Building your online digital storefront is important to increase online visibility, and for that, selecting the right eCommerce platform is necessary. The two most promising names in this category are Shopify and Shopify Plus. Both platforms offer robust features that cater to the different needs of the business.
With millions of active users worldwide, Shopify is a popular choice for businesses and certified Shopify experts. It is also best for individuals seeking ways to establish their online presence.
However, Shopify Plus, emerging as an advancement of the former, has observed a growth rate of around 19% in the year 2022.
Today, in this guide, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of the two, along with a focus on specialized features, pricing, and key characteristics. So, let’s get started!
Understanding Shopify
Tobias Lütke, Daniel Weinand, and Scott Lake developed Shopify, a platform ideal for small—and medium-sized businesses. It is one of the most popular eCommerce platforms today, as over 1.75 million businesses worldwide use Shopify.
It is quite known for its user-friendly interface and intuitive features. The Shopify website design company was developed to help businesses and companies get their online sites running quickly and efficiently.
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Shopify’s Key Features
- Customizable Themes: Shopify provides numerous professional themes to users. These themes can be further customized as per the user’s requirement to match their brand.
- Variety of eCommerce Tools: It includes several eCommerce tools for smooth processing. These include a shopping cart, inventory management software, SEO, marketing tools, and integration with social media platforms to boost productivity.
- 24/7 Customer Support: The Shopify SEO consultants and expert customer support team provide comprehensive 24/7 support to users. Shopify users can contact the concerned team via phone, email, and live chat.
Shopify’s Pricing
- Plans: The basic plan starts at $29 per month, the standard plan begins at $79 per month, and advanced plans start at $299 per month.
- Payment Processing Fees: The platform charges nominal one-time payment processing fees for its new users. For online sales, it is 2.9% + 30 cents per transaction, and for in-person transactions, it is 2.5%.
Who Should Use Shopify?
- It is a perfect choice for small businesses that are just starting and have low to moderate sales volume.
- Shopify is best for budget-conscious users or businesses that need a powerful, cost-effective eCommerce solution.
- Also, DIY entrepreneurs or individuals who prefer simple, straightforward setups can use Shopify. These entrepreneurs generally don’t require extensive technical expertise.
Understanding Shopify Plus
Shopify Plus is an upgraded version of Shopify. It inherits some of the best and most advanced features, functionalities, and integrations from the former. Shopify Plus targets a special customer base and offers diverse pricing plans, which makes the platform somewhat distinct from Shopify.
Shopify Plus is best tailored for large enterprises and businesses. It is specially designed to handle large volumes of data. So, when it comes to speed, Shopify Plus is highly recommended because:
- Enables scaling of operations at lightning speed
- Supports the development of user-friendly automated workflows
- Provides extensive support options
- Offers seamless access to the majority of the store’s code, leading to driving flexible growth
Shopify Plus Key Features
- Centralized Management: Shopify Plus can manage multiple stores using a single central dashboard in the Shopify organization admin.
- Enhanced Customization: Shopify’s Liquid Crossing Language provides an option for advanced theme customization to users.
- API Integrations: Users have easy access to extensive API resources. This also enables integration with customer apps and some complex existing systems, such as ERP, CRM, and WMS.
- Exclusive Apps: It allows users to utilize exclusive store apps present on the Shopify website design company webpage. Some of these include Wholesale Channel, Shopify Flow, Launchpad, and more. Store owners can sell products in bulk to wholesale sellers via the use of the Wholesale Channel app.
- Merchant Success Program: The extensive team of Merchant Success Managers provides dedicated support to users, allowing store owners to get the most out of their products. Other necessary resources, like webinars, training, and a community network, are also available.
Shopify Plus Pricing
- Cost: The Shopify Plus basic plan starts at $2000/month. However, the final process is quote-based and depends on sales volume and businesses’ specific needs.
Who should use Shopify Plus?
- Shopify Plus is a platform for large enterprises and businesses with high sales volume, typically over $80,000 per month. It helps fulfil organizations’ various complex operational needs.
- Growing businesses and companies seeking ways to scale their operations can also use Shopify Plus. It provides advanced features and dedicated support by certified Shopify experts to users.
- Shopify Plus customizes services as per the needs of the business. Thus, it is best for enterprises that require extensive customization and integration capabilities.
Shopify vs Shopify Plus: Key Differences at a Glance
Following is a comparative table on the key differences between the two platforms that will help you choose the right one for your business:
| Features | Shopify | Shopify Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Support | 24/7 via Phone, Email, Chat | Dedicated Support, Launch Engineer |
| Customization | Basic theme customization | Advanced Customization with Liquid |
| Staff Accounts | Up to 5 | Unlimited |
| Checkout Experience | Basic | Highly Customizable |
| API Integrations | Limited | Expensive |
| Exclusive Apps | No | Yes |
| Wholesale Channels | No | Yes |
| Merchant Success Program | No | Yes |
| Analytics | Standard | Advanced |
| Pricing | $29-$299 per month | Starts at $2000 per month |
| Automation Tools | No | Yes (Launchpad, Shopify Flow) |
Shopify vs. Shopify Plus: Key Advantages
| Shopify | Shopify Plus |
|---|---|
| Shopify is a website design company that allows its users to pay only for the services they need. It offers three affordable pricing plans: basic, medium, and advanced. | Shopify Plus offers advanced features like upgraded checks and product recommendations. Store owners can also effectively track their customer data and inventory records through Shopify Plus. |
| It provides scalable features that are helpful for growing businesses and entrepreneurs. | The Launch Manager and Script Editor services allow users to customize their checkout experience. |
| Users can customize and design themes as per their needs. | It offers multilingual support for its users. Shopify Plus can support up to 20 languages compared to Shopify, which offers support in only 5 languages. This makes the platforms cater to global audiences easily. |
| The 24/7 extensive customer support helps the businesses run quickly and efficiently. | Users get free access to some of the unique resources. These include Shopify Plus Academy, dedicated Facebook community support, meet-ups, and invitation events, which provide valuable learning and networking experiences. |
Which One to Choose?
Shopify’s easy-to-use interface and intuitive dashboard permit different business owners to handle their data effectively. However, Shopify Plus, with more advanced features and customization options, stands one step ahead. It offers flexibility and extensive support for its customers.
Additionally, characteristics like end-to-end automated workflows are beneficial for managing large-scale business operations, such as sales scheduling, driving promotional campaigns, and managing inventory. If you are not familiar with the Shopify platform you can read this Step by Step guide on how to start your Shopify store.
Therefore, the Shopify Plus platform is best suited for large businesses and entrepreneurs to handle a high volume of monthly orders. In contrast, Shopify is best for small to medium-sized businesses. Individuals seeking simple, straightforward eCommerce platforms can consider Shopify. The interface is quite user-friendly and offers some exceptional features, making Shopify a perfect choice for individuals with no experience in handling online stores.
Wrapping up,
Choosing the right platform between Shopify and Shopify Plus depends on the specific needs and scale of the business. Both eCommerce platforms offer specialized features, making them perfect for your online stores.
However, the question is whether to upgrade to an advanced version. It is best to consult certified Shopify experts, like Icecube Digital’s Shopify SEO consultants, as they are best positioned to recommend the best tips to grow and support your business. Our consultants have advised and assisted many businesses in making the most cost-effective and intuitive use of the platform.
