Shopify Plus vs Shopify: What’s the Difference and When to Upgrade? (2025 Guide)

If you're running a successful Shopify store and scaling fast, you've likely come across Shopify Plus — the enterprise version of Shopify.

But is it worth upgrading from regular Shopify to Shopify Plus? And what exactly do you get with the premium price tag?

In this comprehensive Shopify vs Shopify Plus comparison, we’ll break down:

• Key differences in features and pricing
  
• Who Shopify Plus is for
  
• When it’s time to upgrade
  
• And how to migrate to Shopify Plus if you’re ready
  

Quick Overview: Shopify vs Shopify Plus

What Is Shopify Plus?

Shopify Plus is a premium, scalable eCommerce platform built for high-volume merchants, wholesalers, and enterprise brands. It offers:

• Greater flexibility and customization
  
• Priority infrastructure and hosting
  
• Enterprise-grade features and integrations
  

It’s trusted by global brands like Gymshark, Allbirds, Heinz, and Rothy’s.

1. Checkout Customization (The Game-Changer)

Regular Shopify:

• Very limited checkout editing (via themes only)
  
• No access to backend logic
  

Shopify Plus:

• Full control over checkout via Shopify Scripts
  
• Modify shipping methods, payment rules, discounts, and more
  
• Use Checkout Extensibility and Shopify Functions
  

This is one of the top reasons to upgrade — especially for stores that need customized checkout flows or promotions.

2. Multi-Store & International Expansion

Shopify Plus:

• Run multiple stores (10+ included by default)
  
• Use Shopify Markets Pro for region-based content, currencies, and pricing
  
• Manage stores from a central admin dashboard
  

If you're going global or managing brands in multiple regions, Shopify Plus makes it easier and more efficient.

3. Unlimited Staff Accounts & Permissions

Regular Shopify plans limit staff accounts:

• Basic: 2
  
• Shopify: 5
  
• Advanced: 15
  

✅ Shopify Plus gives you unlimited staff accounts with detailed permission controls — ideal for large teams with marketing, customer service, fulfillment, and development roles.

4. Exclusive Access to Shopify Plus Tools

Included Tools:

• Shopify Flow – Visual automation builder for order tagging, inventory alerts, fraud detection
  
• Launchpad – Schedule campaigns, launches, and flash sales
  
• Bulk Account Inviter – Migrate customers to new stores easily
  
• B2B on Shopify – Wholesale pricing, customer-specific catalogs, PO terms
  

5. Infrastructure, Speed & Reliability

Shopify Plus uses separate infrastructure, ensuring:

• Faster server response times
  
• Higher concurrency capacity (ideal for flash sales)
  
• Dedicated SSL, CDN, and security measures
  

Plus stores get 99.99% uptime, even during high-traffic events like Black Friday.

6. Dedicated Support & Account Management

Shopify Plus merchants receive:

• A Launch Engineer for onboarding
  
• Priority 24/7 support
  
• Access to exclusive Slack communities and Plus-only documentation
  
• Personalized growth strategies
  

Shopify Plus Pricing

• Starts at $2,000/month
  
• Custom pricing for very high-revenue stores (based on GMV)
  
• Includes 10 stores, unlimited staff, priority support, and all advanced features
  

Compared to Advanced Shopify ($399/month), the jump is significant — but so is the value, especially for stores earning $1M+ annually or running across regions.

When Should You Upgrade to Shopify Plus?

Upgrade if you:

• Generate $1M+ in yearly revenue
  
• Have complex checkout requirements
  
• Run B2B and D2C simultaneously
  
• Need multi-store management (regions/languages)
  
• Plan large flash sales or product drops
  
• Want tighter automation and custom logic
  

Migrating to Shopify Plus

If you’re already on Shopify, moving to Plus is easy:

• No replatforming
  
• Data, design, and apps stay intact
  
• Upgrade is handled by Shopify’s onboarding team
  

You can also migrate from other platforms (like Magento, WooCommerce, PrestaShop) to Shopify Plus using Cart2Cart:

Cart2Cart supports:

✅ Products (SKUs, variants, categories)

✅ Orders, customers, reviews

✅ SEO URLs and metadata

✅ CMS content and blog posts

✅ Custom redirects and SEO preservation

Start a Free Demo Shopify Plus Migration

Shopify Plus vs Shopify: Summary

FAQ: Shopify vs Shopify Plus

Q: Can I run flash sales with regular Shopify?
Yes, but Plus handles high-concurrency traffic better and offers Launchpad for scheduled sales.

Q: Do I lose anything when upgrading to Shopify Plus?
No — everything from your existing store stays. You gain more tools and flexibility.

Q: Is Shopify Plus worth the cost?
If you're scaling fast and need enterprise-level features — yes. Especially if your time is better spent on growth, not workarounds.

Q: Can I downgrade from Shopify Plus later?
Yes, but you'll lose access to Plus-exclusive features and tools.

Ready to Grow with Shopify Plus?

If your eCommerce brand is scaling fast and facing platform limitations, Shopify Plus is a future-proof solution built to grow with you.

And if you're migrating from another platform (WooCommerce, Magento, BigCommerce, etc.), you don’t have to start from scratch.

Use Cart2Cart to move your products, customers, and orders safely, automatically, and with zero downtime.

Start Your Free Shopify Plus Demo Migration Now