How Much Does Shopify Website Cost in 2026?

Table of Contents

• Quick Overview of Shopify Pricing Plans in Australia
• How Much Does Shopify Cost?
• Payment Gateway, Credit Card, and Third-Party Transaction fees
• Key Features by Shopify Plan
• Additional Shopify Website Costs You Should Consider
• How Much Does It Cost to Build a Shopify Store in Australia?
• Shopify Store Development Cost Breakdown
• Benefits of Launching a Shopify Store in Australia
• How to Save Money on Shopify Development?
• Shopify Website Cost FAQs:
• Conclusion: How Much Does It Cost to Develop a Shopify Store in Australia?
• How WP Creative Helps with Shopify Development in Australia?

Shopify website cost in Australia starts at $7 AUD per month on the Starter plan and goes up to $3,700 AUD per month on Plus.

But the monthly subscription fee is only part of the cost. Apps, themes, a custom domain, development, and ongoing maintenance all add to your total spend.

At WP Creative, we have been building Shopify stores for almost a decade now for Australian ecommerce store owners. So we have the experience to give you the exact website development cost breakdown.

In this guide, you’ll learn everything from Shopify subscription plans and transaction fees to custom Shopify development costs and ongoing maintenance.

By the end, you will know exactly what to budget for and which plan suits your business.

Quick Overview of Shopify Pricing Plans in Australia

Shopify Plan	Monthly billing	Annual billing	Annual saving	Best for
Starter	~$7 AUD/month	~$7 AUD/month	—	Social and link-in-bio selling
Basic	$56 AUD/month	$42 AUD/month	$168/year	Solo founders, new stores
Grow	$149 AUD/month	$114 AUD/month	$420/year	Small teams scaling up
Advanced Shopify	$575 AUD/month	$431 AUD/month	$1,728/year	High-volume, international stores
Shopify Plus	$3,700 AUD/month	1 or 3-year term	Negotiated	Enterprise and B2B wholesale

How Much Does Shopify Cost?

You can build a Shopify store on any of the five plans available to Australian merchants. The plan you pick affects your subscription fee, the card rate the Shopify platform charges on every sale, and which features you can use.

You can also start any plan for $1/month for the first 3 months, which makes it easy to test the platform before committing to full pricing.

1. Shopify Starter Plan (~$7 AUD/month)

Starter is not a full online store. It lets you sell through social media, messaging apps, or a buy button embedded in an existing ecommerce site. No storefront, no themes, no custom navigation. It works for creators testing demand or selling to an existing audience. If you want a proper ecommerce store, start with Basic.

2. Shopify Basic Plan ($56/month)

Basic is the most popular plan for new Australian Shopify stores, and it is where most of our clients start. It has everything you need to launch a full Shopify store from day one.

What you get:

• Unlimited products
• Abandoned cart recovery
• Discount codes and gift cards
• Sell online, in person, and through AI chat channels
• Built-in AI assistant for content, store tasks, and insights
• 24/7 support via live chat
• Earn up to $7,000 AUD in Shopify Balance credits (1% back on sales)

Card rates: 1.75% + 30¢ AUD online. 1.95% in person. 2% surcharge on third-party gateways.

Why choose Basic

Basic suits a store that is still finding its feet. The subscription is low enough to test the platform without much commitment, and you can always upgrade once revenue grows. If your card volume is under about $20,000 a month, Basic is almost always the right call.

3. Shopify Grow Plan ($149/month)

Built for stores that have found their feet and are scaling. The Grow plan adds professional reporting, more staff access, and meaningfully lower transaction fees.

What you get on top of Basic:

• Up to 5 staff accounts
• Professional reports (60+ reporting tools)
• Up to 44.2% off shipping rates
• Earn up to $11,000 AUD in Shopify Balance credits

Card rates via Shopify Payments: 1.6% + 30¢ AUD online, 1.85% in person. Third-party payment providers: +1.0% surcharge per transaction

Why choose Grow

Grow is the right plan when your store is selling consistently, more people are running it day to day, and you want better economics without jumping to a much higher monthly price. Most stores hit Grow once revenue passes about $20,000 a month.

