Shopify and Shopify Plus are two robust eCommerce solutions tailored to different types of businesses. Shopify is ideal for small to medium-sized companies looking to establish or grow their online presence, help businesses build and scale their online stores. Shopify Plus is specifically designed to meet the complex needs of high-growth and enterprise-level brands.
For businesses generating over $100,000 in monthly sales, Shopify Plus offers advanced features that support greater flexibility, automation, and scalability. The following comparison outlines the critical differences between these two platforms to help you choose the best fit for your business goals.
Feature Comparison: Shopify vs. Shopify Plus
| Feature | Shopify | Shopify Plus |
| Custom Scripts | Not Available | Available |
| Advanced Reporting | Basic | Fully Customizable |
| Checkout Customization | Limited | Full Control |
| Cart Recovery Tools | Standard | Enhanced with Automation |
| Scalability | Good | Enterprise-Level |
| Dedicated Account Manager | No | Yes |
| Multilingual Checkout | Up to 5 Languages | 20+ Languages |
| Pricing | $29–$299/month | Starting at $2,000/month |
1. Custom Scripts and Personalization
Shopify Plus gives merchants access to Shopify Scripts, allowing advanced customizations in the shopping and checkout process. Businesses can personalize pricing, discounts, shipping rates, and validation rules based on customer behavior or order characteristics. This level of customization is exclusive to Shopify Plus and helps brands provide a unique, optimized experience for different customer segments.
“Shopify Plus enables deeper customization and scalability, leading to improved ROI and better alignment with brand-specific KPIs.”
— Rachel Saul, Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Chelsea & Rachel Co.
2. Enhanced Reporting and Analytics
Although Shopify includes standard analytics, Plus users benefit from comprehensive, customizable reports. These tools offer granular data on customer behavior, inventory trends, marketing effectiveness, and more. Shopify Plus also supports data exports to external BI platforms through APIs, essential for data-driven enterprises aiming for deeper insights and forecasting.
3. Fully Customizable Checkout Experience
Unlike the basic Shopify plans, Shopify Plus allows for complete control over the checkout flow. Brands can implement additional input fields, dynamic pricing based on cart content, multilingual support (20+ languages), and validation rules. This extensive flexibility can reduce cart abandonment and improve conversion rates-especially for global brands requiring localized experiences.
4. Advanced Cart Recovery
Shopify Plus enhances standard cart recovery with tools like Shopify Flow. This automation platform allows you to trigger customized follow-up actions, such as discount offers or retargeting ads via Google and Facebook, based on customer interactions. These automated workflows increase the chances of recovering abandoned carts and boosting overall revenue.
5. Enterprise-Level Scalability
Shopify Plus is engineered to support high traffic volumes and large transaction loads without sacrificing performance. Whether it’s a flash sale or a global product launch, the infrastructure is designed for stability and speed. In contrast, businesses on standard plans may experience performance bottlenecks under similar loads.
6. Dedicated Support
One of the most significant advantages of Shopify Plus is access to a dedicated account manager and Launch Engineer. These experts assist with onboarding, strategic planning, and ongoing support, helping businesses maximize the platform’s capabilities. Members also gain early access to new features and community resources via the Shopify Merchant Success Program.
Shopify Pricing Breakdown
| Plan | Monthly Cost |
| Shopify Lite | $9 |
| Basic Shopify | $29 |
| Shopify | $79 |
| Advanced Shopify | $299 |
| Shopify Plus | From $2,000 (Custom Pricing) |
While standard Shopify plans are more budget-friendly, they may require additional apps or third-party services to match the capabilities offered natively on Shopify Plus. The higher investment in Plus is justified by its extensive features and built-in enterprise-grade solutions.
Choosing the Right Platform
Your choice between Shopify and Shopify Plus should depend on:
- Business Size and Growth Plans: Shopify works well for startups and growing businesses. Shopify Plus is ideal for companies scaling rapidly or operating globally.
- Customization Needs: If deep customization of the checkout and automation are priorities, Plus is the better option.
- Budget: While Shopify offers affordability, Plus is a long-term investment in operational efficiency and performance.
Shopify Plus also helps consolidate your tech stack, thanks to built-in automation tools, exclusive APIs, and robust integrations that reduce reliance on external apps.
Expert Advice on Replatforming
Switching platforms is a strategic move. Darin Lynch, CEO of Irish Titan, recommends identifying your “North Star” – a guiding principle like growth or efficiency – to ensure the new platform supports your long-term goals.
Chelsea Jones, Co-Founder of Chelsea & Rachel Co., highlights the importance of adaptability. If your current solution can’t support your evolving user experience or backend workflows, it might be time to upgrade to a more versatile option like Shopify Plus.
Conclusion
Shopify provides a great entry point for businesses starting out or expanding moderately. For those aiming for aggressive growth, enhanced performance, and strategic support, Shopify Plus is the superior choice. By understanding the distinctions between both offerings, you can make a confident, future-ready decision tailored to your brand’s vision.
FAQs
- What’s the core difference between Shopify and Shopify Plus?
Shopify Plus is geared toward larger businesses with high transaction volumes and complex needs. It offers advanced customization and dedicated support that standard Shopify plans do not. - What does Shopify Plus cost?
Pricing begins at $2,000/month, scaling with business size and usage requirements. It’s more expensive than the regular plans, but comes with comprehensive enterprise features. - Can I customize the checkout page on Shopify?
Only Shopify Plus allows deep customization of checkout. Standard plans are limited to cosmetic changes like logos and colors. - Is Shopify Plus suitable for high-traffic stores?
Yes. Shopify Plus is built to handle large volumes of traffic and transactions, making it ideal for enterprise-level eCommerce. - Is it easy to upgrade from Shopify to Shopify Plus?
Yes. Shopify provides a guided onboarding experience with a dedicated engineer and account manager to ensure a smooth transition.