Shopify has earned its place as one of today’s most trusted eCommerce platforms. The platform serves more than 7.4 million active store owners worldwide. Australian merchants need to understand their actual costs beyond the advertised rates.
The platform’s pricing in Australia varies by a lot between tiers. The Basic plan starts at $56 AUD monthly. The enterprise-level Plus plan costs $2,300 USD monthly. Transaction fees differ too – Basic plan users pay 1.75% + 30¢ AUD per sale. The Advanced plan offers better rates at 1.4% + 30¢ AUD, which saves money for sellers with high volumes. Merchants can reduce their Shopify fees by 25% through annual billing.
This detailed guide explains the costs Australian store owners should expect in 2025. We cover everything from core plans to transaction fees and expenses you might not have thought about. You’ll discover practical ways to lower your Shopify costs while keeping all the features your online store needs.
Shopify Australia pricing plans explained
Shopify gives Australian store owners four different pricing tiers in 2025. Each plan fits businesses at various stages of growth.
Basic – $56 AUD/month
The Basic plan helps new online entrepreneurs get started. At $56 AUD monthly, this tier has all the features you need to launch your first eCommerce store. You get 10 inventory locations and round-the-clock chat support to fix issues quickly. Online transactions cost 1.75% + 30¢ AUD, while in-person sales are 1.95% with no extra fee. Using third-party payment providers adds a 2% transaction fee.
The plan comes with up to 44.2% shipping discount and lets you sell in three international markets through Shopify’s localized global selling feature. This plan works best for solo entrepreneurs starting their first online store.
Shopify – $149 AUD/month
The Shopify plan costs $149 AUD monthly and packs more features for growing businesses. It cuts transaction rates to 1.6% + 30¢ AUD for online sales and 1.85% for in-person transactions. Third-party payment provider fees drop to 1%.
You get five extra staff accounts, making this plan perfect for small teams. The shipping discounts and inventory locations stay the same as the Basic plan. You also get better insurance options and improved reporting tools.
Advanced – $575 AUD/month
Businesses handling higher volumes will find great value in the Advanced plan at $575 AUD monthly. Online transaction fees drop to 1.4% + 30¢ AUD, and in-person sales cost 1.75%. Third-party payment fees decrease to just 0.6%.
The plan supports 15 staff accounts and better 24/7 support. Your checkout can handle 10x more traffic spikes. You can add third-party calculated shipping rates and extra international markets at $59 USD monthly per market.
Plus – $2,300 USD/month
Large enterprises choose Shopify Plus, which starts at $2,300 USD monthly with a three-year commitment. This complete solution gives you 200 inventory locations, unlimited staff accounts, and priority phone support available 24/7.
Plus merchants can sell in 50 global markets. The plan features a custom checkout with 40x standard capacity and advanced B2B selling tools. High-volume merchants get specially negotiated transaction rates.
Choose your Shopify Plan;
What’s included in each Shopify plan
Shopify plans in Australia offer different features that get better with higher tiers. Store owners can pick the right package by knowing what each plan includes.
Staff accounts and inventory locations
The number of team members who can access your store’s backend grows by a lot with each tier. Basic plans give you 2 staff accounts, which works well for solo entrepreneurs. The Shopify plan adds 5 more accounts. Advanced merchants get 15 staff accounts, and Plus subscribers have unlimited team access.
Your inventory management options change between plans too. Basic, Shopify, and Advanced plans give you 10 inventory locations. Plus merchants get a big upgrade to 200 locations, which fits businesses that need complex distribution networks.
Shipping discounts and insurance
Every Shopify plan comes with great shipping discounts – up to 44.2% off standard rates. Insurance options start with the Shopify plan. Advanced and Plus plans let you show exact shipping costs from carriers like Australia Post through third-party calculations.
Checkout capacity and POS features
Your store’s checkout capacity matters more as you grow. Basic and Shopify plans have standard checkout capacity. Advanced merchants process orders 10 times faster. Plus subscribers get a custom checkout that handles 40 times more orders – perfect for busy sales events.
Store owners get POS Lite free with any plan. Plus merchants can use up to 200 POS Pro locations without extra costs, which works great for retailers with many physical stores.
Support levels and global selling options
Better support comes with each tier. Basic and Shopify subscribers get 24/7 chat support. Advanced plan users receive improved chat support. Plus merchants get priority phone support when they need help fast.
Global selling gets easier with higher tiers too. Basic, Shopify, and Advanced plans let you sell in three international markets. Advanced subscribers can add markets at $59 USD monthly each. Plus merchants sell in 50 global markets without extra fees, making it the best choice for international brands.
Additional Shopify costs store owners should expect
Australian Shopify store owners must budget for several costs beyond their monthly subscription fees. These extra expenses can substantially affect their total operating costs.
Domain name and email hosting
Professional businesses usually choose a custom domain instead of Shopify’s free myshopify.com option. Custom domains cost between $10.00 and $30.00 AUD yearly. Shopify lets you forward unlimited emails with purchased domains but doesn’t host them. You’ll need services like Google Workspace or Zoho Mail to get professional email features, which adds to your monthly costs.
