If you are a growing business owner, I'm sure you've heard whispers of Shopify Plus. But the question is, is it really worth the hype? Is it the perfect solution for high-volume businesses? Everything will be answered in this Shopify Plus reviews.
In today's article, let's take a close look at:
- What is Shopify Plus?
- How much does Shopify Plus cost?
- Shopify Plus pros & cons
- Highlight features that Shopify Plus offers
Let's get right in!
What is Shopify Plus?
Before diving into the nitty-gritty of features and pricing, let's take a step back and understand what Shopify Plus is. First released in 2014, Shopify Plus is a fully hosted, enterprise-grade eCommerce solution tailored to the unique demands of high-growth businesses and large-scale merchants. Simply speaking, I often describe Shopify Plus to our clients as a “VIP section” of the Shopify ecosystem, offering an exclusive level of service and customization that goes far beyond the standard pricing tier.
If this is not your first time reading Shopify Plus reviews, I'm sure you've seen a “signature” feature of Shopify Plus: scalability. This platform provides the infrastructure and tools to handle massive traffic and transactions without compromising performance, ensuring a smooth customer experience even during peak seasons. This means you can focus on scaling your operations and maximizing your revenue, knowing that your platform will not crumble under intolerable traffic pressure.
However, Shopify Plus offers more than just robust infrastructure; it provides a level of customization and control that standard plans simply can't match. This is particularly appealing to brands with complex workflows or unique business needs. Whether you require custom integrations, automated processes, or tailored checkout experiences, Shopify Plus provides the flexibility to mold the platform to your specific requirements.
In the later part of this Shopify Plus reviews, I'll provide a detailed look at all the highlights of Shopify Plus features.
Shopify Plus Pricing and Cost of Ownership
My Shopify reviews will not be completed without analyzing the true cost of owning a Shopify Plus store. Hence, in this section, let's take a look at how much does this platform cost.
Unlike standard Shopify plans with fixed monthly fees, Shopify Plus operates on a custom pricing model. This means the exact cost varies depending on your business size, sales volume, and specific needs. Typically, the platform takes a cut of 0.3% to 0.4% of your total revenue based on your contract terms. For example, if your monthly GMV (Gross Merchandise Value) is $1M, your Shopify Plus license cost will be $4,000 per month.
Nonetheless, this is not the final fee that you'll need to pay Shopify Plus. Here are other essential factors that influence your final cost:
- Transaction fees: Range from 0.15% to 0.30%, depending on your payment gateway and negotiated rates.
- App subscription: Charge for any third-party apps you install into your Shopify Plus store
- Development cost: Charge if you decide to hire a professional Shopify development service to build and maintain your online presence.
For a detailed breakdown of how much this platform costs, don't forget to check out our article on Shopify Plus pricing.
Shopify Plus Reviews – Pros and Cons
Pros | Cons |
- Can handle massive traffic and high order volumes without compromising site performance. - Offer extensive customization options to tailor your storefront, checkout process, and backend workflows. - Supported by a dedicated Merchant Success Manager for personalized guidance. - Get access to Shopify Plus-exclusive features like Shopify Flow for automation and Launchpad for flash sales. - Integrates seamlessly with a wide range of third-party apps and services to streamline your operations. | - Charge higher monthly fees compared to standard Shopify plans, making it a significant investment for smaller businesses. - Require a high level of technical expertise to handle advanced features and customization options. - Demand dedicated time and resources for training and onboarding. |
Highlight Shopify Plus Features
Powerful customization options
From my perspective, one of the most outstanding features that Shopify Plus offers is its exceptional level of customization. It provides the tools and flexibility to build the exact eCommerce solution your brand demands without being limited by pre-set functionalities. This level of control is invaluable for growing businesses looking to establish a distinct online presence and deliver a tailored customer experience.
So, how does Shopify Plus achieve this? Firstly, it offers a vast library of themes, both free and paid, to give you a solid starting point for your design. But the real magic happens when you go beyond the surface. Shopify Plus grants you full access to the platform's code, meaning you can tailor every aspect of your store's functionality and design to match your vision.
