Shopify vs Shopify Plus

Shopify and Shopify Plus are both popular e-commerce platforms that help businesses create and manage their online stores. We often get the question what the differences between those two are. They are not completely the same platform, they are key differences between the two that businesses should consider when deciding which platform is right for them.

Main differences

One of the main differences between Shopify and Shopify Plus is the size of the business that each platform is geared towards. Shopify is suitable for smaller businesses, with plans starting at € 21 up to € 259 per month and a range of features that are suitable for businesses with relatively low volumes of sales. Shopify Plus, on the other hand, is geared towards larger businesses with high volumes of sales and more complex needs. It offers a range of advanced features and integrations, as well as dedicated support and a customizable checkout experience.

One big key difference between the two platforms is the pricing. Shopify Plus is significantly more expensive than Shopify, with plans starting at $2,000 per month. This higher price point reflects the additional features and support that Shopify Plus offers, as well as the fact that it is suitable for larger businesses with higher volumes of sales.

Other differences

Customization options

Shopify offers a range of customization options, including the ability to use custom themes and add custom functions using apps and integrations. Shopify Plus offers even more customization options, including the ability to customize the checkout process and create custom reports and dashboards.

Support

Both Shopify and Shopify Plus offer support, but Shopify Plus includes dedicated account management and priority support. This can be particularly useful for larger businesses with more complex needs.

Fraud protection

Both Shopify and Shopify Plus offer fraud protection to help businesses prevent fraudulent orders. However, Shopify Plus includes advanced fraud protection tools and dedicated support to help businesses identify and prevent fraudulent orders.

Gift cards

With Shopify Plus you have access to the gift card API which is essential is you want to manage gift cards with your ERP or POS system for an omnichannel experience. Next to more API access you will also have higher API rates on Plus.

Advanced reporting

Shopify Plus includes advanced reporting features, such as the ability to create custom reports and dashboards using Shopify QL. Shopify also offers reporting features, but they are more limited in scope.

Account manager

Shopify Plus offers personalized and dedicated support for your store. When you sign up for Shopify Plus, you will be assigned a Launch Engineer who will be with you throughout the process of setting up or migrating your store. They can help you with third-party integrations and finding partners to work on projects specific to your business. The Launch Engineer is there to provide support and guidance every step of the way.

Multiple stores

Shopify Plus allows businesses to manage multiple stores from a single dashboard, which can be useful for businesses that operate multiple online stores or want to sell on multiple markets. Shopify does not offer this capability.

Multipass

If you have an SSO and you want to use this also on Shopify you need the Multipass feature from Shopify Plus.

Shopify Plus users have access to exclusive apps through the Shopify app store that are not available to regular Shopify users, including:

• The B2B platform, which is designed to help businesses with high volumes of B2B sales.
  
• Shopify Flow, an e-commerce automation platform that allows you to automate tasks and processes within your store and across your apps using a visual builder.
  
• Launchpad, a tool that allows you to plan and automate flash sales, product launches, or sales campaigns.
  
• Shopify Scripts, which allows you to create personalized experiences at the checkout stage by adding small pieces of code to customize shipping and payment options and apply discounts.
  
• The Bulk Account Inviter, which allows you to invite customers imported from another platform or store to activate their accounts for your online business.
  
• The Transporter app, which makes it easy to import customer, product, and order records into your Shopify store.

Conclusion

So, which platform is right for your business? If you have a small business with relatively low volumes of sales, Shopify is likely the best choice for you. It is more affordable and offers a range of features that are suitable for smaller businesses. However, if you have a larger business with high volumes of sales and more complex needs, Shopify Plus may be the better choice.

If you’re not sure which platform is right for your business, Radikal can help. Our team of experts can give you a demo of both Shopify and Shopify Plus, helping you to make an informed decision about which platform is right for your business. We can also help you with the setup and customization of your online store, ensuring that it meets the specific needs of your business. So if you’re looking to start an online store or are considering switching to a new e-commerce platform, don’t hesitate to reach out to Radikal for help.