Shopify Transaction Fees Explained
A fee that's entirely avoidable — here's when it applies, how much it costs by plan, and how to eliminate it.
By Marginory teamContent reviewed
Rates by plan
| Plan | Transaction fee (3rd-party gateway) |
|---|---|
| Basic ($39/mo) | 2% |
| Grow ($105/mo) | 1% |
| Advanced ($399/mo) | 0.6% |
US monthly pricing reference: shopify.com/pricing, checked September 2026. Local prices and billing-term discounts vary.
The simplest fix: use Shopify Payments
Unlike most marketplace fees, this one is fully avoidable. Switching to Shopify Payments removes the transaction fee entirely — you only pay the standard payment processing rate (2.9%/2.7%/2.5% + $0.30 depending on plan), with no additional layer on top.
Stacked cost example
On a $50 sale, Basic plan, using a third-party gateway alongside a separate processor fee (~2.9%):
Processor fee (~2.9%): $1.45
Shopify transaction fee (2%): $1.00
Total: $2.45 vs $1.75 with Shopify Payments alone
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Shopify's transaction fee?
An additional fee (2%, 1%, or 0.6% depending on the US plan) charged only when you use a third-party payment gateway (like standalone PayPal or Stripe) instead of Shopify Payments. Confirm your local rate in Shopify's current pricing.
How do I avoid the transaction fee entirely?
Use Shopify Payments as your payment processor. It's Shopify's own built-in gateway and using it waives the transaction fee completely — you only pay the standard payment processing rate.
Why would anyone use a third-party gateway and pay the extra fee?
Some merchants need a specific payment provider not fully replaceable by Shopify Payments, or Shopify Payments isn't available in their country/region, making the transaction fee unavoidable for them.