Ask “how much does Shopify cost?” and most answers stop at the monthly plan price. That’s the start of the story, not the whole of it. The subscription is only one line in the budget — the real cost of running a Shopify store in Australia also includes the one-off build, the apps you add, and the transaction fees you pay on every sale.
This guide gives you the full picture in Australian dollars for 2026: what each plan costs, what it costs to get a store actually built, the ongoing costs most guides gloss over, and how to keep the total under control. Everything is framed as indicative figures sourced from public pricing — always confirm current rates before you commit. If you’re still weighing up your platform options more broadly, our guide to ecommerce website design in Adelaide sets this in local context.
Key Takeaways
- In Australia, a Shopify store starts at around $56/month for the Basic plan — but the true cost adds the one-off build, apps and transaction fees on top.
- Build cost is the biggest variable: from nearly free (DIY on a free theme) to $10,000+ for a fully custom agency build.
- Apps and transaction fees are the costs most guides hide. A realistic lean store often runs to $100–$200+/month all-in, before any marketing.
- Budget for total cost of ownership — subscription + build + apps + fees — not just the headline plan price.
The Quick Answer
In Australia, a Shopify store costs from around $56/month for the Basic plan, plus a one-off build cost that can range from almost nothing to tens of thousands of dollars. But the monthly plan is only part of the figure. Once you add apps, transaction fees and setup, the realistic total for a small store is higher than the headline subscription suggests.
It’s helpful to split the cost into two distinct components:
- The subscription. A predictable recurring fee paid to Shopify, which varies by plan and whether you pay monthly or annually.
- The one-off build. The cost of getting your store designed, set up and loaded with products — a single figure that depends entirely on how much of the work you do yourself.
Most “Shopify cost” articles answer only the first part. This one covers both, plus the ongoing extras, so you can budget for what a store actually costs to run — not just what it costs to sign up.
Shopify Plans and Pricing in Australia
Shopify’s Australian plans scale from a cheap Starter option up to enterprise-level Plus, and most small businesses fit in the lower three tiers. All prices below are in AUD and were current as listed on Shopify’s Australian site in 2026 — treat them as indicative and confirm before purchasing, as Shopify does adjust pricing from time to time.
| Plan | Pay monthly | Pay yearly (per month) | Online card rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | about $7 | about $7 | about 5% per transaction |
| Basic | $56 | $42 | 1.75% + 30¢ |
| Grow | $149 | $114 | 1.6% + 30¢ |
| Advanced | $575 | $431 | 1.4% + 30¢ |
| Plus | from $3,700 | — | from about 1.2% + 30¢ |
Each tier adds capability and lowers your card rate. The Starter plan is for selling through social media and messaging rather than a full online store — there’s no standalone website, so it suits testing an idea rather than building a brand. Basic gives you a real store and suits most new small businesses. Grow adds staff accounts and better reporting as you scale, and Advanced adds lower transaction rates and advanced reporting for higher-volume stores. Plus is enterprise-grade and well beyond what most small businesses need.
Which plan do most small businesses need?
For most Australian small businesses launching an online store, Basic is the right starting point. It gives you a full store, a custom domain and the core features you need, at the lowest sustainable monthly cost. Paying annually drops the effective price from $56 to $42 a month — a worthwhile saving once you’re confident you’ll stay, but there’s no need to commit to a year before you’ve validated the store. Start monthly, then switch to annual billing once it’s proven.
The trade-off with annual billing is commitment: you lock in the lower rate but pay up front. A sensible path is to begin on monthly Basic, and move to annual once the store is generating consistent sales and the maths clearly favours it.
The One-Off Build Cost
Beyond the subscription, getting the store actually built ranges from nearly free to tens of thousands of dollars. This is the single biggest variable in the total cost, and it’s the figure most people underestimate. The right budget depends on how much of the work you do yourself and how custom the result needs to be.
| Approach | Indicative build cost (AUD) | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| DIY | $100 – $500 | You build it yourself on a free theme; costs are domain, a premium theme if you want one, and your time |
| Theme-based setup | $500 – $3,000 | A professional configures a quality theme, loads initial products and sets up payments/shipping |
| Freelancer | $2,000 – $10,000 | More custom design and functionality, tailored to your brand |
| Agency | $10,000+ | Fully custom design, complex integrations and end-to-end delivery |
These are indicative ranges drawn from typical Australian provider pricing, not quotes. What you get at each level differs mainly in how custom the design is and how much hands-on help you receive. A DIY build on a free theme can look clean and professional if you have the time and a good eye; a theme-based professional setup gets you a polished store quickly without paying for bespoke design; and custom freelancer or agency work makes sense when your brand, catalogue or integrations genuinely demand it.
Match the build budget to your stage. If you’re testing a new product idea, a DIY or theme-based approach keeps risk low. If you’re an established business moving a proven catalogue online, investing in a professional build usually pays for itself in conversion and time saved. Our Shopify development services cover the full range, and we’re happy to tell you honestly if a simpler option would suit you better.
The Ongoing Costs Most Guides Hide
The monthly plan is the start, not the total. Three categories of ongoing cost catch most new store owners by surprise, and they add up quickly.
- Apps. The Shopify App Store is a strength, but most useful apps carry their own monthly fee — commonly $30 or more each. A typical store ends up running several: reviews, email marketing, upsells, shipping, loyalty. A stack of four or five apps can easily add $100–$200 a month on top of your plan.
