Shopify UK Pricing: Detailed Breakdown & Analysis

shopify-pricing-uk-breakdown

There are 192,086 live Shopify stores in the United Kingdom up to now with an impressive quarter-over-quarter growth of 4.0% in 2024 Q4. The platform provides a range of Shopify UK pricing options that cater to varying business needs in the country.

In light of that, you might wonder how much Shopify costs each month. This article will break down the Shopify pricing plans UK, explain the features, and assist you in selecting the one that best meets your requirements. 

1. Breakdown of the Shopify UK Pricing​ in 2025

 Subscription feesTransaction fees (for all third-party payment providers)
MonthlyAnnually (save 25%)
Starter£5/month5%
Retail£69/month1.9% + 25p
Basic£25/month£19/month2% + 25p
Shopify£65/month£49/month1.7% + 25p
Advanced£344/month£259/month1.5% + 25p
PlusFrom £1,773/monthNegotiable

💡Note: As of 2023, the starting rate for the Shopify Plus plan is roughly equal to £1,773, based on the monthly pricing of $2,300 USD, even though the plan is not available in GBP. Please note that the precise price may change depending on the needs of each company.

Next, explore our in-depth Shopify pricing plan review below to fully comprehend the features offered by its subscription plans and choose the one that best suits your business.

1.1. Starter Plan  

Starter-Plan

The Shopify Starter Plan, which costs a reasonable £5 a month, is made for people who want to start out in e-commerce, particularly using social media.

Features:

  • Social Media Integration: The main benefit of this plan is how easily it allows you to integrate with popular social media apps like WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook Messenger, which broaden your sales channels. 
  • Buy buttons: By enabling potential customers to shop straight from existing websites, this feature increases convenience.
  • Product Management: List as many products as you want without any limitations.
ProsCons
– Affordable option for beginners
– No-code setup provides an easy way to get started.
– Specifically designed to promote goods via social media.
– There are no advanced features like blogging or theme customization.
– Plan upgrades are required for expansion beyond social selling.

This plan is suitable for:

  • Social Media Influencers: People who have a huge online following can turn likes and comments into sales by monetizing their reach. Social media integration in the plan guarantees that you can sell right at your own channels.
  • Brick-and-Mortar Stores Going Digital: Without investing in a full-fledged online store, conventional businesses can test the waters in online retail by measuring the demand for their goods in digital commerce with the simple addition of “buy buttons.”

1.2. Retail Plan 

Retail-Plan 

Retail companies who wish to have a basic online presence in addition to selling in-store can use the Retail plan. It costs £69/month and offers all the features included in the Starter plan, along with multiple Shopify POS app features.

Features:

  • Basic Online Presence: You can use only the Spotlight theme with the theme editor to add a logo, a cover image, a brand introduction, a slogan, and social media links.
  • Reporting: It offers basic reports, giving businesses a snapshot of their sales trends and customer preferences.
  • Staff Accounts: Businesses have 5 accounts, meaning they can allow better delegation and team collaboration.
ProsCons
– Affordable trial period at £1 for first 3 months
– Includes basic reporting and retail features along with POS tools to help with in-person sales.
– The Spotlight theme is the only option available with this plan.
– Limited flexibility in designing your website

This plan is suitable for:

  • Pop-up Shop Owners: You can leverage the plan to add a physical presence to your online business to interact with customers in person while they engage with your products and brand, boosting sales in the process.
  • Physical Stores with Minimal Webshop Needs: This Shopify pricing UK plan focuses on improving offline businesses. So, people who have basic requirements for an online storefront and still want to effectively handle two sales channels at a reasonable price can opt for one.

1.3. Basic Plan 

Basic-Plan 

The Basic plan is a cost-effective plan that allows you to create a functional and standalone eCommerce website. 

  • Annual price: £19 per month
  • Monthly price: £25 per month
  • Online card processing fees: 2% + 25p

Features:

  • Personalized Online Storefront: The plan enables users to present an infinite number of products to prospective buyers globally and personalize their online store.
  • Unlimited Storage: Companies can post as many product photos, thorough descriptions, and any other necessary media without any limitations because they have unlimited storage.
  • Order Customization: Businesses can accommodate specific consumer requirements by processing customized orders thanks to the manual order creation option.
ProsCons
– Provides all of the essential sales features
– Multichannel selling support 
– 24/7 live chat 
– Lacks sophisticated features like automation for e-commerce.
– It does not allow you to add staff accounts.