4. Shopify Advanced Plan ($575/month)

Advanced is built for established Australian stores processing serious volume, selling internationally, or needing deep reporting capabilities.

What you get on top of Grow:

• Up to 15 staff accounts
• Custom report builder
• Live third-party shipping rates at checkout
• Regional pricing tools (tailor your store by market)
• Earn up to $15,000 AUD in Shopify Balance credits

Card rates via Shopify Payments: 1.4% + 30¢ AUD online, 1.75% in person. Third-party payment providers: +0.6% surcharge per transaction

Why choose Advanced

Advanced is the right plan when your store is processing $80,000 a month or more, when you are selling across multiple regions, or when your finance team needs detailed reporting. Most stores stay on Grow longer than they should before moving up. The card rate savings alone often pay for the upgrade.

5. Shopify Plus Plan (from $3,700 AUD/month on a 3-year term)

Shopify Plus is an enterprise plan for brands at serious scale. Pricing is negotiated with Shopify directly on 1 or 3-year terms.

What separates Plus from Advanced:

• Fully customisable checkout experience
• Wholesale and B2B selling channels built in
• Unlimited staff Shopify accounts
• Up to 200 POS Pro locations
• Priority 24/7 phone support
• Card rates from 1.2% + 30¢ AUD (best available on Shopify)

Why choose Plus

Plus only makes commercial sense once your store is doing $1 million or more a year, or when you have specific needs around custom checkout, B2B, or international expansion. Below that revenue level, you are paying for features you will not actually use.

Payment Gateway, Credit Card, and Third-Party Transaction fees

Every time a customer buys from your store, three types of fees apply. They are separate charges that stack depending on how you handle payment processing online. Getting this right from the start can save Shopify merchants hundreds of dollars a year.

Plan	Online AU cards	In person	International/Amex	Third-party surcharge
Basic	1.75% + 30¢	1.95%	2.9% + 30¢	+2.0%
Grow	1.6% + 30¢	1.85%	2.8% + 30¢	+1.0%
Advanced	1.4% + 30¢	1.75%	2.7% + 30¢	+0.6%
Plus	1.2% + 30¢	Best rate	Negotiated	Negotiated

Credit card processing fees are built into every sale regardless of which gateway you use. Domestic Australian cards attract the lowest rate. International cards and Amex attract a higher rate of 2.9% + 30¢ AUD. These fees cannot be avoided.

Payment gateway fees apply when you use a third-party provider like Stripe, PayPal, or eWay to accept payments online. Two separate fees stack on every transaction:

• The gateway’s own processing fee, typically 1.7% to 2.9% + 30¢ AUD, depending on the provider
• Shopify’s additional third-party surcharge on top, shown in the final column above

On a Basic plan using a third-party gateway, that surcharge alone adds 2% to every sale on top of whatever your gateway charges.

The most cost-effective option for most Australian stores is to use Shopify Payments. It removes the third-party surcharge entirely, keeps your payment gateway fees lower, and simplifies your billing into one place.

Not sure which gateway suits your store? Read our comparison of PayPal vs Stripe before deciding.

Key Features by Shopify Plan

Feature	Starter	Basic	Grow	Advanced	Plus
Full online store	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Staff accounts	—	2	5	15	Unlimited
Professional reports	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Custom report builder	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Third-party shipping rates	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Regional storefronts	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Customisable checkout	No	No	No	No	Yes
B2B / wholesale selling	No	No	No	No	Yes
POS Pro locations	—	1	1	1	Up to 200
24/7 support level	—	Live chat	Live chat	Enhanced chat	Priority phone

Which Shopify Plan is Right for You?

Choose Starter if you sell through social media or messaging apps and do not need a full storefront yet.

Choose Basic if you are launching your first store, working solo or with a small team, and want the lowest full-store monthly cost.

Choose Grow if your store is generating consistent sales, more than one person helps run it, and lower transaction fees and professional reports would make a genuine difference.

Choose Advanced if you are processing serious volume, selling across multiple markets, or where the fee reduction from Grow would noticeably improve your margins.

Choose Plus if you need custom checkout control, B2B wholesale channels, enterprise support, or your operational complexity has moved beyond what a standard Shopify plan handles.

