Are you curious about the Shopify website development cost? Do you want to build a strong eCommerce business, but do not know the exact amount to set aside for your online store? If you just nodded in affirmation, then this blog is all you need.
Shopify has established itself as a trusted and innovative name in the eCommerce website development domain. You see a highly efficient eCommerce store with a solid navigation menu, premium quality product display, and a simple Order Placement process, and suddenly you realize that is what you need for your eCommerce website.
You can build a customer-specific store by selecting a suitable eCommerce development platform. Shopify is the top choice in the market and has plenty to offer. But the larger question remains: How much should I pay for the development and maintenance costs of my Shopify store?
There is no single answer since the pricing varies depending on the service provider’s fees, Shopify plan, and various other factors. Keep reading to learn about the cost of Shopify and find out which plan is best for your business!
Shopify Website Development Methods
There are two popular methods of building a competitive Shopify online store. One is the DIY method, which is fairly simple. Another one is the Professional Shopify Store Development. Let us see how these approaches work and the cost factors associated with each.
Method 1: Shopify Store Development By Experts
You should hire a professional Shopify designer and developer for a high-end eCommerce store. Though the service cost of these development agencies remains on the higher end of the spectrum, the quality of the resultant Shopify online store is enhanced.
Companies offering this service have multiple development cost plans, which means even small businesses can find a suitable package. Here is a cost breakdown of how much a professional Shopify store development can cost you:
Method 2: DIY Shopify Store Development
Small eCommerce businesses and small-scale startups usually have budget limitations, which restrict them from spending too much money. This is where a DIY method can help you build your online store, but the only condition is that you should have a basic understanding of the Shopify platform. Here is what you need to do:
- Start with the basic Shopify plan, and later switch to the advanced plan once your business has stabilized.
- Use affordable and low-cost Shopify themes.
- Set up payment integration, shipping, and other features yourself, which will require prior knowledge of the Shopify store development process.
Now let’s see how much a DIY Shopify store development costs:
You see? Shopify development is not very expensive. But it is also important to be real and plan for additional expenses. That being said, eCommerce business owners should be more focused on growing their business rather than worrying about the development process. This is why the Shopify development services are highly in demand.
How To Calculate The Shopify Website Development Cost?
Now that you have an overview of the different cost elements involved in building a Shopify store, it is time to go deeper into the budget. Since Shopify is a fully hosted eCommerce platform, the majority of the development tools are accessible. Here is a detailed cost breakdown so you can plan the budget accordingly.
Shopify Subscription Plan Selection
First things first, you need to select a Shopify plan that most suits your requirements. This factor remains a major part of your Shopify website development cost. Currently, Shopify offers 4 amazing plans: Basic, Advanced, Grow, and Plus. You will find varying features in these different plans, added for people with distinct requirements and budgets. You can find below more information on each plan:
Shopify offers four main pricing plans.
Basic Plan: $39/month, $29/month annually: The Basic plan is tailored for small businesses that want to create a full-fledged online store.
- It offers two staff accounts, a website complete with a blog, unlimited products, discount codes, and round-the-clock support.
- You will also get basic analytics and access to Shopify Payments, though keep in mind that transaction fees apply if you use third-party gateways.
- This plan is ideal for businesses in the early stages of eCommerce growth, running low on budget.
Grow Plan: $105/month, $79/month annually: The Shopify plan is designed for businesses that are on the rise, providing more advanced reporting and allowing for five staff accounts.
- It includes everything from the Basic plan, plus professional reports, better shipping discounts, and reduced payment processing fees.
- This plan is perfect for stores experiencing moderate traffic and higher sales volumes that are looking for deeper insights into their business.
Advanced Plan: $399/month, $299/month annually: The Advanced plan is aimed at businesses that are scaling up and need sophisticated analytics and shipping tools.
- It comes with 15 staff accounts, custom reporting, third-party calculated shipping rates, and the lowest transaction fees among the core plans.
- This plan is well-suited for businesses expanding internationally or those with complex fulfillment needs and significant monthly sales.
Shopify Plus: Starting at $2,300/month: Shopify Plus is an enterprise-level solution that offers unparalleled customization, API access, automation tools (like Shopify Flow), and support for high-volume sales.
- It includes dedicated account management, advanced security features, and the ability to set up multiple stores.
- This plan is ideal for large brands, wholesalers, or rapidly growing companies that require top-notch performance, global reach, and enterprise-grade control.
Shopify Theme Development
The next major spending comes with developing a decent Shopify theme. The theme and visual appeal of your eCommerce website heavily influence your customers’ buying decisions. No one likes to spend time on a gloomy and bad-looking website, let alone make a purchase from it. A Shopify theme will add value to your eCommerce store’s appearance, positively influencing the way your customers perceive it.
You can find a customizable and ready-made theme on Shopify, which makes your work easy. Developers can use a free, paid, or custom template from the Shopify store. The selection depends on the requirements of your online store, according to which a theme can be finalized.
