Shopify vs. Shopify Plus: The Complete Australian Guide (2025)

Choosing between Shopify Standard and Shopify Plus depends on your business's size, goals, and complexity.

• Shopify Standard: Ideal for small to medium businesses starting or growing online. Plans range from $7 AUD/month (Starter) to $575 AUD/month (Advanced). Features include basic customisation, standard checkout, and up to 15 staff accounts. Transaction fees vary from 1.75% to 1.4% (with Shopify Payments).
• Shopify Plus: Designed for larger or rapidly scaling businesses. Pricing starts at $2,600 AUD/month (customised based on revenue). Offers advanced checkout customisation, unlimited staff accounts, built-in B2B tools, and enhanced automation. Lower transaction fees benefit high-volume sales.

Quick Comparison

For small businesses, Shopify Standard offers everything you need to start selling. If you're scaling quickly or need advanced tools, Shopify Plus provides flexibility and power to support growth.

Shopify VS. Shopify Plus Comparison (2025): Pros and Cons | Is It Time to Upgrade?

Shopify Standard Plans Explained

Shopify's Standard plans - Starter, Basic Shopify, Shopify (Grow), and Advanced Shopify - are designed to suit businesses of all sizes, offering a range of features at different price points.

The main differences between these plans lie in their monthly costs, transaction fees, and the features they provide. Here's a closer look at what each plan includes.

What You Get with Shopify Standard Plans

The Starter Plan is priced at around $7/month and is tailored for businesses focused on social selling. It's a great option for those testing the waters of selling through social media platforms.

Basic Shopify costs approximately $52–$56/month (or about $42/month if billed annually). This plan includes a full online store, a transaction fee of 1.75% + $0.30 when using Shopify Payments, and allows for 2 staff accounts. It offers essential ecommerce tools like inventory management, standard reporting, and customer support, making it ideal for those just starting out.

Shopify (Grow) is available for about $149/month (or $114/month with annual billing). It reduces transaction fees to 1.6% + $0.30 and supports up to 5 staff accounts. This plan is best suited for growing businesses that need more advanced tools and resources to handle increased sales and operations.

Advanced Shopify comes in at about $575/month (or $431/month with annual billing). It offers the lowest transaction fees of 1.4% + $0.30 and supports up to 15 staff accounts. This plan is designed for larger businesses with complex needs and high transaction volumes.

Opting for annual billing can save you up to 25% on the Basic, Shopify (Grow), and Advanced plans. Additionally, using Shopify Payments eliminates extra third-party transaction fees, which can otherwise reach up to 2% on some plans.

All Standard plans include access to Shopify's app store, theme customisation options, and standard checkout functionality. These features provide a solid foundation for most ecommerce businesses, all within Shopify's established framework.

Best Fit Businesses for Shopify Standard

Each plan is tailored to meet the needs of different types of businesses.

Basic Shopify is a great starting point for new online stores, solo entrepreneurs, and startups looking for an affordable and straightforward solution. Many Australian businesses find this plan perfect for launching an online presence without unnecessary complexity. It’s ideal for small retailers testing online sales, service providers adding products to their offerings, or creators selling merchandise.

Shopify (Grow) is designed for growing brands with small teams that need more advanced shipping options and detailed reporting. Australian businesses experiencing steady growth often upgrade to this plan when they require additional staff accounts and deeper analytics. It’s a good fit for established retailers expanding their online operations or businesses managing inventory across multiple locations.

Advanced Shopify is best for larger operations with complex requirements and high transaction volumes. Australian companies handling significant monthly sales can benefit from the lower transaction fees, which help offset the higher monthly cost. This plan works well for high-volume retailers, rapidly scaling enterprises, or businesses with intricate shipping needs.

Choosing the right plan depends on your current sales volume and growth goals. As your business scales, the savings from reduced transaction fees on higher-tier plans can have a meaningful impact on your profitability.

Shopify Plus Explained

Shopify Plus is the enterprise-level solution built for businesses experiencing rapid growth or established brands that need more power, flexibility, and control than what the Standard plans offer. Unlike the fixed pricing of Standard plans, Shopify Plus operates on a custom pricing model. This tailored approach considers factors like your monthly gross merchandise volume, ensuring costs align with your business's unique needs.

This premium tier isn’t just about scaling up - it’s about delivering a platform that can handle heavy traffic, increased transaction volumes, and peak performance during high-demand periods, all while ensuring reliability.

Here’s a closer look at the features that make Shopify Plus stand out.