This plan is suitable for:

  • Budding Businessmen: This Shopify pricing UK plan allows beginners to test the market viability of their product without having to deal with the hassles of a full e-commerce setup, even if they have a limited budget and no technical expertise.
  • Small-Scale Companies: For small companies with a moderate monthly sales volume, this plan is ideal. It strikes a balance between affordability and functionality. There is always room to improve the plan as the company grows, utilizing more sophisticated tools and adding more staff positions.

1.4. Shopify Plan  

Shopify-Plan  

The Shopify plan is described as “everything you need for a growing business” Shopify highlights this as their most popular package since it includes more sophisticated tools, particularly for reporting.

  • Annual price: £49 per month
  • Monthly price: £65 per month
  • Online card processing fees: 1.7% + 25p

Features:

  • Insightful Reporting Tools: These expert reports provide in-depth analysis of complex consumer behaviors, sales trends, and tax ramifications. 
  • Automation: E-commerce automation adds a strong advantage to your operation by streamlining repetitive work to free up time for other crucial business operations.
  • Strategic Inventory Management: Businesses may guarantee more effective stock distribution and tracking with support for five different inventory locations, allowing better delegation and team collaboration.
ProsCons
– Access to in-depth professional reports.
– Full access to custom apps using Shopify APIs
– Better card processing rates for online payments
– There is no the “duty and taxes” feature, which allows customers to view estimated total costs at checkout.

This plan is suitable for:

  • Growing Businesses: This Shopify pricing UK plan is clearly the best option for companies whose Shopify store sales is steadily increasing. It offers the resources required to manage the increased operational needs.
  • E-Commerce Automation Seekers: Automation becomes critical as operations grow and become more complex. Businesses can easily incorporate different eCommerce automation with this plan, guaranteeing more efficient processes and fewer human duties.

1.5. Advanced Plan 

Advanced-Plan

The Advanced plan is worth the roughly ten-fold increase in price compared to the Basic plan. Its advanced tools make it easier for bigger companies to operate well without any limitations.

  • Annual price: £259 per month
  • Monthly price: £344 per month
  • Online card processing fees: 1.5% + 25p

Features:

  • Third-Party Shipping Rates: This feature allows for real-time, competitive shipping rates so customers always receive the most up-to-date and diverse shipping prices. 
  • Globalization: It encourages the creation of nation-specific domains and improves global SEO. Furthermore, competitive pricing that satisfies a range of market demands allows you to modify product prices according to various worldwide regions.
  • Custom Pricing Models: Market-specific bespoke pricing is here to help you to establish different rates for your goods depending on the unique market conditions and consumer habits of the UK.
ProsCons
– Competitive prices are guaranteed through integration with third-party shipping.
– Reduced transaction costs for companies with large revenue streams.
– International sales approach is facilitated 
– High monthly subscription fees  
– The broad feature set may be too much to get familiar with.

This plan is suitable for:

  • High-Profit Stores: The Advanced Plan’s lower transaction costs can save a significant amount of money for companies that make more than £10k a month. For the cost of the plan, this results in increased profitability and a greater return on investment.
  • International Sellers: Custom pricing by market is a tool that businesses with a worldwide customer can benefit from. Sales and revenue in particular regions can be increased by customizing product prices according to local market conditions.

1.6. Plus Plan 

Plus-Plan 

Shopify Plus is an enterprise-level solution for people who want to increase their online presence. The price for Shopify Plus is customized depending on particular business requirements and sales levels with the approximate amount at $2,300, which is equivalent to about £1,773.

Features:

  • Boundless Bandwidth: Unlimited bandwidth is provided to merchants, allowing each business to handle an incredible 8,000 orders per minute. 
  • Robust Security Measures: Shopify Plus, which operates in accordance with the highest payment card industry compliance level, transfers the burden of security from the merchant to its platform. Furthermore, the plan includes unique SSL certificates, guaranteeing visitors a safe browsing experience from beginning to end.
  • SaaS-Based Hosting: Shopify Plus offers software and servers as one integrated package. This collaboration guarantees that Shopify will run your website smoothly, freeing up businesses to focus on user experience, design, and marketing. 
ProsCons
– SaaS platform is easy to use and does not require coding knowledge.
– Automated website updates and effective server administration.
– Extensive integrated tools for smooth e-commerce operations.
– Limitations on different product variants.
– More challenging learning curve for certain people.

