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
Reddit
reddit.com › r/shopify › what exactly does shopify's $5 starter plan have? is it good for beginners?
r/shopify on Reddit: what exactly does Shopify's $5 starter plan have? is it good for beginners?
October 15, 2022 -
I'm setting up my first online shop today, and I'm super excited, but I'm also totally confused. Shopify's description didn't really tell me much about what the plans include. Does the starter plan include everything you need to list products and sell from the website? I'm going to be linked through TikTok and Instagram. I guess what I'm asking is, will I actually be able to run a basic shop off of the $5 starter plan?
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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.
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Shopify
help.shopify.com › en › manual › intro-to-shopify › pricing-plans › plans-features › shopify-starter-plan
Shopify Help Center | Starter plan
The Starter plan is for merchants that are just starting out and who want to sell to their customers through social media platforms or messaging apps, with a simplified online store.
Is the basic plan better than the starter plan for self-hosted websites?
I purchased the Basic plan but I do NOT use a shopify-hosted website. I built a website myself and host it outside of shopify and I place “Buy Buttons” on that site. With that said, did I screw up by not getting the muc… More on community.shopify.com
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December 21, 2023What does the less expensive Shopify Lite or Starter plan include?
I need a link to the Lite plan or Starter plan that is less expensive. And I need to understand what it includes/doesn’t include. I’ve spent time working with a free template online and added the products we will have. If we sell anything it probably won’t be until next February/March ... More on community.shopify.com
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May 14, 2023what 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
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October 15, 2022Shopify $5 starter pack or $39 basic?
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September 23, 2023What is Shopify Basic?
Moving a step up, we have Shopify Basic, designed for those who desire a comprehensive online storefront. Basic is more robustly feature-packed than Starter and is tailored for merchants who not only want to sell products but also build a recognizable brand online.
hulkapps.com
hulkapps.com › home › shopify hub › shopify starter vs basic: a head-to-head comparison for new merchants
Shopify Starter vs Basic: A Head-to-Head Comparison for New Merchants
Can I upgrade from Shopify Starter to Basic anytime?
Absolutely! Shopify provides a painless upgrade process, allowing businesses to grow their plan in tandem with their expansion.
hulkapps.com
hulkapps.com › home › shopify hub › shopify starter vs basic: a head-to-head comparison for new merchants
Shopify Starter vs Basic: A Head-to-Head Comparison for New Merchants
Is Shopify Starter too basic to make a lasting impression?
While it might lack certain bells and whistles, Shopify Starter can still deliver a professional selling experience that aligns with your brand's narrative - perfect for businesses that are primarily social-media focused.
hulkapps.com
hulkapps.com › home › shopify hub › shopify starter vs basic: a head-to-head comparison for new merchants
Shopify Starter vs Basic: A Head-to-Head Comparison for New Merchants
Videos
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 - When considering the differences in pricing, it's clear that Shopify Starter and Basic Shopify offer distinct features. Choosing the Shopify Starter plan allows you to start selling online without a website and at minimal costs.
Avada
avada.io › home › blog › shopify starter vs basic: which pricing plan is for you?
Shopify Starter Vs Basic: Which Pricing Plan Is For You?
April 19, 2025 - Basic Reporting for Some Features: ... plans. ... The Shopify Starter Plan is more affordable but has higher transaction fees, whereas the Shopify Basic Plan costs more monthly but offers lower transaction fees....
HulkApps
hulkapps.com › home › shopify hub › shopify starter vs basic: a head-to-head comparison for new merchants
Shopify Starter vs Basic: A Head-to-Head Comparison for New Merchants
February 16, 2024 - Basic is more robustly feature-packed than Starter and is tailored for merchants who not only want to sell products but also build a recognizable brand online. A customizable online storefront with a variety of themes ...
Barn2
barn2.com › home › blog › shopify starter plan review and setup guide
Shopify Starter Plan Review and Setup Guide
The Starter Plan is ideal for ... apps, or blogs. However, if you need a full-fledged online store with customization and scalability, upgrading to the Basic Shopify Plan is the better choice....
Published May 9, 2025
Style Factory Productions
stylefactoryproductions.com › home › shopify starter vs basic — which plan is right for you?
