How Shopify fees are calculated
Your monthly Shopify cost has two main parts: the plan subscription and the cost of accepting card payments. For US standard online card payments through Shopify Payments, each payment costs a percentage plus a fixed $0.30.
Formula
Monthly cost = Subscription + (Card payments × Plan rate) + (Number of payments × $0.30)
Number of payments = Card payments ÷ Average payment · Effective rate = Monthly cost ÷ Card payments
The fixed fee matters more on small orders. A $10 payment on Basic costs $0.59, or 5.9% of the payment. A $100 payment costs $3.20, or 3.2%. That is why the calculator asks for your average payment as well as your volume.
Worked example: $10,000 a month on Basic
$10,000 processed through Basic at a $50 average means 200 payments. Processing is $290 plus $60 in fixed fees, or $350.
| Line | Billed yearly | Billed monthly |
|---|---|---|
| Percentage fee: $10,000 × 2.9% | $290.00 | $290.00 |
| Fixed fees: 200 payments × $0.30 | $60.00 | $60.00 |
| Subscription | $29.00 | $39.00 |
| Total per month | $379.00 | $389.00 |
The total is a budget estimate, not a payout statement or profit. For the full breakdown of a single $20 sale and how to record fees, read the Shopify fees guide.
Plan prices and card rates
US prices in USD, checked in October 2026.
| Plan | Billed yearly (per month) | Billed monthly | Online card rate | Third-party fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $29 | $39 | 2.9% + $0.30 | 2% |
| Grow | $79 | $105 | 2.7% + $0.30 | 1% |
| Advanced | $299 | $399 | 2.5% + $0.30 | 0.6% |
Sources: Shopify pricing and Shopify’s US plan and payment rates. These are standard rates, not a quote for every card or merchant. The third-party fee is a separate Shopify charge when an external provider processes a payment. Shopify’s third-party transaction fee rules exempt Shopify Payments transactions and qualifying PayPal payments when Shopify Payments is your primary gateway.
When an upgrade pays off
A higher plan has a lower card rate but a higher subscription. With yearly billing and only US standard online card payments, the break-even points are:
- Basic to Grow: $50 more a month for 0.2 percentage points less. Breaks even at $25,000 of monthly card payments.
- Grow to Advanced: $220 more a month for 0.2 percentage points less. Breaks even at $110,000.
With monthly billing the break-even points are $33,000 and $147,000. Staff access, reporting, and other features can justify a plan before its processing savings do.
What is not included
The estimate covers the subscription and US standard online card processing only. Add apps, themes, domains, POS upgrades, tax services, external gateway charges, refunds, disputes, and currency-related costs separately when they apply. Use the rate in your store’s admin and your provider statement for final bookkeeping.
A Shopify payout combines sales, tax, fees, and refunds, so the deposit is not your revenue. Taxomate’s Shopify QuickBooks integration and Shopify Xero integration split each payout into those parts.
Questions sellers ask
How much does Shopify charge on a $20 sale?
On Basic, a $20 US standard online card payment through Shopify Payments costs $0.88 at 2.9% plus $0.30. That leaves $19.12 before product costs and other charges. The subscription is separate.
Is Basic $29 or $39 a month?
US Basic costs the equivalent of $29 per month when billed yearly, or $39 when billed monthly, before any applicable taxes or promotion. The yearly price requires paying for the year.
When do lower processing rates justify upgrading Shopify plans?
With yearly billing and only US standard online card payments, Grow’s $50 higher monthly equivalent subscription breaks even against Basic at $25,000 of monthly processed payments. Advanced’s $220 increase over Grow breaks even at $110,000.
Does this calculator include every store cost?
No. It estimates the subscription and US standard online card processing. Add apps, themes, domains, POS upgrades, tax services, external gateway charges, refunds, and currency-related costs separately when they apply.