Choosing the right Shopify plan can make a significant impact on your eCommerce business’s growth and efficiency. With so many options available, understanding the differences between Shopify Advanced and Shopify Plus is essential for businesses looking to scale or optimize their operations.
Both plans offer robust features, but they cater to different types of businesses. In this article, we’ll dive deep into their capabilities, benefits, and which one is the right choice for your business.
What is Shopify Advanced?
Overview
Shopify Advanced is designed for growing businesses that need more advanced features than the basic Shopify plans can offer but are not ready to make the leap to enterprise-level pricing.
Key Features of Shopify Advanced
- Pricing
- $299 per month (annual billing).
- $399 per month (monthly billing).
- Staff Accounts
- Supports up to 15 staff accounts, making it ideal for medium-sized teams.
- Advanced Reporting
- Provides advanced analytics tools, including custom report builders for more granular insights.
- Shipping Features
- Includes third-party calculated shipping rates, which help optimize shipping costs and improve customer satisfaction.
- Inventory Locations
- Manage inventory across up to 8 locations, ensuring smooth operations for businesses with multiple warehouses or stores.
- Transaction Fees
- 5% per transaction if using an external payment gateway. Shopify Payments eliminates these fees.
Who is Shopify Advanced Best For?
Shopify Advanced is ideal for businesses that:
- Generate moderate to high revenue but don’t yet need enterprise-level features.
- Require advanced reporting for better decision-making.
- Want to streamline operations with multiple inventory locations.
What is Shopify Plus?
Overview
Shopify Plus is Shopify’s enterprise solution, tailored for high-volume merchants and complex business needs. It offers extensive customization options and advanced tools that go beyond the capabilities of Shopify Advanced.
Key Features of Shopify Plus
- Pricing
- Starts at $2,000 per month.
- Custom pricing is available for businesses with specific needs.
- Unlimited Staff Accounts
- Provides flexibility for larger teams with no restrictions on the number of users.
- Advanced Customization
- Full control over the checkout process with Shopify’s Checkout Script Editor.
- Access to APIs for deeper integrations and custom workflows.
- Dedicated Support
- 24/7 priority support with a dedicated Merchant Success Manager who helps optimize your store.
- Multiple Storefronts
- Includes up to 10 stores under one account, making it perfect for global businesses or those with distinct regional strategies.
- Automation Tools
- Shopify Flow: Automates tasks like inventory management and customer segmentation.
- Launchpad: Simplifies managing flash sales and product launches.
- Transaction Fees
- 15% per transaction with external payment gateways, significantly lower than Shopify Advanced.
Who is Shopify Plus Best For?
Shopify Plus is ideal for businesses that:
- Generate high-volume sales and need advanced customization options.
- Operate in multiple regions or markets.
- Require dedicated support and tools to streamline operations.
Comparing Shopify Advanced and Shopify Plus
To make the best decision, let’s compare these two plans across key business needs:
1. Pricing and Transaction Fees
- Shopify Advanced:
Lower monthly cost ($299/month), but transaction fees (0.5%) can add up for high-volume sales unless Shopify Payments is used. - Shopify Plus:
Higher monthly cost (starting at $2,000/month) but lower transaction fees (0.15%), which is cost-effective for businesses with large sales volumes.
- Customization and Control
- Shopify Advanced:
Offers some level of customization, but checkout customization is limited to Shopify’s default features. - Shopify Plus:
Provides extensive customization, including control over the checkout process via Shopify’s Script Editor. Businesses can tailor the shopping experience to their specific needs.
3. Support and Assistance
- Shopify Advanced:
Offers 24/7 customer support through chat, email, and phone. - Shopify Plus:
Includes dedicated Merchant Success Managers who provide tailored advice and hands-on support.
4. Global Expansion and Multi-Store Management
- Shopify Advanced:
Supports up to 8 inventory locations but is limited to a single storefront. - Shopify Plus:
Allows up to 10 storefronts under a single account, making it ideal for businesses with regional stores or separate B2B and B2C operations.
5. Automation and Scalability
- Shopify Advanced:
Provides tools for scaling but lacks advanced automation features. - Shopify Plus:
Offers powerful automation tools like Shopify Flow and Launchpad, which simplify complex tasks and enable businesses to scale efficiently.
Case Studies: Real-Life Examples
Shopify Advanced: A Growing Fashion Brand
A mid-sized fashion retailer with three physical stores and an online store found Shopify Advanced to be the perfect solution. It provided advanced reporting and inventory management across multiple locations without the need for enterprise-level customization.
Shopify Plus: A Global Electronics Retailer
An electronics retailer selling in 15 countries chose Shopify Plus for its multi-storefront capabilities. With Launchpad, they streamlined product launches across regions, while the Merchant Success Manager helped optimize international operations.
How to Choose the Best Plan
Choose Shopify Advanced If:
- Your business is generating moderate sales volume.
- You need advanced reporting and multi-location inventory management.
- Customization is not a critical priority.
Choose Shopify Plus If:
- You have high-volume sales or operate in multiple regions.
- Customization, automation, and global expansion are essential to your strategy.
- You need dedicated support to manage complex operations.
Conclusion
Both Shopify Advanced and Shopify Plus are powerful tools, but the right choice depends on your business size, growth stage, and operational needs.
- Shopify Advanced is a cost-effective solution for growing businesses looking for advanced features without enterprise-level costs.
- Shopify Plus is ideal for high-volume merchants needing extensive customization, automation, and global scalability.
No matter which plan you choose, having a clear understanding of your business goals will ensure you make the right investment. If you’re still unsure, consulting with an eCommerce expert can provide valuable guidance to help you scale efficiently.
Helix Solutions offers tailored Shopify services to help businesses maximize the potential of their chosen plan. Whether you’re upgrading or starting fresh, we’re here to ensure your eCommerce store thrives. Contact us today to learn more!
