting to lower monthly sales thresholds earlier than with monthly billing. However, rather than worrying about fine boundary lines, it is more practical to first decide whether to use "monthly or annual billing" based on your company's policy. Please refer to the table below as a guide.
| In this case | Recommended Payment Method |
|---|---|
| Want to try it out first / observe for a short period | Monthly Billing |
| Decided to use it for a long time | Annual Billing (25% off) |
| Monthly sales around ¥4 million to ¥6 million, undecided between Basic or Grow | If annual billing, consider Grow earlier |
| Monthly sales over ¥20 million, undecided between Grow or Advanced | If annual billing, consider Advanced (judgment based primarily on features) |
If you intend to continue for a long time, annual billing, which offers a 25% discount on the monthly fee, is more advantageous. On the other hand, for short-term test sales or when you want to maintain a healthier cash flow, monthly billing, which allows for monthly review, is more suitable. When making a decision, first decide whether your company will use monthly or annual billing, and then refer to the quick reference table in Chapter 3 accordingly.
6. Check Only if Using External Payment Methods: Grow or Higher is Often More Advantageous
※If you use Shopify Payments (native payment), you can skip this chapter.
If you use an external payment method (payment gateway) other than Shopify Payments, the "transaction fee" mentioned in Chapter 2 will be added to your payment to Shopify. The difference in this transaction fee rate is much larger than for Shopify Payments (Basic 2.0% / Grow 1.0% / Advanced 0.6%), making higher plans advantageous sooner.
This chapter compares not the fees paid to external payment companies, but the "transaction fees" additionally paid to Shopify when using external payment methods. External payment company fees vary depending on the contractor, so they are not included here. We compare only the monthly fee and the transaction fees paid to Shopify.
When using External Payments | Monthly cost comparison by monthly sales (Monthly fee + Transaction fees to Shopify)
| Monthly Sales | Basic Monthly Fee + Transaction Fees |
Grow Monthly Fee + Transaction Fees |
Advanced Monthly Fee + Transaction Fees |
Cheapest Plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ¥500,000 | ¥14,850 | ¥18,500 | ¥61,500 | Basic |
| ¥1,000,000 | ¥24,850 | ¥23,500 | ¥64,500 | Grow |
| ¥3,000,000 | ¥64,850 | ¥43,500 | ¥76,500 | Grow |
| ¥10,000,000 | ¥204,850 | ¥113,500 | ¥118,500 | Grow |
| ¥12,000,000 | ¥244,850 | ¥133,500 | ¥130,500 | Advanced |
※Assuming monthly billing and external payments, this is the total amount of the monthly fee and the transaction fees paid to Shopify (Basic 2.0% / Grow 1.0% / Advanced 0.6%) only. It does not include the payment processing fees of external payment providers. If paid annually, the monthly fee decreases, so the threshold at which Grow becomes advantageous will be even lower.
As the table shows, when using external payment methods, Grow tends to be cheaper even with monthly sales around ¥1 million. While the Basic to Grow switch was around ¥5.77 million monthly sales with Shopify Payments, it accelerates significantly to approximately ¥865,000 with external payments. If your business is set up to use external payments, upgrading to Grow or higher early on can help you save on transaction fees.
For those who want to know the detailed calculation formula (external payment switching line)
The monthly sales at which plans switch is calculated by dividing the difference in monthly fees by the difference in transaction fee rates.
- Basic → Grow: Monthly fee difference ¥8,650 ÷ Transaction fee rate difference 1.0% = Approx. ¥865,000
- Grow → Advanced: Monthly fee difference ¥45,000 ÷ Transaction fee rate difference 0.4% = Approx. ¥11.25 million
These two lines are the thresholds where the cheapest plan changes in the monthly sales cost table above.
7. Other Costs Beyond Plan Fees
Up to this point, we have estimated based on monthly plan fees and transaction fees. However, if you consider the total actual cost of an e-commerce site, there are two other overlooked expenses: app fees and development costs for construction and customization. The sum of these app and development costs, added to the total previously calculated (monthly fee + transaction fees), represents the complete picture of actual costs.
Unlike plan monthly fees and transaction fees, these two do not scale with sales. They are determined by the necessary features and the complexity of the operational structure. And as the scale increases, there are situations where their impact on the overall cost becomes greater than the difference in plan fees. The breakdown of costs is as follows:
| Cost Item | Nature | How the Amount is Determined |
|---|---|---|
| Plan Monthly Fee | Fixed monthly cost regardless of sales | Determined by the chosen plan (monthly billing ¥4,850 to ¥58,500) |
| Transaction Fees | Increases with sales | Monthly sales × fee rate. Proportional to sales. |
| App Fees | Tends to be a fixed monthly cost regardless of sales | Determined by the number and type of apps installed. Not proportional to sales. |
| Construction/Operation Development Costs | Investment (initial + ongoing) | Determined by desired features/improvements. |
Although app fees fluctuate based on the number of apps used, they do not correlate with sales. While plan monthly fees range from a few thousand to tens of thousands of yen, app and development costs can sometimes exceed that. It's crucial to look at the overall costs rather than just focusing on plan selection.
