Is Shopify Free? What You’re Really Paying For (And Why It’s Worth It)

Considering Shopify for Your E-Commerce Store? Here’s What You Need to Know About Pricing and Costs

One question I get asked a lot is:

“Is Shopify a free service?”

The short answer is no. Shopify charges a monthly fee to be your e-commerce platform, but that fee includes hosting, technology, and a suite of marketing tools to help you grow your business.

Try Before You Buy: A Free 3-Day Trial

Shopify offers a free 3-day trial, which gives you the chance to log in, start adding products and pages, and get a feel for what using Shopify is like. It’s important to try before you buy because I’ve seen business owners invest thousands in a new e-commerce website, only to be disappointed with the interface (not Shopify, but other platforms). Doing your homework upfront can save you from a clunky, outdated, and confusing experience.

How Much Does Shopify Cost?

Shopify offers different plans based on the number of products you want to list and the extra functionality you need. As of August 19, 2024, here’s the pricing:

• Basic: $61 NZD / $51 AUD per month
• Shopify: $116 NZD / $97 AUD per month
• Advanced: $454 NZD / $385 AUD per month

These prices reflect the current rates listed on Shopify’s pricing page, and it’s always good to check for the latest information.

What Other Costs Should You Consider?

Beyond the monthly subscription, there are additional costs to consider:

1. Themes: You’ll need a theme for your store, which can range from $0 (free) to $300 NZD for premium designs.
2. Apps: Shopify’s App Store offers many tools to optimize your store, from SEO boosters to inventory management. While some apps are free, others may require a monthly subscription, adding to your overall costs.
3. Development & Setup: You can either set up your store yourself, which is free but time-consuming, or hire a Shopify developer to handle it for you.

Saving Time with Shopify’s Apps

One of the biggest advantages of Shopify is its extensive App Store. These apps can save you time and money by streamlining tasks that would otherwise require a developer. Whether it’s optimizing SEO, managing inventory, or improving customer experience, the right apps can help you get your store online quickly and efficiently.

In Conclusion

Shopify is a powerful platform that offers great value for the price, but it’s essential to understand all the associated costs. From monthly fees to themes, apps, and potential development work, these factors all contribute to the overall cost of running your e-commerce store. However, with Shopify’s intuitive interface and time-saving apps, you’ll likely find it’s worth every penny.

Got questions? Ask them below!

Is there anything else I need to spend money on?

You will need a template $0-$600 – there are a few free choices, along with paid choices usually for $100-$300 to get a really slick looking design. Talk to us about our favourite themes for turning your website into a great sales person.

You will need someone to set up the site for you.

This depends on how much time you have, and how much you want to do yourself.

• You can pay a Shopify website developer to set the website up for you (we can do that for you)
• Or you can work through each step to set it up for yourself which is free (except for your time) here is a tutorial I put together on Building your own shopify site.

We love Shopify as a platform as they keep their technology up to date, which makes marketing a breeze. If you need something more customised, it’s usually straightforward to do, and using a pre-made template means you can get your store online fast. Want to give shopify a 14 day trial – You can do that here…

Talk to us about building you a conversion rate-optimised Shopify store that is a great salesperson, attracting, educating & converting customers for you 24/7

If you can double your conversion rate, you can halve your advertising spend. Make sure you choose the best possible website to hit your sales goals. Check out our Shopify website design and development services