Ask which is the cheapest Shopify plan and you will get three different answers, because the lowest price and the lowest-cost way to run a real store are not the same thing. Shopify now has a $0 Agentic plan with no public online store, a $5 Starter plan that new merchants can no longer choose, and Basic, the lowest-cost Shopify plan that lets you publish a full store. This guide explains what each one costs, what you give up, and the point at which a low-cost Shopify plan stops being the cheaper option.
The cheapest Shopify plan at a glance
| Plan | Monthly price | Open to new stores? | Public online store? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agentic | $0 | Yes, aimed at brands not already on Shopify | No |
| Starter | $5 | No, closed to new stores in 2026 | Link-based selling only |
| Basic | $25 (monthly billing), $22 per month (yearly billing) | Yes | Yes |
For a store you can actually publish and sell from, the cheapest Shopify plan is Basic.
What happened to the $5 Starter Plan?
Older guides still recommend Starter as the cheapest Shopify plan, but that advice is out of date. Shopify’s Help Center now states that Starter isn’t available to new stores, and a merchant who changes plans can’t go back to it.
Merchants already on Starter keep it at $5 a month. If you are a new seller, Starter is no longer an option. If you are an existing Starter merchant, the break-even section below shows when moving up makes financial sense.
The $0 Agentic Plan: Cheapest on paper, narrow in practice
The Agentic plan has no monthly subscription, which makes it the lowest-cost Shopify plan by sticker price. It lets you add products to Shopify Catalog and sell through AI shopping channels such as ChatGPT and Gemini, and you pay card processing fees only when a sale completes. Shopify describes it as designed for businesses that run commerce on other platforms and want AI-channel sales without replatforming.
What you do not get matters more than the $0 price. You cannot publish a Shopify online store, and features such as Shopify Messaging, gift card sales and manual order creation are unavailable. Before relying on it, open Sales channels and then Agentic in your admin and read the channel terms, because the supplemental terms set out any channel-specific rates.
It suits a brand that already sells elsewhere and wants to test AI channels at no fixed cost. It does not replace a store.
Basic: The lowest-cost Shopify Plan with a real store
Basic is where a new merchant who wants a public store starts. It costs $25 a month on monthly billing and $22 a month when you pay yearly. For that, you get a full-featured online store, themes and templates, unlimited products and Shopify’s checkout.
Two details keep the price low or push it up:
- Billing cycle. Yearly billing saves $3 a month, or $36 a year, on Basic. New stores should consider starting monthly while testing demand, then switching once sales are steady.
- Payment provider. Using Shopify Payments avoids Shopify’s extra third-party transaction fee, which is 2% on Basic if you use an outside provider.
New stores can also try Shopify before paying full price. The Shopify free trial and any follow-on promotional pricing change over time, so check the current offer on Shopify’s pricing page before you sign up.
The real cost of a low-cost Shopify plan
The plan price is only one layer of what you will spend. A cheap subscription can still lead to a bigger bill once payments and add-ons arrive.
| Cost | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Card processing | 2.9% + 30¢ per online sale on Basic with Shopify Payments |
| Third-party gateway fee | An extra 2% on Basic if you do not use Shopify Payments |
| Apps | Often the largest add-on; many working stacks run $50–$300 a month |
| Theme | Free themes are available; paid themes cost roughly $100–$500 once |
| Domain | Roughly $9–$14+ a year through Shopify, or free to connect one you own |
For a full breakdown of each charge, see our guide to Shopify fees.
Why Starter users should move to Basic
Starter’s last published online card rate was 5% + 30¢, against 2.9% + 30¢ on Basic. The 30¢ is the same, so the comparison comes down to a 2.1-point gap in the percentage.
| Monthly sales | Starter ($5 + 5%) | Basic, monthly billing ($25 + 2.9%) | Basic, yearly billing ($22 + 2.9%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | $55 | $54 | $51 |
| $2,000 | $105 | $83 | $80 |
Break-even sits at roughly $950 a month on monthly billing, or about $810 on yearly billing. Above that, Basic costs less and gives you a real storefront. Because leaving Starter is a one-way move, switch when you are clearly past that volume or when you need features Starter lacks, not at the first dollar of savings.
Conclusion
The cheapest Shopify plan depends on what you need the plan to do. The $0 Agentic plan costs nothing monthly but gives you no public store, Starter is closed to new merchants, and Basic is the lowest-cost Shopify plan for a store you can publish. Pick Basic if you want a real shop, keep payments on Shopify Payments, and watch your app spending, since that is where a low-cost plan usually turns expensive.
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FAQs
What is the cheapest Shopify plan?
By subscription price, it is the $0 Agentic plan, but it does not let you publish an online store. The cheapest Shopify plan that includes a full store is Basic, at $25 a month on monthly billing or $22 a month on yearly billing.
Is there a free Shopify plan?
The Agentic plan has no monthly fee, but it is built for selling in AI channels and does not allow a published online store. To run a public store you need Basic or higher. New stores can also use Shopify’s free trial period, subject to the current offer.
Can I still get the $5 Starter plan?
Not as a new store. Shopify’s Help Center says Starter isn’t available to new stores, and merchants who leave it cannot return. Existing Starter merchants can stay on it.
What is the lowest-cost Shopify plan with an online store?
Basic. It includes a full-featured online store, themes, unlimited products and checkout, and it is the entry point for any new merchant who wants a public storefront.
How much does the cheapest Shopify plan really cost per month?
The plan itself is $25 on monthly billing. On top of that, card processing is 2.9% + 30¢ per online sale with Shopify Payments, plus any apps, theme and domain costs. At $1,000 in monthly sales, that comes to about $54 before apps.
Does Shopify offer a discount on its lowest-priced store plan?
Yes. Paying yearly lowers Basic from $25 to $22 a month. Shopify has also run introductory promotions for new stores, so confirm the current offer on its pricing page.