This level of customization extends far beyond the basic layout and design elements. With Shopify Plus, you can take advantage of powerful tools like Checkout Extensibility and Shopify Liquid to personalize customer interactions, implement unique promotions, and improve their purchase experience within your store. This means you can offer exclusive discounts based on customer behavior, create targeted product bundles, or even personalize shipping rates based on location.
Better automation for store launch and management
Now, let's move on to another feature that Shopify Plus shines in our Shopify Plus reviews: its automation capability. As someone who has experienced the platform firsthand, I can confidently say that Shopify Plus delivers on this promise, offering merchants advanced automation tools that streamline everything they need, from store launch to ongoing management.
Setting up an online store can feel daunting, but Shopify Plus simplifies the process with its user-friendly interface and intuitive setup wizards. These features guide you through each step, from adding products and setting up payment gateways to configuring shipping options and crafting your store policies. This level of automation eliminates much of the technical guesswork, allowing you to focus on crafting your brand's online presence and building a unique customer experience.
But the automation doesn't stop there. Shopify Plus also comes with powerful tools, like Launchpad, for managing day-to-day operations. Features like automated order fulfillment, inventory management, and marketing campaigns streamline your workflow. Need to send out an email campaign to specific customer segments? Shopify Plus can handle it. Want to ensure your inventory stays updated across all your sales channels? Shopify Plus has you covered. This allows you to spend less time on repetitive tasks and more time on strategic decision-making that can truly scale your business.
For businesses experiencing rapid growth, or those planning to scale quickly, the automation provided by Shopify Plus is invaluable. It removes bottlenecks, reduces the risk of human error, and ultimately empowers you to handle increased order volumes and customer interactions efficiently. If you're looking for an eCommerce platform that takes the heavy lifting out of store launch and management, Shopify Plus reviews consistently show that it is a top contender.
Fully-equipped Shopify POS Pro
While Shopify Plus excels in the online world, its capabilities extend seamlessly to physical retail environments. One standout feature frequently highlighted in Shopify Plus reviews is its integrated Point of Sale (POS) system, Shopify POS Pro. This robust tool equips merchants with everything they need to manage in-person sales, unifying their online and offline operations.
Shopify POS Pro offers an intuitive and sleek interface that's incredibly user-friendly, even for staff unfamiliar with POS systems. The system processes transactions quickly and securely, accepting various payment methods, including credit cards, debit cards, and mobile wallets. This streamlines the checkout process for customers, reducing wait times and enhancing their overall shopping experience.
However, Shopify POS Pro goes far beyond just processing transactions. It integrates seamlessly with your Shopify Plus inventory and customer database, providing you with real-time insights into your sales, stock levels, and customer behavior across both your online and physical stores. This unified view of your business empowers you to make informed decisions and optimize your operations for maximum efficiency and profitability.
More expansion stores to go global
For ambitious brands aiming to reach a global customer base, Shopify Plus provides a distinct advantage through its expansion store functionality. This feature, frequently commended in Shopify Plus reviews, allows businesses to create dedicated online stores tailored to specific countries or regions. This means you can present your products and brand messaging in a way that resonates with local audiences, ultimately driving conversions and fostering brand loyalty.
Unlike simply translating your existing website, expansion stores offer a deeper level of customization. You have the flexibility to manage currencies, languages, payment gateways, and even product catalogs on a per-store basis. This granular control ensures that your international customers enjoy a seamless and localized shopping experience.
Beyond the technical aspects, Shopify Plus multiple stores can also simplify international shipping and logistics. Integrations with leading shipping providers streamline the delivery process, while built-in tools assist with calculating taxes and duties for different regions. This eliminates the complexities often associated with international commerce, allowing you to expand your reach with confidence.
Fully supported for B2B commerce
While Shopify is widely known for its prowess in the B2C space, Shopify Plus takes things a step further by offering robust features tailored specifically for B2B (business-to-business) commerce. This commitment to serving a diverse range of business models, not just those focused on direct-to-consumer selling, is a key point that I want to praise in my Shopify Plus reviews.
