Recurring costs and one-off costs
The first step is to separate two types of spending. Recurring costs are paid every month or year while the store is open: the Shopify plan, subscription apps, the domain and the fees on each sale. One-off costs are paid once: design and development, buying a paid theme, migrating from another platform or the initial setup.
When you compare quotes, put them on the same scale. An option that is cheap upfront can end up expensive if it forces you to pay for several apps every month; a larger initial investment can cut those subscriptions if it solves features within the theme itself.
There are also small costs worth remembering: the domain, which you can buy through Shopify or any registrar and connect to the store; professional email, which Shopify does not include as a full mailbox and is usually purchased separately; and any external tools you already use, such as invoicing or customer service software.
The Shopify plan
Shopify has several plans with different features, numbers of staff accounts, reports and payment terms. Prices change over time and depend on the billing period, so always check the current table at shopify.com/pricing rather than trusting figures published on blogs.
The practical rule is not to oversize: start with the plan that covers what you need today and move up when volume or features justify it. For high-volume brands, B2B selling or advanced checkout needs there is Shopify Plus, which is negotiated directly with Shopify.
The theme: free, paid or custom
Shopify offers free themes, such as Dawn, that are a solid and well-maintained base. The Theme Store also has paid themes, bought once per store and including updates and support from their developer. And there is the option of a theme custom-built for your brand and catalog.
The theme affects cost beyond its price tag. A generic theme may need apps to cover what it lacks, and heavy customization has its own development cost. A custom theme usually requires a larger upfront investment, but it can include only what you use and reduce dependencies.
- Free theme: no license cost, design shared with many stores.
- Paid theme: one-time payment per store, more built-in features.
- Custom theme: a development investment, built for your case.
Apps: the most underestimated cost
The Shopify App Store has free apps, one-time purchase apps and, above all, monthly subscription apps. Reviews, advanced filters, subscriptions, loyalty, translations or email marketing are usually paid apps, and their price often rises with the number of orders or contacts.
Before finalizing your budget, list every feature you need and decide whether it is covered by Shopify out of the box, the theme, an app or custom development. Shopify keeps adding native features, such as Shopify Markets, Shopify Flow or the Search & Discovery app, so check what is already included before paying for it.
Payment gateway and fees
Every sale has a processing cost. With Shopify Payments, available in Spain, you pay a per-transaction fee that depends on your plan. If you use an external gateway instead of Shopify Payments, Shopify may charge an additional per-transaction fee on top of that gateway's own fee, also depending on the plan.
Methods such as PayPal, Bizum (Spain's mobile payment system) through compatible providers or buy now, pay later have their own terms. Shopify's exact rates are at shopify.com/pricing; each external provider's rates are on its website. Calculate this cost against your projected revenue, because beyond a certain volume it outweighs the plan itself.
Development, migration and launch
Development is the most variable line item. What moves the price most is scope: an original design or an adapted theme, the number of distinct templates (home, product, collection, brand pages), custom features, integrations with ERP, warehouse or invoicing systems, and languages and markets.
If you are coming from another platform, migration adds work: exporting and cleaning products, variants, customers and orders, mapping URLs and creating redirects, and checking everything adds up before launch. The messier the source data, the longer it takes.
- Design scope and number of templates.
- Custom features and integrations with other systems.
- Volume and condition of the data to migrate.
- Languages, markets and content to prepare.
Maintenance and how to compare quotes
Shopify maintains the platform, but your store still needs attention: design changes, new sections, app reviews, speed improvements or campaigns. You can handle it with your team, buy hours as needed or have a maintenance plan with an agency.
To compare proposals, ask each one to detail what it includes: templates, features, integrations, migration, training, post-launch support and code ownership. A price without a written scope cannot be compared with anything. At Weblineo every proposal comes with a fixed price based on scope and includes training and 30 days of support after launch; the details are on our Shopify development service page.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Shopify cost per month?
It depends on the plan and the billing period. Current pricing is always at shopify.com/pricing. On top of that fee you need to add paid apps and transaction fees.
Do I need to pay for a theme to get started?
No. Shopify's free themes are a solid base. A paid or custom theme makes sense when you need features or a design the free one cannot deliver without lots of apps or tweaks.
Do I pay a fee on every sale with Shopify?
Yes, there is always a payment processing cost. With Shopify Payments you pay its fee; with external gateways, you pay the gateway's fee and, depending on the plan, an additional Shopify fee.
Is Shopify Plus only for very large stores?
It is designed for high-volume brands or advanced needs, such as B2B selling, more checkout control or automation. Its price is agreed with Shopify, so the way to find out if it pays off is to ask them or a partner.
What makes a Shopify project cost more?
Mainly scope: original design, number of templates, custom features, integrations with other systems, data migration and the number of languages or markets.