Shopify Plus vs. Shopify

What is Shopify Plus, and how does it differ from the standard Shopify e-commerce platform?

We’ll explain the differences to you and tell you what features the Plus version offers your business, as well as the specific benefits of Shopify Plus.

Key points at a glance

Shopify Plus at a glance:

• Shopify Plus is an advanced e-commerce solution for large businesses, offering additional features compared to Shopify.

Differences between Shopify and Shopify Plus:

• Shopify is aimed at smaller businesses, whilst Shopify Plus is suitable for businesses of all sizes.

• Higher costs for Shopify Plus can be offset by lower transaction fees for large companies.

• Shopify Plus offers personalised support, the ability to customise the code and advanced features.

When it’s worth making the switch:

• Switching to Shopify Plus may be a good idea once the business reaches an annual turnover of around USD 800,000.

• Other reasons for the switch include high sales figures, stable operations during peak periods, international expansion, a dedicated point of contact, customisation of the customer journey and the automation of processes.

How did Shopify Plus come about?

Shopify has established itself as one of the market leaders when it comes to enabling small and medium-sized businesses to run a well-functioning online shop. Shopify already powers more than a million shops.

However, one group is being overlooked. This is because, once a business reaches a certain size, Shopify reaches its limits. As many businesses using Shopify have grown alongside the platform, a solution had to be found. And so Shopify Plus was born – the shop system for major players.

What is Shopify Plus?

Shopify Plus is Shopify’s scalable e-commerce solution for fast-growing retailers and large enterprises in the B2C and B2B sectors.

It is designed to cater for anyone who has reached the limits of the standard Shopify plans. Shopify has thus succeeded in offering the right solution for every type of online retailer.

That is why Shopify Plus offers a number of features that are particularly useful for large businesses. The Plus version went live in the US back in 2014. In 2020, it finally made its way to Germany as well.

Companies such as Red Bull, Gymshark and Kylie Cosmetics rely on the Canadian enterprise e-commerce solution and are prime examples of outstanding online shops.

What are the differences between Shopify and Shopify Plus?

The key differences at a glance:

• Target audience: Shopify is designed for small and medium-sized businesses, whereas Shopify Plus can cater for businesses of any size.

• Pricing: Shopify’s prices range from 29 to 299 USD per month. Shopify Premium starts at 2,000 USD and can rise to as much as 40,000 USD, depending on turnover.

• Fees: Whilst the monthly fixed costs are higher, the transaction fees are lower. For large businesses, Shopify Plus can therefore actually work out cheaper.

• Support: With Shopify Plus, you have your own support team, including a Launch Engineer who helps with setting up and migrating your shop. In addition, every Plus customer is assigned their own Account Manager, who acts as your point of contact.

• Customisation: Here too, Shopify Plus offers more options; even the underlying code can be customised.

• Staff accounts: Whilst the Basic plan only allows for a limited number of staff accounts, Shopify Plus offers an unlimited number.

• Features: Shopify Plus already offers many standard features that would otherwise need to be added via apps in Shopify.

When is it worth switching to Shopify Plus?

As the only drawback to switching from Shopify Basic to Shopify Plus is the cost, we’d like to provide an overview of when it’s worth making the switch.

Whilst the question of the shop’s turnover is an obvious one, it can only be used to determine on a case-by-case basis whether a change is worthwhile.

As a rough guide, a threshold of 800,000 USD per year can be used. If your business falls within this range, you should work through the figures in more detail.

However, there are other reasons why you might want to switch to Shopify Plus, as Shopify may be holding back your growth. We’ve summarised some of the typical limitations for you.

#1 You sell large quantities

As transaction costs are lower with Shopify Plus, it may well be worth switching to the Enterprise version from a cost perspective once you reach a certain sales volume. Whilst you pay between 0.5% and 2.0% in transaction fees with Shopify, Shopify Plus is significantly cheaper at just 0.25% (excluding Shopify Payments). Incidentally, this can also be a reason to switch from another shop platform to Shopify Plus, as running costs are generally lower here.

#2 Your shop should remain stable even in exceptional circumstances

Whether it’s Black Friday, Christmas or promotional campaigns, high visitor numbers mean high server load. Your online shop must be able to cope with these peak periods, otherwise you’ll lose money. This shouldn’t be a problem with Shopify Plus, as it can handle up to 11,000 check-outs per minute. This means you can be sure that every one of your paying customers will be served.

