Working out what a Shopify store actually costs is harder than it should be. The subscription is only one line on the bill, and payment fees, apps, and a proper build usually add more. This guide breaks down every Shopify plan, the fees that come with each, and what a Singapore SME store realistically pays per month.
Quick answer: Shopify runs five tiers. Starter is about USD 5/month for social and chat selling, Basic is USD 39/month, the mid plan (now called Grow, previously just “Shopify”) is USD 105/month, Advanced is USD 399/month, and Shopify Plus starts near USD 2,300/month. Annual billing cuts roughly 25% off the three main plans. On top of the subscription you pay card processing on every sale, plus extra transaction fees only if you skip Shopify Payments. Prices are set in USD and change often, so confirm the current figure on Shopify’s official pricing page before you commit.
The Shopify plans at a glance
Shopify sells one product on a subscription, with the feature set and fees changing by tier. Prices below are the USD list prices at the time of writing. Shopify bills most Singapore merchants in USD or local currency depending on your setup, so your final SGD amount depends on the exchange rate and your billing region.
|
Plan |
Monthly price (USD) |
Best for |
Key limits / fees |
|
Starter |
~$5 |
Selling through social, chat, or a single buy button |
No full online store; higher card fees |
|
Basic |
$39 ($29 billed annually) |
New and small stores |
2% fee on third-party gateways |
|
Grow (formerly “Shopify”) |
$105 ($79 annually) |
Growing stores needing better reporting |
1% fee on third-party gateways |
|
Advanced |
$399 ($299 annually) |
Higher-volume stores, custom reports |
0.6% fee on third-party gateways |
|
Shopify Plus |
from ~$2,300 |
Enterprise and high-volume brands |
Custom contract; lowest fees |
The mid-tier plan was renamed in recent updates, so you may see it listed as “Grow” or still as “Shopify” depending on the source. The features are the same; only the label changed.
Starter
Starter is the entry point. It does not give you a standalone storefront. You sell through links, social channels, and messaging apps, which suits someone testing a few products before building a real shop.
Basic
Basic is where most Singapore small businesses begin. You get a full online store, unlimited products, staff accounts, and 24/7 support. It is enough to launch and start taking orders properly.
Grow
The mid plan adds professional reporting and lower card rates. It makes sense once your monthly sales are large enough that the reduced processing fees offset the higher subscription.
Advanced
Advanced brings custom report building, deeper analytics, and the lowest fees before Plus. It fits stores doing steady volume that need finer control over data and shipping.
Shopify Plus
Plus is the enterprise tier with custom pricing, more staff accounts, checkout customisation, and dedicated support. It is negotiated per contract, so treat any published figure as a starting point.
Transaction and payment processing fees
This is the part that trips people up. There are two separate charges.
Card processing fees apply to every sale when you use Shopify Payments. In the US these run about 2.9% + 30¢ per online transaction on Basic, 2.7% + 30¢ on Grow, and 2.5% + 30¢ on Advanced. Singapore rates differ, so check your local rate card. This fee is unavoidable because someone has to process the card.
Extra transaction fees apply only if you use a third-party gateway instead of Shopify Payments. That surcharge is 2% on Basic, 1% on Grow, and 0.6% on Advanced. Use Shopify Payments and this fee is waived. For most Singapore merchants, sticking with Shopify Payments is the cheaper path.
Monthly vs annual billing
Paying yearly upfront saves roughly 25% on Basic, Grow, and Advanced. On Basic that is the difference between $39 and $29 a month. Annual billing is worth it once you are confident the store is staying, but pay monthly while you are still testing the model.
The costs Shopify’s price page does not show
The subscription is the floor, not the ceiling. Budget for these:
- Apps. Free options exist, but paid apps for reviews, subscriptions, advanced shipping, or loyalty commonly add USD 10 to 100+ per month each. Costs stack quickly.
- Themes. The free themes are workable. Premium themes are a one-time purchase, usually USD 100 to 400.
- Domain. A .com or .sg domain runs roughly USD 10 to 40 a year, whether bought through Shopify or a local registrar.
- Design and development. A DIY store costs nothing beyond your time. A professional build by an agency is a separate one-off project cost, and it is usually what separates a store that converts from one that just exists.
For a fuller picture of build budgets, see our guide to the cost of ecommerce website development in Singapore. If you are still choosing a platform, our WordPress vs Shopify comparison is a good place to start.
Which plan suits your business stage
- Just testing an idea: Starter, or Basic if you want a real storefront from day one.
- Live small store, under a few hundred orders a month: Basic covers it.
- Growing steadily, watching your fees: Grow, once lower card rates save you more than the price jump.
- Higher volume, data-heavy operations: Advanced.
- Enterprise scale: Shopify Plus.
Realistic monthly cost for a Singapore SME store
A typical small Singapore store on Basic pays the ~$39 subscription plus card fees on sales, a few paid apps, and an annual domain. In practice, plan on roughly USD 60 to 150 a month once a couple of apps are added, before counting the one-time build. Card processing then scales with revenue, not a fixed line.
Grant support: A store build or setup can be grant-supported for eligible Singapore SMEs. The Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG) covers up to 50% of qualifying costs for approved solutions, which lowers the upfront cost of a professional build. Check current eligibility and the approved vendor list before you plan around it.
Because Shopify updates pricing and plan names periodically, always confirm the live figure on Shopify’s official pricing page before you sign up.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Shopify cost per month?
The main plans are Basic at USD 39, Grow at USD 105, and Advanced at USD 399, with Starter around USD 5 and Plus from about USD 2,300. Annual billing lowers the three main plans by roughly 25%.
Is there a free plan or trial?
There is no permanent free plan, but Shopify usually offers a free trial followed by a discounted first few months. The exact promotion changes, so check the current offer on the pricing page.
What are Shopify’s transaction fees?
You always pay card processing on each sale (around 2.5% to 2.9% + a flat cent charge online, depending on plan). An extra fee of 0.6% to 2% applies only if you use a third-party gateway instead of Shopify Payments.
Which plan should I choose?
Start on Basic for a new store. Move to Grow when lower processing fees save you more than the higher subscription, and to Advanced when you need custom reports and volume. Plus is for enterprise scale.
What extra costs should I expect?
Paid apps, a premium theme, a domain, and a professional build. Apps are the biggest ongoing variable, so add them deliberately rather than all at once.
Build your Shopify store with MediaPlus
Picking a plan is the easy part. Turning it into a store that ranks and sells is where an experienced team helps. MediaPlus offers Shopify website design and development in Singapore and Shopify SEO services to get you found on Google. Want a build quote or PSG guidance? Contact us and we will map the right plan and budget to your store.
