Choosing the right platform for your online store is critical to your business’s success. If you're already familiar with Shopify, you’ve likely come across Shopify Plus — a premium version of the platform designed for high-growth businesses.
But how do you know which plan is right for you? In this post, we’ll break down the key differences between Shopify and Shopify Plus so you can make an informed decision.
What is Shopify?
Shopify is one of the most popular e-commerce platforms in the world. It's known for its simplicity and flexibility, allowing businesses of all sizes to build and manage online stores without any coding knowledge. Shopify offers three main plans:
- Basic Shopify
- Shopify
- Advanced Shopify
Each plan offers varying levels of features, from essential tools to advanced options for growing businesses. Whether you're just starting or scaling up, Shopify can meet your needs at an affordable monthly cost.
What is Shopify Plus?
Shopify Plus is the enterprise-level version of Shopify. It’s designed for businesses experiencing rapid growth or managing high sales volumes. Shopify Plus offers everything in the regular Shopify plans, along with additional features tailored to larger, more complex operations.
However, Shopify Plus comes with a higher price tag, starting at $2,000 per month. So, what makes it worth the investment? Let’s compare the two.
Key Differences Between Shopify and Shopify Plus
1. Customization and Control
Shopify:
Shopify provides great flexibility for customization, but you are somewhat limited in terms of control over the checkout process. You can edit your theme, change design elements, and integrate apps, but if you need deeper customization, you’ll have to rely on third-party apps or hire developers.
Shopify Plus:
Shopify Plus gives you full control over your checkout experience, which can be a game-changer for larger businesses. With Script Editor, you can create custom scripts to change how discounts, shipping, or payment options work. You can also personalize the checkout process to increase conversions.
2. Scalability
Shopify:
Shopify is perfect for small and mid-sized businesses with moderate traffic and sales. It can handle growth but may have limitations if your business expands rapidly or sees heavy traffic during peak seasons like Black Friday.
Shopify Plus:
Shopify Plus is built for high-volume businesses. With its ability to handle thousands of transactions per minute, it's perfect for large brands or stores with massive seasonal surges in traffic. Shopify Plus also offers unlimited staff accounts, advanced automation tools, and priority API access, which can be crucial for businesses scaling quickly.
3. Cost and Pricing Structure
Shopify:
The standard Shopify plans range from $39/month for Basic Shopify to $399/month for Advanced Shopify. These plans include basic features such as unlimited products, 24/7 support, and an SSL certificate.
Shopify Plus:
The pricing for Shopify Plus starts at $2,000/month. This higher cost includes a range of exclusive features, such as dedicated account management, advanced reporting, and custom automation tools. While it’s a significant leap in price, the value it offers to large businesses can more than justify the cost.
4. Support and Resources
Shopify:
Shopify’s standard support includes 24/7 customer service through live chat, email, and phone. It's a great option for small and mid-sized businesses needing general assistance.
Shopify Plus:
Shopify Plus merchants get access to a dedicated Merchant Success Manager, who provides personalized support and strategic advice to help you grow your business. You also get priority customer support, which can be crucial for businesses handling large volumes of transactions.
5. Automation
Shopify:
Shopify offers some basic automation tools like Shopify Flow, but these are limited in scope for standard users. You may need to rely on third-party apps for more advanced workflows.
Shopify Plus:
One of the biggest advantages of Shopify Plus is its automation features. With Shopify Flow and Launchpad, you can automate tasks like inventory management, product launches, and sales events.
This level of automation helps reduce manual work and streamlines operations for large businesses.
Latest Updates to Consider
Here are some of the latest features and enhancements in 2024 that are available on Shopify and Shopify Plus:
Shopify Markets:
Available on all plans, Shopify Markets allows businesses to manage international selling from a single store. You can set local currencies, languages, and domains, making global expansion easier.
Shopify Plus Expansion Stores:
Shopify Plus offers multiple storefronts under one account, perfect for managing different brands or regional markets.
B2B Features:
Shopify Plus now comes with enhanced B2B tools like price lists, wholesale channels, and custom workflows, making it a strong choice for businesses dealing with both B2C and B2B sales.
Headless Commerce:
Shopify Plus supports headless commerce setups, allowing brands to decouple the front-end experience from Shopify’s back-end, giving businesses more design flexibility.
When to Choose Shopify
- If you’re a small or medium-sized business with manageable traffic
- If you’re looking for an affordable, easy-to-use platform with essential e-commerce tools
- If you don’t need highly customized checkout processes or advanced automation
When to Choose Shopify Plus
- If you’re an enterprise-level business with high sales volume and traffic
- If you need more control over the checkout process or require advanced automation tools
- If you want dedicated support and account management to help scale your business
Conclusion
Both Shopify and Shopify Plus offer incredible features for businesses of all sizes. If you're a growing business with moderate sales, Shopify’s standard plans should be more than sufficient.
However, if you're scaling rapidly or already managing a high-volume store, Shopify Plus might be the better investment.
Still unsure which plan is right for you?
Whether you're just starting or ready to scale your business, Shopify and Shopify Plus offer solutions to fit your needs.
If you're still unsure which plan is right for you, Propero can help guide you through the decision-making process and tailor your Shopify store for maximum growth.
Contact us today to discuss how we can help you build a powerful, scalable e-commerce business!