Which Shopify Plan is Best for Dropshipping: Plan Comparison

Starting a dropshipping business requires making strategic decisions, and choosing the right platform is crucial. Shopify, with over 1.7 million businesses worldwide, is a top choice for dropshipping due to its user-friendly interface and scalability.

With several subscription options available, finding which Shopify plan is best for dropshipping depends on your unique needs. 

A thoughtful Shopify plan comparison—considering factors like budget, sales volume, and feature access—can help you determine which tier offers the most value for your dropshipping store, especially when it comes to marketing tools, analytics, and app integrations.

A Comparison of Shopify Plans for Dropshipping Success

Shopify offers four main pricing tiers: Basic, Shopify, Advanced, and Shopify Plus. Each plan comes with different features, transaction fees, and capabilities that can significantly impact your dropshipping operation's efficiency and profitability.

Shopify Basic Plan ($29/month)

The Shopify Basic plan is where most dropshipping entrepreneurs begin their journey, and for good reason.

What's included:

• Online store with blog functionality
• Unlimited products
• 2 staff accounts
• 24/7 support
• Sales channels (including social media integration)
• Manual order creation
• Discount codes
• Free SSL certificate
• Abandoned cart recovery

Transaction fees:

• 2.9% + 30¢ for online credit card transactions
• 2.0% additional fee for using external payment providers (reduced with Shopify Payments)

Is Basic right for your dropshipping business?

The Basic plan is ideal for new dropshippers with limited budgets who are testing the waters. It contains all the essential features needed to launch and run a functional dropshipping store. 

The plan becomes particularly cost-effective once you're generating at least a few thousand dollars in monthly revenue.

Pro tip: Even on the Basic plan, you can boost your store's capabilities by leveraging apps from the Shopify App Store. Apps like Oberlo or DSers can dramatically improve your product sourcing efficiency without upgrading your plan.

Standard Shopify Plan ($79/month)

As your dropshipping business grows, the standard Shopify plan offers enhanced features that can help scale operations.

What's included (everything in Basic, plus):

• 5 staff accounts
• Professional reports
• Lower credit card rates
• Standard reports
• USPS Priority Mail Cubic pricing

Transaction fees:

• 2.6% + 30¢ for online credit card transactions
• 1.0% additional fee for using external payment providers

When to upgrade to the Standard plan:

Consider upgrading to the Standard Shopify plan when:

• Your monthly revenue exceeds $5,000-$10,000
• You need additional staff accounts to manage operations
• You're seeking more advanced reporting capabilities
• The reduction in transaction fees justifies the higher monthly cost

For many growing dropshipping stores, the standard plan hits the sweet spot between affordability and functionality. The professional reports feature becomes particularly valuable as you seek to optimize your marketing strategies and identify top-performing products.

Advanced Shopify Plan ($299/month)

The Advanced plan is designed for high-volume dropshipping businesses looking to maximize efficiency and minimize transaction costs.

What's included (everything in Standard, plus):

• 15 staff accounts
• Advanced report building
• Third-party calculated shipping rates
• Lower credit card rates
• Lower additional payment processing fees

Transaction fees:

• 2.4% + 30¢ for online credit card transactions
• 0.5% additional fee for external payment providers

Is Advanced right for your store?

The Advanced plan is ideal for established dropshipping businesses that:

• Process high monthly sales volumes (typically $10,000+ monthly)
• Require extensive team management capabilities
• Need advanced analytics and reporting
• Would benefit significantly from the reduced transaction fees
• Require third-party calculated shipping rates

The third-party calculated shipping rates feature is particularly valuable for dropshippers selling products with variable weights and dimensions, as it provides customers with more accurate shipping costs at checkout.

Shopify Plus (Starting at $2,000/month)

Shopify Plus is an enterprise-level solution designed for high-volume merchants with complex requirements.

What's included (everything in Advanced, plus):

• Dedicated support
• API access
• Multiple expansion stores
• Customized checkout
• Wholesale channel
• Automation tools (Shopify Flow)
• Launch team and merchant success program

Is Shopify Plus necessary for dropshipping?

For most dropshipping businesses, Shopify Plus is overkill. However, it might be worth considering if your dropshipping operation:

• Generates millions in annual revenue
• Operates across multiple countries with localized stores
• Requires extensive automation and customization
• Needs B2B/wholesale capabilities alongside B2C operations

Key Considerations When Choosing Your Shopify Plan

When determining which Shopify plan is best for your dropshipping business, consider these critical factors:

1. Current Business Stage and Budget

If you're just starting, it makes sense to begin with the Basic plan and upgrade as your business grows. The initial investment should be proportional to your expected revenue in the early months.

2. Transaction Fees and Payment Processing

One of the most significant differences between plans is the transaction fees. Calculate your potential savings with each plan based on your projected sales volume:

Example calculation:

• Basic plan with $10,000 monthly sales: $10,000 × 2.9% + (30¢ × average number of transactions)
• Standard plan with $10,000 monthly sales: $10,000 × 2.6% + (30¢ × average number of transactions)

The difference could justify upgrading to a higher plan once you reach certain revenue thresholds.

