The difference is the website. The starter plan's website is just product pages, so you'd wanna link those from elsewhere (eg. social media). On the basic plan, you get a fully customizable website, where you can add own marketing material. You can definitely start with the Starter plan, and then upgrade as you go if you think a real online shop would help your business. Answer from StillNoNumb on reddit.com
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Shopify
shopify.com › starter
Shopify Starter Plan - Shopify
At $5 USD a month, you can create a Starter store in minutes powered by Shopify’s industry-best checkout experience. Starter plan is ideal for selling products through social media, email, SMS, WhatsApp, and anywhere else you might want to ...
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Set up your store, pick a plan later. Try Shopify free for 3 days, no credit card required.
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Discussions

Starter Plan: Home Page Order of Products
How do I change the position (order) of the products on the home page? Thanks! More on community.shopify.com
🌐 community.shopify.com
0
February 12, 2023
Reverting back to Start plan from Basic
On may 13 i changed plan from starter to basic to try it out now 12 days later i feel i dont need the basic and want to change back to starter. I went to contact support but they said it was a one time thing for new merchants.. At this time of my business i cannot afford paying for basic. More on community.shopify.com
🌐 community.shopify.com
0
May 25, 2024
Does the Shopify Starter plan work?
To keep this community relevant to the Shopify community, store reviews and external blog links will be removed. Users soliciting sales or services in any form will result in a permanent ban. I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/shopify
21
6
August 15, 2024
what exactly does Shopify's $5 starter plan have? is it good for beginners?
To keep this community relevant to the Shopify community, store reviews and external blog links will be removed. Users soliciting sales in any form will result in a permanent ban. I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/shopify
14
7
October 15, 2022
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Shopify
shopify.com › pricing
Shopify Pricing - Setup and Open Your Online Store Today – Free Trial - Shopify
Set up your store, pick a plan later. Try Shopify free for 3 days, no credit card required.
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Amazon
voc.ai › home › blog › ecommerce
Shopify Starter Plan Review 2024: The Ultimate Guide
August 15, 2024 - Next, we've got the Shopify plan for small businesses. Think of it as the chocolate layer - a bit richer in features. ... Finally, there's Advanced Shopify. This is the triple chocolate fudge layer - for when your business is really cookin'. ... But wait, what if you're not ready for a whole cake yet? What if you just want a cupcake to start? That's where our star of the show comes in - the Shopify Starter Plan.
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Wise
wise.com › us › blog › shopify-starter-plan-review
Shopify Starter Plan Review: Is It Right for Your Ecommerce Business? - Wise
March 10, 2025 - The Shopify Starter Plan is a cheaper and simpler version of Shopify that is suitable for smaller companies. It is essentially a Shopify for beginners who want to try out Shopify’s services.
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williammageplaza
williammageplaza.hashnode.dev › shopify-starter-plan-how-to-sell-on-shopify-for-only-5
Shopify Starter Plan: How to Sell on Shopify for Only $5
April 27, 2023 - Shopify Starter replaces Shopify Lite as the most affordable e-commerce Shopify package. You may, of course, upgrade to higher levels, such as the $39 monthly Basic plan, the $105 monthly Shopify (Standard) plan, and the $399 monthly Advanced plan.
Find elsewhere
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Lit Extension
litextension.com › home › ecommerce platforms › shopify › shopify starter plan review: key features & who is this plan for?
Shopify Starter Plan: Pros & Cons of the $5/mo Option [2025]
November 9, 2025 - Steve chose this plan to start selling his book “Steve The Bartender’s Cocktail Guide” because it's super easy to set up and allows for easy sharing online – just what he was looking for! Because of its minimal features, Shopify's starter plan may not be the optimal solution for every merchant.
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Barn2
barn2.com › home › blog › shopify starter plan review and setup guide
Shopify Starter Plan Review and Setup Guide
If you primarily sell through ... The Shopify Starter Plan is built for simplicity, allowing you to sell directly through social media and messaging apps without the need for a full online store....
Published   May 9, 2025
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Style Factory Productions
stylefactoryproductions.com › home › shopify starter plan review — key pros and cons
Shopify Starter Plan Review — Key Pros and Cons to Consider
Shopify Starter Plan Review
In this Shopify Starter plan review, we spell out all the key pros and cons of the entry-level version of Shopify. Shopifys Starter plan is a great option for merchants who don’t need a website and are happy to sell via product links or in person. It also lets you build a simple store quickly and easily. However, if you’re serious about creating a truly professional, customizable standalone store, I would look in the direction of one of the other Shopify plans.
