Shopify Starter vs Basic Plan Comparison

Summary

In this informative video, Brennan compares Shopify's Starter and Basic plans, highlighting the key differences in pricing and features. He explains that the Starter plan at $5/month is ideal for beginners or social media sellers, offering a mini site and access to essential Shopify features. In contrast, the Basic plan at $29/year (or $39/month) provides a full e-commerce website, theme editing, and blog capabilities, catering to those seeking a more comprehensive online presence. Brennan also mentions a promotional offer for a three-month trial at $1/month, encouraging viewers to consider their marketing strategy and needs before choosing a plan.

Takeaways

• 😀 The video compares the Shopify Starter Plan and Basic Plan, highlighting their differences, pros, and cons.
• 🔗 The presenter encourages viewers to sign up for Shopify through the provided affiliate link for a three-month trial at a dollar a month.
• 💰 The Basic Plan is Shopify's most popular plan, priced at $39 per month with a discounted yearly rate of $29 per month.
• 🆕 The Starter Plan is a newer offering, priced at $5 per month, allowing sales through social and messaging apps.
• 🛍️ The Starter Plan includes a mini site, whereas the Basic Plan provides a full e-commerce website with additional features.
• 📲 Both plans offer essential features like product pages, checkout, and mobile point of sale, but the Basic Plan includes theme editing and blog posts.
• 📈 The Starter Plan is suitable for beginners or those selling through social media without the need for a full website.
• 📝 The Basic Plan is ideal for those who want to create a comprehensive online store with customization and blog capabilities.
• 🔄 The video mentions that it's easy to upgrade from the Starter Plan to the Basic Plan without losing any data.
• 🔗 The presenter provides additional resources, such as a video on the Starter Plan specifics and another on Link Pop.
• 🎥 The video is presented by Brennan, who offers an in-depth look at Shopify's plans and their suitability for different business needs.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is a comparison between the Shopify Starter and Basic plans, discussing their differences, pros, cons, and pricing.

What is the promotional offer mentioned for Shopify?

The promotional offer mentioned is a three-month trial period where new users can get Shopify for just one dollar a month on select plans.

What is the monthly cost of the Shopify Basic plan after the trial period?

The monthly cost of the Shopify Basic plan after the trial period is $39 per month.

What is the monthly cost of the Shopify Starter plan?

The monthly cost of the Shopify Starter plan is $5 per month.

What is the main difference between the Shopify Starter plan and the Basic plan in terms of website capabilities?

The main difference is that the Starter plan offers a mini site for selling through social media and messaging apps, while the Basic plan provides a full e-commerce website with additional features like theme editing and blog posts.

What is a 'Link Pop' and how does it relate to the Shopify Starter plan?

A 'Link Pop' is a tool that allows users to create a mini site or a basic version of a website to link products directly. It is compatible with the Shopify Starter plan, allowing users to market their products on a simple page.

Does the Shopify Starter plan include access to Shopify apps and the app store?

Yes, the Shopify Starter plan includes access to Shopify apps and the app store, allowing users to extend the capabilities of their store with various apps.

What are some of the features that are exclusive to the Shopify Basic plan and not available in the Starter plan?

Features exclusive to the Shopify Basic plan include theme editing, blog posts, and a full e-commerce website with more customization options.

Can users upgrade from the Shopify Starter plan to the Basic plan and retain their data?

Yes, users can upgrade from the Starter plan to the Basic plan and retain all their data, as they are within the same Shopify ecosystem.

What is the purpose of the video script mentioning 'Brentwoodski.com Shopify'?

The purpose is to provide an affiliate link for viewers to sign up for Shopify, which supports the channel by directing users to the promotional offer page.

How can viewers get more information about the Shopify Starter plan?

Viewers can get more information about the Shopify Starter plan by watching the in-depth video linked in the video description.

Outlines

00:00

🛍️ Shopify Starter vs Basic Plan Overview

In this introductory paragraph, Brennan presents a comparison video between Shopify's Starter and Basic plans. He highlights the importance of understanding the differences, pros, and cons of each plan. Brennan also mentions a special offer for new Shopify users, a three-month trial at a dollar a month for select plans, and encourages viewers to use the provided affiliate link for support. The video aims to clarify the distinctions between the two plans, particularly focusing on pricing and features.