3. Staff Account Requirements

If you're running your dropshipping business solo or with just one partner, the Basic plan's two staff accounts may be sufficient. However, as you expand and hire virtual assistants or customer service representatives, you'll need additional accounts.

4. Reporting and Analytics Needs

As your dropshipping business grows, data-driven decision-making becomes increasingly important. The standard and Advanced plans offer progressively more sophisticated reporting tools that can help identify:

• Best-selling products
• Most effective marketing channels
• Customer purchasing patterns
• Inventory forecasting insights

5. App Integration Requirements

All Shopify plans allow integration with apps, but certain advanced dropshipping operations may benefit from the additional API capabilities and automation tools available in higher-tier plans.

For instance, if you're planning to create a private label supplement brand to complement your dropshipping products, you might need more advanced features to manage both business models simultaneously.

Minimizing Costs While Maximizing Features

Regardless of which plan you choose, there are strategies to optimize your Shopify investment for dropshipping:

Use Shopify Payments to Avoid Additional Fees

Using Shopify's native payment processor eliminates the additional transaction fees charged for external payment providers. This alone can save you 0.5-2.0% on every sale, depending on your plan.

Leverage Free and Low-Cost Apps Initially

Many essential dropshipping functions can be handled by free or low-cost apps before upgrading to premium solutions:

• Product sourcing: DSers (free plan available)
• Email marketing: Omnisend (free tier for basic needs)
• SEO optimization: Basic SEO apps with free features

Annual Billing Discount

All Shopify plans offer a 10% discount when paid annually. Once you're committed to the platform, this can provide significant savings.

Test Before You Upgrade

Before committing to a higher-tier plan, use Shopify's 14-day free trial period to test the features and determine if they justify the additional cost for your specific dropshipping model.

Special Considerations for Dropshipping Businesses

Dropshipping has some unique operational considerations that might affect your Shopify plan choice:

Multi-Supplier Management

If you're working with multiple suppliers or considering partnering with fulfillment specialists for certain product lines, the Advanced plan's improved inventory and order management capabilities might be beneficial.

International Dropshipping

For dropshippers targeting global markets, the Advanced plan's third-party calculated shipping rates become particularly valuable, ensuring accurate shipping costs for international customers.

Scaling Product Lines

Many successful dropshippers eventually expand into private labeling of complementary products. If you're considering adding custom products to your store, the enhanced features of higher-tier plans can help manage this hybrid business model.

High-Ticket Dropshipping

If your strategy involves high-ticket items with fewer orders but higher values, the transaction fee differences between plans become especially important to analyze.

Comparing Shopify to Other Platforms for Dropshipping

While Shopify remains a top choice for dropshipping, it's worth briefly considering how it stacks up against alternatives:

Shopify vs. WooCommerce

WooCommerce has lower base costs but requires more technical setup and ongoing maintenance. For most dropshippers, the time saved with Shopify's user-friendly interface justifies the higher monthly fee.

Shopify vs. ClickFunnels

ClickFunnels offers powerful sales funnel capabilities, but Shopify provides more comprehensive store management features, specifically beneficial for dropshipping operations.

When to Upgrade Your Shopify Plan

Knowing when to upgrade is just as important as choosing the right initial plan. Here are signs it's time to consider a higher tier:

• Your transaction fee savings would exceed the difference in monthly plan costs
• You need additional staff accounts for your growing team
• Customer support is becoming overwhelming without advanced automation tools
• Your reporting needs have outgrown your current plan's capabilities
• Shipping calculation limitations are causing customer service issues

Getting Started: Your Dropshipping Plan Action Steps

Ready to launch your dropshipping business on Shopify? Here's a practical roadmap:

1. Start with a 14-day free trial to test the platform
2. Begin with the Basic plan while validating your business model
3. Calculate your break-even point for upgrading based on projected sales
4. Evaluate necessary apps and add-ons for your specific niche
5. Set revenue milestones for plan upgrades (e.g., "Upgrade to Standard at $8,000/month revenue")

Building Your Dropshipping Empire: Beyond the Plan

While choosing the right Shopify plan is important, long-term dropshipping success depends on many factors beyond your subscription level. Focus on:

• Product research and selection
• Supplier relationship management
• Marketing and customer acquisition
• Customer service excellence
• Continuous optimization and testing

Optimize Shipping with Custom Fulfillment Rules

A key strategy in dropshipping is customizing your shipping beyond Shopify’s default settings. By integrating third-party fulfillment and setting custom shipping rules based on product weight, dimensions, and zones, you can reduce costs and boost profit margins.

Advanced Shopify plans, like Shopify Advanced, allow you to set up more precise shipping options, such as offering free shipping for specific regions or automating discounts based on order value. 

These custom rules help streamline logistics, incentivize larger orders, and ensure more accurate shipping fees, ultimately boosting profitability while enhancing the customer experience.

Choose the Plan That Grows With You

The best Shopify plan for dropshipping aligns with your current business stage and growth potential, not necessarily the most expensive. Start with the Basic plan and upgrade as your business scales.

Reassess your needs regularly, as the right plan today may not be the best in six months. Begin with a Shopify trial, choose the plan that fits, and focus on building a thriving business.