Choosing a store platform
Both can run an online store. We focus on a guided path from a description to a storefront you can preview and refine. Shopify offers a broader ecosystem for selling across channels, in person, and at scale.
In Australia, Shopify Basic is A$56/month when billed monthly. Each figure below uses the platform’s published billing currency. US and Australian figures are not directly interchangeable.
yourfirststore
US$15/month
No charge today. The 14-day trial starts at registration; monthly billing begins automatically afterward unless you cancel.
Payments: 3.5% + 30¢ per sale at the standard rate, including Stripe processing. The fixed 30 is in the payment currency’s smallest unit.
Our pricing termsShopify Basic · United States
US$39/month
Pay monthly. US$29/month equivalent when billed yearly.
Payments: Standard online card rates from 2.9% + US$0.30 with Shopify Payments. Other rates and fees may apply.
Shopify US pricingShopify Basic · Australia
A$56/month
Pay monthly. A$42/month equivalent when billed yearly.
Payments: Standard online card rates from 1.7% + A$0.30 with Shopify Payments. Other rates and fees may apply.
Shopify Australia pricingStandard public prices checked 3 October 2026 against Shopify US pricing and Shopify Australia pricing . Shopify currently advertises a 3-day free trial, then $1/month for the first 3 months on eligible plans. Its Basic plan lists a 2% third-party transaction fee when using a provider other than Shopify Payments. Promotions, taxes, apps, payment methods, country, and plan can change the bill. Annual prices are monthly equivalents of a yearly commitment.
This compares our current product with Shopify Basic unless a row says otherwise. Shopify details link to its own documentation.
yourfirststoreDescribe your store, preview a design, and ask for a different direction before launch.
ShopifyAI store builder creates a starting design from a prompt; Sidekick helps with store tasks and content. Source
yourfirststoreReview proposed changes in the visual builder, then edit pages, sections, and theme settings.
ShopifyTheme editor, templates, and a large theme ecosystem provide more design paths. Source
yourfirststoreAI writing tools and a product editor for descriptions and SEO fields.
ShopifyShopify Magic generates product descriptions and other content. Source
yourfirststoreConnect a custom domain, publish blog posts, and edit product SEO fields.
ShopifyCustom domains, blogging, and search engine settings are available on Basic. Source
yourfirststoreImport products from CSV, Shopify, or WooCommerce. Export products, orders, and customers as CSV.
ShopifyProduct and customer CSV imports and exports, plus migration tools and apps. Source
yourfirststoreManage products, variants, categories, inventory, and orders in the dashboard.
ShopifyUnlimited products, inventory management, and 10 inventory locations on Basic. Source
yourfirststoreConfigure shipping rates and tax rules for checkout.
ShopifyShipping tools, labels, and tax settings; some features depend on plan and country. Source
yourfirststoreBundle checkout is not available yet.
ShopifyA free first-party Shopify Bundles app is available on all plans. Source
yourfirststoreManage recurring product subscriptions in the dashboard.
ShopifyA free first-party Subscriptions app is available, along with third-party options. Source
yourfirststoreCustomer groups, discounts, newsletter campaigns, and abandoned-cart tools. Shopper email sequences are not available yet.
ShopifyCustomer segments, discounts, and email campaigns through Shopify Messaging. Source
yourfirststoreSales analytics. Staff dashboard access is not available yet.
ShopifyReports and custom analytics on Basic. Additional staff accounts start on Grow. Source
yourfirststoreMulti-currency product pricing and product translation tools.
ShopifyShopify Markets supports regional storefront settings, local currencies, and translations; availability varies. Source
yourfirststoreProduct feeds for Meta and Google. Tracking pixels and marketplace order sync are not available.
ShopifySales channels for social platforms and marketplaces, with products and orders managed in Shopify. Source
yourfirststoreNo dedicated point-of-sale system or card-reader integration today.
ShopifyShopify POS supports in-person selling; advanced retail features may cost extra. Source
yourfirststoreBuilt-in tools, selected integrations, and webhooks. No public app marketplace today.
ShopifyAn app marketplace with thousands of integrations; individual apps can have their own charges. Source
yourfirststoreNo dedicated company catalogs or wholesale checkout today.
ShopifyB2B features are available; limits and capabilities depend on the plan. Source
For 100 US online card orders of US$50 each in one month, the published standard subscription and payment charges would be approximately:
yourfirststore
US$220
$15 + 3.5% of $5,000 + $0.30 × 100
Shopify Basic · US monthly
US$214
$39 + 2.9% of $5,000 + $0.30 × 100
At this sales volume Shopify Basic has the lower published subscription plus processing total. Below about US$4,000 in monthly sales, yourfirststore has the lower total at these standard US rates. This excludes taxes, apps, promotions, and nonstandard fees. Australian fees and currencies differ.
You want to describe a store, preview and refine its design, then run your online shop with a focused set of built-in tools.
You need in-person selling, marketplace order sync, specialist apps, or established tools for more complex international and B2B operations.
Describe what you sell and preview a storefront design before creating an account.
Try a design preview