This plan is suitable for:

  • E-commerce Powerhouses: Shopify Plus provides the reliable infrastructure that well-known brands require to handle enormous order volumes. No transaction fees and the efficiency savings from a platform built for heavy traffic readily offset the higher price point.
  • Global Expansionists: The sophisticated customization features of Shopify Plus will be advantageous to companies hoping to expand globally. It enables brands to develop services tailored to certain regions and manage spikes in traffic from worldwide audiences.

💡Is There A Free Trial For Shopify UK?

Yes, Shopify UK has a free trial that lets you use the platform for three days without using a credit card. After that, you might be able to acquire your Shopify 3 month trial

2. Shopify UK Pricing​ vs Shopify International Pricing​

Selecting the best plan for your company will be easier if you are aware of the pricing differences between Shopify UK and Shopify International. A comparative table highlighting important differences can be found below:

 
Shopify UK Pricing
Shopify International Pricing
Currency
British Pound Sterling (GBP)
US Dollars (USD) or other international currencies
Payment Processing
Supports local payment methods and gateways: Klarna, Bancontact, and iDEAL
Supports a wider range of international payment gateways: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and UnionPay debit cards/credit cards
Features & Functionality
Tailored for the UK market: Shopify Tax for simplified VAT compliance, Shopify Payments for UK-specific payment processing, etc.
Comprehensive features for worldwide eCommerce
Shipping options
Integrates with local shipping providers: Evri, DPD and Yodel.
Provides international delivery methods: DHL Express, FedEx, etc.

Key Considerations:

  • Currency Conversion: When comparing prices across markets, take exchange rates into consideration.
  • Payment Gateway Fees: Examine the costs for various payment options according to your company’s requirements.
  • Additional Features: Compare the features’ availability in the two options and decide which are most crucial.

3. Billing Cycles, Ongoing Costs, Additional Fees

3.1. Shopify Billing Cycles

The standard billing cycle is monthly. Yet, you can save money by extending your billing cycle to one, two, or three years as Shopify fees decrease with the length of time you commit to using the platform. For example, Shopify subscribers who make annual billing are eligible for a 25% discount

3.2. Domain

When you signed up with Shopify, a myshopify.com URL was automatically assigned to your online store. Yet, you can add a custom domain if you wish to modify the web address that clients see when they visit your online store. You will need to either buy a domain name through Shopify, which can cost anywhere from £10 to £20 a year, or link an existing one. 

3.3. VAT

There are three different VAT rates in the UK – standard, reduced, and zero rates:

  • Selling from the UK to customers in the UK

The standard VAT rate for the majority of goods is 20%. Unless the goods are marked as discounted or zero-rated, you should charge this rate. Children’s car seats and mobility aids are among the 5% off-priced items. 

Books, newspapers, children’s clothing, and shoes are examples of zero-rated items, which are priced at zero percent. Zero-rated items are charged at zero percent, but you still need to report them on your VAT return and record them in your VAT accounts.

  • Selling from the UK to customers outside of the UK and outside the EU

Goods sold from the UK to outside of the UK and the EU are zero-rated. You must record them in your VAT accounts, declare them on your VAT return, and maintain “evidence of removal” even though the VAT rate is 0%.

3.4. Apps & Themes

Shopify-App-Store

With more than 8,000 apps, Shopify has an extensive app store. While many Shopify apps are available for free or as one-time purchases, others require a subscription. Likewise, Shopify provides a theme store where you can find free and premium options ranging from £120 to £300 for a one-time payment.

Shopify-Themes

3.5. Shopify POS (optional) 

It is crucial for companies who run both an online and physical store to integrate the two through a POS system. There are two essential elements to build a Shopify POS system:

Shopify-POS-pricing

  • POS Software

Shopify POS Lite is free and included with every Shopify package. On the other hand, Shopify POS Pro can be upgraded for an additional £69 per month for each necessary location for users. This offers more advanced features in addition to all of the Lite characteristics.

