Shopify's headline price looks simple, but the real cost of running a store is more than the monthly plan. Between transaction fees, apps and add-ons, the total can be well above the sticker. Here is what Shopify actually costs in Ireland, so you can budget properly.
How much does Shopify cost?
Shopify runs on monthly plans, starting around €30 a month for the basic tier and rising for more features and lower fees. On top of the plan, you pay transaction fees, and often monthly costs for apps. The plan price is the start of the cost, not the whole of it.
What are Shopify's transaction fees?
If you use Shopify Payments, you pay a card-processing fee per sale. If you use an outside payment provider instead, Shopify adds its own extra transaction fee on top, which is why most stores stick with Shopify Payments. Either way, factor a percentage of every sale into your sums.
What about app and theme costs?
This is where budgets drift. Many features, reviews, subscriptions, advanced shipping, come from paid apps with their own monthly fees, and a premium theme is a one-off cost. A few apps can quietly add as much again to your monthly bill, so list what you actually need before committing.
Is Shopify worth the cost?
For many small stores, yes: you get a reliable, well-supported platform that is quick to launch. The question is whether the ongoing fees suit your margins and volume. At higher volumes, the percentage-based costs can make a custom store cheaper, the trade-off we cover in the best eCommerce platform for a small Irish business.
How does it compare to other platforms?
Shopify trades a recurring cost for ease and support; WordPress with WooCommerce shifts cost to hosting and upkeep; a custom build is a larger one-off with no per-sale platform fee. We compare them in WordPress, Shopify or Wix, and you can see our Shopify web design.
Frequently asked questions
Does Shopify charge per sale?
Yes, through card-processing fees on Shopify Payments, or an additional Shopify transaction fee if you use an outside provider. There is no way to take payments on Shopify with no per-sale cost at all, so build it into your pricing.
Why is my Shopify bill higher than the plan price?
Almost always paid apps, plus transaction fees. The monthly plan is just the base; apps for features Shopify does not include, and the fees on each sale, make up the difference. Reviewing your apps is the quickest way to trim it.
Is Shopify cheaper than a custom store?
At low volumes, usually yes, you avoid an upfront build cost. As you grow, the monthly plans, apps and per-sale fees add up, and a custom store with no platform fees can work out cheaper over time. Ask us to weigh it up.
Weighing up Shopify against the alternatives? We will give you an honest steer. Get a free quote.