One of the standout aspects of Shopify Plus for B2B is its ability to create a streamlined and personalized experience for wholesale clients. This platform eliminates clunky order forms and endless email chains. With Shopify Plus, you can set up dedicated wholesale channels with password-protected storefronts, allowing you to offer tiered pricing based on customer groups, custom catalogs showcasing specific product selections, and minimum order quantities to align with wholesale order fulfillment processes. This ensures that your wholesale clients have a tailored ordering process that meets their unique needs, mirroring the ease of online shopping they've come to expect in their consumer lives.
Beyond creating a smooth ordering experience, Shopify Plus also comes with powerful integration with leading ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) and CRM (Customer Relationship Management) systems. This level of connectivity is crucial for B2B businesses dealing with complex operations and often serves as a deciding factor for businesses comparing Shopify Plus to other enterprise-level solutions. This connectivity streamlines data flow between your eCommerce platform and other critical business systems, ensuring accuracy and efficiency across your operations. Whether it's syncing inventory levels in real-time, managing customer data across multiple touchpoints, or automating order fulfillment processes to reduce manual work, Shopify Plus integrates seamlessly with the tools you already rely on.
Furthermore, Shopify Plus provides the flexibility and scalability that B2B businesses require to grow and adapt. The platform's robust infrastructure can handle high order volumes, complex shipping requirements involving freight and specialized carriers, diverse payment options including terms and net payment agreements common in B2B, and intricate tax calculations, including exemptions for tax-exempt organizations. Whether you're a small business just starting with wholesale or a large enterprise managing thousands of SKUs across multiple brands or divisions, Shopify Plus scales to accommodate your needs.
Exclusive Shopify Audiences for better customer acquisition
Understanding the importance of reaching the right customers – those who are most likely to be interested in your products, Shopify Plus offers an exclusive feature called Shopify Audiences. Unlike generic audience targeting options offered by most advertising platforms, Shopify Audiences taps into the vast data insights of the Shopify ecosystem, which includes millions of shoppers across various online stores and billions of data points on shopping behavior. This allows Shopify Plus to analyze purchase intent signals and identify consumers actively browsing for products similar to yours, even if they haven't yet interacted with your brand directly.
Shopify Audience seamlessly integrates with major advertising platforms like Facebook and Instagram, allowing you to create laser-focused campaigns that target these high-potential customers. Instead of casting a wide net and hoping for the best, which can lead to wasted ad spend and low conversion rates, you can deliver tailored messaging to shoppers who are most likely to be interested in what you offer. This data-driven approach, as highlighted in numerous Shopify Plus reviews, leads to higher conversion rates, reduced ad spend waste, and ultimately, a greater return on your marketing investments.
Unlimited staff account
As your eCommerce business grows, so too does your team. Shopify Plus recognizes this need for scalability by offering unlimited staff accounts, a feature that I should not ignore in my Shopify Plus reviews. This eliminates the limitations often found in other platforms, where businesses face additional fees or restrictions on the number of users who can access and manage their online store.
With unlimited staff accounts, you can grant access to your Shopify Plus backend to all team members, from marketing and customer service representatives to warehouse staff and financial analysts. Each team member can be assigned specific roles and permissions, ensuring they only have access to the information and tools relevant to their responsibilities. This level of granular control enhances security and streamlines workflows. Team members can collaborate seamlessly within the platform, sharing access to critical data and working together to optimize various aspects of the business, from order fulfillment and inventory management to marketing campaigns and customer support.
Reputable Shopify Plus Academy
Shopify Plus goes beyond simply providing a robust eCommerce platform; it invests in the success of its merchants through valuable resources like Shopify Plus Academy. This comprehensive learning hub, frequently cited as a standout feature in many Shopify Plus reviews, offers a wealth of knowledge and training materials designed to help businesses maximize their use of the platform and achieve sustainable growth.
