Shopify is one of the most popular and powerful e-commerce platforms in the world, powering over 1.7 million businesses across 175 countries. Shopify offers various plans, and no matter what business size you run, you will find one package suitable for you.
Depending on your business size, goals, and needs, you may want to consider upgrading to Shopify Plus or Shopify Advanced, two of the most advanced and feature-rich plans offered by Shopify.
But what are the differences between Shopify Plus and Shopify Advanced? And how do you decide which one is best for your business? In this article, we will compare Shopify Plus and Shopify Advanced in terms of features, benefits, pricing, and support, and help you make an informed decision.
Shopify Plans and Pricing
Shopify is an e-commerce platform that allows individuals and businesses to create and manage their online stores. It provides a streamlined solution for building websites that include online stores, eliminating the need to piece together various web development elements like domain names, themes, and hosting.
Basic Features of Shopify
- Online Store Builder: With Shopify, you can bring your business idea to life by creating an online storefront. Customize your design using drag-and-drop tools to make your store visually appealing.
- Branding Tools: Craft your brand’s look and feel, find a suitable business name, create a logo, and establish a custom web domain.
- Product Sourcing: Stock your store with products from trusted dropshipping services. Shopify also offers a tool called Burst that provides free high-quality stock photos.
- Multiple Sales Channels: Promote and sell products not only on your online store but also on social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and other channels.
Shopify Pricing & Plan Features
Basic Plan For Solopreneurs:
- Monthly cost: $29/ month.
- Features include the world’s best-converting checkout, standard analytics, and up to 77% shipping discount.
- 10 inventory locations
- 24/7 chat support
- POS Lite
- Localized global selling (3 markets)
Shopify For Small Teams:
- Monthly cost: $79/ month.
- All features of the Basic plan
- 5 staff accounts
- Up to 88% shipping discount and insurance.
Shopify Advanced For Scaling Businesses:
- Monthly cost: $299/ month
- All basic and Shopify plan features
- Includes custom reports and analytics
- Enhanced 24/7 chat support
- 15 additional staff accounts
- Up to 88% shipping discount, insurance, and 3rd party calculated rates
- Localized global selling (3 markets) + add markets for $59 /mo each
- 10x checkout capacity
Shopify Plus For Complex Businesses:
- Enterprise-level commerce technology for high-growth businesses.
- All basic, Shopify plan, and Shopify advanced features
- Starting at $2000 for standard setups and integrations on a 3-year term or $2290/month for a 1 or 3-year term.
- Offers exclusive features such as B2B tools, headless commerce, and personalized checkout.
Shopify Enterprise Commerce:
- Custom pricing based on your specific needs.
- Provides unrivaled build agility, speed to deployment, and performance.
- Tailored for enterprise organizations seeking agility, innovation, and cost-effectiveness.
- Connects everything in one commerce operating system, allowing you to customize and scale
There is also a Shopify Retail plan but its pricing and features varies region to region. Most of the plans come with features like prebuilt themes, top-converting checkout, point-of-sale capabilities, and access to commerce apps. You can start with a 3-day free trial to explore Shopify’s offerings and find the best fit for your needs.
After getting brief details about the different plans and pricing, let’s focus on two main plans i.e. Shopify Plus and Shopify Advanced.
Shopify Plus vs Shopify Advanced
Let’s dive into the comparison between Shopify Plus and Shopify Advanced in 6 key points:
Shopify Plus vs Shopify Advanced Pricing
The first thing you need to consider when choosing between Shopify Plus and Shopify Advanced is the pricing. Shopify Advanced has a fixed monthly fee of $299 (paid annually), while Shopify Plus has a variable fee that starts at $2,000 per month and depends on your store’s performance and needs.
Shopify Advanced may seem more affordable at first glance, but you must also factor in the transaction fees, which are 0.5% for every sale you make. Shopify Plus, on the other hand, has no transaction fees, which can save you a lot of money in the long run, especially if you have a high volume of sales.
Shopify Plus also offers lower credit card rates than Shopify Advanced, which can further reduce costs. For example, Shopify Plus charges the most competitive rates per transaction for online credit card payments in the US, while Shopify Advanced charges 2.5% + 30¢.
Therefore, Shopify Plus may be more cost-effective for your business if you have a high revenue, many transactions, or a complex store requiring more features and customization.
