What $39/Month Actually Gets You
- Full online store with themes and checkout
- Shopify Payments (no transaction fee; 2.9% + $0.30 credit card processing)
- 2 staff accounts, basic reports
- Up to 77% shipping discount
- Abandoned cart recovery emails
- Access to 8,000+ app marketplace
The Real Monthly Cost
| Cost Item | Typical Range |
|---|---|
| Shopify Basic plan | $39/mo |
| Essential apps (email, reviews, SEO) | $20-$80/mo |
| Premium theme (one-time) | $180-$350 |
| Transaction fees (non-Shopify Payments) | 2% per transaction |
| Realistic total | $60-$120/mo |
The Caveat
The $39/month is the floor, not the ceiling. Most stores spend $60-$120/month after adding essential apps. The Shopify plan ($105/month) and Advanced ($399/month) add more staff accounts, better reports, and lower transaction fees. If you sell fewer than 10 products or only sell digital products, Shopify is overkill. Use Carrd ($19/year) plus Gumroad or Lemon Squeezy instead.
FAQ
Is WooCommerce cheaper than Shopify?
WooCommerce plugin is free, but hosting ($7-$40/month), themes, and extensions bring total cost to $30-$100/month. Similar total cost, more technical management.
Should I use Shopify Payments?
Yes. Using third-party payment gateways adds a 2% transaction fee on Basic (on top of the gateway own fees). Shopify Payments eliminates this.
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