How Much Does Shopify Take Per Sale

If you’re planning to start an online store, one question hits almost every seller: “How much does Shopify actually take from each sale?” It sounds simple, but when you dig deeper, you’ll find that Shopify fees are layered, some expected, some surprising, and some completely misunderstood.

Whether you’re a beginner or already working with a Shopify partner, understanding these fees is crucial for building a profitable store.

Why You Should Know About Shopify Fees

Have you ever wondered why some Shopify stores grow faster than others, even when they have similar products?

Often, the answer lies in how well the store owner understands their expenses, especially transaction and processing fees.

Importance of Knowing the Fees

When you know exactly what Shopify charges per sale, you can set accurate product pricing, calculate margins correctly, and avoid unexpected losses.

How Fees Affect Your Profit

Every small fee adds up. Even a tiny difference of 1–2% per order can impact your monthly revenue. If you don’t track these numbers, your profit can drop without you noticing.

Why Beginners Often Misunderstand Shopify Costs

Many new sellers assume the only cost is the monthly plan. But real costs include transaction fees, processing fees, app charges, theme upgrades, and more. This misunderstanding often leads beginners to think Shopify is “too expensive,” when in reality, they simply didn’t plan their expenses properly.

How Shopify Fees Work

Understanding Shopify’s fee system becomes easier once you break it down into smaller pieces.

What Shopify Charges Per Sale

Shopify takes a percentage of each sale, depending on the plan you choose. These are called processing fees when using Shopify Payments, or transaction fees when using an external payment gateway.

What Transaction Fees Are

If you don’t use Shopify Payments, Shopify adds extra charges to each order. These transaction fees compensate Shopify for supporting third-party payment providers.

What Processing Fees Are

Processing fees are charged by payment gateways (like Shopify Payments, Stripe, PayPal) for handling the card payment. These include a percentage plus a small fixed amount.

Shopify Plans and Their Fee Differences

Your Shopify plan plays a major role in how much you ultimately pay per transaction. If you’re unsure which plan suits your business, a Shopify Consultant can help you choose based on your sales volume.

Basic Plan

Processing fee: Usually around 2.9% + 30¢ per online sale (with Shopify Payments).
Best for small stores or beginners.

Shopify Plan

Processing fee: Around 2.6% + 30¢ per sale.
Ideal for growing stores with steady traffic.

Advanced Plan

Processing fee: Around 2.4% + 30¢ per sale.
Suitable for high-volume stores that need advanced reports and lower fees.

Which Plan Is Best for Different Business Stages?

Your plan should evolve as your sales increase. Moving to a higher plan too early increases expenses, while switching too late may cost you more in unnecessary fees.

• New sellers: Basic

• Growing stores: Shopify

• High-volume brands: Advanced

How Much Shopify Takes Per Sale

This is where most sellers want a clear, simple breakdown.

Percentage Fee Per Order

Each order includes a percentage fee based on the plan (ex, 2.9%, 2.6%, or 2.4%).

Extra Fixed Fee Per Transaction

On top of the percentage, Shopify adds a fixed fee (usually 30¢) for every online card transaction.

Example: How Much Is Taken From a $100 Sale?

Let’s look at a $100 sale on the Basic Plan using Shopify Payments:

• Percentage fee: 2.9% of $100 = $2.90

• Fixed fee: $0.30

• Total fees: $3.20

So if you make a $100 sale, Shopify takes $3.20, and you receive $96.80.

Changes When Using Other Payment Gateways

If you choose PayPal, Stripe, Razorpay, or other providers:

• You’ll still pay the gateway’s processing fee

• PLUS Shopify’s extra transaction fee (around 2%)

This can significantly increase total costs, which is why many sellers choose Shopify Payments.

Hidden Charges on Shopify

These aren’t exactly “hidden,” but many beginners don’t notice them until later.

Paid Apps

Apps improve your store’s features, but they can add $5 to $200+ monthly.
Beginners often install too many apps without realizing the long-term cost.

Paid Themes

Premium themes may cost $150–$380.
It’s a one-time fee, but it still affects your startup budget.

Extra Payment Gateway Fees

External gateways come with their own percentage and fixed fees.

Currency Conversion Fees

If you sell internationally, Shopify may charge around 1.5-2% for currency conversions.

Monthly Add-Ons

Tools like email marketing, SMS, shipping apps, and analytics tools often charge extra.

Other Extra Costs Sellers Don’t Expect

These add up over time and should be included in your profit calculations.

• Domain name purchase

• Shipping label fees

• Fulfillment fees (if using fulfillment services)

• Inventory costs

• Optional upgrades like custom apps

How To Reduce Shopify Fees

Smart sellers always find ways to keep costs low. If you’re unsure which cost-saving method is best for your store, you can always hire Shopify expert support for guidance.

Choosing the Right Plan

Upgrade only when your sales volume justifies it. Sometimes staying on the Basic plan is more profitable for small stores.

Using Shopify Payments

This is the easiest and quickest way to reduce extra fees since Shopify waives transaction fees when you use its own payment system.

Removing Unnecessary Apps

Audit your apps monthly.
If an app isn’t helping you increase revenue or improve customer experience, uninstall it.

Avoiding Extra Upgrades and Add-Ons

Not every store needs advanced reports, custom themes, or expensive analytics tools.
Start simple and upgrade with purpose.

Conclusion: Is Shopify Worth It?

So, is Shopify worth the fees it charges? For most sellers, the answer is yes, especially when you clearly understand how these costs work. The total amount you pay depends on your plan, the payment gateway you use, and the extra tools you add to your store, but once you learn how these fees function, managing your expenses becomes far easier. 

Shopify offers strong security, a fast checkout experience, reliable hosting, and a clean, user-friendly interface that helps new sellers build their stores without unnecessary complications. 

When you focus on keeping your setup simple, tracking your monthly costs, and investing only in tools that support real growth, Shopify becomes a highly dependable platform. 

For beginners, the smartest approach is to start small, review expenses regularly, and upgrade only when your sales volume makes it sensible. If you take your time to understand the numbers, Shopify can offer everything you need to build and scale a successful online business.

Sachin Sharma

With a Bachelor’s in Commerce and 15 years of experience in Ecommerce SEO and Shopify Development, I bring extensive expertise to the digital field. As Managing Partner at WillShall Consulting, I lead a team delivering exceptional Digital Marketing, Web Development, and Web Designing services. My passion for innovation and commitment to excellence help businesses thrive in the digital age.