Shopify plus upgrade, yes or no ? After you’ve launched your eCommerce store with Shopify and scaled your business over time, there’s one key question that usually arises:
“Should I upgrade to Shopify Plus?”
The price difference is not marginal — Shopify Plus starts at around €2,000/month, while Shopify Advanced costs about €384/month. That’s a significant jump. However, Shopify Plus offers a suite of enterprise-level features that can be incredibly tempting, especially for growing or already scaled businesses.
As an eCommerce manager or business owner, it’s crucial to understand when it’s the right time to make this migration — not only from a feature perspective but from a financial one.
Shopify Advanced vs Shopify Plus — What’s the Real Difference?
Let’s break down the major differences between Shopify Advanced and Shopify Plus, assuming you’re already using the Advanced plan and considering the next step.
| Feature | Shopify Advanced | Shopify Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Cost | ~€384 | From ~€2,000 |
| Staff Accounts | 15 | Unlimited |
| Checkout Customization | No | Yes (via Shopify Scripts & Checkout Extensibility) |
| API Access & Rate Limits | Standard | Higher API limits & more powerful access |
| Multi-store Support | No | Up to 10 stores included |
| Dedicated Account Manager | No | Yes – Merchant Success Manager |
| Launch Support | No | Yes – Shopify Plus Launch Engineer |
| B2B Features | Limited (via apps) | Advanced built-in B2B suite |
| Automation Tools | Basic (Shopify Flow available) | Advanced (Full Flow automation across org) |
| Wholesale Channel | Basic | Advanced Wholesale/B2B tools |
| Custom Apps and APIs | Standard | Advanced capabilities with exclusive APIs |
| Shopify Payments Fees | Standard (Plus % gateway fees) | Lower fees + no extra transaction fees when using Shopify Payments |
Let’s Talk Money — When Is It Worth It?
Since we’re discussing an upgrade that’s 5x–6x more expensive, it’s only logical to evaluate this from a financial standpoint.
Our internal study across multiple eCommerce brands shows a clear pattern:
🧮 If your annual eCommerce turnover exceeds €2.5 million, the ROI of Shopify Plus becomes justifiable — and in many cases, optimal.
Why?
Because Shopify Plus allows you to avoid third-party transaction fees when you use Shopify Payments. For high-volume stores, this alone can result in thousands of euros saved every month, effectively offsetting a significant part of the upgrade cost.
More Reasons to Choose Shopify Plus
Aside from the money-saving logic, here are compelling operational and strategic benefits of Shopify Plus:
1. Multi-Store Functionality
You get up to 10 clone stores under your main Shopify Plus license. This is perfect if:
- You’re selling in multiple countries with different currencies or languages.
- You want separate stores for B2B and B2C.
- You manage multiple brands under one group.
This alone can save you several thousand euros in separate plan subscriptions.
2. Custom Checkout Experience
With Shopify Scripts and Checkout Extensibility, you can tailor the checkout flow with:
- Tiered pricing
- Conditional shipping rules
- Custom discount logic
- B2B purchase flow adjustments
Something you cannot do with Advanced plans.
3. Scalability & Performance
Higher API limits and stronger backend performance make Plus ideal for:
- Large catalogs
- Flash sales
- Complex integrations (ERP, CRM, OMS, etc.)
4. Built-In B2B Suite
Native B2B features allow:
- Custom pricing per company
- Payment terms (Net 30, Net 60)
- Quick order functionality
- Dedicated B2B login experience
All without the need for additional paid apps.
6. Shopify Flow and Organizational Automation
Automation at scale — Shopify Plus lets you:
- Automate across multiple stores
- Create custom flows based on customer tags, order value, or channel
- Integrate deeper with third-party tools
When NOT to Upgrade Yet
Shopify Plus is not for everyone. Here’s when it might be too soon:
- Your annual turnover is under €1.5–2M
- You don’t plan to expand internationally or operate multiple storefronts
- You’re not using Shopify Payments (e.g., due to unsupported countries)
- You don’t need custom checkout or heavy integrations
In these cases, it’s better to optimize your Advanced store until your operation justifies the cost.
Final Thoughts: Upgrade for Strategy, Not Just Features
Shopify plus upgrade is not just a technical decision — it’s a strategic investment.
It unlocks new opportunities for automation, internationalization, and efficiency — but only when the financials make sense.
If your store is generating consistent, high-volume revenue and you’re ready to scale globally or operationally, Shopify Plus is not just a good idea — it’s the right move.
🔍 Still Unsure?
I’ve helped multiple businesses evaluate this decision.
Feel free to contact me for consultation if you are still have more questions