Additional Shopify Website Costs You Should Consider

Your monthly plan is just the starting point. Once your store is live, several other costs come into play. Some are one-off expenses you pay at setup. Others are ongoing and grow as your store does.

Knowing these costs upfront means you can budget properly from day one rather than getting caught out three months in.

Cost	Amount	Frequency
Domain name	$15 to $44 AUD	Annual
Premium theme	$0 to $560 AUD	One-off
Apps and integrations	$50 to $500+ AUD	Monthly
Email marketing	$0 to $150+ AUD	Monthly
Email hosting	$8 to $15 AUD	Monthly
Custom development	$10,000 to $50,000 AUD	One-off
Ongoing maintenance	$1,000+ AUD	Monthly
POS Pro	$129 AUD per location	Monthly
POS hardware	$49 to $500+ AUD	One-off

1. Domain Name ($15 to $44 AUD/year)

Shopify gives you a free .myshopify.com address by default, but running your store on it is not a good idea. It looks unprofessional to customers, weakens your brand, and some ad platforms restrict subdomain stores. A .com.au domain costs around $15 to $20 per year. A .com runs up to $44 per year, depending on the registrar.

2. Themes ($0 to $560 AUD, one-off)

Shopify’s free themes are genuinely good and work well for most new stores. If you need a more specific design or better conversion features, a premium theme costs between $300 and $560 AUD as a one-time purchase. Keep in mind that heavily customising a theme beyond the basics will need a Shopify developer.

3. Third-Party Apps and Integrations ($50 to $500+ AUD/month)

Apps are where Shopify’s running costs grow the fastest, and often the most quietly. A new store can get by with a few free tools, but most established stores run 8 to 12 paid apps simultaneously.

Common apps Australian stores rely on:

• Reviews (Judge.me, Okendo): $0 to $99 AUD/month
• Email marketing (Klaviyo, Mailchimp): $0 to $150 AUD/month
• Inventory management (Skubana, Cin7): $50 to $200 AUD/month
• Subscriptions (Recharge, Bold): $49 to $99 AUD/month
• Loyalty programmes (Smile.io): $0 to $169 AUD/month
• Upsell tools (Zipify, Reconvert): $25 to $80 AUD/month
• Accounting (Xero integration): $15 to $40 AUD/month

Combined, this can add $50 to $500+ AUD to your monthly spend. A good rule of thumb is to start with only what you need right now, and audit your Shopify app list every few months to cut anything you are not actively using.

4. Email Marketing ($0 to $150+ AUD/month)

Shopify Email is built into all plans and covers your first 10,000 sends per month for free. After that, additional sends cost $1 per 1,000 emails.

As your list grows, most Australian store owners move to a dedicated platform for better automation and segmentation. Popular options include:

• Klaviyo: strong ecommerce automation, starts free, then scales with list size
• Mailchimp: good for beginners, free tier available
• ActiveCampaign: suited to stores needing advanced workflows

Budget between $0 and $150 AUD per month, depending on your list size and sending frequency.

5. Email Hosting ($8 to $15 AUD/month)

Shopify does not include email hosting. A professional address like hello@yourbusiness.com.au needs to be set up through a third-party provider. This is one of the most commonly overlooked setup costs for new stores.

• Google Workspace: $10 to $15 AUD per user per month, most widely used by Australian businesses
• Zoho Mail: from $8 AUD per month, a solid budget option for smaller teams

6. Custom Development ($10,000 to $50,000 AUD, one-off)

If you want a store built to your exact specifications, a ready-made theme alone will not get you there. Custom design and development covers:

• Design customisation beyond what the theme allows
• Custom features and functionality
• Third-party integrations and API connections
• Performance optimisation
• Complex product configurations or checkout flows

The cost depends on what your store actually needs. A simpler build with standard requirements sits toward the lower end. A store with advanced features, a premium user experience, or complex integrations moves toward the higher end. Most professionally built ecommerce websites in Australia fall somewhere between $10,000 and $50,000 AUD.

7. Ongoing Maintenance ($1,000+ AUD/month)

A Shopify store needs ongoing attention after launch. Apps update, themes need fixes, performance changes over time, and your business requirements evolve. Without regular website maintenance, small issues can compound into bigger problems that cost significantly more to fix later.

