[Shopify vs. Shopify Plus] Differences and which plan works best for your eCommerce in 2023

So your eCommerce has been steadily growing and you realize it’s time for an upgrade.

You’re considering migrating from Shopify to Shopify Plus.

Shopify Plus is the best plan this well-known eCommerce platform can offer you right now, but it is also the one that requires a stronger investment…

So, the question has to be asked:

Is it worth paying for Shopify Plus or is the basic version enough for you?

Shopify vs. Shopify Plus: Let’s get ready to rumble!

Place your bets! Who will be the winner?

To answer this question, we’ve created this post in which we analyze Shopify Plus’s main features. Once you’re done reading, you’ll know for sure which option works best for you.

Are you ready to rumble? Shopify vs. Shopify Plus.

Place your bets on the winner. 😉

👉 Shopify vs. Shopify Plus: what plans are in store today and what Shopify Plus is all about

If you’re reading this, you’re most likely familiar with Shopify plans. But in case it’s not entirely clear for you yet, here’s some useful context before we get started.

✅ What plans does Shopify offer?

For you to understand what Shopify Plus is, you first need to know what the rest of the plans are like —which, as you probably know, are all paid versions.

These are:

• Shopify Lite: this plan doesn’t really support an online store as such. It’s designed for those webs or blogs that want to incorporate buy buttons to sell their products.
• Basic: for eCommerce that are just getting started and for whom basic features are enough.
• Shopify: this is the standard version recommended for small and medium-size eCommerces.
• Advanced Shopify: it’s ideal for stores that have started growing and need more complex features and reports.

Last, there’s Shopify Plus.

✅ So, what is Shopify Plus about?

As we mentioned above, it’s the most complete plan offered by this CMS, but also the most expensive one (here’s Shopify Plus updated fees).

On their web, it’s described as:

“Business solutions thought-out for high-converting entrepreneurs and large businesses.”

This means Shopify Plus is made for big eCommerces.

Therefore, if you own a small or medium-size eCommerce, this may not be an interesting choice for you. If, on the contrary, you own a high-converting store, Shopify Plus is a safe bet. 

So let’s see what it can offer you.

👉 6 key differences between Shopify and Shopify Plus

“If Shopify is already pretty complete… What extra benefits do I get with Shopify Plus?”

Let’s explore this in depth.

✅ 1. You can create as many employee accounts as you need

The more a store grows, the more employees it’ll have.

Imagine the amount of different profiles and employees a big eCommerce can have: people working in shipping, customer service, we design, marketing…

They all need access to the platform.

While Shopify only allows you to have 5 employee accounts —and Shopify Advanced 15— Shopify Plus allows you to have as many employee accounts as you need.

This way, no one’s left out. 😉

✅ 2. Exclusive and personalized support to help you grow

In terms of customer support, Shopify Plus has the upper hand when compared to Shopify.

As evidence, here’s this comparative chart (which you can also see on their official website) for you to see all the options Shopify Plus (last column on the right) offers.

Definitely, the top-tier personalized support is the most outstanding service.

The thing is that Shopify Plus allocates an expert to you that guides you throughout the whole integration process on your website and with pretty much any doubt you might have.

Another interesting feature is Shopify Plus Academy: a repertoire of resources designed to help you grow.

For example, in Shopify Plus Academy you’ll find lessons, courses and workshops run by international experts on eCommerce who share their knowledge on paid advertising, conversion optimization, etc.

Ultimately, the Plus Team will do everything in their power to make sure your eCommerce is successful. Besides, it doesn’t hurt to have solid support, right?

Or, as they say on their web: “More than a platform. A partner.”

✅ 3. Advanced automation that will save you time and money

Shopify Plus also helps your eCommerce be more efficient.

To do that, it provides you with tools to automate all kinds of tasks you would otherwise have to take care of manually.

Specifically, it comes with these built-in modules.

• Launchpad: it allows you to schedule events or special offers, such as the start and the end of sales.
• Shopify Flow: it supports automation of all kinds of processes in eCommerce. You only need to decide which conditions (or triggers) need to be met to carry out a certain action. For example, you can automate stock supply; you can specify that when there are only 10 units of a product left, an order of another 100 units be placed to the supplier. 

Would you like to learn more about automation?

Here’s a simple video that briefly explains how Shopify Flow works.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSpHWGh6zKY

And with this other video you’ll fully understand what Launchpad consists in.

✅ 4. Improved shopping experience and advanced customization

Another big difference between Shopify Plus and Shopify is the array of personalization options provided.

Here are some of the things you can get done:

• Customize the checkout: you can use specific tools to customize the payment gateway to your preferences, such as Shopify ‘scripts’ and ‘checkout.liquid’. This allows you to display a discount in the shopping cart, without the user having to type in any code.
• Augmented reality and 3D videos: you can also improve your product cards by including augmented reality, which offers the user a more ‘real’ product experience. Or, alternatively, you could incorporate 3D videos that allow the customer to see the product from different angles.
• Advanced themes: Shopify plus has more than 70 responsive, customizable themes. In addition, it uses a drag-and-drop system to help you edit the theme in a much faster and simpler way.

Thanks to all this, you’ll be able to offer an exceptional shopping experience which, as you already know, will help reduce friction and increase your eCommerce conversion.

✅ 5. Additional stores to help you expand your business overseas

Sometimes it’s not enough for a store to support language and currency change.

Different countries tend to have different traditions and holidays (for example; Thanksgiving in the USA, Chinese New Year, etc…).

This means that if you have different pages for each of these countries with their own particular design and offers, it’ll be easier for you to connect with your audience in each zone.

What does this have to do with Shopify Plus?

Going back to the comparative chart, have a look at what they show us:

Here, the most relevant difference is that while Shopify only allows you to sell in 2 different languages, Shopify Plus allows up to 20.

But there’s something else that’s not on the chart.

Shopify Plus allows you to create 9 additional stores under your brand —an option that no other plan provides. As we mentioned above, this will allow you to have different stores for different countries.

A ‘plus’ indeed. ;9

✅ 6. Omnichannel eCommerce: easier than ever

You most likely sell on other channels such as social media, marketplaces such as Amazon or even physical stores.

At first, selling on different channels might seem like a good idea (more places to sell means more sales). However, be careful with this because if you don’t follow a consistent omnichannel strategy, you can end up affecting customer experience.

Well, Shopify Plus helps you optimize your omnichannel strategy.

How?

With tools that allow you to manage all channels from the same place. This way, you’ll be able to offer the same shopping experience to all your customers, no matter what channel they’re on.

Besides, if you have a physical store, it will also help you unify the online and offline shopping experience.

For example, you’ll be able to implement click-and-collect for customers who buy online and pick up the product later or return it in the physical store.

Note: you can learn more about this feature in Shopify’s omnichannel eCommerce section.

👉 So, are you sticking to Shopify or are you migrating to Shopify Plus?

Last, here’s a brief comparison summarizing the most important points:

• Similarities: Shopify Plus includes all of Shopify’s features and it uses the same platform.
• Essential differences: Shopify Plus provides so many more customization options, greater support, and it offers advanced features such as automation.

Now you know what you can expect from Shopify Plus.

The next question is: is it convenient for you to go with this upgrade?

The answer, as usual, is “it depends”.

Do you have a high-converting eCommerce and do you think Shopify Plus’ features will make a considerable difference?

Then, maybe you could consider migrating to Shopify Plus.

In any case, no matter what you choose, you’ll always have Doofinder to help you sell more —and yes, it is supported by Shopify’s platform in any of its plans.

You’re up now: which plan are you going with?