Is Shopify worth it? Yes, if selling is the main job of your site
Shopify is the strongest store platform for most small businesses. Whether it is worth it depends on how much you sell.
We.Inc is free to start, no credit card. AI building from $20/mo.
The verdict
Shopify is worth it if selling products online is the main job of your website and you plan to grow: its checkout, inventory and app ecosystem are the best in the category. Plans start at $19 a month billed annually ($25 month to month).
It is harder to justify for a service business, or a store with a handful of products, where a website builder with simple selling covers the need for less.
Shopify plans (US)
| Basic | Grow | Advanced | Plus | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billed annually | $19/mo | $49/mo | $299/mo | From $2,300/mo |
| Billed monthly | $25/mo | $65/mo | $399/mo | n/a |
| Fee if you use another payment provider | 2% | 1% | 0.6% | 0.2% |
| Staff accounts | None extra | 5 | 15 | Unlimited |
Prices checked September 2026 (September 25) on each vendor's own pricing page, in US dollars. Vendors change prices often, so confirm on their page before you buy.
Pros and cons
Shopify
Best for: Stores that plan to grow and want the best checkout and apps
Price: Basic $19, Grow $49, Advanced $299 a month billed annually ($25, $65, $399 month to month); Plus from $2,300 a month
Pros: Best-in-class checkout and store management; Largest ecommerce app ecosystem; Scales from first sale to large brand; Point-of-sale for in-person selling
Cons: Apps and themes add monthly costs; Extra fee if you do not use Shopify Payments; Overkill for service businesses or a few products; Content pages are less flexible than a website builder
We.Inc
Best for: Service businesses and small sellers who mainly need a website
Price: Free plan: up to 3 template sites on a we.inc address, no AI. AI building from $20/mo (Starter, 250 credits). Pro $49/mo, Max $99/mo.
Pros: Describe what you want in chat and AI builds a full, editable site or app; Edit by clicking on the page, by asking in chat, or in a real code editor; Export the React and TypeScript code to GitHub, so you are never locked in; Unlimited sites on paid plans, custom domains from Starter
Cons: The free plan is templates only; AI building needs a paid plan; Newer platform with a smaller app marketplace than the big names; Store features are simpler than a dedicated ecommerce platform
What Shopify really costs
The plan is the smallest part for many stores. Budget for a paid theme if you want one, a few apps (reviews, email, subscriptions) that each charge monthly, and payment processing. If you use a payment provider other than Shopify Payments, Shopify adds 2% on Basic. We could not read Shopify Payments card rates on September 25, 2026, so check Shopify's page for yours.
When Shopify is worth it
You sell physical products, expect order volume to grow, need inventory across channels, or sell in person too. In those cases Shopify's reliability and ecosystem save more time than they cost.
When it is not
You sell services, take bookings, or sell a few items a month. A website builder with basic payments is cheaper and simpler, and you can move to Shopify later.
Where We.Inc fits: the free plan publishes up to 3 template sites on a we.inc address, with no AI and no custom domain, and needs no credit card. AI building, where you describe the site and it is written for you, starts at $20 a month (Starter, 250 credits); Pro is $49 and Max is $99.
Start from a template
Sources
- Shopify: Pricing (US) (Checked Sept 25, 2026)
- We.Inc: Pricing (Checked Sept 25, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
Is Shopify worth it for a small business?
For a product business that plans to grow, yes. For a service business or a very small catalog, usually not.
How much does Shopify cost per month?
Basic $19, Grow $49 and Advanced $299 a month billed annually, or $25, $65 and $399 monthly; Plus starts at $2,300 a month. Read on shopify.com/pricing on September 25, 2026.
Does Shopify charge transaction fees?
Only if you use a payment provider other than Shopify Payments: 2% on Basic, 1% on Grow, 0.6% on Advanced and 0.2% on Plus. Card processing fees apply either way.
Is there a Shopify free trial?
Shopify's page offered 3 days free, then $1 a month for 3 months, when we checked.
Related reading
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