Paid themes or templates come with greater benefits as they are easily customizable. You can find pro features in these themes that make your website design stand out. Adding filter options also becomes smooth with paid themes, saving you from the headache of integrating third-party apps that slow down your eCommerce store. The design and development complexities of this process can be challenging, this is why you can consult an expert agency for Shopify theme development.
Free themes can be used by small startups because they are affordable. However, they have a limited functionality and no customization is offered. The font, color, and layout of theme remain the same. While a free Shopify theme seems tempting when you are just starting out, switching to a paid and more functional theme will become necessary as you grow.
Domain Registration
When you are putting together a budget for your Shopify store, do not forget about the cost of domain registration. It is a key expense that greatly matters. Your domain name is like your store’s online identity; it helps establish credibility, strengthens your brand, and makes it easier for customers to find you on the web.
Shopify lets you buy a custom domain right through their platform, usually starting at about $14 a year, depending on the type of domain you choose (.com, .store, etc.). While that might not sound like a lot, remember it’s a recurring cost that should definitely be part of your yearly financial plan.
A solid domain name can also boost your visibility on search engines and build customer trust, which can lead to better sales. If you already have a domain from another provider, you can connect it to your Shopify store, but keep in mind that renewal fees will still apply. So while you are creating a budget, including domain registration will ensure a smooth brand presence and avoid any hiccups that could arise from having an expired or unregistered domain.
eCommerce Store Hosting
Hosting is another cost factor to consider while evaluating your Shopify website development cost. The hosting costs vary depending on your website traffic and business requirements. Two types of hosting are mainly used, especially in the eCommerce website development space.
- Hosting via SaaS
- Self-hosting
SaaS eCommerce hosting is a more unique and flexible approach if you want your online Shopify store to grow exponentially. Shopify offers hosting services, so you do not have to do it on your own or buy hosting plans from third-party providers. Everything you need is provided in Shopify’s monthly subscription fee. This means that the hassle of separately managing and hosting a domain can be avoided.
Here is what hosting in a Shopify plan looks like:
- Your store’s customer data is guarded with Level 1 PCI compliance.
- Unlimited bandwidth to manage the growing traffic on your eCommerce website.
- Instant and regular updates to keep your online store running in top condition.
- SSL certification for enhanced protection and customer trust.
- A fast and highly functional CMS (Content Management System) for quick and straightforward content management on the website.
- Unlimited email forwarding.
When you decide to self-host your eCommerce website, certain additional costs are incurred. Plus, you have to manage everything yourself, which can be painful at times. The additional costs include:
- Separate SSL certification charges.
- An eCommerce hosting account.
- Extra costs for domain name purchases.
- Hosting upgrade charges are required once the online traffic increases.
Add-ons and Customization
The Shopify app store contains thousands of themes, templates, app features, and other tools that help you extend your eCommerce store’s functionality. When you buy a paid premium Shopify plan, you get access to these perks right off the bat. But it is always wise to include all the possible costs when budgeting for your Shopify development services.
Many crucial features like advanced SEO tools, custom reporting, third-party integrations, inventory management systems, and marketing automation often come with extra paid apps or require additional development work. Custom themes, support for multiple languages, improved product filtering, and subscription services are just a few functionalities that might not be included in the basic Shopify plan.
Add-on features checklist:
- Smart SEO tools
- Multiple payment integrations
- Marketing tools for direct social media marketing
- Product, category, and price filtering
- Inventory and stock management systems
If your business is looking to create a distinctive brand experience or operates in a niche market, you might also need custom solutions that involve coding or third-party API integrations. While these enhancements can greatly boost user experience and operational efficiency, they can also lead to higher monthly fees or one-time costs. By planning for these needs, you can ensure your eCommerce Shopify store remains attractive and performative, and you avoid any surprise expenses down the line.
Shopify Apps: Enhance Your Store's Functionality
Shopify Apps are plugins that extend your store’s capabilities—ranging from marketing and SEO to inventory management and customer support. While many apps offer free plans, premium versions can cost anywhere from $5 to $100+ per month, depending on features.
Popular Shopify Apps:
- Klaviyo (Email Marketing) – Free up to a certain limit, then paid
- Judge.me (Product Reviews) – Free & $15/month
- ReConvert (Upsell Funnels) – Starts at $4.99/month
- Plug in SEO – Free basic scan, $20/month for full features
Using too many apps can affect your store’s speed and increase monthly costs. So, install only the essentials based on your business needs.
Professional Shopify Development Services
Choosing the right theme and functionalities for your Shopify store is an easy task. The tougher one is to execute this plan. You can always buy Shopify plans and create your eCommerce store yourself, but expert assistance is required for a desirable outcome.
You would require hands-on experience and deep knowledge of the Shopify development process and app integration. Even a minor coding error will crash your website, leading to additional costs and making it non-functional.
At this point, hiring a professional Shopify development agency is the smart move. Their experts will take care of the technical aspects while you can focus on growing your business. Let us look at the cost considerations:
The Team’s Experience and Proficiency
The fees of an expert Shopify developer depend on the number of projects they have done throughout their career. You can hire a freelancer or a dedicated Shopify development team. Their charges and service quality will be different. We highly recommend finalizing an experienced development team rather than a freelancer.
