Shopify vs Shopify Plus: When to Upgrade (2026)

Most growing Shopify brands eventually ask the same question: is it time to move to Shopify Plus? Plus costs several times more than Shopify's Advanced plan, so the answer should come from what you'll actually use, not from revenue alone. This guide compares the plans side by side, works out when lower card rates start paying for the upgrade, and lists the signs that Plus is worth it.

The short answer: stay on Advanced while you run one direct-to-consumer store, don't need checkout changes and your team fits in 15 staff accounts. Move to Plus when you need checkout customization, B2B at scale, several stores or unlimited staff. On card fees alone, Plus starts paying for itself at about $800,000 a month in online card sales through Shopify Payments.

Shopify vs Shopify Plus at a glance

	Shopify Advanced	Shopify Plus
Price (USD)	$299/month billed yearly, $399 billed monthly	From $2,300/month (3-year term) or $2,500 (1-year term)
Online card rate (Shopify Payments)	2.5% + 30¢	2.25% + 30¢
Fee when using another payment provider	0.6%	0.2%
Staff accounts	15 additional	Unlimited
Inventory locations	10	Up to 200
Checkout customization	Thank-you and order status pages only	Information, shipping and payment steps too
B2B catalogs	Up to 3	Unlimited, assigned directly to companies
Extra stores	Not included	Up to 9 expansion stores
Custom apps with Shopify Functions	Not included	Included
Hydrogen headless storefronts	Available	Up to 25 included
Support	Standard 24/7 support	Priority 24/7 phone and chat

Sources: Shopify pricing and the Shopify Help Center — Shopify Plus plan. Higher-volume brands may be offered a variable, revenue-based platform fee on Plus instead of the flat price. For the full cost picture, see our Shopify Plus pricing guide.

When the card savings cover the upgrade

Plus charges 0.25 percentage points less per online card payment than Advanced. That saving grows with sales, while the extra subscription cost stays the same.

Comparison	Extra subscription per month	Online card sales where the saving covers it
Advanced (billed yearly) vs Plus (3-year term)	$2,001	About $800,000 a month
Advanced (billed monthly) vs Plus (1-year term)	$2,101	About $840,000 a month

Our calculation: extra monthly cost ÷ 0.25%. It ignores the fixed 30¢ per order, which is the same on both plans, and any variable fee Shopify may quote at high volume. If you use another payment provider, the fee Shopify adds drops from 0.6% to 0.2%, which covers the upgrade at about $500,000 a month in sales through that provider.

Most brands don't move for fees alone. They move because Plus lets them do something that earns more than the extra cost.

Signs it's time to move to Plus

1. You need to change checkout. Custom fields, upsells, delivery rules, payment rules or validation in the checkout steps themselves are Plus-only. On Advanced, apps can only extend the thank-you and order status pages (Shopify checkout customization).
2. You sell wholesale at scale. Plus gives unlimited B2B catalogs, catalogs assigned directly to a company, deposits, partial payments and separate B2B and retail checkout flows. See our Shopify B2B guide.
3. You run, or want, several stores. Plus includes up to 9 expansion stores for other countries, brands or a wholesale store.
4. Your team has outgrown 15 staff accounts, or you want unlimited staging stores to test changes before they go live.
5. You need your own business logic. Custom apps built with Shopify Functions handle your own discount, shipping, payment and validation rules.
6. You're leaving an enterprise platform. Compared with Magento, Adobe Commerce or Salesforce Commerce Cloud licensing, hosting and upkeep, Plus is often the cheaper option.

When Advanced is enough

• One direct-to-consumer store, with no plans for more.
• The standard checkout works for you, and changes after purchase are enough.
• Up to 3 B2B catalogs cover your wholesale customers.
• Your team fits in 15 staff accounts.
• Monthly online sales are well below the point where card savings cover Plus.

Many brands grow on Advanced for years. Upgrading early mostly means paying for features you don't use yet.

What changes when you upgrade

Moving from Advanced to Plus is a plan change, not a migration. Your store, products, customers, orders, theme and apps stay as they are. What follows is setup work to use the Plus features you upgraded for (see how we handle Shopify to Shopify Plus upgrades):

• Checkout: build the checkout extensions you need, using apps or a custom app.
• B2B: set up companies, locations, catalogs and payment terms.
• Expansion stores: each live expansion store needs its own theme license.
• Automation and promotions: Launchpad schedules sales and promotions; Shopify Flow automates routine tasks.
• Contract: choose a 1-year or 3-year term, and ask early about the variable fee if your sales are high.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between Shopify and Shopify Plus? Plus is Shopify's enterprise plan. It adds checkout customization, unlimited B2B catalogs, up to 9 expansion stores, unlimited staff accounts, custom apps with Shopify Functions, lower card rates and priority support.

How much more does Shopify Plus cost than Advanced? In the US, about $2,000 a month more: Plus starts at $2,300 a month on a 3-year term, and Advanced is $299 a month billed yearly.

At what revenue should I upgrade to Shopify Plus? There's no fixed figure. On card fees alone, Plus pays for itself at about $800,000 a month in online card sales through Shopify Payments. Most brands upgrade earlier because they need a Plus-only feature.

Do I need to migrate to move to Shopify Plus? No. Upgrading from another Shopify plan is a plan change; your store and data stay as they are.

Can I go back from Plus to Advanced? Plus is sold on 1-year or 3-year terms, and Shopify says you can cancel when the term ends.

Is B2B only available on Shopify Plus? No. Basic, Grow and Advanced include B2B with up to 3 catalogs. Plus adds unlimited catalogs and features such as deposits and partial payments.

Not sure which plan fits?

We help brands choose between Advanced and Plus based on what they'll actually use, and we set up Plus features when they upgrade. See our Shopify Plus agency services, read the Shopify Plus pricing guide, or book a free consultation.