What a monthly retainer typically covers:

• Regular app and theme updates
• Bug fixes and troubleshooting
• Shopify speed and performance optimisation
• Security monitoring
• New feature additions as your store grows

Working with a dedicated developer or designer on retainer means you always have someone who knows your store inside out. Most Australian businesses spend $1,000 AUD or more per month, depending on the size and complexity of their store.

8. POS and In-Person Selling

If you sell at a retail shopfront, market, or pop-up event, Shopify POS gives you the tools to manage in-person sales alongside your online store. Factor in two additional costs from the start.

Hardware (one-off):

• Basic card reader: from $49 AUD
• Full setup including printer, scanner, and cash drawer: $500 AUD or more

POS Pro ($129 AUD/month per location):

POS Lite is free on all Shopify plans and handles straightforward in-person transactions. POS Pro is the paid upgrade and adds:

• Unlimited staff accounts
• Buy online, pick up in store
• Advanced retail reporting
• Omnichannel customer management

Most stores only need POS Pro once in-person retail becomes a serious part of their revenue model.

How Much Does It Cost to Build a Shopify Store in Australia?

Shopify website cost can range from a few hundred dollars to well over $50,000. The final price depends on how custom your store needs to be, who builds it, and what functionality you need from day one.

Build type	Typical Shopify cost	Best for
DIY store	$100 to $500 AUD	New businesses testing demand
Theme-based store	$500 to $3,000 AUD	Brands wanting a polished store on a manageable budget
Freelancer-built store	$2,000 to $10,000 AUD	Businesses needing a custom setup without agency pricing
Agency-built store	$10,000 to $50,000 AUD	Brands wanting strategy, design, and a stronger launch
Shopify Plus build	$30,000 to $100,000+ AUD	Enterprise brands with complex requirements

1. DIY Shopify Store ($100 to $500 AUD)

A DIY store is the lowest cost option because you handle everything yourself inside the Shopify admin. Most of the spend goes toward your monthly plan, domain, and a free or low-cost theme.

It works well for:

• New businesses testing a product idea before investing further
• Sellers with a small catalogue and straightforward requirements
• Store owners comfortable managing their own setup and content

The trade-off is time. What an experienced developer completes in a day can take a first-timer several weeks, and the end result often reflects that.

2. Theme-Based Shopify Store ($500 to $3,000 AUD)

A theme-based store is often the best middle ground between cost and quality. You start with a design from the Shopify Theme Store and tailor it to your brand without paying for a fully custom build.

Costs start rising once the theme needs heavier customisation, additional app support, or features that the original layout was not built to handle. At that point, bringing in a developer makes more financial sense than spending hours working around the theme’s limitations yourself.

3. Freelancer-Built Shopify Store ($2,000 to $10,000 AUD)

A freelancer suits businesses that want more polish than a DIY setup but do not need a full agency process. A good freelancer can handle:

• Design changes and custom sections
• App setup and configuration
• Shopify checkout adjustments
• Basic Shopify integrations and product setup

Pricing varies based on the freelancer’s experience and project scope. The risk with freelancers is availability and accountability. If something breaks after launch, getting timely support is not always guaranteed.

4. Agency-Built Shopify Store ($10,000 to $50,000 AUD)

An agency-built store costs more upfront, but the scope is considerably broader. Design, development, testing, app configuration, content structure, and launch support are typically included as part of a complete build.

This is the right choice when:

• Your store needs to convert from day one, not just go live
• You are migrating from another platform and need a clean transition
• Your products or checkout flows require custom functionality
• You want a team accountable for the outcome, not just the deliverable

At WP Creative, our ecommerce website builds follow a structured process from discovery through to launch, with ongoing support available once your store is live.

5. Shopify Plus Build ($30,000 to $100,000+ AUD)

A Shopify Plus build is significantly more expensive because the businesses using it typically need more customisation, deeper integrations, and greater operational flexibility. Common requirements include:

• Custom checkout experiences
• B2B and wholesale functionality
• Multi-region storefronts
• Enterprise system integrations (ERP, CRM, 3PL)
• Advanced automation workflows

The monthly Plus subscription is just one part of the cost. The build itself is usually the bigger investment.