Shopify Starter vs Basic — Which Plan is Right for You?
March 14, 2025 - While the Basic Shopify plan also comes with this feature, the plan is more geared towards those aiming to build an entirely new store. Our new store builder finder tool helps you find the right ecommerce platform for your needs.
Nextsky
nextsky.co › blogs › shopify › shopify-starter-vs-basic
Shopify Starter vs Basic: Which Plan is Right for Your Business? – Nextsky
July 1, 2024 - Opt for Shopify Basic if you need ... and you’re willing to invest a bit more per month. The Shopify Basic Plan surpasses the Starter Plan with its advanced features, making it ideal for growing businesses needing a full-featured ...
Price $$
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Shopify Community
community.shopify.com › shopify discussion
Is the basic plan better than the starter plan for self-hosted ...
December 21, 2023 - Here is a video you can watch that compares the two plans: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJEEOvgnh6I
YouTube
youtube.com › ecom learning with pagefly
Shopify Starter VS Basic Plan: Detailed Comparison + Store Examples - YouTube
🧐 This video provides a comprehensive comparison between Shopify Starter VS Basic Plan. We'll dive into pricing, features, customization options, and real u...
Published June 12, 2024 Views 5K
YouTube
youtube.com › watch
Shopify Starter vs Basic — Which is Better? - YouTube
In this Shopify Starter vs Basic comparison, Style Factory’s Matt Walsh helps you decide between Shopify’s cheapest plans. 👉 Special 3 month trial of Shopif...
Published March 24, 2025
Create A Website Today
creatingawebsitetoday.com › shopify-starter-plan-review
Shopify Starter Plan Review 2025 (Pros, Cons, & Is It Good?)
Shopify Starter Plan
Ready to move beyond Shopify’s $5/month Starter Plan? You can upgrade anytime as your business grows. The Starter Plan limits you to basic selling through social media with minimal customization. Curious about the Shopify Starter Plan? Yeah me too!! I did some research and got some answers on what it is and more just for you.
DemandSage
demandsage.com › home › latest blog posts › shopify starter plan (2025) – get started today
Shopify Starter Plan (2025) – Get Started Today
October 22, 2025 - But it is still not the ideal solution you may need. When compared against the Shopify Basic Plan, which offers a live store with a website, the Shopify Starter plan lacks several key features.
Digismoothie
digismoothie.com › blog › shopify-pricing-plans
Shopify Pricing 2025 Comparison: The Best Value Plan for Money
There are three major plans offered by Shopify: Basic, Shopify, and Advanced. But actually, there are more: Starter and Lite for selling without creating a store, and Shopify Plus.
Upsell
upsell.com › blog › shopify-starter-plan-review
Shopify Starter Plan Review: Is This New $5/mo Plan Right For You? (2025) | ReConvert
May 4, 2023 - Due to its lightweight nature, Shopify’s starter plan isn’t the best choice for all merchants. If you’re a fast growing store, it’s definitely worth upgrading to Shopify’s basic plan where you can take advantage of features like abandoned cart recovery and custom domain support.
YouTube
m.youtube.com › watch
Shopify Starter vs Basic Plan Comparison
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YouTube
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Shopify Starter vs Basic Plan (2025) Full Comparison
Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
Shopify Theme Detector
shopthemedetector.com › shopify theme detector › shopify store set up › shopify comparison › comparing shopify starter and basic shopify for small sellers
Comparing Shopify Starter and Basic Shopify for Small Sellers 2025
August 21, 2024 - ... The Basic Shopify plan is a more comprehensive e-commerce solution that includes a full online store, the ability to sell on multiple channels, and access to more advanced features like discount codes, reports, and a wider range of payment ...
Shopify Community
community.shopify.com › shopify discussion
What does the less expensive Shopify Lite or Starter plan ...
May 14, 2023 - I need a link to the Lite plan or Starter plan that is less expensive. And I need to understand what it includes/doesn’t include. I’ve spent time working with a free template online and added the products we will have. I…
YouTube
youtube.com › watch
Shopify Starter vs Basic Plan: Which is Better?
Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.