Question 1

What is Shopify?

Accepted Answer

Shopify is an ecommerce platform that provides everything needed to launch and run an online store — storefront, checkout, payments, shipping, and a large app ecosystem for additional features.

Question 2

How much does Shopify cost?

Accepted Answer

Basic is $39/mo ($29 billed annually), Grow is $105/mo ($79 billed annually), and Advanced is $399/mo ($299 billed annually). Shopify Plus, for high-volume enterprise brands, is custom-priced.

Question 3

Does Shopify charge transaction fees?

Accepted Answer

If you use Shopify Payments, there is no extra transaction fee beyond standard card processing. Using a third-party payment provider instead adds an additional transaction fee that decreases as you move to higher plans.

Question 4

Which Shopify plan should I start with?

Accepted Answer

Basic is fine for a first store testing the market. Once you have consistent sales, Grow's stronger reporting and lower transaction fees usually pay for the price difference, which is why it is Shopify's most commonly recommended plan.

Question 5

Is Shopify worth it in 2026?

Accepted Answer

For anyone launching or scaling an online store, yes — the combination of reliable infrastructure, checkout trust, and a mature app ecosystem is hard to replicate by building a custom store from scratch.