At first, Shopify and Shopify Plus appear identical, but that’s not the case for several reasons. The difference between Shopify and Shopify Plus is subtle and unnoticeable at first glance. For many, it may be an experience like being lost between the spiderweb, as you cannot spot the difference promptly.
But don’t worry, that’s why we are here. Keep your attention to the tiny nuances between Shopify and Shopify Plus and figure out which one can be the right fit for your business.
The notion behind Shopify was to enhance the online customer experience. It has been fascinating to know that Shopify officially covered a whopping 28% (more than one in a four) of the US digital market share. According to the sources of Backlinko, nearly 2 million merchants are actively selling on the websites.
For the sake of argument, Shopify indisputably has the upper hand compared to other leading eCommerce platforms like WooCommerce, Adobe Commerce (Magento), and BigCommerce.
Let’s learn more about Shopify Plus vs Shopify and figure out which one is the best platform for your eCommerce business.
What is Shopify?
Shopify software is competent enough to deal with all small to mid-scale eCommerce businesses. Contrarily, Shopify Plus is said to be the most suitable for enterprise-level eCommerce businesses.
Shopify is built for small to mid-scale eCommerce businesses. It provides essential tools for eCommerce, including website and blog performance, sales channels, mobile app management, basic marketing tools, and simple inventory management. It offers enough features to run a robust online store effectively.
What Can Shopify Do for You?
- Build a fully functional online store
- Freedom to sell products through online channels, social media, or popular marketplaces like Amazon
- Capitalize high-grade eCommerce features like build your store as you want, integrate vital tools for website designing, sales channel
- Enjoy 24*7 customer support services with convenience and reliability
- Transparent pricing structure that helps your business to grow from ground zero to sky-high
What is Shopify Plus?
Before proceeding into the descriptive feature highlights, let’s investigate why the launch of Shopify Plus was the need of the hour when Shopify was already performing well in the eCommerce industry.
What Can Shopify Plus Do for You?
It is designed for large-scale businesses. Look at the Shopify Plus features below.
- Advanced customization capabilities through access to the checkout’s liquid code.
- Higher API limits for creating deeper integrations.
- Unlimited staff accounts
- Exclusive management tools
- Exclusive access to Shopify Flow for workflow automation, Launchpad for scheduling and executing events, and script to create personalized discounts and offers.
- Enhanced control over multi-store, currencies, and international eCommerce.
Planning to upgrade to Shopify Plus and curious to know how much does Shopify Plus cost? Essentially, both offer the same core features but when we add Plus to Shopify, it transforms into a full-fledged platform that embodies features like centralized admin control, and dedicated customer support. If you have a certain expertise level about the eCommerce ecosystem, such information can be enough to choose between Shopify and Shopify Plus benefits. But let’s delve deep into some discrepancies between the two platforms to get a concrete idea of what each does differently.
Maximize Your E-commerce Potential with Shopify Plus!
Shopify Plan
Wondering how much is Shopify per month? Price can be one of the prime determinative factors when comparing Shopify VS Shopify Plus. Compare Shopify plans through the above-given table. Also, pay attention to this intuitive questionnaire before making the Shopify plan comparison:
- The scale of your business operations
- How much budget you are open to spending
- What your business needs for online selling
- How many possibilities of your business grow
Businesses with low budgets usually go for regular Shopify plans. On the other hand, for complex business operation requirements, you might like to choose Shopify Plus and consider Shopify Plus plan. For Shopify Plus pricing, other factors like ease of use and transaction fees also matter for the business owners.
Shopify vs Shopify Plus
A Detailed Comparison Between Shopify vs Shopify Plus
For small-scale businesses, Shopify can be a great option. However, Shopify Plus takes things to the next level for established eCommerce businesses with its best-in-class advanced features and tools. Let’s preview the detailed comparison between Shopify and Shopify Plus and learn why one of these is the perfect choice for your eCommerce business. Look at the comparison table given below:
| Key Parameters | Shopify | Shopify Plus |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Customization | Limited access to checkout customization | Complete access to customized checkout |
| Extensive themes and app options | Get access to the theme language and make changes at the backend | |
| 2. Features | Standard eCommerce features | Loaded with advanced features |
| Best-suitable for small businesses | Exclusive API resources | |
| 3. Dedicated Account Manager | Get support via email, phone, and live chat | Get the luxury of a dedicated account manager for your store |
| Hire experts from Shopify | Stay stress-free for complex business operations assistance | |
| 4. Platform Integration | Unfortunately, users can’t integrate with complex existing apps | Integrate complex existing apps like CRM, ERP, and PIM easily |
| 5.Scalability | Suitable for businesses with modest web traffic | Designed to handle massive web traffic surge and sales volume |
| 6.Multi-Store Management | Limited space for multi-store management | Robust tools for handling multiple stores, regions, and global sales |
| 7.Security | SSL certificates, PCI compliance | SSL certificates, PCI compliance with additional security for higher transaction volumes |
| 8.Merchant Success Program | Not eligible for Merchant Success Program | Get exclusive access to Merchant Success Program |
| Offers extensive support through webinars and expert assistance | ||
| 9.Control | Offers a centralized dashboard with limited store control | Leverage the centralized dashboard to manage stores, analytics, and more. |
| Better control over the store due to real-time data analytics | ||
| 10.Price | Plans start from $29 to $79 monthly | Around $2K monthly, varies based on your requirement |
Shopify VS Shopify Plus: Factors That Really Matters!
Now you’ve got a fair idea about the basic features and differences between Shopify and Shopify Plus. Now, get a more accurate view that makes sense for your business. Here are some crucial factors that matter for your eCommerce business success. Take a quick look and consider it before making your final decision.
| Parameters | Shopify | Shopify Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Structure | Varies between $25 to $339 monthly | Based on Price Quotations |
| Subscription Plan | Monthly and Annual Plans Available | Pay Monthly as Well as Annually |
| Customer Support | Available 24*7 | Shopify Plus Support 24*7 |
| Ease of Use | Beginner Friendly | Steep Learning Curve |
| Payment Processing Charge | 2.9% Plus 30 Cents | Based on Quotations |
Final Verdict: Who Wins?
Let’s recap the key points we discussed earlier. If we look closely, both have the same core offering. To select between Shopify vs Shopify Plus, businesses should carefully examine cost, growth potential, and feature requirements. No matter whether you are starting or an established business, the choice between Shopify and Shopify Plus should be based on future business goals in the long run.
1. For SMBs or Businesses with Modest Aspirations: Best-suitable for smaller businesses with little to no knowledge of how to set up an online store. Shopify offers an amazing balance of features, ease of use, and affordability, making it an ideal choice for most small to mid-scale e-commerce businesses.
2. For Industry Heavyweights Looking for Advanced Features and scalability: Shopify Plus is the best option for larger businesses or those on a rapid growth trajectory. The investment in Shopify Plus is justified by its high-grade advanced features, scalability, and dedicated support, ensuring that large-scale operations can run seamlessly.
There you go. Hopefully, we’ve gone through nearly every aspect you must be aware of while evaluating Shopify VS Shopify Plus. To make more informed decisions, Ignitiv can guide you in selecting the best eCommerce platform. Get in touch with the best of Industry Shopify experts and fly high in the e-commerce industry.
