How Much Does Shopify Cost for Dropshipping? Full 2026 Pricing
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. I only recommend tools I personally use.
One of the first questions from people starting dropshipping: how much does Shopify cost? Simple answer: Basic plan is ~$29/month. But the real answer is more complex — because on top of the plan cost come transaction fees, apps, and currency conversion.
Let me break it down completely.
Shopify Plans Comparison 2026
| Plan | USD/month | Transaction Fee (no Shopify Payments) | When to Choose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $29 | 2% | Start — up to 1,000 orders/month |
| Shopify | $79 | 1% | 2+ staff, higher volume |
| Advanced | $299 | 0.5% | 10,000+ orders/month |
| Plus | from $2,000 | negotiable | Enterprise |
Critical note on transaction fees:
Shopify charges an extra transaction fee when you don't use Shopify Payments. Since Shopify Payments isn't available in many countries, you'll need an external gateway (Stripe) and pay 2% in transaction fees on the Basic plan.
On Basic + Stripe:
- Shopify fee: 2%
- Stripe fee: ~1.4–2.9% + $0.30/transaction
- Combined: 3.4–4.9% of every sale goes to fees
This must be factored into your margin calculation before you price products.
True Total Cost of Shopify at Start
On Basic plan for the first 3 months:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Shopify Basic × 3 months | ~$87 |
| Domain .com | ~$15 |
| Transaction fees (at $0 sales initially) | $0 |
| TOTAL | ~$102 |
Platform cost for the first 3 months: ~$102. That's genuinely low compared to the ad budget, which at a realistic approach runs $660–$1,100 over the same period.
Conclusion: Shopify isn't your budget problem. Ads are your budget problem.
When to Upgrade From Basic?
Don't upgrade earlier than necessary. Higher plans make sense only when:
- You're hiring staff — Basic gives 2 staff accounts. Standard/Advanced give more.
- Transaction fees are painful — On Basic: 2% fee. At $12,500/month sales, that's $250 in Shopify fees alone. At that volume, consider Advanced.
- You need advanced reports — Advanced unlocks detailed analytics. Basic has minimal reporting.
My rule: stay on Basic until $7,500–12,500/month in sales. Below that, the fee difference doesn't justify the higher plan.
Hidden Shopify Costs Nobody Talks About
Apps (The Biggest Hidden Cost)
Shopify's App Store has thousands of apps. Most have "free" plans with very limited functionality — then billing starts.
Typical dropshipper app stack after 2 months (without discipline):
| App | Cost |
|---|---|
| DSers (paid) | ~$20 |
| Product reviews | ~$15 |
| Page builder | ~$30 |
| Email marketing | ~$25 |
| Upsell/cross-sell | ~$25 |
| Total apps | ~$115/month |
That's $115/month in apps before your first sale. I've seen new dropshippers with $300+/month in Shopify apps before selling anything.
My rule: zero paid apps before your first sale.
Currency Conversion
Shopify bills in USD. If you're outside the US, your bank/card charges a currency conversion fee (~1–3%). Not huge, but worth knowing.
Shopify vs. WooCommerce — Which for Dropshipping?
| Platform | Monthly Cost | Ease of Use | Dropshipping Ecosystem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shopify Basic | $29 | Very high | Best |
| WooCommerce | ~$12 (hosting) | Medium | Good |
| PrestaShop | ~$8 (hosting) | Low | Limited |
For dropshipping: Shopify is the standard. The supplier integrations (DSers, Teemdrop), app ecosystem, and payment processing are all optimized for dropshipping. Alternatives require more technical setup — unnecessary complexity at the start.
How to Save on Shopify
1. Trial + $1/month offer Shopify regularly offers $1/month for the first 3 months through affiliate links. Start cheap, validate first.
2. Annual vs. monthly plan Annual Basic costs $24/month (vs. $29 monthly) — ~17% savings. Recommendation: start monthly, switch to annual once you're committed.
3. Keep transaction fees low Use Stripe and keep it simple. Don't add multiple payment gateways unnecessarily.
FAQ
Does Shopify take a percentage of sales?
Yes — 2% transaction fee on Basic plan if you don't use Shopify Payments. Plus the payment gateway fee (Stripe: 1.4–2.9%).
Can I start Shopify for free?
Shopify offers a 3-day free trial, then often $1/month for 3 months through affiliate links.
Is Shopify worth it for dropshipping?
At $29/month with the best dropshipping ecosystem available: yes, completely worth it.
Related Articles
- How Much Does Dropshipping Really Cost in 2026? — full cost beyond just Shopify
- Monthly Dropshipping Costs — Full Breakdown — ongoing costs at months 2, 3, 6
- Minimum Dropshipping Budget — absolute floor budget
Weekly live Q&A: Whop Community — $50/month
About the Author
Dawid Gac
E-commerce Educator & Entrepreneur
Dawid Gac is a Polish entrepreneur, e-commerce educator, and co-founder of EcomBrain. He helps entrepreneurs build and scale online businesses through his YouTube channel, community, and 1:1 coaching.