05:00

💰 Pricing and Features of Shopify Plans

This paragraph delves into the pricing details of the Shopify Basic and Starter plans. Brennan explains that the Basic plan, at $39 per month, is the most popular and offers a three-month trial at a reduced rate. He also discusses the benefits of annual payments, which result in a lower monthly rate. The Starter plan, introduced as a replacement for the Light plan, is priced at $5 per month and allows selling through social and messaging apps. Brennan outlines the key differences, emphasizing the Starter plan's 'mini site' versus the Basic plan's full e-commerce website, and suggests that the choice depends on the user's specific needs and budget.

10:02

📱 Starter Plan Capabilities and Linkpop

Brennan explores the capabilities of the Shopify Starter plan, which includes access to essential features like product pages, checkout, and inbox, as well as the ability to use Shopify apps and the app store. He clarifies that the Starter plan is suitable for testing business ideas without investing heavily in a full website. The paragraph also introduces Linkpop, a tool for creating mini sites or basic web pages compatible with the Starter plan, allowing for product marketing on social media platforms. Brennan suggests that Linkpop can serve as a makeshift website for those who primarily sell through social media or ads.

🖌️ Customization and Additional Features of the Basic Plan

The final paragraph focuses on the features exclusive to the Basic plan, such as theme editing, blog posts, and a full-fledged online store. Brennan emphasizes the customization options available with the Basic plan, allowing for a more personalized and professional online presence. He also touches on the importance of SEO through blog posts and the flexibility offered by the Basic plan for businesses looking to establish a strong online brand. Brennan concludes by reiterating the ease of upgrading from the Starter to the Basic plan and encourages viewers to consider their marketing strategies when choosing between the two plans.

Keywords

💡Shopify

Shopify is an e-commerce platform that allows individuals and businesses to create their own online stores to sell goods and services. In the video, it is the main subject as the speaker compares two of its subscription plans, Starter and Basic, which are central to the video's theme of helping viewers decide which plan best suits their e-commerce needs.

💡Starter Plan

The Starter Plan is a subscription option offered by Shopify, designed for those who want to test their e-commerce idea without investing heavily in a full website. It is cheaper than the Basic Plan and includes essential features like product pages and checkout but does not include a full website. The script mentions that the Starter Plan costs $5 per month and can be used to sell through social media and messaging apps.

💡Basic Plan

The Basic Plan is another Shopify subscription that provides a more comprehensive e-commerce solution, including a full website with theme editing capabilities, blog posts, and other features that are not available in the Starter Plan. The script explains that it is the most popular plan and costs $29 per month if paid annually, or $39 per month if paid monthly.

💡Trial Period

A trial period is a limited time during which new customers can use Shopify's services for a reduced price or for free. The script mentions a promotional offer where Shopify is providing a three-month trial period for $1 per month on select plans, which is a key point for viewers considering starting an e-commerce business.

💡Affiliate Link

An affiliate link is a unique URL that allows the person sharing it to earn a commission if someone signs up for a service or makes a purchase through that link. In the script, the speaker provides an affiliate link for Shopify, which not only benefits viewers by offering the trial period but also supports the speaker's channel.

💡E-commerce

E-commerce refers to the buying and selling of goods or services using the internet, and the processes involved in doing so. The entire video is focused on e-commerce, discussing how Shopify's different plans can facilitate online business operations and sales.

💡Link Pop

Link Pop is a tool that allows Shopify users to create a mini site or a simplified version of a website where they can link their products directly. In the video, it is mentioned as a feature that Starter Plan users can utilize to market their products, acting as a sort of makeshift website.

💡Product Pages

Product pages are web pages dedicated to displaying information about a specific product, including images, descriptions, and pricing. The script explains that both the Starter and Basic Plans include product pages, which are essential for any e-commerce operation.

💡Customization

Customization refers to the ability to modify and personalize a website's design and features to fit specific needs or preferences. The Basic Plan offers more customization options than the Starter Plan, including theme editing and the ability to add blog posts, which is highlighted in the video as a key difference between the two plans.

💡SEO

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization, which is the process of improving a website's visibility on search engines like Google. The script mentions that with the Basic Plan's blog feature, users can create content to potentially rank higher in search results, which is an important aspect of online marketing for e-commerce businesses.

💡Upgrade

Upgrading refers to moving from a lower-tier service or plan to a higher one with more features and capabilities. The video script explains that users can start with the Starter Plan and upgrade to the Basic Plan later if they find they need the additional features, which is a flexible approach offered by Shopify.

Highlights

Brennan introduces a comparison video between Shopify's starter and basic plans.

A three-month trial period is offered for Shopify at a dollar a month on select plans.

The basic plan is Shopify's most popular at $39 per month, with a yearly payment option saving 25%.

