Based in Cape Town, working across South Africa
Shopify pricing in South Africa: what you really pay
Shopify's pricing page shows a monthly plan fee. What it doesn't make obvious is that South African stores pay more than that, because Shopify Payments isn't available here. Here's everything you'll pay, in the order you'll notice it.
- Checked on
- 1 November 2026
- Plans priced in
- US dollars
- Extra fee per sale
- Because Shopify Payments is not in SA
- Build from
- R6,500 once off
Checked on 1 November 2026. Shopify prices its plans in US dollars, so the rand amount changes with the exchange rate.
The four costs
The four things you pay for
- Your Shopify plan.
A monthly fee, cheaper if you pay for a year upfront. Most small stores start on Basic.
- Your payment provider's fee.
Payfast, Yoco, Peach Payments or Ozow charge a percentage of each sale, sometimes plus a small fixed amount.
- Shopify's extra fee on each sale.
Because Shopify Payments isn't available in South Africa, Shopify charges an extra percentage on every sale made through another provider. It's lower on bigger plans.
- Apps and themes.
Many apps charge a monthly fee. A paid theme is a once off cost.
Plans and fees
Shopify plans and the extra fee per sale
| Plan | Monthly fee | Extra Shopify fee on each sale in South Africa |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | $25 a month, or $19 a month paid yearly | 2% |
| Grow | $65 a month, or $49 a month paid yearly | 1% |
| Advanced | $399 a month, or $299 a month paid yearly | 0.6% |
| Plus | From $2,300 a month | 0.2% |
An example
What that means on R50,000 of sales a month
On Basic, with Payfast's published card fee and about 100 orders averaging R500, worked at R16.70 to the dollar:
- Plan fee about R420 a month
- Payment provider fees about R1,800 a month
- Shopify's extra fee R1,000 a month
- Total about R3,220 a month
Your numbers will differ: the rand price moves with the dollar, and your payment provider's rate depends on how your customers pay.
When to change plan
When a bigger plan saves money
Because the extra fee drops on bigger plans, a bigger plan can cost less once your sales grow. Work out your monthly sales, multiply by the fee on each plan, add the plan fee, and pick the lowest total. We'll do it for you if you send us your numbers.
Shopify or WooCommerce on cost
How WooCommerce compares
WooCommerce has no monthly platform fee and no extra fee on each sale. You pay for hosting, your payment provider and any paid plugins, and it needs regular updates. For stores with steady sales, it often costs less to run. For a store just starting, Shopify's simplicity is often worth the fees.
Our price
What we charge to build it
Shopify Starter R6,500 for up to 20 products, Standard Store R18,500 for up to 200. We set up your payment provider, couriers and VAT, and tell you exactly what you'll pay every month before you start.
Questions
Shopify pricing questions
Is Shopify Payments coming to South Africa?
Shopify hasn't said when. Until it does, every South African store pays the extra fee unless it's on a plan where the fee is lower.
Can I avoid the extra fee?
Not on Shopify, as things stand. You can lower it with a bigger plan, or avoid it by using WooCommerce.
Does Shopify charge in rand?
Shopify lists its plans in US dollars, so what you pay in rand moves with the exchange rate.
What does a Shopify store cost to build?
With us, from R6,500 for up to 20 products.
Send us your website. We'll show you where the enquiries are slipping away.
Free audit video within 2 working days. Most people WhatsApp us; the form is here if you'd rather write it down.