{"id":27432,"date":"2024-03-07T10:17:12","date_gmt":"2024-03-07T10:17:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shopthemedetector.com\/blog\/?p=27432"},"modified":"2026-10-12T12:56:16","modified_gmt":"2026-10-12T12:56:16","slug":"comparing-shopify-lite-and-basic-shopify-for-small-sellers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shopthemedetector.com\/blog\/comparing-shopify-lite-and-basic-shopify-for-small-sellers\/","title":{"rendered":"Shopify Starter Plan vs Basic Shopify for Small Sellers"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you are weighing the Shopify Starter plan against Basic Shopify for your small business, you are not alone. The Starter plan is the budget entry point at $5 a month, and Basic Shopify is the $39 a month plan that adds a full online store. The right pick comes down to how much you sell each month and how you want to sell it.<\/p>\n

This guide compares the Shopify Starter plan vs Basic Shopify on price, per-sale fees, and features, then works out the exact monthly sales figure where Basic Shopify turns into the cheaper plan. One thing to know up front: the Starter plan is now closed to new signups, so it matters most if you are already on it or sizing up the terms before you choose.<\/p>\n

Key Takeaways<\/div>
1<\/div>
The Shopify Starter plan costs $5 a month and is built for selling through social media, links, and messaging rather than a full website.<\/div><\/div>
2<\/div>
Basic Shopify costs $39 a month ($29 if you pay yearly) and includes a full online store with features like abandoned cart recovery and discount codes.<\/div><\/div>
3<\/div>
The Starter plan charges 5% on each sale, while Basic Shopify charges 2.9% plus 30 cents per online sale through Shopify Payments. The 2% listed against the Basic plan is only the fee for using an outside payment gateway.<\/div><\/div>
4<\/div>
Basic Shopify becomes the cheaper plan once your online sales pass about $1,600 a month.<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/p>\n

Key Differences Between the Shopify Starter Plan and Basic Shopify<\/h2>\n

The Shopify Starter plan is designed for small sellers who want a cost-effective way to sell through existing websites, social media, and messaging apps, which makes it convenient for beginners. It gives you product links and a simplified store rather than a full website.<\/p>\n

Basic Shopify is the fuller package. It adds a full online store along with features like abandoned cart recovery and discount codes that help you turn more visits into sales.<\/p>\n

For small sellers with limited revenue, the Shopify Starter plan is a sensible starting point, giving you the essential tools for online sales without a full online store. Basic Shopify suits sellers who want a proper website and expect sales to grow. As the break-even section below shows, Basic Shopify becomes the cheaper plan once monthly online sales pass roughly $1,600.<\/p>\n

Pricing Variances: Shopify Starter Plan Vs. Basic Shopify<\/h2>\n

The Shopify Starter plan is $5 a month, while Basic Shopify is $39 a month ($29 if you pay for a year up front). The bigger difference is the fee on each sale. The Starter plan takes 5% of every online sale. Basic Shopify, when you use Shopify Payments, charges the standard online card rate of 2.9% plus 30 cents per sale and no separate transaction fee.<\/p>\n

The 2% often listed against the Basic plan is not the card rate. It is the surcharge Shopify adds only if you take payments through an outside gateway instead of Shopify Payments. If you use Shopify Payments, that surcharge is zero, so the real cost on Basic Shopify is the 2.9% plus 30 cents card rate.<\/p>\n

The table below outlines the key pricing differences between the Shopify Starter plan and Basic Shopify:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Features<\/td>\nShopify Starter<\/td>\nBasic Shopify<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Monthly cost<\/td>\n$5<\/td>\n$39 ($29 billed yearly)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Fee per online sale<\/td>\n5%<\/td>\n2.9% + 30\u00a2 (Shopify Payments)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Online store<\/td>\nLinks and social selling<\/td>\nFull online store<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

This breakdown helps you weigh the cost of each plan against your monthly sales. The next section turns these fees into a clear break-even point.<\/p>\n

When Does Basic Shopify Become Cheaper Than the Starter Plan?<\/h2>\n

Most guides repeat the Starter plan\u2019s 5% fee and Basic Shopify\u2019s $39 price, then stop. The question that actually decides it is this: at what monthly sales volume does Basic Shopify work out cheaper than the Shopify Starter plan?<\/p>\n

Both plans cost a flat monthly fee plus a fee on each sale. The Starter plan is cheap to hold at $5 a month but takes a steep 5% of every sale. Basic Shopify costs more to hold at $39 a month, but its 2.9% card rate through Shopify Payments keeps far more of each sale with you. As your sales grow, that lower rate eventually outweighs the higher monthly fee.<\/p>\n

The table below shows the total monthly cost of each plan at a range of online sales levels. Figures assume both plans use Shopify Payments, with Basic billed monthly, and compare the per-sale percentage rates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Monthly online sales<\/td>\nStarter plan total ($5 + 5%)<\/td>\nBasic Shopify total ($39 + 2.9%)<\/td>\nCheaper plan<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
$500<\/td>\n$30.00<\/td>\n$53.50<\/td>\nStarter<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
$1,000<\/td>\n$55.00<\/td>\n$68.00<\/td>\nStarter<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
$1,600<\/td>\n$85.00<\/td>\n$85.40<\/td>\nAbout even<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
$2,500<\/td>\n$130.00<\/td>\n$111.50<\/td>\nBasic Shopify<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
$5,000<\/td>\n$255.00<\/td>\n$184.00<\/td>\nBasic Shopify<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
$10,000<\/td>\n$505.00<\/td>\n$329.00<\/td>\nBasic Shopify<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

The assumptions behind these numbers:<\/p>\n