Shopify Payments fees may seem straightforward at first, with a standard card processing rate based on the store’s subscription plan. However, the actual cost can vary depending on the payment method, card type, and currency used in a transaction. These differences can make it harder to estimate payment processing expenses and determine if Shopify Payments offers the most cost-effective option. This guide breaks down the fees, compares the cost of a $100 order across payment providers, and shows when switching to an external provider could save money.
Shopify Payments fees at a glance
When Shopify Payments processes an order, you pay a card rate set by your plan. According to Shopify’s Help Center, there are no monthly fees, setup fees, or hidden fees beyond that rate and your subscription. Standard US cards cost:
| Payment type | Basic | Grow | Advanced | Plus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online standard card | 2.9% + 30¢ | 2.7% + 30¢ | 2.5% + 30¢ | 2.25% + 30¢ |
| In-person card | 2.6% + 10¢ | 2.5% + 10¢ | 2.4% + 10¢ | 2.3% + 10¢ |
Plus rates are a published starting point and Shopify says Plus card rates can vary by country. A second layer of fees applies only to specific orders, covered below.
What Shopify Payments does not charge is just as useful to know. It does not add the third-party transaction fee that Shopify applies to outside providers, and it does not charge a surcharge for choosing Shop Pay, Apple Pay, or Google Pay over a typed-in card. Those methods run at your plan’s normal card rate.
Shopify Payments charges by payment method
The same Shopify Payments account supports several ways to pay, and they do not all cost the same:
| Payment method | What you pay | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Card, Apple Pay, Google Pay | Your plan’s online card rate | Same rate regardless of wallet |
| Shop Pay | Your plan’s online card rate | No separate Shop Pay fee |
| Shop Pay Installments | A higher rate than cards | Shopify does not publish it; check your admin |
| PayPal Wallet through Shopify Payments | From 3.49% + 49¢ | Higher than cards |
| In-person card | Your plan’s in-person rate | Lower percentage and 10¢ fixed fee |
| Local payment methods | Varies by method and country | Check the rate in your admin before enabling |
Shopify has been adding more local payment methods inside Shopify Payments, and one 2026 analysis counts seven added in its Fall ’26 Edition. Because each method has its own rate, view your payment rates in the admin rather than assuming it matches your card rate.
Extra Shopify Payments costs on specific orders
Beyond the card rate, a few conditions add Shopify Payments charges to individual orders:
| Situation | Extra cost | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Premium cards (for example American Express, business cards) | 3.5% + 30¢ on Basic, 3.3% on Grow, 3.1% on Advanced, 2.95% on Plus | Raises your blended rate if customers use these cards often |
| International cards | Add 1% | Applies on top of the card rate |
| Currency conversion | 1.5% for US stores | Charged when you accept payment in another currency; PayPal Wallet is 3% |
| Chargeback | $15 for US stores | Shopify returns the fee if you win the dispute |
| Refunds | Original fees stay | Card fees and conversion fees are not returned when you refund |
A foreign customer paying in their local currency with a foreign card can trigger both the 1% international charge and the currency conversion fee. For a per-order breakdown with worked examples, see our guide to Shopify transaction fees.
What a blended rate looks like
Headline rates describe the best case. To see how the surcharges change your bill, take a Basic store with $20,000 in monthly sales across 250 orders of $80. Suppose 80% of orders use standard domestic cards, 10% use premium cards, and 10% use international standard cards. These proportions are an illustration, so replace them with your own mix.
| Order group | Orders | Sales | Fee calculation | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard domestic cards | 200 | $16,000 | 2.9% + 30¢ per order | $524.00 |
| Premium cards | 25 | $2,000 | 3.5% + 30¢ per order | $77.50 |
| International standard cards | 25 | $2,000 | 3.9% + 30¢ per order | $85.50 |
| Total | 250 | $20,000 | $687.00 |
Had every order been a standard domestic card, the fees would have been $655. The mix adds $32 a month, or $384 a year, and lifts the blended rate from about 3.28% to about 3.44% of sales. The amount is modest here, but it grows with volume and with the share of premium and international orders, which is why checking your own blended rate matters more than memorizing the headline.
Shopify Payments costs vs outside providers
The strongest case for Shopify Payments is what happens when you use a different processor. Shopify adds a third-party transaction fee of 2% on Basic, 1% on Grow, 0.6% on Advanced, and 0.2% on Plus whenever an outside provider handles the order, on top of what the provider charges you.
The table assumes an outside provider that charges 2.9% + 30¢, which is a common headline rate used here for illustration. Your provider’s actual terms will change the result.
| Cost of a $100 US online order | Basic | Grow | Advanced | Plus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shopify Payments (standard card) | $3.20 | $3.00 | $2.80 | $2.55 |
| Outside provider at 2.9% + 30¢, plus Shopify’s fee | $5.20 | $4.20 | $3.80 | $3.40 |
| Extra cost of the outside provider | $2.00 | $1.20 | $1.00 | $0.85 |
| PayPal alongside Shopify Payments (from 3.49% + 49¢) | From $3.98 | From $3.98 | From $3.98 | From $3.98 |
Two patterns stand out. First, Shopify Payments gets cheaper as you move up a plan, while the outside provider’s own rate stays the same. That is why the gap narrows from $2.00 on Basic to $0.85 on Plus but never closes. Second, PayPal is a different decision from Stripe-style processing. When Shopify Payments is your primary provider, PayPal Express carries no Shopify third-party fee, so adding it costs you PayPal’s own rate only on the orders customers choose to pay that way.
Conclusion
Shopify Payments fees are among the simplest to forecast of any Shopify cost: a card rate by plan, a few surcharges on specific orders, and no monthly or setup fee. The useful insight is the comparison. For most stores, an outside provider has to charge far less than its headline rate to beat Shopify Payments once Shopify’s third-party fee is counted. Use the break-even table with your own contract, and keep tracking your blended rate as your sales mix changes.
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FAQs
Does Shopify Payments have monthly fees?
No. Shopify’s Help Center says there are no monthly, setup, or hidden fees beyond your card rate and your subscription plan.
Do Shop Pay, Apple Pay, and Google Pay cost extra on Shopify Payments?
No. They are processed at your plan’s normal card rate. Shop Pay Installments is different: it carries a higher rate that Shopify does not publish, and you can see it in your admin.
Are Shopify Payments costs lower than Stripe or PayPal?
Usually, yes. Using an outside provider adds Shopify’s 2%, 1%, 0.6%, or 0.2% third-party fee to the provider’s own rate. PayPal Express alongside Shopify Payments carries no Shopify fee, but PayPal’s own rate starts at 3.49% + 49¢ and is higher than card rates.
Are Shopify Payments fees refunded when I refund an order?
No. Shopify says credit card transaction fees are not returned when you issue a refund, and conversion fees are not returned either.
Is there a chargeback fee with Shopify Payments?
Yes. In the US it is $15 per chargeback, and Shopify returns the fee if you win the dispute.