Last Updated on Nov 10, 2025 by Nurul Afsar
Running a profitable Shopify store in 2025 starts with knowing every fee behind checkout. Shopify’s slick tools are great, but its cut of each sale is a layered mix: card-processing percentages, extra surcharges for PayPal or Stripe, POS rates, plus the quiet creep of paid apps. Add domain renewals, shipping-label costs, fulfillment storage, tax apps, currency-exchange mark-ups, and chargeback penalties, and margins can vanish fast. Below, you’ll see exactly what Shopify Payments, PayPal, and Stripe take, how to plan upgrades, trade higher subs for leaner fees, and quick wins like annual billing or negotiating Plus rates so you can price smart and protect profits.
So, how much does Shopify really take per sale? Read on for the definitive, dollar-and-cent breakdown.
Disclaimer
All fee figures, percentages, and plan prices referenced in this article are based on publicly available information as of July 2025. Shopify may update its pricing, transaction rates, or surcharge policies at any time. Visitors are responsible for verifying the latest details directly on Shopify’s official website before making business or pricing decisions. Numinix assumes no liability for discrepancies between the information provided here and the most current data published by Shopify.
Does Shopify Take a Percentage of Sales?
Yes—Shopify keeps a slice of each sale, yet the percentage depends on your payment method. With Shopify Payments the only cost is the credit-card rate: 2.9%, 2.6%, or 2.4% plus 30¢ online (lower for in-person POS), corresponding to Basic, Shopify, or Advanced plans. Opt for a third-party gateway like PayPal, Stripe, or Authorize.net and Shopify layers on a separate platform fee—2% for Basic, 1% for Shopify, 0.5% for Advanced. Shopify Plus typically waives this surcharge. Processing fees are still withheld on refunds and chargebacks, so they remain part of your cost structure. Factor them into pricing to preserve healthy margins.
Does Shopify Take a Cut of Sales?
In practical terms, Shopify’s “cut” is the sum of its payment‑processing charges and, when applicable, platform surcharges. Stores using Shopify Payments pay only the credit‑card fee, whereas those routing payments through third‑party gateways pay both the gateway’s charge and Shopify’s additional percentage. In‑person POS transactions carry their own, slightly lower rates. While Shopify doesn’t claim a commission on product price, these mandatory fees reduce your net revenue on every order, effectively functioning as the platform’s cut. Understanding and forecasting these costs is vital to setting prices that preserve healthy margins.
Numinix’s Shopify Package
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Shopify Plans and Pricing
| Basic | Grow | Advanced | Plus |
| $39 USD/Month | $105 USD/Month | $399 USD/Month | $2300 USD/Month |
| Card rates starting at >2.9% + 30¢ USD online >2.6% + 10¢ USD in person >2% 3rd-party payment providers | Card rates starting at >2.7% + 30¢ USD online >2.5% + 10¢ USD in person >1% 3rd-party payment providers | Card rates starting at >2.5% + 30¢ USD online >2.4% + 10¢ USD in person >0.6% 3rd-party payment providers | Competitive rates for high-volume merchants |
Shopify’s Monthly Pricing Plans
Shopify offers various plans, each catering to different business needs and sizes:
Shopify Starter Plan
- Cost: $5 per month
- Transaction Fee: 5% per transaction if using third-party payment gateways
- Best For: Social media sales, small side businesses
Basic Shopify
- Cost: $39 per month
- Online Credit Card Rate: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
- Transaction Fee (Third-party payments): 2%
- Best For: Small businesses or startups
Shopify Plan (Grow)
- Cost: $105 per month
- Online Credit Card Rate: 2.7% + $0.30 per transaction
- Transaction Fee (Third-party payments): 1%
- Best For: Growing businesses with moderate sales volume
Advanced Shopify
- Cost: $399 per month
- Online Credit Card Rate: 2.5% + $0.30 per transaction
- Transaction Fee (Third-party payments): 0.6%
- Best For: High-volume businesses needing advanced reporting and lower transaction fees
Shopify Plus
- Cost: Custom pricing (starting at around $2,300/month)
- Online Credit Card Rate: Negotiable, often significantly lower than Advanced Shopify
- Transaction Fee: Typically waived or greatly reduced
- Best For: Enterprise-level businesses with high-volume sales and complex needs
Shopify Benefits Comparison Between Plans
| Plan | Monthly Cost (USD) | Key Benefits | Ideal For |
| Starter | $5 | Sell via social profiles or existing sites; simple link‑based checkout; minimal setup overhead | Hobbyists, influencers, micro‑brands |
| Basic | $39 | Full online storefront, discount codes, basic analytics, two staff accounts, Shopify Shipping discounts | New small businesses and side hustles |
| Grow | $105 | Professional reports, lower card fees, standard POS, five staff accounts, ecommerce automations | Brands scaling to consistent four‑figure monthly sales |
| Advanced | $399 | Advanced report builder, third‑party calculated rates, lowest card fees outside Plus, 15 staff accounts | High‑volume merchants needing granular analytics |
| Plus | $2300 | Customizable checkout, unlimited staff, API access, B2B suite, Launchpad, priority support, negotiable fees | Enterprise and hyper‑growth companies |
Transaction Fees Explained
One critical question many business owners have is whether Shopify takes a percentage of every sale. The straightforward answer is yes, but the specifics depend on the payment method you choose:
Shopify Payments
Shopify Payments is Shopify’s own payment gateway. Using it comes with several advantages, notably avoiding extra transaction fees. With Shopify Payments:
- Shopify charges standard credit card processing fees, varying by your subscription plan.
