What is Shopify Plus?: Benefits, Features, and Pricing

Dominika Kaminska
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Whether you have a big or small business, you might feel the need to upgrade from Shopify to Shopify Plus. But what exactly does Shopify Plus give you, and how much will you have to invest in it? Find out all about Shopify Plus pricing, its features, pros, and cons in this article.

What is Shopify Plus?

Shopify Plus is an advanced eCommerce platform tailored for high-growth businesses and brands with large annual revenue. 

It offers a host of advanced features and benefits that go beyond the capabilities of the standard Shopify platform. This helps to focus on meeting the specific requirements of large businesses.

MORE: What is Shopify?

Shopify Plus Features

Shopify Plus provides integrated tools tailored for B2B eCommerce, facilitating wholesale transactions directly from the same platform used for DTC sales. This includes features like custom pricing, bulk ordering capabilities, and account management, enabling businesses to serve wholesale customers more efficiently.

Some of the features included on Shopify’s website include:

  • Built-in B2B tools,
  • Build DTC or B2B experience with your own tech or Shopify API,
  • Shopify POS Pro,
  • Checkout personalization,
  • Reducing customer acquisition expenses by 50% on top advertising platforms with exclusive insights available on Shopify,
  • ShopifyQL Notebooks,
  • Shopify Functions,
  • Shopify Markets Pro,
  • Premier systems integrators,
  • International expansion,
  • Advanced apps,
  • And more.

Benefits of Shopify Plus

What Does Shopify Plus Offer? Let’s take a look at what you can expect from the Shopify Plus Plan:

Superior Customization

Shopify Plus stands out for its exceptional customization capabilities, which provide businesses with unparalleled flexibility in designing the appearance, checkout processes, and user experience of their online store.

This platform is specifically designed for companies looking to align their digital storefront with their unique brand identity and operational preferences, enabling a tailored online presence that meets their specific requirements.

MORE: The best Shopify themes

Dedicated Support

Shopify Plus offers a Merchant Success Team, which is available to businesses 24/7. You can gain access to the ‘Shopify Launch Engineer’ who understands your business and works with you to succeed. They also help you to run your store smoothly.

Enhanced API Limits

Shopify Plus users gain access to enhanced features through additional API calls and developer tools, allowing them to upgrade functionalities without affecting current integrations. With Shopify Plus, stores can significantly increase their API call rates, doubling them with assistance from a Plus manager. 

Moreover, advanced scripts can refine the checkout process by introducing custom discounts, shipping rates, and product suggestions, leveraging Shopify’s servers to deliver functionalities beyond those available on standard Shopify platforms.

Exclusive Access to New Features

As a Shopify Plus merchant, you will get early access to new features and updates. This exclusive access allows you to leverage the latest innovations and stay ahead of the competition. You can test out and implement new functionalities before they’re rolled out to the broader Shopify community. 

Easy Migration

Large retailers or merchants with extensive product inventories can effortlessly migrate their data to Shopify Plus with the help of industry experts via the Merchant Success Program. Dedicated account managers and launch engineers facilitate a smooth transition, covering customer interfaces, internal systems, and external integrations. 

They offer guidance on everything from integration strategies and user scenarios to payment options, checkout customization, and securing transactions with SSL certificates, ensuring all technical aspects are optimized for Shopify Plus.

Shopify store builder

MORE: How does Shopify compare to Shopify Plus?

How Much Does Shopify Plus Cost?

While standard Shopify plans come with fixed monthly fees, Shopify Plus presents a more intricate pricing framework that hinges significantly on sales volume. Check the table below for details:

Shopify Plus 1-year termShopify Plus 3-year term
$2,500 per month $2,300 per month 

Unlike the straightforward costs of standard Shopify plans, the Shopify Plus pricing model is explicitly designed to scale with businesses as they grow. This tailored approach means that as a Shopify Plus merchant, your fees will fluctuate in direct correlation with your monthly sales volumes.

Shopify plus cost

MORE: How much does a Shopify store cost?

MORE: How Shopify branding works

Who Uses Shopify Plus?

Shopify Plus serves as the ultimate eCommerce solution for:

  • High-growth businesses,
  • Established brands,
  • International sellers,
  • Enterprise-level businesses,
  • Omni-channel retailers,
  • Direct-to-consumer brands.

