What the Starter plan is
Shopify's help center describes Starter as a plan for merchants who are just starting out, built for selling through social media and messaging apps: it lets you create product links to share in social posts or messages, with a simplified online store. [1]
It includes the Spotlight theme, reports, international sales tools and what Shopify calls competitive transaction fees. It does not publish a price or fee figures on that page; it tells merchants to review the Starter plan for the transaction fees in their region. [1]
New stores cannot choose it
The help center states plainly that the Starter plan is not available to new stores. Shopify's pricing page, checked on the same date, lists Basic, Grow, Advanced and Plus with no Starter option. [1] [2]
For existing Starter merchants the move is one-way: if you change plans, you cannot switch back to Starter. To start selling, the help center says to activate checkout by choosing a paid plan or turning off private mode. [1]
What Starter leaves out
These limits come from Shopify's Starter help page; the right-hand column shows what the pricing page lists for Basic. [1] [2]
| Feature | Starter | Basic (pricing page) |
|---|---|---|
| Themes | Spotlight theme only; other themes and customization unavailable | Themes and templates included |
| Online store | Product links for social posts and messages, with a simplified online store | Full-featured online store |
| Staff accounts | Not supported | Not included; Grow includes 5 |
| Product collections | Not supported | Not stated on the pricing page |
| New templates | Not supported | Not stated on the pricing page |
| Third-party carrier-calculated shipping | Not supported | Not stated on the pricing page |
| Shopify B2B and POS Pro | Not supported | Not stated on the pricing page |
What you pay on Basic, the current entry plan
Because Starter is closed to new stores and Shopify does not publish its rates on the help page, a new link-based seller should budget from Basic. The pricing page lists Basic at $29 a month on yearly billing or $39 monthly, online standard card rates of 2.9% + 30 cents, premium card rates of 3.5% + 30 cents, in-person rates of 2.6% + 10 cents, and a 2% fee if you use a third-party payment provider instead of Shopify's. [2]
The pricing page also advertises a 3-day free trial followed by $1 a month for 3 months. That is an introductory price, not the long-run cost. [2]
Worked example: a link-in-bio seller
Hypothetical: 20 orders a month at $30 each, $600 in online sales, all through Shopify's own payment processing on Basic with yearly billing.
| Line | Calculation | Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| Plan | $29 a month on yearly billing | $29.00 |
| Card percentage, standard | 2.9% of $600 | $17.40 |
| Card fixed fee | 20 orders x $0.30 | $6.00 |
| Total, standard cards | Plan plus card fees | $52.40 |
| Per order | $52.40 / 20 | $2.62 |
| Cautious case, premium cards | 3.5% of $600 + $6.00 + $29 | $56.00 |
| Monthly billing instead | Standard case with a $39 plan | $62.40 |
Who it fits and what to do instead
If you already have Starter and sell only through links, the plan's limits may not matter; just note that leaving it is permanent. [1] If you are starting now, the choice is between a paid Shopify plan and a smaller tool.
- Choose Basic if you expect more products, shipping or in-person sales; the per-order cost falls as sales grow because the $29 plan is fixed.
- Use Shopify's Buy Button, which the pricing FAQ says can embed buy buttons on an external website or blog, if you already have a site.
- At a few orders a month, compare the $348 yearly Basic plan with lighter options in our one-product selling guide before committing.
- Keep payments on Shopify's own processing to avoid the 2% third-party provider fee on Basic.
Questions before you decide
Can I sign up for Shopify Starter today?
Shopify's help center says the Starter plan is not available to new stores, and the current pricing page lists Basic, Grow, Advanced and Plus.
Can I go back to Starter after upgrading?
No. The help center says that if a Starter merchant changes plans, they cannot revert to the Starter plan.
What does Shopify Basic cost?
The pricing page lists Basic at $29 a month on yearly billing or $39 on monthly billing, with online standard card rates of 2.9% + 30 cents.
Sources & verification
Product details and prices can change. Check the linked provider before buying.
- Shopify Help Center: Shopify Starter plan Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Shopify pricing Accessed 30 Oct 2026
Sources link directly to providers. Product buttons may use separately labeled affiliate links. Read our disclosure.