The short answer
How much does Shopify take per sale?
On Shopify Payments in the US, an online card sale costs 2.9% + 30¢ on Basic, 2.7% + 30¢ on Grow and 2.5% + 30¢ on Advanced, plus 1% for international cards. You don't pay a separate Shopify transaction fee on those orders. Orders processed through any other payment provider carry Shopify's third-party transaction fee of 2%, 1% or 0.6% on top of that provider's own fee (PayPal is exempt when Shopify Payments is your main provider). Then there's the plan itself.
Shopify US rates (checked October 18, 2026)
| Plan | Billed monthly | Billed yearly | Online card (Shopify Payments) | Third-party transaction fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $39/mo | $29/mo | 2.9% + 30¢ | 2% |
| Grow | $105/mo | $79/mo | 2.7% + 30¢ | 1% |
| Advanced | $399/mo | $299/mo | 2.5% + 30¢ | 0.6% |
Also from Shopify: online international cards + 1%; PayPal wallet "starting at" 3.49% + 49¢; currency conversion 1.5% for US stores; Plus starts at $2,300/mo on a 3-year term ($2,500 on a 1-year term) with its own rates. Premium cards and in-person (POS) rates differ and aren't in this calculator.1
Worked example (the numbers above, Basic, billed monthly)
| Card payments | $7,200 of card sales × 2.9% + 180 orders × $0.30 = $262.80 |
|---|---|
| International cards | 5% of card sales × 1% = $3.60 |
| PayPal | $800 × 3.49% + 20 orders × $0.49 = $37.72 |
| Plan | $39.00 |
| Total | $343.12 a month, 4.29% of sales |
| Lost on refunds | 3% of the base card and PayPal fees = $9.02 |
When does Grow become cheaper than Basic?
On Shopify Payments, Grow costs $66 more a month (billed monthly) but saves 0.2% on every online card sale. It pays for itself at about $33,000 a month in card sales ($25,000 if both plans are billed yearly). Below that, Basic is cheaper on fees alone. Plan features may matter more to you than this math.
Fees people miss
- Refunds keep the fee. When you refund an order, the original card fee isn't returned to you.3
- Third-party providers add Shopify's fee. Orders processed through another provider mean paying that provider plus Shopify's transaction fee. PayPal is exempt from the transaction fee when Shopify Payments is your main provider.2
- Currency conversion. Selling in other currencies on Shopify Payments costs a conversion fee (1.5% for US stores), and it isn't returned on refunds either.3
- Chargebacks. Shopify Payments charges a $15 fee per chargeback in the US; Shopify says it may be returned if you win.4
Questions
How much does Shopify take per sale?
On Shopify Payments in the US: 2.9% + 30¢ per online card sale on Basic, 2.7% + 30¢ on Grow, 2.5% + 30¢ on Advanced, plus 1% for international cards (Shopify's pricing page, checked October 18, 2026). There's no extra Shopify transaction fee on Shopify Payments orders.
Does Shopify charge transaction fees?
Not on orders paid through Shopify Payments. Orders processed through any other payment provider carry a third-party transaction fee of 2% on Basic, 1% on Grow, 0.6% on Advanced and 0.2% on Plus, on top of that provider's own fee, even if Shopify Payments is also turned on. PayPal is exempt when Shopify Payments is your main provider. Shopify also says that on stores created on or after May 12, 2025, the fee applies to orders paid with gift cards or store credit.
Does Shopify refund fees when I refund an order?
No. Shopify's help center says the original card transaction fee isn't refunded to you when you issue a refund, and currency conversion fees aren't returned either.
Is the yearly plan cheaper?
Yes. Billed yearly, Basic is $29 a month instead of $39, Grow $79 instead of $105, and Advanced $299 instead of $399 (checked October 18, 2026). Payment rates are the same either way.
Why is my payout less than my sales?
Payouts are your sales minus payment processing fees, refunds, chargebacks and dispute fees, plus or minus adjustments, and minus any reserves or holds. Your plan and app charges are billed separately.
Are these numbers exact?
They're estimates from Shopify's published US rates. Premium cards, in-person sales, Shop Pay Installments and Plus aren't included, and PayPal's rate is Shopify's "starting at" figure. For exact fees, export your payout transactions: each line shows the amount, fee and net.
Sources
- Shopify pricing (US): plan prices, card rates, third-party transaction fees, PayPal wallet rate Checked October 18, 2026.
- Shopify Help Center: Shopify Payments (transaction fees, PayPal exemption)
- Shopify Help Center: Fees (currency conversion; fees not returned on refunds)
- Shopify Help Center: Chargeback process ($15 USD chargeback fee)
- Shopify Help Center: Lower or missing payouts
Checked October 18, 2026. If something has changed, email hello@groundworkmetrics.com and I'll fix it.