- Transaction and card fees. Every sale incurs a card processing fee — a percentage plus a fixed amount (for example, 1.75% + 30¢ on Basic). These are small per transaction but meaningful at volume, and they vary by plan, so they’re worth factoring into which tier you choose.
- The extras. A custom domain (around $20–$30/year), a premium theme if you outgrow the free options (a one-off $200–$500), and email marketing tools all add to the real figure.
A realistic monthly total
So what does a store actually cost to run each month? As an indicative picture: a lean new store on annual Basic with a free theme and one or two essential apps might run to roughly $80–$130/month all-in, plus transaction fees on sales. A scaling store on Grow with a fuller app stack and a premium theme might sit closer to $250–$400+/month. Neither figure includes marketing. The point isn’t the exact number — it’s that the honest total is the plan plus apps plus fees, and it’s worth adding it up before you commit.
Shopify vs WooCommerce on Total Cost
For many Australian businesses, the real comparison isn’t plan prices — it’s the all-in cost of each platform over time. Both Shopify and WooCommerce are proven choices, and neither is universally cheaper.
Shopify gives you a predictable model: a fixed subscription, plus apps and transaction fees. You pay for convenience — hosting, security and updates are handled for you, and the cost is easy to forecast. WooCommerce is free software, but you pay for hosting, maintenance, security and updates yourself, and often a developer’s time to manage it. Its transaction costs are frequently lower, but the total depends heavily on how hands-on you are and how much upkeep you outsource.
As a broad rule: Shopify tends to suit owners who value simplicity and predictable costs, while WooCommerce can be more economical at higher volumes for owners comfortable managing (or paying someone to manage) the technical side. The right answer depends on your sales volume and how hands-on you want to be. We work with both and compare them in more detail in our honest Shopify vs WooCommerce comparison for Australia.
How to Keep Your Shopify Costs Down
A few habits prevent the most common budget blowouts. None of them require technical skill — just a little discipline.
- Start on the lowest plan that fits. Basic covers most new stores. Upgrade only when a specific feature or a lower card rate justifies it — not before.
- Audit your apps ruthlessly. Each app adds a monthly fee. Review your installed apps every few months and remove any that aren’t clearly earning their keep.
- Use a quality free theme first. Shopify’s free themes are genuinely good. Pay for a premium theme or custom design only when you’ve outgrown what the free options do well.
- Understand transaction fees before choosing a plan. If you expect meaningful volume, the lower card rate on a higher plan can sometimes pay for the upgrade — run the numbers on your projected sales.
Key Takeaway: Budget for total cost of ownership — subscription + build + apps + transaction fees — not just the headline plan price. A store that looks cheap on the plan page can cost far more to run once the hidden extras are added up.
Is Shopify Worth It for an Australian Small Business?
For most businesses that want a reliable, easy-to-run online store, yes — provided you budget for the total cost rather than just the plan. Shopify earns its price through ease of use, dependable hosting and security, round-the-clock support, and an enormous ecosystem of apps and integrations. You’re paying to not have to think about the technical plumbing.
There are cases where an alternative makes more sense. If you need deep customisation, want full ownership of your codebase, or run enough volume that transaction fees dominate, a self-hosted option like WooCommerce may be more economical. And if you’re only testing a simple idea, a lean setup keeps your risk low until you’ve validated it.
The strongest argument for doing it properly from day one is that the setup decisions — platform, plan, theme and structure — are much cheaper to get right at the start than to undo later. An honest conversation about your situation costs nothing. If you’d like one, get in touch and we’ll give you a straight recommendation and a transparent quote, or see our transparent pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Shopify cost per month in Australia?
As listed in 2026, Shopify’s Australian plans start at around $7/month for Starter, $56/month for Basic (or $42/month paid annually), $149/month for Grow and $575/month for Advanced, with Plus from around $3,700/month. Most small businesses start on Basic. These figures are indicative — confirm current pricing on Shopify’s site before purchasing. Remember that apps and transaction fees add to the monthly plan.
What is the cheapest way to start a Shopify store?
The cheapest viable path is the Basic plan paid annually, built yourself on a free theme with minimal apps. That keeps your upfront cost low and your monthly cost close to the subscription alone. The Starter plan is cheaper still but doesn’t give you a full standalone store, so it suits testing an idea rather than building a brand.
Does Shopify charge transaction fees in Australia?
Yes — every sale incurs a card processing fee, which is a percentage plus a fixed amount and varies by plan (for example, 1.75% + 30¢ on Basic, lower on higher tiers). These figures are indicative and current as listed in 2026; confirm the rates for your plan before committing, as they factor into which tier offers the best value at your sales volume.
How much does it cost to have a Shopify store built for you?
Indicatively, a theme-based professional setup runs from around $500–$3,000, a freelancer build from $2,000–$10,000, and a fully custom agency build from $10,000 and up. The right level depends on how custom your design and integrations need to be. Always compare quotes on exactly what’s included.
Is Shopify or WooCommerce cheaper in Australia?
Neither is universally cheaper — it depends on your sales volume and how hands-on you want to be. Shopify has a predictable subscription plus apps and transaction fees. WooCommerce has no software fee but you pay for hosting, maintenance and upkeep, often with lower transaction costs. Compare the total cost of ownership over time, not just the upfront or monthly figure.