  • POS Hardware

Your POS system will be built around your mobile device and a card reader that is connected to Shopify’s POS. Shopify’s hardware, on the other hand, is iPad compatible and can be linked to necessary items like card readers, store stands, and particular charging supplies for a more upscale retail experience.

Overall, the Shopify POS system cost typically ranges between $0 to $2,000. The yearly cost to use the POS system may vary from $500 to $1,000, contingent on the size of your business, the number of retail locations, add-ons, and sales volume.

💡How much does it cost to develop a website on Shopify UK?

The average cost to build a Shopify website in the UK ranges between £1,500 to £25,000 or more. The main factors that drive up an eCommerce website’s costs include: 

  • Design complexity (£3,000 – £100,000), 
  • VAT compliance which adds an extra cost of 20% on most goods and services 
  • Domain names, hosting, and security certificates (£210 – £480 each month)
  • Transaction fee (Between 1-3% of the transaction value)
  • Ecommerce website maintenance (£3,000 – £5,000 per year)

And that’s when you do it yourself but if you hire someone else to do for you, the cost can be quite different. You can find out in our guide of how much to pay someone to set up a Shopify store. In this breakdown, you learn about where to find them, which services they offer and their charges. 

Especially, eComStart offers Shopify store setup services that help you build & optimize your store, and integrate necessary apps & plug-ins at a reasonable price.

4. Shopify UK Pricing Vs Other Platforms

Developing a Shopify store in the UK can cost anywhere from £800 for a basic design to £20,000 or more for a fully customized store with advanced features. It seems expensive compared to other platforms we mention below.

 ShopifyWixSquarespaceWooCommerce
Monthly feesFrom £5/month From £9/month From £16/month From around £3/month
DomainFrom £10/yearFrom £10/yearFrom £20/yearFrom £5/year
Payment processing feesFrom 1.5% + 25pFrom 2.1% + 20pFrom 2% + 25pFrom 2.9% + 30p
Apps & ThemesFrom £0/monthFrom £0/monthFrom £0/monthFrom £0/month

4.1. Wix

Wix

Wix pricing in the UK starts at £9/month. Transactions processed through Wix Payments are subject to a fee of 2.1% + 20p.

Depending on the domain extension, registration length, and any applicable promotions, the average annual cost of a Wix domain in the UK can range from £10 to £20.

Wix offers both free and paid options for apps and themes based on each user’s needs and budget.

The verdict: The cost of creating a Wix store in the UK can range from £150 to £5,000+, which is lower than building a UK Shopify store.

4.2. Squarespace

Squarespace

Squarespace offers a range of pricing tiers tailored for various user needs, starting at £16/month. Meanwhile, payment processing fees start at 2% + 25p for the UK merchants. 

With an annual membership, Squarespace in the UK provides a free domain for the first year; however, most domain renewals thereafter cost about £20 annually.

Squarespace offers you the ability to find and buy both free and premium third-party apps and themes to enhance your website.

The verdict: The cost of creating a Wix store in the UK can range from £500 to more than £2,000, which is much lower than building a UK Shopify store.

4.3. WooCommerce

WooCommerce

The WooCommerce plugin itself doesn’t have any monthly costs, but you’ll need a hosting company to house your WordPress website, and these can start at about £3 per month.

The domain registration typically costs around £5 to £20 annually in the UK. Besides, there are thousands of free themes or apps to choose from in addition to paid options. 

WooCommerce’s payment processing fees start at 2.9% + $0.30 per sale on average.

The verdict: The cost of a WooCommerce store in the UK can range from £200 to £10,000, which is lower than Shopify UK price.

5. Conclusion

The Shopify plans and pricing UK are offered in recognition of its expanding presence in this sovereign state. The Shopify UK pricing strategies are quite valuable, even though its fees can be complicated because of different fees.

Even though it might not be the most affordable choice, it stands out in the eCommerce sector. You can choose to build it on your own or prebuilt Shopify stores if you are non-tech savvy.

With this eComstart’s cost analysis, we hope you can see the bigger picture for your business.

6. FAQs

Finn Nguyen is an eCommerce Expert specializing in Shopify, with a passion for guiding new business owners. With over 5 years of experience in the eCommerce industry, Finn has helped many new business owners from launching their first online store to achieving thriving sales.

Check out his LinkedIn and eComStart on Shopify Community