Shopify Payments Costs and UK Plan Comparison
Compare Shopify subscription prices and online payment rates together, then work out whether a plan upgrade pays for itself on your eligible sales.
The short answer
Shopify Payments costs should be assessed alongside the Shopify plan. A higher plan can reduce processing charges while increasing the subscription. Calculate both using the same payment mix and billing term. Include apps, tax where charged and other services needed to run the shop.
In this guide
Published UK plans and standard online rates
| Plan | Monthly billing | Annual billing, monthly equivalent | Standard online cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | £25 | £19 | 2% + 25p |
| Grow | £65 | £49 | 1.7% + 25p |
| Advanced | £344 | £259 | 1.5% + 25p |
These are the displayed plan prices and standard-card rates, not a universal rate for every method. The pricing page lists different Amex and international rates. Check applicable tax, your account’s terms and the actual card categories before using the table.
When does the processing reduction cover the plan?
For Basic to Grow on annual billing, the monthly-equivalent subscription difference is £30. The standard-card percentage reduction is 0.3 percentage points, or 0.003 of eligible sales. The fixed fee is unchanged in this example.
Our calculation: £30 ÷ 0.003 = £10,000 of eligible monthly sales. Below that amount, Basic costs less on these components; above it, Grow costs less. At the threshold, the two totals match.
This threshold assumes every payment receives the stated standard rate, identical counts and no other cost difference. It is not a recommendation to upgrade. A different billing term, card mix or app requirement changes the calculation.
Worked example: £20,000 across 500 payments
Fictional shop using published standard rates and annual-billing plan equivalents. All 500 payments qualify for the stated standard online card rate. Sales, counts and services are otherwise identical.
| Monthly-equivalent component | Basic | Grow | Advanced |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage charge | £400 | £340 | £300 |
| 500 fixed fees of 25p | £125 | £125 | £125 |
| Plan equivalent | £19 | £49 | £259 |
| Listed components total | £544 | £514 | £684 |
Grow is £30 below Basic on these components, a £360 difference over twelve identical months. Advanced costs more in this profile despite its lower percentage. Consider any required features separately rather than assuming that the lowest card rate gives the lowest total.
Separate the shop, the payment service and extras
Keep the website subscription, payment processing and optional apps on separate lines. A checkout comparison should also show paid integrations, renewal prices and implementation work. Check whether an introductory credit is a temporary benefit rather than a permanent reduction in cost.
Shopify’s third-party fee rules exempt payments processed through Shopify Payments from that additional provider fee. Other payment methods and store-credit arrangements have their own conditions. Read the external-provider comparison before adding or removing a platform charge.
A plan upgrade can be justified by a required operational feature, but describe that separately from a processing saving. Give an estimated value to time only when the assumption is clear.
Compare your actual billing term
Use representative gross payment amounts and counts. Select the term you intend to buy, record the commitment and check the payable tax on each charge. For annual billing, show the cash paid upfront as well as the monthly equivalent so the budget does not hide the payment timing.
The calculator can compare rates and subscriptions on a consistent monthly basis. Add one-off migration costs and the intended comparison period. It does not automatically decide which cards qualify for a provider’s standard rate or calculate tax treatment. Check the online-shop cost guide for the wider budget.
Common questions
Does the annual monthly-equivalent price mean I pay monthly?
No. It is a way to compare an annual-billing price. Check the actual payment schedule and commitment before choosing the plan.
Is the plan with the lowest card percentage always cheapest?
No. The extra subscription can exceed the processing reduction. Compare the complete cost using your card mix, transaction counts and required features.
Put your own figures to work.
Use the free calculator to organise your costs and keep a report. If something is unclear, you can ask for a free initial review.
No registration required. Calculator entries stay in your open browser page unless you choose to share a report in a review request.
Sources and how to use this guide
Primary references checked on 15 October 2026:
- Shopify: UK plans, card rates and third-party transaction fees
- Shopify: third-party fee rules, exemptions and calculation
Trading profiles and any explicitly invented quotes or allowances are fictional. Published provider tariffs are identified and dated; they are not personalised quotations. Worked totals include only the stated components and tax assumptions. They are not customer results or market averages. Provider prices, eligibility and terms can change. Check your written agreement before deciding.
Our guides explain costs and comparison methods. They do not rank the whole market or claim hands-on product testing. Source links are references, not a claim of partnership. Read the calculation method and limitations, or about the service.
Researching other options? Browse the payment and EPOS provider directory for provider profiles, official sources and questions to include in your quotation brief.