What You Get with Shopify Plus

Advanced customisation capabilities are a major draw for Shopify Plus. With Shopify Scripts, you can customise the checkout process, implement complex discount rules, and create dynamic shipping options. This allows businesses to design shopping experiences tailored to their specific needs and customer expectations.

Multi-store management is another standout feature. Shopify Plus makes it easy to manage multiple branded stores, regional websites, or wholesale portals - all from one centralised dashboard. For Australian brands expanding overseas, this is a game-changer, as it supports managing distinct stores for different regions while keeping inventory and orders streamlined.

Wholesale and B2B functionality is built directly into the platform. You can serve both retail and wholesale customers through dedicated portals, complete with custom pricing, minimum order requirements, and approval workflows. This integration simplifies operations for businesses catering to multiple customer types.

Enhanced automation and API access take operational efficiency to the next level. Shopify Flow allows you to build workflows that automate tasks like tagging customers, updating inventory, sending tailored emails, and integrating actions across your tech stack. Unlimited API calls mean your business can scale without hitting technical limits.

Dedicated support is included, giving you access to a named account manager and priority technical assistance. This ensures that issues are resolved quickly, especially during crucial sales periods when downtime isn’t an option.

Advanced analytics and reporting tools provide a deeper dive into customer behaviour, sales trends, and operational metrics. These insights help businesses make data-driven decisions and uncover growth opportunities that might not be visible through Standard plan reporting.

These features together make Shopify Plus an ideal choice for businesses that need more than just basic ecommerce functionality.

Best Fit Businesses for Shopify Plus

Shopify Plus is best suited for high-revenue brands with significant online sales. For these businesses, the platform often pays for itself through improved conversion rates, lower transaction fees, and streamlined operations. When applied to large transaction volumes, its advanced features become a cost-effective investment.

Rapidly scaling businesses also benefit greatly. Shopify Plus can handle sudden traffic spikes and increased complexity without the need for a platform migration, making it ideal for companies outgrowing their current systems.

Brands that demand extensive customisation often find Shopify Plus indispensable. Whether it’s unique checkout experiences, intricate pricing models, or deeply personalised customer journeys, the platform delivers the flexibility needed. For instance, fashion brands with detailed inventory requirements, subscription-based businesses with complex billing, and luxury retailers aiming for a premium touch all thrive with these customisation options.

Companies managing multiple brands or operating in multiple regions also gain an edge. Shopify Plus allows businesses to maintain distinct customer experiences, pricing, and branding for different markets - all from the same dashboard. This is especially useful for businesses serving both B2B and B2C audiences.

Finally, businesses with complex operational needs - such as advanced inventory systems, enterprise resource planning (ERP) integrations, or tailored fulfilment processes - find Shopify Plus to be a practical solution. Its flexibility supports efficient workflows that aren’t possible with Standard plans.

For businesses encountering limitations with Standard plans or seeking efficiency gains to boost conversions, Shopify Plus offers a scalable and powerful option to meet their needs.

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Shopify Plus vs Shopify Standard: Direct Comparison

Shopify Plus and Shopify Standard cater to different business needs, growth stages, and operational demands. The table below breaks down the main differences, making it easier to evaluate which option suits your business.

Feature and Pricing Comparison Table

Deciding Between Shopify Plus and Standard

While Shopify Plus comes with a higher monthly price tag, its lower transaction fees and additional features can make it a cost-effective choice for businesses handling large sales volumes.

For smaller teams, the Standard plans may suffice with their limited staff accounts. However, Shopify Plus stands out with unlimited user access, ideal for growing organisations.

When it comes to checkout options, Standard plans offer basic theme-based customisation. On the other hand, Shopify Plus enables full customisation using Shopify Scripts, allowing businesses to implement unique pricing and discount rules tailored to their needs.

Ultimately, the decision boils down to your business's growth stage and technical requirements. If you're scaling quickly or need advanced API capabilities, automation tools, or enhanced support, Shopify Plus can streamline operations and prepare your business for future expansion.

Take these factors into account to determine which plan aligns best with your goals and operational needs.

How to Choose Between Shopify Plus and Standard

Choosing between Shopify Plus and Shopify Standard comes down to understanding your business's needs today and where you see it heading in the future. It’s about finding the right fit for your current operations while keeping growth in mind.

Assess Your Business Needs

Start by looking at your revenue and growth goals. If your business generates significant annual revenue or has ambitious expansion plans, Shopify Plus might be the better choice with its advanced tools and scalability. On the other hand, if your business operates at a steady pace with simpler requirements, Shopify Standard could be the more practical option.

Think about factors like your team size, technical needs, and operational complexity. If you need extensive customisation or advanced integrations, Shopify Plus is designed for that. For businesses managing multiple stores or handling complex operations, Shopify Plus can simplify processes and improve efficiency.