Rating: 3.5 ​
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Shopify Community
community.shopify.com › shopify discussion
Starter Plan: Home Page Order of Products
February 12, 2023 - How do I change the position (order) of the products on the home page? Thanks!
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Dsguru
dsguru.io › home › shopify starter plan – everything you need to know in 2024
Shopify Starter Plan - Everything You Need To Know In 2024 - DSGuru.io
March 30, 2024 - It’s the most affordable Shopify plan at just $5 a month, with no surprise fees hidden in the fine print. There is a separate fee for processing payments, but that’s pretty standard. Starter as its cooler, more feature-packed little sibling.
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Ecomm.Design
ecomm.design › home › shopify starter plan review: is it worth the $5?
Shopify Starter Plan Review: Is It Worth the $5? | eCommerce Website Design Gallery & Tech Inspiration
April 23, 2025 - Pro insight: You can technically run an entire product catalogue from this plan, but I’d recommend keeping things tight. The more SKUs you add, the harder it is to manage without features like inventory alerts or collections. Sell through Instagram, Facebook, Messenger, and WhatsApp using product links. This is the standout feature. Shopify Starter leans heavily into social-first selling—and that’s exactly what makes it ideal for creators, influencers, and digital entrepreneurs.
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PageFly
pagefly.io › blogs › shopify › shopify-starter-plans
Shopify Starter Plan: Best Plan for Beginners?
January 9, 2025 - As the name suggests, the Shopify Starter plan is a beginner-friendly subscription tier designed for those new to eCommerce. With this plan, you can create a fully functioning store within a few clicks and within minutes.
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DemandSage
demandsage.com › home › latest blog posts › shopify starter plan (2025) – get started today
Shopify Starter Plan (2025) – Get Started Today
October 22, 2025 - The Shopify Starter Plan is designed for sellers who want to get started for just $5/mo. Find what’s included, missing, and if it's worth it!
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YouTube
youtube.com › watch
Affordable Shopify Starter Plan: Perfect for New Sellers - YouTube
The Shopify Starter Plan is a great option for anyone looking to sell a new product, either physical or digital products online. It’s an easy and affordable ...
Published   April 4, 2025
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Digismoothie
digismoothie.com › blog › shopify-starter-plan
Shopify Starter Plan Review: Features & Pricing (2024 Update)
If you want to start selling, Shopify Starter provides you with a great starter pack: you get to share product links across various channels, while Shopify takes care of the secure checkout process and order analytics. When you feel that social selling is not enough and you need to expand your reach, you can switch to any other pricing plan and set up a full-fledged Shopify store.
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Mageplaza
mageplaza.com › blog › shopify › shopify news & update › shopify starter plan review 2025: how to sell on shopify for only $5
Shopify Starter Plan Review: How to Sell on Shopify for Only $5 - Mageplaza
August 9, 2024 - There is a 3-day standard Shopify trial, which provides you full access to your selected Shopify plan (the Starter plan) and its features at no cost. When your standard trial period expires, you’ll get the first 3 months of Shopify for only $1/month on select plans (the Starter & Basic plans).
Rating: 5 ​ - ​ 116 votes
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Fit Small Business
fitsmallbusiness.com › shopify-starter-plan
Shopify Starter Plan: Review of Shopify’s $5/month Plan
June 30, 2025 - The Shopify Starter plan offers a streamlined and budget-friendly way to start selling online without the need to launch a full ecommerce website. It’s easy to set up and allows you to sell unlimited products, manage inventory, and process ...
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GemPages
gempages.net › blog › shopify starter plan review: who is it for?
Shopify Starter Plan Review: Who Is It For? (2023) – GemPages
April 25, 2023 - Shopify Starter plan is a great option for anyone who wants to sell products to their social media audience but not looking to manage a full-fledged online store. If you have a decent following on social media platforms, you can leverage your audience with the Shopify Starter plan.
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Shopify Community
community.shopify.com › shopify discussion
Reverting back to Start plan from Basic
May 25, 2024 - On may 13 i changed plan from starter to basic to try it out now 12 days later i feel i dont need the basic and want to change back to starter. I went to contact support but they said it was a one time thing for new merc…