The Full Shopify Fee Structure (2026)
Before calculating profit, you must understand every fee layer Shopify charges. Most store owners only know the monthly subscription cost — the visible iceberg tip. The hidden costs below the surface are often 5–10x larger.
Subscription Fees
- Basic: $29/month (2.9% + 30¢ transaction fee via external gateways)
- Shopify: $79/month (1% transaction fee reduction)
- Advanced: $299/month (further transaction fee reduction)
- Annual plans: ~25% discount on above
Payment Processing Fees
- Shopify Payments: 2.9% + 30¢ (Basic), 2.6% + 30¢ (Shopify plan), 2.4% + 30¢ (Advanced)
- Third-party gateway: Processor fee + 0.5–2% Shopify transaction fee
App Ecosystem Costs (Often Overlooked)
The average Shopify store uses 5–10 apps. At $20–$80/month each, this adds $100–$800/month in overhead before selling a single unit. Common app categories: email marketing ($29–$199/month), reviews ($15–$50/month), upsells ($30–$100/month), shipping ($20–$80/month), analytics ($50–$200/month).
Real Annual Cost of a $500k/Year Shopify Store
- Subscription: $948/year (Advanced plan annual)
- Payment processing (Shopify Payments): ~$12,300/year (2.4% + fees)
- Apps: ~$3,600/year (estimate)
- Total platform costs: ~$16,848/year (3.4% of revenue)
This doesn't include COGS, ad spend, shipping, or returns — all of which are larger costs. Use the Shopify Profit Calculator to aggregate every cost and see your real net margin at your specific revenue level.