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 in 2025? This guide explores Shopify Plus benefits and explains whether the upgrade is right for your business.

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
  • How to migrate to Shopify Plus if you’re ready

Quick Overview: Shopify vs Shopify Plus

This side-by-side Shopify vs Shopify Plus comparison covers everything you need to make an informed decision in 2025.

Feature Shopify Shopify Plus
Pricing $39–$399/month From $2,000/month
Hosting Included Included
Support 24/7 Live Chat Dedicated Launch Engineer + Priority Support
Staff Accounts Limited by plan Unlimited
API Access Basic Advanced (Multipass, GiftCard, Scripts)
Checkout Customization Limited Full access (Shopify Scripts + Checkout Extensibility)
B2B Features Add-ons required Built-in B2B portal
Multi-store Management Separate stores Centralized admin
Automation Basic (Shopify Flow for Plus only) Shopify Flow, Launchpad, CLI tools

What Is Shopify Plus?

Shopify Plus is a premium, scalable eCommerce platform for enterprise brands and high-volume merchants. It’s designed to address the advanced needs that standard Shopify plans can’t handle.

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)

Checkout customization is one of the most requested Shopify Plus features, especially among brands that require unique shipping, payment, or discount logic.

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

2. Multi-Store & International Expansion

Shopify Plus makes international selling easier by allowing multi-store architecture and currency localization — a major Shopify Plus benefit for global growth.

  • 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

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

These automation and wholesale tools are key differentiators in the Shopify Plus vs Shopify debate.

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

Shopify Plus pricing starts at $2,000/month.
Custom pricing for very high-revenue stores is based on GMV.

Includes:

  • 10 stores
  • Unlimited staff
  • Priority support
  • All advanced features

Compared to Advanced Shopify ($399/month), the jump is significant — but when you evaluate Shopify Plus pricing against the added value (especially automation, checkout control, and support), it becomes a worthwhile investment for scaling brands.

When Should You Upgrade to Shopify Plus?

If you’re wondering "Is Shopify Plus worth it?", consider these factors:

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

Shopify Plus migration is seamless when done from within Shopify, but if you're switching from another platform, Cart2Cart makes the process fast and safe.

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

Want to test your Shopify Plus migration experience? Start a free Cart2Cart demo to preview how your data transfers — including products, categories, customers, and SEO.

Shopify Plus vs Shopify: Summary

Feature Shopify Shopify Plus
Best for Small/Medium brands High-growth / Enterprise
Monthly Cost $39–$399 From $2,000
Staff Accounts Limited Unlimited
Checkout Access Minimal Full control
B2B Capabilities Apps only Built-in
Support Standard Dedicated manager
Storefronts 1 Multiple (10+)

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 it for fast-growing brands?

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