- There are no additional transaction fees.
For example, with the Basic Shopify plan:
- Each transaction incurs a charge of 2.9% + $0.30.
With Advanced Shopify:
- Each transaction is reduced to 2.4% + $0.30.
Third-Party Payment Gateways
Using external gateways such as PayPal, Stripe, or others leads to additional transaction fees from Shopify:
- Basic Shopify: 2% per transaction
- Shopify: 1% per transaction
- Advanced Shopify: 0.5% per transaction
These fees are on top of the fees that third-party gateways charge.
Shopify POS (Point of Sale) Fees
Shopify POS is ideal for businesses that sell both online and in physical stores:
- In-person rates are lower:
- Basic Shopify: 2.7%
- Shopify: 2.5%
- Advanced Shopify: 2.4%
Additionally, hardware costs for card readers or terminals will apply.
Shopify Apps and Additional Costs
The Shopify App Store offers thousands of apps designed to enhance store functionality. While many apps are free, premium apps come with monthly fees or transaction-based charges. For example:
- Email marketing apps: $10-$100/month
- Subscription management apps: Monthly fee + small transaction percentage (usually 0.5%-1%)
- Inventory management apps: $20-$250/month
These costs can significantly affect your monthly expenses, so budgeting carefully is essential.
Domain and Hosting Fees
Shopify includes hosting in its monthly fee, but custom domains incur additional charges:
- Custom domain via Shopify: Approximately $14/year
- External domains: Vary depending on provider, typically around $10-$20/year
Shipping and Fulfillment Fees
Shopify integrates shipping solutions that offer discounted rates. While using Shopify Shipping doesn’t incur additional Shopify-specific fees, you will pay:
- Carrier fees (USPS, DHL, UPS, Canada Post)
- Label printing costs (included free if printed through Shopify)
Shopify Fulfillment Network
Shopify offers a fulfillment network where they handle storage, packing, and shipping. Fees include:
- Storage fees (monthly based on cubic feet)
- Picking and packing fees
- Shipping costs (discounted rates through carriers)
This service is beneficial for scaling businesses but must be factored into your cost management strategy.
Taxes and Regulatory Fees
Shopify does not directly charge taxes but provides built-in tools to help manage tax collection and remittance. Consider potential costs like:
- Sales tax based on buyer location
- International VAT or GST
- Compliance fees for cross-border sales
Shopify simplifies tax management but always ensure compliance with local and international tax laws.
Currency Conversion Fees
If selling internationally, Shopify charges a currency conversion fee for international transactions through Shopify Payments:
- Typically around 1.5%-2% above the market exchange rate
Refund and Chargeback Fees
Shopify charges fees on refunds and chargebacks:
- Refund: Shopify does not charge additional fees, but transaction fees are not returned.
- Chargebacks: Typically $15 per incident in addition to the loss of sale revenue.
Minimizing Shopify Fees: Best Practices
To optimize profitability, consider the following strategies:
- Use Shopify Payments: Eliminates transaction fees.
- Annual billing: Shopify offers discounted rates (~25%) when you pay upfront annually.
- Monitor app usage: Regularly audit and remove unnecessary apps to control costs.
- Negotiate rates: Higher-tier plans like Shopify Plus allow negotiation on transaction fees and payment gateway costs.
Choosing the Right Plan
The best Shopify plan for your business depends on your specific needs:
- Starter Plan: Ideal for small, social-media-driven businesses.
- Basic Shopify: Great for startups and small businesses needing essential features.
- Shopify: Suitable for growing businesses needing professional reporting and lower transaction fees.
- Advanced Shopify: For high-volume sellers with significant revenue streams.
- Shopify Plus: Optimal for large enterprises with complex operational needs