Shopify Advanced vs Shopify Plus: Which One Is Right for You?

I need to scale, but which Shopify plan is right for me?

Do you often find yourself in the same dilemma?
Relax. It’s a common question most entrepreneurs ask themselves when dealing with Shopify’s flexible pricing plan.
Both Shopify Advanced and Plus offer potent features, but understanding the differences between these plans is the key to making the right decision. So, continue reading as we learn more about Shopify’s plans in the following sections.

Shopify Advanced is a strong package suited for expanding eCommerce businesses. It includes everything available in the Basic and Standard programs and some significant differences. To summarize, it provides a robust functionality for managing inventory efficiently, handling more traffic, and processing more transactions.

Shopify Advanced Features

Advanced reporting – Examine your store's performance more closely with detailed marketing, customer, and sales reports.
Lower transaction fees – Shopify Payments gives you a more competitive rate than Basic or Shopify Standard.
Custom shipping rates – Use third-party shipping calculators to get an idea of better rates.
Support for up to 15 staff accounts – Ideal for teams that are ready to unlock sales but aren’t large enterprises yet.

Pricing

Shopify Advanced, which costs $399 per month or $299 per month with annual payment, provides extensive functionality but lacks the customization and scalability options offered in Shopify Plus.

In contrast, Shopify Plus is the platform's premium option. It is intended for fast-growing firms and corporations that want a completely configurable and scalable solution. Shopify Plus provides a complete platform for companies wishing to take their eCommerce strategy to the next level, with more sophisticated tools, advanced automation features, and dedicated support.
When you upgrade from Shopify Plus to the Advanced plan, you get everything from the basic plan plus the following:

Shopify Plus Features

Dedicated Account Manager – You'll be assigned a dedicated success manager to assist you with shop optimization.
Unlimited Staff Accounts – Expand your workforce without regard for account limitations.
Advanced Customization Options – With access to Shopify's Liquid code and APIs, you may completely alter the appearance and operation of your store.
Manage Multiple Stores – Manage many stores and regions with a single dashboard.

One of the most convincing reasons to choose Shopify Plus over Shopify Advanced is the reduction in transaction costs. As of October 2024, the transaction costs for Advanced are 2.5% and for Plus are 2.15%; however, the latter are variable.
Furthermore, Shopify Plus provides cheaper transaction costs and better credit card rates, particularly for high-volume retailers, which might help offset the plan's higher monthly fee.
Let's break this down with a hypothetical example of how much processing fees may be saved (excluding plan costs):

Customization and Control Between the Two

One of the most significant differences between the two is their level of personalization. Shopify Advanced limits modification to Shopify's built-in capabilities, but Shopify Plus allows for a wide range of changes using its API, Liquid code, and other tools, such as Shopify Scripts, which are exclusively accessible on the Plus account.

Shopify scripts will be withdrawn in August 2025. Merchants who rely significantly on scripts must transfer them to Shopify Functions before this deadline:
This customization capacity might be a game changer for organizations that need to alter checkout procedures or want to differentiate themselves from the competition.

• Shopify Advanced: Limited to theme modification and built-in applications.
• Shopify Advanced: Limited to theme modification and built-in applications
• Shopify Plus: Provides complete access to Shopify Scripts/Functions, enabling comprehensive cart customization, dynamic pricing, and personalized experience.

For example, Shopify Plus allows you to personalize the checkout experience, but Shopify Advanced does not. Here are several examples:

• Apply discounts to specific tags, either fixed or on a percentage basis.
• Run specials like buy one, get one free or multi-tier discounts.
• Implement dynamic pricing for bulk orders.
• Customize the delivery and payment methods.

Support and Onboarding

Another notable distinction between Advanced and Plus is the amount of support. Shopify Plus includes a dedicated account manager who will collaborate with your team to improve your business, develop marketing, and resolve difficulties. This support is instrumental when revamping websites or handling complex migrations.
You also used to have a dedicated MSM (Merchant Success Manager) who would assist you with growth ideas, marketing campaigns, and technical difficulties. However, as of last year, MSM was eliminated from businesses with less than $2 million in yearly sales.
Shopify Advanced provides 24/7 assistance but without dedicated personnel.

While Shopify Plus and Shopify Advanced are the most costly Shopify pricing plans, they are designed for organizations at various stages of growth. As a result, to pick the best plan for your company, you must first determine its present demands and budget.
Shopify Advanced is ideal for established organizations looking for a strategic boost. It provides you the flexibility and scalability required to meet rising sales volumes. In this manner, you may avoid the intricacies of enterprise-level systems.
On the other hand, Shopify Plus provides strong scalability, comprehensive customization choices, and specialized support for rapidly expanding enterprises and enterprise-level operations. This plan is designed for enterprises that want to improve performance, handle high transaction volumes, and integrate complex business processes quickly.

Choosing the right Shopify model can be challenging, especially when you don’t understand your market positioning. However, here’s a simple overview to help you know your plan's unique requirements.

Opt for Shopify Advanced If

• You’re receiving 100+ orders every hour.
• You have a team that’s growing (2-5 individuals).
• You’re still trying to stay consistent with revenues

On the contrary, go for the Plus model if:

• You’ve hit over 500+ orders a day.
• You manage a vast team of over 15+ individuals.
• You are scaling with consistent revenues.

Lastly, if you’re just starting, remember to collaborate with a Shopify development company; they will help you kickstart your eComm journey quickly.