Shopify's pricing page says £25/month. That's technically true in the same way a budget airline ticket is £29 — before you add luggage, seats, and the ability to breathe. I've audited dozens of small Shopify stores, and not one of them pays anywhere near £25. The real number will make you wince.
The real cost of running a Shopify store in 2026 sits between £80 and £300 per month for most small businesses. This article breaks down exactly where that money goes, so you can budget properly before committing.
1. Subscription Tiers
Shopify offers five main plans in 2026. Here is what each costs on a monthly billing cycle.
Every week I speak to founders who signed up for Shopify expecting to pay £25 and found themselves at £150 within the first month. It's not a scam — the platform genuinely delivers value. But the pricing model is designed to land you cheap and expand from there. You deserve to know that before you commit.
| Plan | Monthly Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | £5/mo | Social selling only (no standalone store) |
| Basic | £25/mo | New stores with small catalogues |
| Shopify | £65/mo | Growing businesses needing better reporting |
| Advanced | £344/mo | High-volume stores, international selling |
| Plus | £1,750/mo | Enterprise (not relevant for most readers) |
Most small businesses start on Basic and move to the Shopify plan within their first year. Annual billing saves roughly 25%, bringing Basic down to about £19 per month — but you pay the full year upfront.
2. Transaction Fees — The Biggest Hidden Cost
As of March 2026, Shopify's app ecosystem has grown to over 13,000 apps — and the average store installs 6-8 paid ones. This is where Shopify's pricing gets uncomfortable. Every sale you make incurs payment processing fees, and Shopify adds an extra surcharge if you do not use Shopify Payments as your gateway.
| Plan | Shopify Payments Rate | Third-Party Gateway Surcharge |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | 2.0% + 25p | +2.0% |
| Shopify | 1.7% + 25p | +1.0% |
| Advanced | 1.5% + 25p | +0.6% |
On the Basic plan, if you process £5,000 in monthly sales, you will pay roughly £112 in payment processing fees alone. If you use a third-party gateway like PayPal or Stripe instead of Shopify Payments, add another £100 on top. That is £212 in fees on £5,000 revenue.
Shopify effectively forces you into Shopify Payments to avoid the surcharge. This is a deliberate business decision, and you should factor it into your planning.
3. Apps — Where the Real Money Goes
Shopify's app store is both its greatest strength and its most expensive trap. The base platform intentionally lacks features that most stores need, pushing you toward paid apps.
Here are common apps that most stores end up installing:
| App Category | Example | Typical Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Product reviews | Judge.me, Loox | £0–£15/mo |
| Email marketing | Klaviyo, Shopify Email | £0–£45/mo |
| SEO optimisation | SEO Manager, Plug in SEO | £15–£30/mo |
| Upsells and cross-sells | Bold Upsell, ReConvert | £10–£30/mo |
| Shipping and fulfilment | ShipStation, Easyship | £10–£25/mo |
| Subscriptions | Recharge, Bold Subscriptions | £50–£100/mo |
A typical small store running reviews, email, SEO, and basic upsell apps spends £40 to £80 per month on apps alone. This adds up over time and is rarely mentioned in Shopify's marketing materials.
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Shopify includes a handful of free themes. They are functional but generic. Most businesses that care about brand presentation end up purchasing a premium theme from the Shopify Theme Store, costing between £150 and £350 as a one-time purchase.
Some popular premium themes like Prestige or Impulse cost £300+. You may also need to hire a developer to customise your theme, which typically runs £200 to £1,000 depending on scope.
Theme costs are one-time rather than recurring, but they are a significant upfront expense that the £25/month marketing conveniently omits.
5. Domain and Email
You need a custom domain (£10–£15 per year from Shopify, or cheaper from an external registrar). Business email is not included — you will need Google Workspace or similar at £5 to £10 per user per month.
These are not Shopify-specific costs, but they are part of your total monthly spend that newcomers often overlook.
6. The Real Monthly Total
Here is an honest estimate of what a small Shopify store actually costs per month in 2026.
| Expense | Low Estimate | High Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Shopify Basic subscription | £25 | £65 |
| Payment processing (£3k–£10k revenue) | £65 | £225 |
| Essential apps | £30 | £80 |
| Domain + email | £6 | £12 |
| Theme (amortised over 12 months) | £0 | £25 |
| Monthly total | £126 | £407 |
For a typical small business doing £5,000 in monthly revenue on the Basic plan, expect to pay around £150 to £200 per month total. That is six to eight times the advertised £25.
7. Is Shopify Still Worth It?
Yes — with caveats. Shopify is expensive, but it is expensive for a reason. The platform handles hosting, security, PCI compliance, and checkout optimisation. It scales without breaking. The app ecosystem means you can add almost any feature without hiring a developer.
The problem is not the price itself. The problem is that Shopify markets a £25 starting price when the actual cost to run a functional store is four to eight times higher. Going in with realistic expectations makes all the difference.
If your budget genuinely cannot stretch past £50 per month, consider Wix or WooCommerce as alternatives. They have lower ceilings for advanced ecommerce, but they also have lower floors for cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I run a Shopify store for just £25 per month?
Technically, yes. You can use a free theme, no paid apps, and Shopify Payments. But your store will lack reviews, advanced SEO tools, email marketing automation, and upsell features that drive revenue. Most serious sellers find the £25 base plan insufficient within the first month.
Are Shopify transaction fees negotiable?
On Basic and standard Shopify plans, no. On Advanced and Plus plans, Shopify may negotiate rates for high-volume merchants. You can reduce fees by using Shopify Payments as your sole gateway, which eliminates the third-party surcharge. For UK businesses, Shopify Payments runs on Stripe's infrastructure.
How can I reduce my total Shopify costs?
Pay annually instead of monthly (saves roughly 25% on subscription). Use free apps where possible — Judge.me's free tier for reviews, Shopify Email for basic campaigns. Stick with a free theme and customise it yourself using Shopify's online editor. Use Shopify Payments to avoid the gateway surcharge. Be ruthless about uninstalling apps you are not actively using, as forgotten subscriptions are a common cost leak.
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