If you are creating a new store, Shopify Starter is no longer a signup option. Shopify’s current Starter plan documentation says the plan is unavailable to new stores. Existing Starter stores can continue, but cannot return to Starter after switching plans.
That changes the decision behind many “Starter vs Basic” searches. A new merchant should evaluate the currently available store plans and competing selling approaches, rather than planning a launch around the historical $5 Starter offer.
Separate the new-store and existing-store decisions
| Your situation | The decision to make |
|---|---|
| You have not created a store | Does Basic or another available plan fit your workflow and budget? |
| You already use Starter | Which current limitation would justify changing plans? |
| You left Starter previously | Evaluate available plans; do not assume you can switch back |
| You only need a simple selling link | Compare the full cost and work of a store with a simpler selling platform |
Basic is an entry point for a full online store, with details documented on Shopify’s Basic plan page. Review the current pricing page for your market and billing term.
Use a workflow test instead of a feature count
Describe three things your business needs to do in its first month. A maker might need a branded catalog, local shipping, and a way to sell several variants. A digital creator might need file delivery, clear license information, and support for purchase questions.
For each job, record whether it is covered by the plan, needs an app, or remains unverified. A feature you will not use should not outweigh a missing requirement that prevents you from fulfilling an order.
Use these five checks:
- Storefront: Can you present the products and information customers need?
- Checkout: Are your required payment options and selling markets supported?
- Delivery: Can you fulfill the actual product type?
- Operations: Can the people doing the work access what they need?
- Budget: Is the recurring cost viable after any promotion ends?
Calculate the steady-state cost
Keep promotional cost and ongoing cost in separate rows. Add apps, domain costs, payment processing, and the services your product requires. A low first-month price does not establish whether the store is viable at normal pricing.
Suppose a hypothetical store has $60 in monthly platform and app costs and $12 of contribution per order before those fixed costs. It needs five orders to cover that $60. That does not cover every business expense or predict demand; it helps expose whether a plan comparison is meaningful at the expected volume.
Use the first physical-store app stack or digital-product stack to identify additional setup needs.
What if you already have Starter?
Treat an upgrade as a workflow change. Record what works today, what is missing, the ongoing price of the destination plan, and any migration work. Because returning to Starter is not available after switching, resolve the reason for upgrading before making the change.
The existing Starter store guide focuses on that legacy-plan decision. New merchants can use the Shopify fit guide before opening a store. Older articles and videos may still recommend Starter signup; check their claims against the current plan documentation.