Shopify Fees Calculator: What You’ll Actually Pay in 2025

By Lila LeMay 16, 202520 min read

Running a Shopify store comes with more than just the monthly subscription. This guide will act as your Shopify fees calculator - explaining all the fees you’ll encounter including payment processing, transaction charges, and optional add-ons. As a result, you can calculate your real costs and plan your store budget with confidence.

Two of Shopify’s Core Fees Explained

Understanding Shopify’s core fees is crucial to running a profitable store. Shopify charges a variety of fees, including transaction fees, payment processing fees, and more. Below is a breakdown of the two main fees you’ll encounter in this Shopify fees calculator breakdown:

1. Shopify Pricing Plans

Shopify offers four pricing plans, each with different features and costs. Here’s a quick look at what each plan offers and the pricing:

A table of Shopify Monthly Pricing Plan to demonstrate Shopify Fees

Shopify Pricing Plan for 2025

When Should You Upgrade Your Shopify Plan?

The choice of which Shopify plan to use depends on your store’s revenue and needs. Here’s a rough guide to when it might make sense to upgrade:

Upgrade to Shopify: If your annual revenue is around $130,000, you’ll benefit from lower transaction fees and additional features like gift cards and better reporting. Merchants often complement this with an upsell app for Shopify to increase average order value and offset fees.
Upgrade to Advanced Shopify: If your revenue exceeds $1 million, the Plus plan offers more detailed reports and lower processing fees, making it a more cost-effective option.

2. Shopify Transaction Fees

Shopify charges transaction fees when you use a third-party payment provider like PayPal or Amazon Pay. However, these fees depend on which Shopify plan you’re subscribed to:

Shopify Plan	Transaction Fee
Basic	2.0%
Grow	1.0%
Advanced	0.6%
Plus	Competitive rate for high-volume merchants

Note: These fees are waived if you use Shopify Payments, Shopify's built-in payment processor, which can save you money.

Shopify Payments Fees

If you use Shopify Payments, you don’t have to pay the additional transaction fees from above. However, Shopify still charges processing fees for each sale:

Shopify Plan	Processing Fee
Basic	2.9% + 30¢
Grow	2.6% + 30¢
Advanced	2.4% + 30¢
Plus	2.4% + 30¢

These processing fees are lower than the fees from third-party payment providers, making Shopify Payments a cost-effective option for most store owners.

PayPal & Other Payment Gateway Fees

If you choose to use PayPal or another third-party payment provider, you'll pay their standard transaction fees, which are typically 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction. If you don't use Shopify Payments, you'll also incur Shopify’s transaction fees depending on your plan. This can make your overall payment processing more expensive.

In summary, understanding these core fees and comparing Shopify’s plans will help you determine which plan is best suited for your business and budget. By choosing the right payment provider and plan, you can optimize your costs and maximize profitability.

Common Hidden Shopify Fees (That Add Up Quietly)

While Shopify’s monthly plans and transaction fees are well-known, there are a few costs that many first-time sellers don’t realize until they’ve already launched. These aren't meant to scare you off - they’re just important to factor into your budget early so you can plan smarter.

1. Theme & Design Fees

Shopify offers several free themes (like Dawn), which are a great starting point. But if you want more customization or a premium design, paid themes can cost a one-time fee of $180–$350. These premium themes may come with extra features that help with conversion, like advanced filtering or dynamic sections.

Tip: Stick with a free theme until you're generating steady revenue - many stores hit 4-figure months without ever upgrading.

2. App Subscription Costs

Apps help you add new features to your store—like upsells, reviews, live chat, or email popups. Some are free, but many work on monthly subscriptions ranging from $5 to $50+ per app. It’s easy to go over budget if you install too many at once. For example, a powerful Shopify promotion app like BOGOS could cost from 29.99$ to 99.99$ based on your current Shopify plan.

Tip: Choose only the tools that directly support sales or customer trust. Tools like Kudosi Product Reviews offer free plans and high ROI.

3. Email Marketing & SMS Fees

Email and SMS are powerful tools for bringing customers back—but they’re rarely free beyond the first few emails. Tools like Shopify Email give you 10,000 free emails/month, then charge a small fee per extra 1,000 emails. SMS platforms (like SMSBump or Klaviyo SMS) also charge based on message volume and country.

Tip: Start with email first (it’s cheaper), and only move into SMS when you're seeing consistent traffic.

4. Domain Name & Renewal Charges

If you want your store to look professional, you’ll need a custom domain (like yourstore.com). Shopify domains typically cost $14/year, and renewals happen automatically unless you cancel.

Tip: You can also buy a domain from a third-party provider like Namecheap or Google Domains and connect it to Shopify.

5. Fulfillment & 3PL Expenses

If you scale beyond dropshipping—or use a print-on-demand or fulfillment service—you may incur costs for packing, storage, and shipping. These vary widely based on weight, location, and provider. Even with dropshipping, you’ll want to budget for refunds, reships, and occasional losses.

Tip: Start lean with dropshipping and track your cost per order. If it makes sense later, explore using a 3PL or local warehouse.

Shopify Pricing Calculator based on Store Size

Monthly Shopify Fee for Store Making Under $1,000/month

Cost Type	Estimated Cost (Monthly)
Shopify Basic Plan	$39
Shopify Payments Fees	2.9% + 30¢ → ~$20 for $500 via SP
PayPal Fees + Transaction	2.9% + 30¢ + 2% Shopify fee → ~$35
Apps (2 free + 1 paid)	$15
Email (Shopify Email)	Free for up to 10,000 emails
Domain Name (Annualized)	~$1.20 (based on $14/year)
Total Estimated Monthly	~$110

Good for testing ideas with minimal risk. Focus on organic traffic and free tools.

