Shopify Transaction Fees 2026: Every Rate for Every Plan
The complete fee reference covering online rates, in-person POS rates, third-party gateway surcharges, international card fees, and chargeback costs. Transaction fees are the largest ongoing cost for most Shopify stores, typically exceeding the subscription itself.
Online Credit Card Rates (Shopify Payments)
These are the rates charged when a customer pays with a credit or debit card on your online store through Shopify Payments. Every plan includes a percentage-based fee plus a fixed per-transaction charge. The percentage decreases on higher plans, which is the primary financial incentive for upgrading. At high revenue volumes, even a small percentage reduction creates significant monthly savings.
| Plan | Online Rate | In-Person Rate | Manual Entry Rate | Third-Party Surcharge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | 5% | N/A | N/A | 5% |
| Basic | 2.9% + $0.30 | 2.6% + $0.10 | 3.5% + $0.15 | 2.0% |
| Grow | 2.7% + $0.30 | 2.5% + $0.10 | 3.3% + $0.15 | 1.0% |
| Advanced | 2.5% + $0.30 | 2.2% + $0.10 | 3.1% + $0.15 | 0.6% |
| Plus | 2.15% + $0.30 | 2.15% + $0.10 | 2.75% + $0.15 | 0.2% |
Shopify Payments vs Third-Party Gateways
Shopify strongly incentivizes using Shopify Payments through the third-party surcharge. If you use any payment gateway other than Shopify Payments, such as PayPal, Stripe, Authorize.net, or a regional processor, Shopify adds a surcharge on top of whatever your processor charges. On Basic, this surcharge is 2.0%, which effectively doubles the cost of each transaction. Even on Plus, the 0.2% surcharge adds meaningful cost at high volumes.
For most merchants, Shopify Payments is the correct choice. It eliminates the surcharge, integrates seamlessly with the Shopify checkout, and provides competitive processing rates. The main reasons to use a third-party gateway are: Shopify Payments is not available in your country, you need a specific payment method that Shopify Payments does not support, or you have a negotiated rate with a processor that beats Shopify Payments even with the surcharge (rare, but possible for very large merchants).
PayPal is a special case. You can offer PayPal as an additional payment option alongside Shopify Payments without incurring the third-party surcharge on PayPal transactions, provided Shopify Payments is your primary processor. This gives customers payment choice without the cost penalty. However, transactions processed through PayPal are subject to PayPal's own fee schedule, which may differ from Shopify Payments rates.
International Transaction Fees
International transactions incur additional fees beyond the standard processing rates. When a customer pays with a credit card issued outside your store's country, Shopify Payments charges an international card surcharge of 1.5% on the Basic plan or 1.0% on Grow, Advanced, and Plus plans. This surcharge applies regardless of the transaction currency and is charged on top of the standard online processing rate.
If the transaction also involves currency conversion, meaning the customer pays in a different currency than your store's base currency, there is an additional currency conversion fee. Shopify applies a markup to the exchange rate, typically around 1.5% on Basic and 1.0% on Grow and above. For a store with 20% international sales doing $50,000 per month, the international surcharges alone can add $150-$200 per month to your costs.
To minimize international fees, consider setting up Shopify Markets with local pricing in your major international currencies. This lets customers see and pay in their local currency while you control the exchange rate markup. On Advanced and Plus plans, the duties and import tax calculation feature further improves the international buying experience by showing customers their full landed cost at checkout.
Chargeback Costs
When a customer disputes a charge with their credit card company, Shopify charges a $15 chargeback fee per dispute when using Shopify Payments. This fee is assessed when the dispute is filed, not when it is resolved. If you win the dispute, the $15 fee is refunded. If you lose, you forfeit the transaction amount, the processing fees, and the $15 chargeback fee. For a $100 order, a lost chargeback costs you approximately $118 ($100 product + $3.20 processing + $15 dispute fee).
The best strategy is prevention. Clear product descriptions with accurate photos, responsive customer service, easy return policies, and shipping with tracking all reduce chargeback rates. Shopify's built-in fraud analysis tools flag high-risk orders before you fulfill them. For high-risk categories (electronics, luxury goods, digital products), consider requiring signature on delivery or implementing additional identity verification at checkout. An industry-standard chargeback rate is under 1% of transactions. Above 1%, payment processors may impose penalties or terminate your account.
Monthly Fee Comparison by Revenue
The table below shows total monthly fees (subscription plus transaction processing) on each plan at different revenue levels, assuming Shopify Payments, $50 average order value, and 100% domestic transactions. This comparison helps you identify which plan is most cost-effective at your specific revenue level. The highlighted cells show the cheapest option for each revenue tier.
| Revenue | Starter | Basic | Grow | Advanced | Plus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | $61 | $74 | $138 | $430 | $2,328 |
| $5,000 | $285 | $214 | $270 | $554 | $2,438 |
| $10,000 | $565 | $389 | $435 | $709 | $2,575 |
| $22,000 | $1,237 | $809 | $831 | $1,081 | $2,905 |
| $50,000 | $2,805 | $1,789 | $1,755 | $1,949 | $3,675 |
| $100,000 | $5,605 | $3,539 | $3,405 | $3,499 | $5,050 |
| $200,000 | $11,205 | $7,039 | $6,705 | $6,599 | $7,800 |
| $500,000 | $28,005 | $17,539 | $16,605 | $15,899 | $16,050 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Shopify's transaction fees?
Shopify charges credit card processing fees on all plans: 2.9% + $0.30 on Basic, 2.7% + $0.30 on Grow, 2.5% + $0.30 on Advanced, and 2.15% + $0.30 on Plus for online transactions using Shopify Payments. The Starter plan charges a flat 5% fee. If you use a third-party payment gateway, there is an additional surcharge of 0.2% to 2.0% depending on your plan, on top of your gateway's own fees.
Does Shopify charge extra if I don't use Shopify Payments?
Yes. If you use a third-party payment gateway instead of Shopify Payments, Shopify charges an additional surcharge on every transaction: 2.0% on Basic, 1.0% on Grow, 0.6% on Advanced, and 0.2% on Plus. This surcharge is in addition to whatever your payment processor charges. This is one of the strongest incentives to use Shopify Payments, as the surcharge can significantly increase your per-transaction costs.
How much does Shopify take per sale?
On the Basic plan with Shopify Payments, Shopify takes 2.9% plus $0.30 per online sale. For a $50 order, that is $1.75. For a $100 order, that is $3.20. For in-person POS sales, the rate is lower at 2.6% plus $0.10. These rates decrease on higher-tier plans. On Plus, the online rate drops to 2.15% plus $0.30, saving $0.38 per $50 order compared to Basic.
What are Shopify's international transaction fees?
When a customer pays with an international credit card, Shopify Payments charges an additional 1.5% surcharge on Basic or 1.0% on Grow, Advanced, and Plus plans. There is also a currency conversion fee if the transaction involves converting between currencies. These international fees are on top of the standard processing rates and can significantly impact profitability for stores with heavy international sales.
How much is a Shopify chargeback fee?
Shopify charges a $15 chargeback fee per dispute when using Shopify Payments. This fee is charged when a customer disputes a charge with their credit card company, regardless of the outcome. If you win the dispute, the $15 fee is refunded. Chargebacks also cost you the transaction amount and processing fees. Reducing chargebacks through clear product descriptions, easy returns, and proactive communication is critical.