#3 You want to expand your business internationally

Another reason to opt for the Plus version is the ability to create up to 10 different shops. This allows you to set up completely separate shops for different countries, each with its own domain, and thus tailor them more effectively to the specific country, its culture and language. Nothing now stands in the way of international growth.

#4 You need a personal point of contact

Another very useful feature of Shopify Plus is the Merchant Success Manager, who, as your personal point of contact, knows your business inside out and can therefore provide faster and more effective support when problems arise.

#5 You want a fully personalised customer journey

Whilst Shopify already offers a great deal of design flexibility and allows you to create custom designs, However, certain areas, such as the shopping basket, are still subject to limitations. With Shopify Scripts, you can now personalise the user experience in these areas too. Shopify Scripts are small code snippets that can be easily implemented in your shop. This can be done directly within the Shopify environment, which makes automation and fine-tuning very straightforward.

#6 You plan to plan ahead and automate

With Shopify Plus, you get Shopify Launchpad, a powerful planning tool. Launchpad offers a comprehensive solution for forward-planning and automation. This feature not only enables you to plan product launches and marketing campaigns in advance, but also automates the entire shop management process.

With Launchpad, you can ensure that your products go live exactly when it best suits your marketing strategy. From precisely planned sales campaigns to strategic changes to your shop – everything can be efficiently automated. Integration with other apps from the Shopify App Store expands the possibilities for further optimising your online presence whilst automating processes.

So, if you want to do more than just react – if you want to plan ahead proactively and automate certain processes – Shopify Launchpad is the ideal addition to your e-commerce strategy. It enables you to realise the full potential of your online business.

Switching to Shopify Plus – it’s that simple

If you want to switch from Shopify to Shopify Plus, you can do so very easily via the settings in Shopify. To do this, click Settings ⇨ Plan ⇨ Change plan and select Shopify Plus. The update will take place within the next 24 business hours and you’ll be notified by email as soon as the migration is complete.

Conclusion – Who would benefit from Shopify Plus?

With Shopify Plus, the Canadian company has created an effective solution for large enterprises. More than 7,000 online shops already rely on this enterprise solution. Shopify has thus tapped into a whole new market and can now offer the right shop system for businesses of all sizes.

So, if your business has reached a certain size, or if you want to scale your online shop and are looking for the right platform, Shopify Plus may well be the right solution for you. As a Munich-based Shopify agency, we already support many businesses that sell their products on the Canadian platform. If you have any questions about Shopify Plus and Shopify, please feel free to contact us at any time.

Frequently asked questions about Shopify Plus

How much does Shopify Plus cost?

Shopify Plus costs from US$2,000 per month. The price may increase depending on turnover and individual requirements, as Shopify Plus is an enterprise solution and often offers bespoke contracts.

What is Shopify Plus?

Shopify Plus is the enterprise version of Shopify, designed for large businesses and high-turnover brands. It offers advanced features such as customised checkouts, greater API access, improved automation and dedicated support.

What are Shopify Plus shops?

Shopify Plus shops are online shops run by major brands and retailers that use Shopify Plus. Well-known examples include Gymshark, Allbirds and Heinz. These shops benefit from the platform’s high scalability, performance and customisability.

When is Shopify Plus worth it?

Shopify Plus is worth considering if your shop generates very high turnover (usually from €1–2 million per year) or if you have specific requirements such as international multi-store set-ups, complex B2B structures or advanced checkout customisations. For smaller shops, the standard version of Shopify is usually sufficient.

What are the benefits of Shopify Plus?

Shopify Plus benefits include advanced APIs, the integration of third-party payment providers and the use of Shopify Flow to create automated workflows. These features help to increase the conversion rate.

How can I upgrade to Shopify Plus?

The upgrade to Shopify Plus is carried out via the Shopify website. Anyone interested can request a demo and try out the features to see if it is the right solution for their business needs.

How does the checkout process work on Shopify Plus?

Shopify Checkout offers a user-friendly experience for customers and supports multiple currencies. The checkout solution is integrated directly into the e-commerce platform, enabling a seamless purchasing process.

Can I try Shopify Plus for free?

Yes, you can try Shopify for free for three days. This trial period allows businesses to test the features of Shopify Plus and decide whether it is the right solution for their needs.