Shopify Plus vs Shopify Advanced Features
Shopify Plus and Shopify Advanced both offer a range of features that go beyond the basic Shopify plan, such as:
- Unlimited products and bandwidth
- Professional reports and analytics
- Advanced discount codes and promotions
- Gift cards and store credit
- Abandoned cart recovery
- Multi-currency and multi-language support
- Custom SSL certificates and domains
However, Shopify Plus also offers some exclusive features that Shopify Advanced does not, such as:
- Shopify’s API and SDKs: allow you to customize and integrate your store with third-party apps and services
- Shopify Scripts: a tool that lets you create custom logic and workflows for your store, such as dynamic pricing, shipping rates, payment options, and more
- Shopify Flow: a tool that lets you automate tasks and workflows for your store, such as inventory management, order fulfillment, customer service, and more
- Shopify Launchpad: a tool that lets you schedule and automate events and campaigns for your store, such as flash sales, product launches, discounts, and more
- Shopify Plus Partners: a network of experts and agencies that can help you design, develop, and optimize your store
- Dedicated account manager and priority support
Shopify Plus vs Shopify Advanced Benefits
Shopify Plus and Shopify Advanced both offer several benefits that can help you grow and scale your business, such as:
- Increased sales and conversions: thanks to the fast and reliable performance, mobile-friendly design, and optimized checkout process of Shopify
- Enhanced customer experience and loyalty: due to the personalized and engaging features, such as product recommendations, reviews, loyalty programs, and more
- Reduced costs and complexity: thanks to the easy-to-use and all-in-one platform, that handles everything from hosting, security, updates, backups, and more
- Expanded reach and market: With global and multilingual capabilities, that allow you to sell in different currencies, languages, and regions
Shopify Plus vs Shopify Advanced Customization
Although Shopify Advanced provides design customization options, they are somewhat limited in comparison to Shopify Plus’s vast customization features.
Shopify Plus provides merchants with complete access to their site’s HTML and CSS, taking customization to new heights. This plan provides greater freedom and control over design components, allowing businesses to create unique, branded experiences that connect with their target audience and generate conversions.
Shopify Plus vs Shopify Advanced Scalability
Shopify provides a solid base with sophisticated customization possibilities, allowing businesses to manage their expanding operations effectively.
Shopify Plus is designed for high-volume retailers in the United States. It provides unprecedented scalability. With a strong infrastructure and comprehensive features, it can easily handle a bigger volume of sales and traffic than standard Shopify plans, making it the best option for large corporations and rapidly expanding organizations.
Shopify Plus vs Shopify Advanced Support
Shopify Advanced: With top-tier customer support available 24/7, Shopify Advanced guarantees that businesses receive timely assistance whenever needed.
Shopify Plus: Enhancing the support experience, Shopify Plus offers professional assistance geared to the specific needs of enterprise-level merchants in the United States. Users get access to a dedicated representative who walks them through the onboarding process and continues to give individualized support after the launch, promoting long-term success and happiness.
Shopify Plus also gives you access to Shopify’s Partner Program, which connects you with over 6,000 certified experts and agencies who can help you with your store design, development, marketing, and more. You also get access to Shopify’s App Store, which has over 6,000 apps and integrations that can enhance your store’s functionality and performance.
Therefore, Shopify Plus may be more suitable for your business if you need dedicated and personalized support, and want to leverage Shopify’s expertise and resources to grow your business.
Let’s sum it up!
Shopify Plus and Shopify Advanced are both powerful and flexible e-commerce platforms that can help you take your online store to the next level. However, they have some key differences that we have mentioned above and you should also consider before choosing one.
Here is a summary of their main features and benefits:
| Feature | Shopify Plus | Shopify Advanced |
| Pricing | Variable fee starting at $2,000/month | Fixed fee of $299/month |
| Transaction fees | Most competitive rates | Shopify Payments:0.5% |
| Credit card rates | Most competitive rates | 2.4% + 30¢ |
| Customization | Full customization of checkout and store | Limited customization of checkout and store |
| Script Editor | Yes | No |
| Scalability | Unlimited bandwidth, storage, and products | Unlimited bandwidth, storage, and products |
| Security | Level 1 PCI DSS compliant | Level 1 PCI DSS compliant |
| Inventory locations | 200 inventory locations | 10 inventory locations |
| Support | Dedicated Merchant Success Manager and Launch Manager | 24/7 phone, email, and chat support |
| Priority access to experts | Yes | No |
| Partner Program | Yes | No |
| App Store | Yes | Yes |
Ultimately, the best choice for your business depends on your specific needs, goals, and budget. Shopify Plus is more suitable for enterprise-level businesses that need high scalability, extensive customization, and dedicated support. Shopify Advanced is more affordable and ideal for growing businesses that need advanced features and flexibility, but not as much customization and support.
If you are still unsure which plan is right for you, you can contact Shopify’s sales team and request a free consultation. They will help you evaluate your business needs and recommend the best plan for you.
References:
- https://syndelltech.com/is-shopify-development-profitable/
- https://www.shopify.com/in/pricing
- https://www.shopify.com/
- https://www.charleagency.com/articles/shopify-plus-vs-advanced/
- https://eastsideco.com/blog/shopify-plus-vs-advanced
- https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/intro-to-shopify/pricing-plans/plans-features
- https://ecommerce.folio3.com/blog/shopify-plus-vs-shopify-advanced/