Shopify Store Development Cost Breakdown

Setting up and running a Shopify store in Australia involves both one-off and ongoing costs. The tables below bring everything together so you can plan your budget before you commit.

Initial Setup Costs (One-Time Costs)

Cost	Amount
Domain name	$15 to $44 AUD
Theme	$0 to $560 AUD
Custom development	$10,000 to $50,000 AUD
Email marketing setup	$0 to $300 AUD

Ongoing Annual Cost

Cost	Monthly	Annually
Shopify subscription (Basic)	$42 AUD	$504 AUD
Apps and integrations	$50 to $500+ AUD	$600 to $6,000+ AUD
Email marketing	$0 to $150 AUD	$0 to $1,800 AUD
Email hosting	$8 to $15 AUD	$96 to $180 AUD
Maintenance and retainer	$1,000+ AUD	$12,000+ AUD
Total estimate	$1,100+ AUD	$13,200+ AUD

These figures reflect a professionally built and actively maintained store on the Basic Shopify plan. Costs scale up significantly on higher plans or with a larger app stack.

Benefits of Launching a Shopify Store in Australia

Shopify is built with the Australian market in mind. Beyond the standard ecommerce features, there are several platform-level advantages that matter specifically to Australian store owners.

• Localised Payment Options
  Shopify integrates natively with Afterpay, ZipPay, and POLi Payments. These are payment methods Australian shoppers actively look for at checkout, and offering them directly improves conversion rates.
• Automatic GST Calculation
  Shopify calculates Goods and Services Tax automatically on every transaction, keeping your store compliant with Australian tax law without any manual work on your end.
• Seamless Shipping Integration
  Shopify connects directly with Australia Post and other local carriers, giving you accurate shipping rates and live tracking at checkout without needing a third-party plugin.
• Australian-based Customer Support
  Shopify offers 24/7 support with Australian-based teams available during local business hours, so you always have someone to call on when something needs attention.
• AUD Support and Local SEO Tools
  Your store runs natively in Australian dollars with localised marketing tools and regional SEO features built in, making it easier to attract and convert Australian customers.

How to Save Money on Shopify Development?

Shopify costs are manageable if you make smart decisions from the start. These are the most effective ways to reduce your spend without compromising your store.

1. Pay Annually Instead of Monthly

Choosing an annual plan on Basic, Grow, or Advanced saves you 25% on your subscription. On the Grow plan, that is $420 AUD back in your pocket every year. It is the simplest cost reduction available, and most store owners overlook it.

2. Use Free Themes (With Caution)

Free themes reduce upfront costs but come with trade-offs. They are harder to optimise for speed and conversions, and they offer less flexibility as your store grows.

If you start with a free theme and later decide to switch platforms, read our guide on how to convert a Shopify theme to WordPress before making the move.

3. Prioritise Your Customisations

Custom development adds up quickly when there is no clear scope. Before briefing a developer, list every customisation you want and rank them by impact on your store’s performance. Build the essentials first and add the rest as your revenue grows.

4. Leverage Shopify’s Built-in Features

Shopify includes a solid set of native tools covering SEO, analytics, email marketing, and checkout. Before hiring a developer or paying for a third-party app, check whether Shopify already does what you need. Many store owners pay for apps that duplicate functionality already available on their plan.

5. Handle Routine Tasks Yourself

Not everything needs a developer. Updating product listings, editing page content, managing collections, and adjusting prices are all tasks you can handle directly inside the Shopify admin. Keeping routine work in-house means your development budget goes toward work that actually requires technical expertise.

6. Be Strategic About Retainers

Skipping a monthly maintenance retainer can save money for small businesses with simple stores and minimal technical requirements. Instead of a fixed monthly fee, you pay a developer hourly only when something needs attention.

The trade-off is response time and familiarity with your store. For larger stores with regular updates and higher traffic, a retainer almost always works out cheaper than ad hoc hourly rates over the course of a year.