Monthly Shopify Fee for Store Making $5K–$10K/month

Cost Type	Estimated Cost (Monthly)
Shopify Grow Plan	$65
Shopify Payments Fees	2.6% + 30¢ → ~$130 for $5K SP revenue
PayPal + Transaction Fees	2.9% + 30¢ + 1% Shopify fee → ~$160
Apps (3–5 essential tools)	$50–$100
Email Marketing	~$20–$50 (Klaviyo or Shopify Email)
SMS (Optional)	$10–$30 if used
Domain Name (Annualized)	~$1.20
Total Estimated Monthly	~$310–$460

This is the stage where investing in paid tools, faster support, and email automations starts to pay off.

Monthly Shopify Fee for Store Making $50K+/month

Cost Type	Estimated Cost (Monthly)
Shopify Advanced Plan	$399
Shopify Payments Fees	2.4% + 30¢ → ~$1,300 on $25K via SP
PayPal + Transaction Fees	2.9% + 30¢ + 0.5% Shopify fee → ~$1,450
Apps & Integrations	$150–$300 (custom reporting, upsells, etc.)
Email & SMS	$100–$300 (depending on list size)
Fulfillment/3PL Costs	Varies ~$3,000+ if using warehouse/shipping
Domain + Theme Costs	$1.20 + optional theme amortization
Total Estimated Monthly	~$6,400–$7,500+

At this scale, it’s critical to track your costs in real time. Even small fee reductions can save thousands.

Why Does This Breakdown of Shopify Fee Calculator Matters?

Understanding these core fees and comparing Shopify’s plans will help you determine which plan is best suited for your business and budget. By choosing the right payment provider and plan, you can optimize your costs and maximize profitability - especially when you factor in your margins using a reliable profit margin calculator in your growth stage.

TrueProfit dashboard showing net profit, cost breakdowns, and a performance graph to help Shopify store owners automatically track profits without using spreadsheets.

TrueProfit's Dashboard

This is where TrueProfit comes in. It’s a powerful Shopify profit tracker app designed specifically for Shopify store owners who want to take control of their finances. With real-time, automated insights, TrueProfit simplifies the complexity of your store’s data and helps you track what truly matters: your net profit.

Instead of sifting through endless spreadsheets and metrics, TrueProfit delivers accurate, actionable insights that allow you to make smarter decisions, improve profitability, and grow your business - without the guesswork.

Start optimizing your store’s financial health today with TrueProfit and ensure every dollar spent is working for your success.

Shopify Fees Calculator FAQs

How much does Shopify take in fees?

Shopify charges monthly subscription fees and payment processing fees. Transaction fees range from 0.5% to 2% if you don’t use Shopify Payments. Payment processing fees start at 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction, depending on your plan.

How much does Shopify take from a $100 sale?

If you use Shopify Payments on the Basic plan, Shopify takes $3.20 from a $100 sale (2.9% + 30¢). If you're using a third-party payment gateway, an extra 2% fee applies—bringing the total to $5.20.

Does Shopify take 2%?

Yes, Shopify charges a 2% transaction fee if you use a third-party payment gateway (like PayPal) on the Basic plan. This fee drops to 1% on the Shopify plan and 0.5% on the Advanced plan. No transaction fee applies if you use Shopify Payments.

Is making a Shopify store worth it?

Yes, starting a Shopify store is worth it if you’re looking for an easy-to-use ecommerce platform with powerful features and integrations. It’s ideal for beginners and scalable for growing businesses.

How do I make the most money on Shopify?

To make the most money on Shopify, focus on optimizing your store’s user experience, leveraging effective SEO strategies, using high-converting apps like TrueProfit to track profits, and scaling your business with reliable marketing channels such as Facebook Ads and influencer partnerships.

Is Shopify app worth it?

Yes, the Shopify app is worth it. It allows store owners to manage their Shopify store on the go, track sales, and update inventory from anywhere. The app provides convenience, making it essential for running a successful e-commerce business.

Does Shopify take a cut of your profits?

Shopify doesn’t take a percentage of your net profits. However, they do charge transaction and processing fees on each sale, which can indirectly affect your profit margins.

What is Shopify 3 months for $1?

Shopify often runs a promotion where new users can get the first 3 months of any plan for just $1/month. After the trial, standard monthly pricing applies.

Does Shopify have hidden fees?

While Shopify’s pricing is transparent, there are extra costs many overlook—like paid apps, premium themes, domain registration, and third-party payment gateway fees. Knowing these in advance helps you plan better.

Is Shopify or Etsy better?

Shopify is better for building a custom brand and store, while Etsy is ideal for selling handmade or vintage items in a marketplace. Shopify gives you more control, while Etsy offers instant traffic but higher fees per sale.

How to avoid Shopify fees?

To reduce fees, use Shopify Payments instead of third-party gateways to avoid extra transaction charges. Also, choose apps wisely, consider annual billing for discounts, and monitor your profit margins closely.

What are Shopify’s billing options?

Shopify offers two billing options: monthly billing lets you pay month-to-month at full price & annual billing gives you a 10% discount when you pay upfront for the year. If you plan to run your store long-term, the annual option can help you save money.

Understanding Shopify fees is crucial for managing your store’s profitability. A reliable Shopify fees calculator helps you estimate costs accurately and plan better. Use it regularly to stay on top of expenses and make informed pricing decisions.

Lila Le

Lila Le is the Marketing Manager at TrueProfit, with a deep understanding of the Shopify ecosystem and a proven track record in dropshipping. She combines hands-on selling experience with marketing expertise to help Shopify merchants scale smarter—through clear positioning, profit-first strategies, and high-converting campaigns.

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