What is the difference between Shopify Payments fee and the transaction fee?

The Shopify Payments fee is the credit card processing cost (like Stripe or Square fees). The transaction fee is an additional charge Shopify applies only if you use a third-party payment gateway instead of Shopify Payments. Using Shopify Payments eliminates the extra transaction fee.

Which Shopify plan has the lowest fees?

The Advanced plan has the lowest per-transaction rate (2.4% + $0.30 and 0.5% third-party fee), but costs $399/month. For small stores, the Basic plan at $39/month with 2.9% + $0.30 is more cost-effective despite the higher rate.

Can I avoid Shopify transaction fees entirely?

You can avoid the additional transaction fee (0.5–2%) by using Shopify Payments as your payment processor. However, you cannot avoid payment processing fees — every credit card transaction incurs a processing cost regardless of the gateway.

Does Shopify charge fees on shipping revenue?

Shopify's payment processing fee is calculated on the total order amount, which includes shipping charges, taxes, and any other amounts the customer pays. This is consistent with how all payment processors calculate fees.

How does Shopify compare to Amazon and eBay fees?

Shopify fees (3–4% effective) are significantly lower than Amazon (15% referral + FBA) or eBay (13% + $0.30). However, Shopify merchants must drive their own traffic, whereas marketplaces provide built-in audiences.

Are there any hidden Shopify fees?

Beyond transaction fees, consider the monthly plan cost, app subscription fees (many essential apps cost $10–50/month each), premium theme costs, and any third-party tool integrations. These can add $100–$500/month for an active store.

Shopify Transaction Fee Calculator

Calculate Shopify transaction fees by plan: 0–2% transaction fee plus payment processing (2.4–2.9% + $0.30). Compare plans side by side.

Order Amount

Shopify Plan

Payment Gateway

Total Fee

$2.47

Effective rate: 3.29%

Processing Fee

$2.47

2.9% + $0.30

You Receive

$72.53

Order minus all fees

Effective Rate

3.29%

Total fee / order amount

Planning notes, formulas, and examples

About the Shopify Transaction Fee Calculator

Shopify charges two types of fees on each transaction: a payment processing fee when using Shopify Payments (their built-in gateway), and an additional transaction fee if you use a third-party payment provider. The rates vary by plan — Basic, Shopify, and Advanced.

Shopify Payments processing rates range from 2.4% + $0.30 on the Advanced plan to 2.9% + $0.30 on Basic. If you use a third-party gateway (like PayPal or Stripe directly), Shopify adds an extra 0.5–2% transaction fee on top of whatever the gateway charges.

This calculator shows your per-order fees across Shopify plans so you can see when upgrading actually reduces total cost at your order volume.

When This Page Helps

Choosing the right Shopify plan depends on your sales volume. Higher plans have lower per-transaction fees but higher monthly cost. This calculator shows the fee per order across plans so you can spot the cheaper plan at your current sales level.

How to Use the Inputs

Enter the order amount (sale price).
Select your Shopify plan.
Choose whether you use Shopify Payments or a third-party gateway.
View the payment processing fee and any additional transaction fee.
Compare fees across plans to find the best fit for your volume.

Formula used

Shopify Payments Fee = Order Amount × Card Rate + $0.30
Third-Party Transaction Fee = Order Amount × Plan Rate (0–2%)
Total Fee = Payment Processing Fee + Transaction Fee (if applicable)
Effective Rate = Total Fee / Order Amount × 100

Example Calculation

Result: Fee: $2.48 | Effective Rate: 3.3%

A $75 order on the Basic plan using Shopify Payments: Fee = $75 × 2.9% + $0.30 = $2.18 + $0.30 = $2.48. The effective rate is 3.3%. On the Advanced plan, this would be $75 × 2.4% + $0.30 = $2.10, saving $0.38 per order.

Tips & Best Practices

Use Shopify Payments to avoid the additional 0.5–2% third-party gateway fee.
Upgrade to the Shopify plan (from Basic) when monthly sales exceed ~$5,000 to offset the higher subscription with lower per-transaction fees.
The Advanced plan's 2.4% rate becomes worthwhile around $10,000+/month in sales.
In-person (POS) transactions have lower rates than online transactions across all plans.
Factor in the monthly plan cost when comparing total fees, not just per-transaction rates.
Shopify Plus offers negotiated rates for very high-volume merchants.

Shopify Plan Fee Comparison

Basic ($39/month): 2.9% + $0.30 online, 2.0% third-party fee. Shopify ($105/month): 2.7% + $0.30 online, 1.0% third-party fee. Advanced ($399/month): 2.4% + $0.30 online, 0.5% third-party fee. The plan you choose should be based on your monthly sales volume and whether the per-transaction savings exceed the additional plan cost.

When to Upgrade Plans

Upgrade from Basic to Shopify when your monthly sales exceed approximately $5,000–$7,000 (the savings per transaction offset the $66/month plan difference). Upgrade from Shopify to Advanced when sales exceed $15,000–$20,000/month. Always calculate your specific numbers since average order value affects the break-even point.

Third-Party Gateway Considerations

Some merchants need third-party gateways for specific features (subscription billing, local payment methods, or multi-currency support). If you must use a third-party gateway, the additional Shopify transaction fee makes Advanced or Shopify Plus plans more attractive to minimize that added cost.

Sources & Methodology

Last updated: February 8, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

The Shopify Payments fee is the credit card processing cost (like Stripe or Square fees). The transaction fee is an additional charge Shopify applies only if you use a third-party payment gateway instead of Shopify Payments. Using Shopify Payments eliminates the extra transaction fee.