Shopify Website Cost FAQs:

Here are some frequently asked questions about Shopify development costs in Australia:

1. How much does it cost to build a Shopify website in Australia?

A basic DIY Shopify store costs between $500 and $1,000 AUD for the first year, covering your subscription, domain, and a small app budget. If you want a professionally built store, an agency build typically ranges from $10,000 to $50,000 AUD, depending on the complexity of your requirements. Ongoing costs like apps, email tools, and maintenance add to that figure each year.

2. Is Shopify a good choice for online businesses in Australia?

Yes, for most Australian businesses, it is one of the most practical ecommerce platforms available. It handles hosting, security, checkout, and payments in one place, supports AUD natively, integrates with Afterpay and ZipPay, and calculates GST automatically.

If you are exploring alternatives, check out our best ecommerce platform guide to compare other options and choose what fits your business best.

3. What is the minimum budget required to set up a Shopify store?

The minimum is $42 AUD per month on annual Basic billing, plus $15 to $20 AUD for a domain. Using a free theme and Shopify’s built-in tools, you can launch a functional store for under $530 AUD in your first year. This covers setup only. Marketing, apps, and growth are separate costs.

4. Can you use Shopify without a website in Australia?

You can, but it is not recommended. Without a custom domain, your store runs on a .myshopify.com address, which looks unprofessional to customers and limits your ability to rank on Google. A .com.au domain costs around $15 to $20 AUD per year and is one of the best value investments you can make for your store’s credibility.

Want your new Shopify site to rank well? Don’t miss our detailed Shopify SEO guide.

5. Is Shopify worth it for Australian businesses?

Yes, for most Australian ecommerce businesses, Shopify is worth the cost. The platform handles hosting, security, checkout, and payments in one place, which removes significant technical overhead. The value becomes clearer as your store scales, particularly once lower transaction fees on higher plans start offsetting the subscription cost.

6. How much do Shopify developers charge in Australia?

Shopify developer rates in Australia typically range from $80 to $200 AUD per hour, depending on experience and complexity. A small theme customisation might cost $500 to $2,000 AUD. A full custom store built from an agency ranges from $10,000 to $50,000 AUD. Ongoing maintenance retainers start from around $1,000 AUD per month.

7. When should you upgrade from Shopify to Shopify Plus?

Shopify Plus starts to make commercial sense once your store is generating $1 million AUD or more in annual revenue, or when you have specific needs around custom checkout, B2B wholesale, or complex multi-region selling. Below that threshold, a well-configured Advanced plan handles most requirements at a fraction of the cost.

Read our full comparison of Shopify vs Shopify Plus to see which is right for your business.

8. Does WP Creative offer Shopify development services across Australia?

WP Creative works with businesses throughout Australia, not just in one city. Whether you operate locally or nationally, our team provides dedicated Shopify development support tailored to your market.

We regularly work with brands across major cities, including Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Gold Coast, and Canberra. No matter where your business is based, you get the same strategic approach, technical expertise, and performance focus.

Conclusion: How Much Does It Cost to Develop a Shopify Store in Australia?

Building a Shopify store in Australia doesn’t have to break the bank, but it’s important to understand where your money is going.

From your monthly plan to design, apps, and ongoing maintenance, each choice impacts your overall budget. If you’re planning to DIY, you’ll save on Shopify development costs but may spend more time learning the platform.

On the other hand, hiring a Shopify expert can fast-track your launch and ensure a more professional result. Either way, the key is to budget realistically based on your goals, business size, and how hands-on you want to be.

With a clear plan and the right setup, Shopify can be a cost-effective way to bring your online store to life.

How WP Creative Helps with Shopify Development in Australia?

Creating your Shopify store can be a complex task, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the nuances and details that come with it.

This is where WP Creative comes in. We guide our clients through the entire process, ensuring you’re on the right track.

WP Creative helps you understand the type of Shopify store that would best suit your business needs in Australia. We not only provide expert guidance but also offer Shopify development services, including Shopify SEO optimisation and Shopify migration services, handling all the technical aspects.

This means store owners can sit back and relax while WP Creative takes care of the heavy lifting.

Once the development is complete, the fully functional store is handed over to the store owner, ready for operation.

Ready to bring your Shopify store to life?