Shopify Plus Academy provides a curated collection of courses, webinars, and certifications led by industry experts and Shopify Plus specialists. These resources cover a wide range of topics, from mastering core Shopify Plus features and optimizing your online store for conversions to exploring advanced marketing strategies and navigating the complexities of international expansion. On top of that, Shopify Plus also focuses on actionable insights and real-world applications. These aren’t just theoretical lessons; they're designed to equip merchants with the knowledge and skills they need to make data-driven decisions, implement effective strategies, and ultimately drive measurable results for their businesses.
Should You Migrate to Shopify Plus?
Deciding whether to migrate to Shopify Plus is a complex decision that requires careful consideration of your current situation and future goals. Are you satisfied with your existing platform, but feel it's limiting your growth potential? T That's often the first sign that it might be time for a change. Perhaps you're struggling to handle increasing order volumes, or you're finding it challenging to manage multiple storefronts or international sales channels efficiently. These are areas where Shopify Plus truly excels, offering the robustness and flexibility that rapidly scaling businesses require.
However, diving headfirst into Shopify Plus without understanding the financial situation is never a wise move. When researching Shopify Plus reviews, you'll quickly realize that the cost difference compared to standard Shopify plans is a recurring theme. While the enhanced features, dedicated support, and potential for significantly increased revenue are enticing, it's crucial to evaluate if the investment aligns with your current budget and projected growth.
Beyond the financial aspect, Shopify Plus reviews often highlight the learning curve associated with the platform. While Shopify, in general, has earned a reputation for being user-friendly, the sheer volume of features and customization options available with Shopify Plus can feel overwhelming, especially for teams accustomed to simpler platforms. Be prepared to dedicate time and resources to training your team and potentially partnering with Shopify experts during the initial transition phase.
Long story short, migrating to a new platform is a decision that needs to be taken seriously. Therefore, my advice is that you should take time scrolling through different Shopify Plus reviews, and comparing features, pricing, and user experiences to gain a comprehensive understanding of what the platform truly offers. Weigh the potential benefits against the costs and the commitment required for a successful implementation. If, after careful consideration, you find that your business is truly at a turning point, requiring the advanced features, scalability, and dedicated support that Shopify Plus provides to grow beyond borders, then, by all means, take the leap.
Migrate to Shopify Plus seamlessly and stress-free!
Shopify Plus Reviews – FAQs
Is Shopify Plus worth it?
Shopify Plus is worth it if you're a high-growth merchant generating significant revenue and require a robust, scalable, and customizable eCommerce platform. Its advanced features, dedicated support, and API access empower you to optimize operations and provide a unique customer experience.
However, its significant cost makes it less suitable for smaller businesses or those with limited technical resources.
What are the limitations of Shopify Plus?
Despite its strengths, Shopify Plus has limitations.
1. The platform's complexity can be overwhelming for beginners, potentially requiring a dedicated development team.
2. Achieving highly specific functionality might rely on third-party apps, leading to extra costs.
3. Transaction fees, though negotiable, are unavoidable and can impact profitability.
4. While offering extensive customization, achieving complete design freedom might be more challenging than with custom-built solutions.
What's the difference between Shopify and Shopify Plus?
Shopify caters to a wide range of businesses, while Shopify Plus is tailored to high-volume merchants. The key differences lie in scalability, customization, and support. Shopify Plus handles massive traffic and transactions, offers advanced customization through API access, and provides dedicated account management. While Shopify offers affordable plans for starting businesses, Shopify Plus comes with a higher price tag reflecting its enterprise-level features.
Who should use Shopify Plus?
Shopify Plus is ideal for established businesses with high sales volumes, complex needs, and dedicated resources. This includes rapidly growing brands, established enterprises, and companies looking for a scalable and customizable platform to support their ambitious growth plans. Those with in-house developers or the budget for external development will benefit most from Shopify Plus's flexibility.
Final Thoughts
And that brings us to the end of my Shopify Plus reviews today. I must say that the platform certainly lives up to its reputation as a leading eCommerce solution for large businesses and enterprises. Whether you're a rapidly scaling D2C brand, a global enterprise, or a B2B company seeking a competitive edge, Shopify Plus offers the tools, flexibility, and support you need to succeed.
If you like this article, don't forget to check out other Shopify blogs on our website to get more insights about this platform.