Growth potential is another crucial factor. If your business is scaling quickly, you might find Shopify Standard’s limitations becoming a bottleneck, making Shopify Plus a smarter long-term investment.

Balancing these considerations ensures your platform choice supports both your immediate operations and future ambitions. Next, compare these needs with the costs and support options each plan offers.

Features vs. Costs: Finding the Right Balance

Once you’ve outlined your business priorities, weigh them against the costs and benefits of each plan. Subscription fees and transaction fee savings are key here. If your sales volume is high, Shopify Plus’s reduced transaction fees could offset its higher monthly cost.

Support is another important factor. Shopify Plus provides dedicated account management and priority support, which can be crucial during busy periods or when facing technical challenges. Shopify Standard, while reliable, relies on general support channels.

Customisation and development costs also come into play. Shopify Plus offers advanced API access and other tools for deeper customisation, but using these features effectively may require additional technical expertise and resources.

Automation is another advantage of Shopify Plus. Features like automated inventory management, customer segmentation, and order processing can save time and cut operational costs.

Lastly, consider the cost of third-party apps. If your Shopify Standard setup relies heavily on paid apps, Shopify Plus’s built-in features might offer a more cost-effective solution.

Making the Right Choice for Your Business

Choosing between Shopify Plus and Shopify Standard is all about aligning your current business needs with your long-term growth plans.

Revenue and transaction volumes often play a big role in this decision. If your business sees high monthly sales or is growing quickly, Shopify Plus can make more sense due to its lower fees at scale and ability to handle growth seamlessly. On the other hand, if your sales are steady and moderate, Shopify Standard delivers strong value without adding unnecessary complexity.

Beyond sales, your operational needs should guide your choice. If your business requires extensive customisation, manages multiple stores, or needs advanced integrations, Shopify Plus provides the tools to meet those demands. For businesses with simpler operations, Shopify Standard offers all the essentials in a more straightforward package. It’s also worth considering whether your team is equipped to fully utilise the advanced features Shopify Plus offers.

Speaking of your team, the resources and expertise they bring to the table are crucial. Shopify Plus comes with powerful tools, but unlocking their full potential often requires a skilled technical team or outside help. If your team isn’t ready for that level of complexity, Shopify Standard is a great option, offering immediate value without the need for advanced technical know-how.

Support is another important factor. For businesses experiencing rapid growth or preparing for critical periods like product launches or busy seasons, Shopify Plus’s dedicated account management and priority support can be game-changers. These services help minimise downtime and quickly address issues when every second matters.

Ultimately, choose a plan that fits your current needs while leaving room to grow. Shopify makes it easy to upgrade plans as your business evolves, so you’re not locked into a decision that might limit you later.

Take the time to map out your current requirements, budget, and growth goals to ensure your chosen plan supports both where you are now and where you want to be in the future.

FAQs

How do I know if my business should upgrade from Shopify Standard to Shopify Plus?

If your business is expanding quickly, managing several online stores, or in need of advanced customisation features and B2B capabilities, Shopify Plus could be the solution you’re looking for. This plan caters specifically to larger businesses that require more flexibility and tools to sustain their growth.

You might be ready to upgrade if you’re handling high transaction volumes, require advanced automation tools, or need access to dedicated support. Another appealing benefit of Shopify Plus is reduced transaction fees, which can make a big difference for businesses processing a high number of sales.

What makes Shopify Plus a great choice for fast-growing businesses?

Shopify Plus caters to businesses that are growing quickly, providing the tools and capacity to manage higher traffic and sales volumes with ease. It offers features like advanced customisation, automation tools, and tailored personalisation options to simplify operations and enhance the shopping experience for customers.

By using Shopify Plus, you can automate routine tasks, minimise manual efforts, and dedicate more time to focusing on strategic growth. It's a great choice for brands aiming to scale rapidly while maintaining a polished and seamless online presence.

What are the differences in transaction fees between Shopify Standard and Shopify Plus, and how do they affect your business's profitability?

Transaction fees can eat into your profits, especially as your sales climb. On Shopify's Standard plans, you're looking at fees of up to 2% when using third-party payment gateways. In contrast, Shopify Plus reduces this to just 0.2%, offering a much smaller cut for third-party processors.

Let’s break it down: if your business handles $500,000 in monthly sales through a third-party provider, you'd be paying $10,000 in transaction fees under a Standard plan. But with Shopify Plus, that fee drops to $1,000. Over the course of a year, that’s a massive saving of $108,000, making Shopify Plus a smarter financial choice for businesses with higher revenue.