Shopify Starter vs Basic: Finding the Best Plan for New Sellers

When starting an online business, choosing the right plan can make things easier. Shopify offers two affordable options for beginners: Shopify Starter and Shopify Basic. Each one serves different needs, so let’s look at what they offer and help you decide which is best for your business.

Why Choose Shopify?

Shopify is a popular platform for setting up online stores because it’s user-friendly, even for beginners. It has tools that let you sell products, process payments securely, and connect with customers. Shopify’s Starter and Basic plans are good options to start with.

Side-by-Side Comparison of Starter and Basic

Before you launch your Shopify store, here’s a quick comparison of the main features in Shopify Starter vs. Basic:

Feature	Shopify Starter	Shopify Basic
Monthly Cost	$5 USD	$39 USD
Sell on Social Media	Yes	Yes
Website	Not Included	Included
Abandoned Cart	No	Yes
Analytics	Basic	Detailed
24/7 Support	Limited	Full
Access to Apps	No	Yes

Shopify Starter Plan: Selling on a Budget

The Shopify Starter plan is the simplest, most budget-friendly way to begin selling online. It’s great for people who don’t need a full website yet but want to sell products on social media or by sharing links.

Key Features of Shopify Starter:

1. Sell with Links: Shopify Starter lets you share direct links to your products. You can post these links on social media, send them in messages, or email them to customers. When they click the link, they can view the product and buy it right away.
   
   
2. Easy Payments: Shopify Starter allows you to accept payments using popular methods like credit cards and PayPal without extra setup.
   
   
3. Simple Order Tracking: You’ll get basic tools to track orders and respond to customer questions.
   
   
4. Basic Sales Insights: Shopify Starter includes a simple overview of your sales, helping you see how your business is doing.
   

Cost of Shopify Starter: This plan costs only $5 a month. It’s a very affordable way to start, but there are also small transaction fees on each sale.

When to Choose Shopify Starter:

• You’re testing a new product or idea and don’t want to spend much on a website.
  
  
• You plan to sell mostly through social media or messaging apps.
  
  
• You’re on a tight budget and just need basic tools to start.
  

Shopify Basic Plan: Building Your Own Online Store

The Shopify Basic plan is for businesses ready to create a full online store with their own website. It includes more advanced features to help you grow.

Key Features of Shopify Basic:

1. Customizable Website: With Basic, you get your own online store. You can pick a domain name and customize the website with themes to match your brand.
   
   
2. Unlimited Products: Add as many products as you want, organize them into categories, and add details like descriptions and images.
   
   
3. Abandoned Cart Reminders: Shopify Basic has a tool to remind customers who left items in their cart, which can help boost sales.
   
   
4. Detailed Analytics: Get more insights into your sales and customer activity with detailed reports and data.
   
   
5. 24/7 Support: Shopify Basic gives you access to customer support at any time, day or night.
   
   
6. App Store Access: You can add extra features to your store using apps from Shopify’s app store, like email marketing or inventory tools.
   
   

Cost of Shopify Basic: This plan costs $39 per month, plus a transaction fee for each sale. It’s more expensive than Starter but includes many tools to help you grow.

When to Choose Shopify Basic:

• You want your own website with a professional look and custom domain.
  
  
• You’re ready to invest more in your online business.
  
  
• You need features to manage your products, customers, and marketing.
  

Which Plan Should You Choose?

Both Starter and Basic offer good value, but the right plan depends on your goals and budget.

• Choose Shopify Starter if you’re just testing a product or starting on social media. It’s low-cost and lets you share product links directly with customers.
  
  
• Choose Shopify Basic if you want a full website and tools to manage a growing business. It’s a bit more expensive but worth it if you want to build a serious online store.
  
  

Starting small with Shopify Starter and upgrading to Basic as your business grows is also an option. This lets you keep costs low initially while building a customer base and testing demand.

Conclusion

Choosing between Shopify Starter and Basic is all about what your business needs right now. Both options help you start selling, but Basic offers more tools and customization. Shopify’s Starter and Basic plans make it easy to begin selling online, whether you’re looking to sell through social media or build a full store.

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