Premium themes and design tools
The Shopify theme marketplace features both free and premium themes. A premium theme costs between $100.00 to $300.00+ AUD as a one-time payment. These themes come with advanced customization options, unique layouts, and better features that can boost customer experience and drive more conversions than free options.
Apps and third-party integrations
Shopify’s App Store has thousands of apps to expand your store’s capabilities. The costs for apps fall into three categories:
- Subscription charges (monthly recurring fees)
- Usage-based charges (based on how much you use)
- One-time purchases for specific features
Your monthly operating costs will increase as you add paid apps for important business functions like advanced marketing, inventory management, or customer support.
POS Pro and hardware costs
All plans include Shopify POS Lite for free, but retail operations typically need Shopify POS Pro at $129.00 AUD monthly per location. Hardware adds more expenses to the mix. Card readers start at $69.00 AUD, while complete setups with receipt printers, barcode scanners, and cash drawers range for a full setup can cost between $500-$1000.
Transaction fees with third-party gateways
The extra transaction fee for using payment providers other than Shopify Payments often catches merchants off guard. These fees change based on your plan – 2% for Basic, 1% for Shopify, and 0.6% for Advanced. These charges stack on top of your payment processor’s fees, which can make each sale less profitable.
How to reduce your Shopify costs in Australia
Australian merchants can run successful online stores without breaking the bank. These proven strategies help you boost profits and reduce Shopify costs.
Use Shopify Payments to avoid extra fees
Shopify’s integrated payment solution offers the fastest way to cut costs. Shopify Payments helps you avoid additional transaction fees (0.6%-2%) that third-party payment providers charge. This service gives you more than just cost savings – it provides unified reporting, faster payouts, and better chargeback management. The setup process takes just minutes. You only need to enter your business and banking details during store setup or in payment settings. Australian merchants can take advantage of this cost-saving option since it’s accessible in 22 countries.
Choose annual billing to save up to 25%
Your subscription costs drop immediately when you switch from monthly to yearly billing. Shopify gives you a 25% discount on annual subscriptions across Basic, Grow, and Advanced plans. To name just one example, the Basic plan costs drop from $56 AUD monthly to about $44.34 AUD per month with annual payment. The upfront payment comes with monthly bills that might include recurring or one-time fees. The subscription plan charges are non-refundable.
Start with free themes and apps
Shopify’s free offerings provide substantial savings that many merchants overlook. The Shopify Theme Store has professionally designed free themes that are the foundations of your online store. These themes go through extensive testing and let you customize extensively. The App Store also features many free applications that boost your store’s functionality without raising monthly costs.
Avoid unnecessary add-ons early on
Each app you install adds code that could slow down your site’s load times. Slower sites often drive up bounce rates and reduce conversion rates, which affects your sales. Free apps sometimes have limits that push you toward paid features. You should assess each app’s value and benefits to your operations and customer experience before installation.
Conclusion
Your specific business needs and growth stage determine which Shopify plan works best for you. New entrepreneurs can start with simple plans, while Advanced or Plus options suit larger operations. The total cost of running your Shopify store extends beyond monthly subscription fees.
Smart Australian merchants need to factor in all expenses. These include transaction fees, payment processing, domains, apps, and POS hardware costs. You can substantially reduce your overall expenses by switching to annual billing, using Shopify Payments, and starting with free themes.
Note that the cheapest option may not be affordable in the long run. A higher-tier plan could save money through reduced transaction fees when your store handles high sales volume. Premium apps often generate returns through better conversion rates or operational efficiency.
Shopify demands a meaningful investment from Australian entrepreneurs. The platform’s reliability, features, and scalability make it a solid choice at any business stage. Understanding the true costs outlined in this piece and applying our suggested savings strategies will help you optimize your eCommerce success while keeping expenses in check through 2025.
FAQs
Q1. What are the different Shopify pricing plans available in Australia for 2025? Shopify offers four pricing tiers in Australia: Basic at $56 AUD/month, Shopify at $149 AUD/month, Advanced at $575 AUD/month, and Plus starting at $2,300 USD/month. Each plan comes with different features and transaction fees, catering to businesses at various stages of growth.
Q2. How can Australian store owners reduce their Shopify costs? To reduce Shopify costs, store owners can use Shopify Payments to avoid extra transaction fees, choose annual billing to save up to 25%, start with free themes and apps, and avoid unnecessary add-ons in the early stages of their business.
Q3. What additional expenses should Shopify store owners in Australia consider? Beyond the monthly subscription, store owners should budget for domain names, email hosting, premium themes, apps, POS hardware (if applicable), and potential transaction fees for third-party payment gateways.
Q4. Does Shopify offer any discounts for Australian merchants? Yes, Shopify offers a 25% discount on Basic, Grow, and Advanced plans when opting for annual billing instead of monthly payments. This can result in significant savings over the course of a year.
Q5. What are the transaction fees for Shopify plans in Australia? Transaction fees vary by plan. For online transactions using Shopify Payments, the Basic plan charges 1.75% + 30¢ AUD, the Shopify plan charges 1.6% + 30¢ AUD, and the Advanced plan charges 1.4% + 30¢ AUD. Fees may be higher when using third-party payment providers.