Mini Cost Estimate (Example: Monthly Sales of ¥3 million, Basic Plan)
It's hard to visualize this in words alone, so let's provide a concrete example. This is an estimate of the monthly running costs for a store with ¥3 million in monthly sales, operating on a Basic plan, and outsourcing some tasks.
| Cost Item | Estimated Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| Plan Monthly Fee (Basic, Monthly Billing) | ¥4,850 |
| Transaction Fees (¥3 million × 3.55%) | Approx. ¥106,500 |
| App Fees (a few necessary apps) | Approx. ¥10,000 to ¥20,000 |
| Maintenance/Operation Outsourcing (if requested) | Approx. ¥30,000 to ¥50,000 |
| Total Monthly Running Costs | Approx. ¥150,000 to ¥180,000 |
In addition to these, initial setup costs (one-time, separate) are incurred during launch. These are expenses for outsourcing design and customization, and the market rate is explained in "Breakdown of Construction Costs." If you use a paid theme, expect to pay around ¥30,000 to ¥70,000 (one-time purchase), and a custom domain will cost around ¥1,600 to ¥3,200 per year separately.
What this estimation reveals is that the plan monthly fee (¥4,850) is only a small portion of the total monthly cost. The actual impactful costs are transaction fees, and app/operation costs. It is important not to judge a plan based solely on a few thousand yen difference in plan fees.
※This is just an example. If you operate in-house, maintenance/operation outsourcing fees are unnecessary, and the amount can vary greatly depending on the number of apps and the scope of requests.
App fee estimates and caution against over-installation
While Shopify's standard features are simple, it's common to supplement them with apps for functions like review display, email marketing, subscription services, and loyalty points. Many apps cost hundreds to a few thousand yen per month (a few to several tens of dollars), but if you accumulate 5 to 10 apps, they become a non-negligible fixed monthly expense.
The practical point here is to select only the necessary and sufficient apps. It's not uncommon to have duplicate apps with similar functions or to keep subscribing to unused apps. App selection and regular review contribute to protecting your profit margins.
Construction and customization costs become more necessary as the scale increases.
Another is the development cost for construction and customization. This is the cost of requesting design creation, feature development, and external system integration from production companies or freelancers, and it represents an initial and ongoing investment that is not linked to sales. As your business grows and you want to do more, this cost will become increasingly necessary.
The specific market rates vary depending on the content and scale of the request. For more details, please refer to the following articles:
- "Shopify Store Building Cost Guide"
- "How to Choose a Shopify Partner"
- "Cost Guide for Requesting Freelancers"
8. When to consider Shopify Plus
Shopify Plus is not a plan to choose based solely on monthly sales or fees. It is a plan for large businesses, with monthly fees starting from 368,000 yen (or 2,300 USD for the global version), and for most small to medium-sized businesses, there is little need to consider it for the time being. Please read this with the mindset of "I don't need this for now, but I'll keep it in mind just in case."
A common misconception is that you automatically "upgrade to Plus" once your sales exceed a certain line. In reality, it's not a plan that can be simply rationalized by cost, but rather one to consider when specific features become necessary. Specifically, the need for the following features is a sign to consider it:
- Advanced customization of the checkout screen
- B2B/Wholesale (customer-specific pricing and wholesale channels)
- Operating multiple stores and international expansion with multi-currency support
- Integration with external systems and business automation (inventory synchronization, order processing, etc.)
- System resilience for large-scale sales and dedicated support
Conversely, if you don't yet need these features, Basic to Advanced plans are often sufficient, even with annual sales in the hundreds of millions of yen. Remember that Plus is considered "because features are needed," not "because sales have increased." If you are at a stage where your annual sales are significant and you are seriously considering it, please also refer to "What are the costs of Shopify Plus? Simulating payment fees by annual sales," which estimates Plus costs by annual sales.
※For reference, to recover the monthly fee of Plus solely by saving on transaction fees, monthly sales of approximately 89 million yen and annual sales of approximately 1.06 billion yen would be required. This further confirms that Plus is a plan chosen for its "features" rather than its "cost."
9. Frequently Asked Questions (Shopify Fees and Charges)
We have compiled frequently asked questions from beginners regarding Shopify costs. All pricing and fee information is as of June 2026.
Can I use Shopify for free?
There is no completely free plan; a paid plan subscription is required to use it. However, you can enjoy a few days of free trial before signing up, and sometimes there are campaigns offering discounted prices for a period afterwards (as of June 2026, there are campaigns such as the first three months for 150 yen per month). Please note that the eligible plans, terms, and duration of such campaigns may vary and may end according to Shopify's discretion. For the latest information, please check the official pricing page (shopify.com/jp/pricing).
How much is Shopify's monthly fee?