The cost to hire a Shopify developer can vary widely based on experience and location. On platforms like Codementor or Toptal, highly vetted developers often charge between $80 to $100 per hour—a premium rate typically reserved for senior professionals or niche experts.
Meanwhile, you might find freelancers on other marketplaces quoting as low as $35/hour. While tempting, such low rates often come with trade-offs—like poor code quality, lack of communication, or missed deadlines.
If you’re looking for a solid balance between affordability and quality, expect to pay around $45–$60/hour for a reliable, mid-level Shopify developer. Our own Shopify theme development services are priced at $50/hour, and we take pride in delivering clean, scalable, and fully-tested code that follows Shopify’s best practices.
A team of professional developers will work on your terms, and they are backed by solid resources. They follow the best industry standards and offer services at decent rates. We offer exceptional and fully tested Shopify themes at affordable development costs.
Project Requirements
Another factor affecting the overall Shopify website development cost is the objectives and requirements of your project. A large-scale and high-end eCommerce Shopify website with customized features will cost you more than a simple website.
- A simple and small online website will cost around $1000-$2000 with basic features and a moderate amount of online traffic.
- A Shopify store for a mid-sized business will cost you about $2500-$5000, which will include additional and advanced features, customer data security, appealing graphics, and website design.
- A large-scale online eCommerce store developer will charge you more than $10,000 to build a solid and top-level Shopify store. Creating such a high-end project requires lots of resources and Shopify expertise, hence the higher development costs.
Urgency
A development team will analyze ‘How soon do you need the Shopify website?’ They will charge a higher amount with additional fees for urgent delivery. So, make sure you hire a developer well in advance to avoid paying the extra charges.
Which Shopify Pricing Plan Is Best For My Business?
Basic
Most suitable for businesses that are stepping into the market on a small scale. This plan is usually bought by influencers, small business owners, and other solopreneurs. So, this package is enough for you to get started and get a hold of your online store while it grows.
Grow
This plan is the best option if you want to do more than just ‘sell’. With the Grow Shopify plan, you can get deeper insights into your store’s performance metrics. This will allow you to create marketing strategies and promotions. You get detailed information on the most-sold products so you can better align with your customers’ likes and dislikes.
Advanced
Businesses should select the Shopify Advanced plan for steady growth and enhanced reporting capabilities, as well as reduced payment costs. The plan serves businesses that maintain extensive inventories through multiple staff members and intricate shipping requirements. The plan helps you grow through its custom reports functionality and third-party calculated shipping rate capability.
Plus
Enterprise-level companies and rapidly growing brands should select Shopify Plus because it provides advanced customizations and automated support for their requirements. Shopify Plus offers APIs alongside multi-store management capabilities while offering customized checkout functions. The transaction volume demands and worldwide presence, along with wholesale operations, justify this plan selection for companies since it ensures both flexibility and elevated performance.
Questions To Ask Before Starting To Build Your Shopify Store
- What is the size of my business?
- Which features should I add to my eCommerce store?
- What kind of CMS does my store need?
- Which Shopify plan should I purchase?
- Do I want multiple payment gateways for my store?
- Do I need a dedicated development team for building the Shopify store?
Also Read: WooCommerce vs Shopify vs Magento: Which Is Better For Your Online Store?
Expert Shopify Development Services by PSDtoHTMLNinja
Trust a leading name in the web and eCommerce development industry for your next eCommerce website. PSDtoHTMLNinja has experience of over 12 years, and we have served countless clients with award-winning projects. If you are not sure what you need and how to develop your eCommerce store, we can be of absolute help.
In addition to everything else, we provide the following Shopify development services:
App Integration for Enhanced Functionality
Want to add powerful features without overwhelming your customers? We integrate essential tools like Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, Google Analytics, and Facebook Pixel directly into your store. Whether it's email automation, social media marketing, or tracking user behavior—our team ensures everything works smoothly while matching your store’s design and tone.
UI & UX Customization for Better Conversions
First impressions matter. If your Shopify store is cluttered or confusing, visitors won’t stick around. We redesign and refine your store layout based on proven UX principles—making sure it's intuitive, fast-loading, and optimized for mobile users. The result? A shopping experience that keeps customers engaged and encourages them to buy.
Custom Shopify Themes That Reflect Your Brand
Your store should be as unique as your business. Instead of relying on generic templates, we develop custom Shopify themes tailored to your niche, product range, and brand personality. Whether you already have a design file (Figma, XD, PSD) or just a vision in mind, we’ll turn it into a pixel-perfect, responsive Shopify theme.
Our hourly rate for Shopify development is $20 to $30/hour. The final cost of your project will depend on the features you need, the complexity of your store, and how customized you want it to be. Whether it’s a basic storefront or a feature-rich eCommerce platform—we provide flexible solutions that fit your budget.