MORE: How does reporting work on Shopify?

Shopify Plus Pros and Cons

Using Shopify Plus will have its pros and cons, we’ve listed some points you should take into consideration as you choose between Shopify and Shopify Plus:

ProsCons
High Performance: Shopify Plus provides a robust and highly scalable platform that can handle significant traffic spikes and sales volumes.High Cost: The premium services of Shopify Plus come with a hefty price tag which may not be feasible for small businesses.
Extensive Customization: With exclusive APIs, Shopify Plus allows merchants to tailor storefronts and customer experiences to meet specific business needs.Complex Features: The advanced capabilities, while beneficial, could be overwhelming for users who aren’t tech-savvy.
Premium Customer Support: Shopify Plus users have access to dedicated 24/7 priority support and a personalized Merchant Success Program.Extra Costs for Apps and Themes: The need for additional functionalities might necessitate buying apps or themes, adding to the overall cost.
Seamless Integrations: Shopify Plus offers robust integration with a range of third-party systems, including CRM, email marketing, and logistics platforms.Migration Difficulties: Transitioning to Shopify Plus from another platform can be a complex task that may require professional assistance.
Multi-Channel Selling: Shopify Plus supports sales across numerous channels including web, mobile, social media, and marketplaces, all from a single platform.Limited Advanced Features: Despite the range of features Shopify Plus offers, it might lack certain advanced features required by specific businesses.
Internationalization Capabilities: With Shopify Plus, businesses can easily expand globally with multiple stores, each tailored for different countries or regions.Template-based Customization: While customization is possible, it is often template-based, which may limit the design flexibility compared to fully custom-coded platforms.

It’s important to note that the advantages and disadvantages of Shopify Plus can vary depending on your specific business size, type, and needs. Always consider these factors when choosing an eCommerce platform.

Tip

Remember that to open a successful Shopify store, you will need a memorable business name. Check out our Shopify Name Generator and find the ideal name for your business in a few simple steps.

MORE: How to change a Shopify shop name

Takeaway Points

Shopify Plus, Shopify’s premium tier, offers a range of advanced e-commerce solutions tailored for high-volume businesses. The platform stands out with its superior customization abilities, dedicated support, enhanced API limits, and early access to innovative features. Its user-friendly interface, seamless integrations, and robust capabilities facilitate smooth operations, whether for a single store or a global multi-store operation. 

Notably, it hosts a variety of big-name clients, attesting to its ability to manage complex eCommerce demands efficiently. However, potential users should consider the high cost, complexity, potential for additional expenses, migration difficulties, and potential limitations in advanced features and customization.

MORE: How Shopify branding works

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

The key difference between Shopify and Shopify Plus rests in their distinct feature sets and user targets. While Shopify provides an excellent platform for small to medium-sized businesses, Shopify Plus caters to larger enterprises, offering more advanced features, customizations, and support for high-volume transactions.

Shopify Plus provides businesses with the ability to scale up effortlessly. It also gives superior customer support round the clock and provides access to exclusive features such as advanced apps, internal expansion, and more.

Assessing the worth of Shopify Plus depends on your business's needs and growth projections. If your store handles high traffic volumes, requires multiple storefronts, or needs advanced customization and integrations, then Shopify Plus's premium features and scalability could be a worthwhile investment, contributing to significant long-term growth.

When comparing the Shopify Advanced Plan and Shopify Plus, the key differences lie in their intended user base and features. While the Shopify Advanced Plan provides additional features to medium-sized businesses, Shopify Plus is tailored to much larger businesses.

While Shopify Plus does not have a specific set of requirements, it's generally best suited for businesses that are high-volume, experiencing rapid growth, or require advanced features not available on other Shopify plans.

Shopify's primary revenue stream comes from its platform subscriptions, offering diverse plans to cater to various business needs. It also earns from its POS Pro service, a premium Point of Sale solution. Additional income is generated through selling custom themes and apps, allowing businesses to personalize their stores. Domain registration services offered by Shopify further contribute to its earnings.

Transitioning from Shopify to Shopify Plus is typically a straightforward process. As a business grows and requires access to more advanced features, higher scalability, and stronger support, Shopify facilitates this change, allowing businesses to change from Shopify to Shopify Plus.

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