Quick answer
- Price: $5/month.
- What it is: selling through links, social media and chat. No full storefront.
- Great for: creators, influencers, and people testing a product idea.
- Not for: anyone building a brand website. Choose Basic ($29/mo yearly).
Start selling with Shopify Starter (opens in a new tab)
What is Shopify Starter?
Shopify Starter is a lightweight plan for selling without a traditional website. You add products, get a simple mobile-friendly page for each one, and share links anywhere: your Instagram bio, TikTok profile, YouTube description, WhatsApp, or email. Customers check out through Shopify's trusted checkout.
What's included
- Product pages and a link-in-bio page
- Shopify checkout including Shop Pay
- Selling through social channels and messaging
- Order management in the Shopify admin and mobile app
What's missing compared to Basic
- No full online store theme, blog or custom pages
- Higher per-sale fees
- Limited access to apps and advanced store features
| Plan | Monthly billing | Billed yearly | Online card rate* | 3rd-party gateway fee | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $5/mo | $5/mo | 5% + 30¢ | n/a | Selling through social media & links (no full store) |
| Basic | $39/mo | $29/mo | 2.9% + 30¢ | 2% | New stores and solo founders |
| Grow | $105/mo | $79/mo | 2.7% + 30¢ | 1% | Growing brands with a small team |
| Advanced | $399/mo | $299/mo | 2.5% + 30¢ | 0.6% | High-volume stores & international selling |
| Plus | $2,300+/mo | $2,300+/mo | Custom | 0.2% | Enterprise brands |
*US online card rates using Shopify Payments. Rates differ by country. Always confirm on Shopify's pricing page (opens in a new tab).
Who should use Shopify Starter
Starter makes sense if your audience is already on social media and you just need a fast, trusted way to take payment. Typical examples include a creator selling merch, an artist selling prints to followers, or someone validating a product before investing in a full store. Our guide to selling on social media shows how to make it work.
When to upgrade to Basic
Upgrade when you want a branded website, SEO traffic, email marketing apps, or lower fees. With Starter's higher per-sale fees, Basic becomes cheaper overall once you're selling a moderate amount each month. Run the numbers with our Shopify fees guide.
Already have a website on another platform? Shopify's Buy Button can add checkout to it. See how to add a store to an existing website.
Our verdict
Shopify Starter is a smart, cheap way to monetize an existing audience or test a product. If you're building a real brand, skip it and start on Basic. You'll want the full store sooner than you think.
Compare all Shopify plans (opens in a new tab)Frequently asked questions
Can you have a website on Shopify Starter?
Not a full online store with a theme. Starter gives you simple product pages and a link-in-bio style page, and you share links on social media, in messages or by email.
Can I upgrade from Starter to Basic later?
Yes. You can upgrade at any time and keep your products, orders and customers.
Is Shopify Starter good for dropshipping?
Usually not. Dropshipping relies on a full store and paid ads. Choose Basic or higher. See best platform for dropshipping.