Shopify plans compared 2026
| Plan | Monthly | Annual | Transaction fee | External surcharge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | €36 | €27/mo | 2.1% + €0.30 | 2% |
| Grow | €105 | €79/mo | 1.8% + €0.30 | 1% |
| Advanced | €384 | €289/mo | 1.6% + €0.30 | 0.6% |
As of October 2026, according to shopify.com/de/preise (German price list). Transaction fees = standard online card fees with Shopify Payments; Amex and international cards are charged 3.2% / 2.9% / 2.7% + €0.30. With external payment providers, the external surcharge applies instead of the card fee, in addition to the provider's own fees. Plus plan: from €2,100/month.
Shopify costs 2026: what you really pay
Shopify is one of the most widely used e-commerce platforms, from solo founders to large enterprises. The cost is made up of a monthly base fee plus transaction fees on each sale. Your total cost depends heavily on the plan you choose and your sales volume.
Which plan suits you?
The Basic plan (€36) suits beginners with a small number of sales. The Grow plan (€105) pays off on paper from about €23,000 in monthly revenue (about €17,000 with annual billing), because the lower card fee (1.8% instead of 2.1%) then offsets the higher base fee. The Advanced plan (€384) only works out cheaper than Grow from about €105,000 to €140,000 in monthly revenue, or if you need the additional features.
Hidden costs: external payment providers
If you don't use Shopify Payments, an external surcharge applies: 2% (Basic), 1% (Grow) or 0.6% (Advanced). That means that on €10,000 of revenue on the Basic plan you pay an extra €200 a month, purely for using a different payment provider.
Annual billing: save around 25%
If you choose annual billing, you save a lot: the Basic plan drops from €36 to €27 a month, Grow from €105 to €79 and Advanced from €384 to €289. However, you have to pay the full year up front, so it ties up capital.
Worked examples: three typical shops
A small shop with €1,000 monthly revenue and an average basket of €25 has 40 orders. On the Basic plan that means €21 in card fees (2.1%) and €12 in fixed fees (40 × €0.30), plus the €36 plan fee, making €69 or 6.9% of revenue. Here the base fee dominates. At €5,000 revenue and a €50 basket (100 orders) the Basic plan costs €105 + €30 + €36 = €171 (3.4%), or just €162 (3.2%) with annual billing.
At €20,000 monthly revenue and an €80 basket (250 orders), Basic costs €420 + €75 + €36 = €531 (2.7%). Grow comes to €360 + €75 + €105 = €540 (2.7%), but with annual billing only €514, which is then below Basic with annual billing (€522). This shows how strongly the billing method shifts the break-even point. For your own case, enter revenue and basket size in the calculator above and switch between the plans.
Costs the calculator does not include
The calculator covers the plan fee, card fees and the surcharge for external payment providers. In practice, other items arise in running a shop: a theme, paid apps for reviews, shipping, email marketing or bookkeeping, your own domain, legal texts, photography and an advertising budget. Apps in particular are usually billed monthly and can quickly exceed the plan fee in total. Plan a separate line for extra costs and check each app for its actual benefit.
The fees of your external payment provider are also not included in the external surcharge. If you use PayPal or another provider, for example, you pay its fees on top of Shopify's surcharge. For a realistic comparison, put the fees from our PayPal and Stripe calculators alongside. With card and direct debit payments through Shopify Payments this double markup does not apply, but you should note the higher rates for Amex and international cards.
Legal obligations for online shops in Germany
Whichever provider you use, German online merchants must meet a number of legal requirements. These include a complete legal notice under section 5 of the German Digital Services Act (DDG), price indications including unit prices under the Price Indication Ordinance, a cancellation policy with a 14-day withdrawal period (sections 312g and 355 BGB) and the so-called button solution under section 312j BGB: the order button must be clearly labelled “order with obligation to pay” or an equivalent wording. Errors on these points often lead to warning letters from competitors.
In addition there is a privacy policy and consent for cookies and tracking under the General Data Protection Regulation and section 25 TDDDG, registration in the LUCID packaging register under the Packaging Act, and tax registration. You should also agree the treatment of Shopify's invoices with your tax adviser, because the fees are business expenses and special VAT rules can apply to services from foreign providers.
How to choose the right plan
Start with the Basic plan as long as your revenue is well below €17,000 a month and you do not need advanced features. From about that threshold with annual billing, or about €23,000 with monthly billing, consider the Grow plan. The Advanced plan only pays off on paper at very high revenue or when you specifically need the additional features. According to Shopify you can change plans while trading, so an early decision is no risk. Compare the plan with your actual revenue figures after six months.
Frequently asked questions about Shopify costs
The base fee is €36 (Basic), €105 (Grow) or €384 (Advanced) per month. With annual billing the cost falls to €27, €79 and €289 a month respectively. Transaction fees on each sale come on top.
With Shopify Payments: 2.1% + €0.30 (Basic), 1.8% + €0.30 (Grow), 1.6% + €0.30 (Advanced) for standard cards. With external payment providers, Shopify charges 2%, 1% and 0.6% respectively on top of the provider's own fees.
From about €23,000 in monthly revenue (about €17,000 with annual billing), switching from Basic to Grow pays off on paper. The higher base fee (€105 instead of €36) is offset by the lower card fee (1.8% instead of 2.1%). The exact threshold depends on your average order value.
Yes. Shopify offers a 3-day free trial. After that there is often an introductory offer: 3 months for just €1 a month. This lets you build and test your shop with minimal risk.
On the Basic plan, €5,000 of revenue with a €50 basket costs about €171 a month (3.4%): €36 plan fee, €105 card fees and €30 fixed fees. With annual billing it falls to €162. Apps, domain and external provider fees come on top.
In the calculator, an external payment provider replaces the card fee with the surcharge (Basic 2%, Grow 1%, Advanced 0.6%). The provider's own fees come on top and are not included. Compare the sum of the surcharge and the provider's fee with the card fees of Shopify Payments.
These include a legal notice under section 5 DDG, a cancellation policy, price indications under the Price Indication Ordinance, the button solution under section 312j BGB, a privacy policy with cookie consent, and registration in the LUCID packaging register. Have your legal texts reviewed regularly.