For monthly payments, Basic is 4,850 yen, Grow is 13,500 yen, and Advanced is 58,500 yen. If you opt for annual payments (25% off), the monthly equivalent drops to 3,650 yen for Basic, 10,100 yen for Grow, and 44,000 yen for Advanced (all as of June 2026). Most small to medium-sized businesses will find Basic or Grow sufficient, so comparing these two first will make your decision easier.
How much are the payment processing fees?
If you use Shopify's native Shopify Payments, the domestic credit card processing fees are 3.55% for Basic, 3.40% for Grow, and 3.25% for Advanced. When using other external payment gateways, an additional transaction fee is charged by Shopify (Basic 2.0% / Grow 1.0% / Advanced 0.6%). Please note that the total cost will vary depending on which payment method you use.
Do I need a custom domain (domain cost) separately?
The cost of a custom domain is separate from the plan fees. There are two ways to obtain one: either through Shopify or by purchasing it from an external domain provider and connecting it. The estimated cost is around 1,600 to 3,200 yen per year. While you can launch your store without one, we recommend getting a custom domain if you want to enhance brand credibility.
How much do apps cost?
There is a wide range of app costs, from free apps to paid apps that cost several hundred yen to tens of dollars per month. The cost is determined by the number of features you use and is not proportional to your sales. You don't need to install everything from the start; by adding only the truly necessary features as you operate your store, you can keep unnecessary fixed costs down.
Is a theme purchase necessary?
You can open a store with a free theme (like Dawn), so a purchase is not always necessary. If you want more design quality or features, there are also paid themes. Paid themes are a one-time purchase, typically costing around 30,000 to 70,000 yen (this varies depending on exchange rates and the product). Once purchased, you can continue to use it without additional fees.
10. Summary
Looking only at Shopify's monthly fee doesn't tell you the true cost. Only by comparing the total amount, which includes the monthly fee and payment processing fees, can you see which plan is cheapest for your company. Assuming monthly payments and Shopify Payments, the switch from Basic to Grow is around 5.77 million yen in monthly sales, and from Grow to Advanced is around 30 million yen in monthly sales. Therefore, for annual sales up to around 360 million yen, Basic or Grow is often the cheapest option.
Advanced only becomes the cheapest due to fee differences at monthly sales exceeding 30 million yen, which for many small and medium-sized businesses is currently not a cost-effective option. It is common to start with Basic or Grow and consider upgrading as your business grows. Remember that Advanced and Plus are plans chosen for their necessary features, not their price.
The switching thresholds also change depending on the contract type and payment method. With annual payments, the thresholds drop to approximately 4.3 million yen and 22.6 million yen. If you use external payment gateways, they drop even further to approximately 865,000 yen and 11.25 million yen. The key to avoiding mistakes is to first decide whether you will pay monthly or annually, and whether you will use Shopify Payments or an external payment gateway, and then base your decision on the corresponding figures.
Simple Flow for Plan Selection (Checklist)
Finally, let's organize the decision-making process for choosing a plan. Apply these to your company not just based on monthly sales, but on several axes. The basic idea is to start with the lowest cost (monthly sales) and then upgrade only for necessary features.
- Refer to the quick reference table for monthly sales to determine the most cost-effective plan (Basic or Grow).
- Check the number of team members and staff accounts. If the number of people increases or if permission management is required, consider Grow or higher.
- Decide whether to use an external payment gateway. If you do, upgrading to Grow or higher sooner is often more beneficial due to the difference in transaction fees.
- Identify any necessary features such as reports, inventory, or multi-currency support. If needed, consider Advanced.
- If there are advanced requirements (checkout customization, B2B wholesale, external system integration), consider Plus.
SOLSTAR Co., Ltd. is a team of staff with over 8 years of experience in Shopify development, providing one-stop support from EC site construction to operation. In actual cases, we have proposed plan selections tailored to the business phase, such as building with a Basic plan to reduce costs for brands with fewer products.
If you are wondering "which plan is more profitable for my sales" or "how should I design for future growth," please feel free to contact us through our free consultation form. We will provide comprehensive support from plan selection and cost estimation to construction and operation.
Sources and Credits
・Primary source for fees and rates: Shopify official pricing page (shopify.com/jp/pricing). We confirmed the monthly fees (monthly and annual payments), payment processing rates, and external payment transaction fees for Basic/Grow/Advanced/Plus.
・The monthly sales simulation and monthly sales thresholds in this article are calculated based on the above official fees using the formula "Total amount = Monthly fee + Monthly sales × Fee rate." Actual costs may vary depending on the payment method, apps used, and development scope.
・The amounts in this article are estimates based on official listed prices and may differ from actual billing amounts due to tax handling, exchange rates, and rounding.
※Fees and charges are as of June 2026. Prices may be revised, so please check the official pricing page for the latest information. Author: Hayato Shimabukuro (Representative Director, SOLSTAR Co., Ltd.)
