Updated 30 March 2026
Shopify Transaction Fees Explained
Every rate, every plan, every scenario. Shopify Payments rates range from 2.9% + $0.30 on Basic to 2.15% + $0.30 on Plus. Using a third-party gateway adds a surcharge of 0.2% to 2% on top. Here is the complete reference.
Online Credit Card Rates
These rates apply to online (card-not-present) transactions processed through your Shopify store checkout.
| Plan | Shopify Payments | 3rd Party Surcharge | Int'l Card | Currency Conv. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | 5% + gateway rate | 5% | +1.5% | 1.5% |
| Basic | 2.9% + $0.30 | +2.0% | +1.5% | 1.5% |
| Shopify | 2.6% + $0.30 | +1.0% | +1.5% | 1.0% |
| Advanced | 2.4% + $0.30 | +0.6% | +1.5% | 1.0% |
| Plus | 2.15% + $0.30 | +0.2% | +1.5% | 1.0% |
In-Person POS Rates
Rates for transactions processed through Shopify POS hardware (card reader, terminal, or tap-to-pay).
| Plan | Tap/Chip/Swipe | Tap to Pay | Manual Entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | 2.7% + $0.00 | 2.7% | 3.5% + $0.15 |
| Shopify | 2.5% + $0.00 | 2.5% | 3.3% + $0.15 |
| Advanced | 2.4% + $0.00 | 2.4% | 3.2% + $0.15 |
| Plus | 2.15% + $0.00 | 2.15% | Negotiated |
Fee Impact by Revenue Level
Real numbers showing total processing fees and total cost (plan + fees) at different monthly revenue levels. All calculations assume Shopify Payments with domestic cards and average $50 order value.
| Revenue | Orders | Basic Fees | Shopify Fees | Advanced Fees | Basic Total | Shopify Total | Advanced Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $5,000/mo | 100 | $195 | $185 | $180 | $234 | $290 | $579 |
| $10,000/mo | 200 | $350 | $320 | $300 | $389 | $425 | $699 |
| $25,000/mo | 500 | $875 | $800 | $750 | $914 | $905 | $1,149 |
| $50,000/mo | 1000 | $1,750 | $1,600 | $1,500 | $1,789 | $1,705 | $1,899 |
| $100,000/mo | 2000 | $3,500 | $3,200 | $3,000 | $3,539 | $3,305 | $3,399 |
The Upgrade Breakeven Points
Basic to Shopify: ~$22,000/month
At $22K/month, the 0.3% fee reduction on the Shopify plan saves approximately $66/month, which equals the subscription price difference ($105 - $39 = $66). Below $22K, Basic is cheaper overall.
Shopify to Advanced: ~$147,000/month
At $147K/month, the 0.2% fee reduction on Advanced saves approximately $294/month, offsetting the $294/month subscription difference ($399 - $105). Below this threshold, the Shopify plan is cheaper overall.
Advanced to Plus: ~$760,000/month
At $760K/month, the 0.25% fee reduction on Plus saves approximately $1,900/month, approaching the $1,901 subscription difference ($2,300 - $399). But Plus is justified by features (checkout customization, expansion stores) long before this breakeven point.
Chargebacks
When a customer disputes a charge, Shopify charges a $15 chargeback fee regardless of the outcome. If the chargeback is resolved in your favor, the $15 fee is refunded. This fee is in addition to the refund amount if the dispute is lost.
Industry average chargeback rate is 0.5% to 1% of transactions. For a store processing 500 transactions/month with a 0.5% chargeback rate: 2.5 chargebacks/month = $37.50 in fees, plus the revenue lost on disputed orders.
International and Currency Fees
International cards (cards issued outside your country) incur an additional 1.5% fee on all plans. If your store uses Shopify Payments multi-currency (selling in customer's local currency), there is a currency conversion fee of 1.5% on Basic and 1.0% on Shopify, Advanced, and Plus.
For a store with 20% international sales doing $50,000/month: $10,000 in international revenue x 1.5% international card fee = $150/month extra. If using multi-currency on the Shopify plan: $10,000 x 1.0% conversion fee = $100/month additional.
These fees stack. An international transaction using multi-currency on the Basic plan pays: 2.9% + $0.30 (base) + 1.5% (international) + 1.5% (currency conversion) = 5.9% + $0.30 per transaction. This is why stores with significant international sales benefit from the Advanced or Plus plans.