The starter plan is a newer, cost-effective alternative at $5 per month, focusing on social and messaging app sales.

The starter plan includes a mini site for selling through social media and messaging apps.

The basic plan offers a full e-commerce website with more customization options.

The starter plan is suitable for beginners or those looking to save on costs.

Access to essential features like product pages and checkout is available even on a smartphone with the starter plan.

Link Pop is a tool compatible with the starter plan, allowing for mini site creation.

The basic plan includes theme editing, providing more control over the website's appearance.

Blog post functionality is exclusive to the basic plan, offering SEO opportunities.

The starter plan is ideal for social media selling or direct ad campaigns to product pages.

Upgrading from the starter to the basic plan is seamless, preserving all account data.

The video concludes with a reminder of the promotional offer and an invitation to subscribe for more content.

Transcripts

hey what is up guys it's Brennan here

and today we're going to be comparing

the Shopify starter versus basic plan

comparison so taking a look at both the

Shopify starter plan and comparing it to

the Shopify basic plan what are the pros

and cons what are the differences

between these two plans that's what we

bring down here in today's video before

we dive into things I do want to mention

if you do want to get started and sign

up with Shopify you go and check out

that first link Down Below in the

description that's printableski.com

Shopify they'll take you right over to

this page here ring has started right

now Shopify is offering a three month

trial period where you can get Shopify

for three months at a dollar a month on

select plans so again you can get

Shopify you can try Shopify for free and

then it will after three days take you

into the trial period where you have

three months of Shopify for just a

dollar a month on select plans again

link is down below in the description it

is an affiliate link it's a great way to

help out and support the channel so I

can continue to keep bringing this kind

of content to you guys again that's the

first link down below without further

Ado let's go ahead and dive into the

comparison so of course Shopify is one

of the most popular e-commerce platforms

on the market and a lot of people are

wondering well hey what is the actual

difference between the starter plan and

the basic plan these are the starter

plans are relatively newer plan that

Shopify started offering I do have a

full in-depth video going over the

starter plan specifics if you want to

check out that video it will be here in

the card if you want to check out the

starter plan video but in this one we're

just comparing the differences

similarities between between the basic

and starter plan so getting right into

things looking at the pricing that is

really one of the main factors here that

differentiates them of course we will be

diving into the actual feature sets and

where they differ as well there so

taking a look here at the Shopify

pricing page as you can see here the

basic plan is their most popular plan

and at the monthly rate it is currently

39 per month again you can get that

first three months for a dollar a month

if you use my link down below that's the

trial period that they are offering

right now of course Shopify does not

always offer this so it is good to take

advantage of it while they are offering

it and that is on their monthly plan

once you're outside of that trial period

Then it is the 39 per month of course

all this pricing is accurate as the

making of today's video be sure to check

out Shopify and see what their current

pricing is then if you pay yearly you

can save 25 on the basic planet and that

brings it back down to the 29 per month

which is why where it has been for a

while within Shopify of course they did

raise their prices a little bit but at

least they still offer that within the

paying yearly paying annually if you do

want to pay yearly you can save a little

bit of money compared to paying monthly

so that's something to keep in mind

there just the pricing compared to down

below here we have the starter plan

which again is a relatively newer plan

it replaced the light plan they used to

offer honestly the starter plan is a lot

better than what that used to be so the

starter plan is at five dollars per

month and you can sell through social

and messaging apps so what exactly does

that mean what do you actually get with

the starter plan and how does it compare

to the basic plan of course as you can

see here that is the pricing now if we

take a look here just at a couple bullet

points that I put together here again

you have the pricing is one of the

biggest differences the other big

difference is with the starter plan you

do get a mini site so you can sell

through social media messaging apps I

will be diving into what that mini site

sort of looks like and what your options

are with it and with the basic plan

that's where you actually get a full

website again we will be taking a look

at examples so stay tuned but that's

really if you're just looking for the

spark notes of that that's really the

basic difference is the price and the

fact is whether you get a miniature site

or an actual full e-commerce website

that's really kind of the biggest

difference there so if you're looking

for a full website you probably want to

go with the basic if you don't

necessarily need a full website and

you're looking to save money or you're

just a brand new beginner just getting

started with an e-commerce store selling

products online and the starter plan

could be good for you so taking a look

more at the specifics of the differences

here so how is the server plan different

from the basic plan of course this is

listed here on the Shopify site directly

from their FAQ section I will be adding

some additional clarification and

information here as well uh Beyond just

reading this paragraph here of course

but essentially uh you know the Shopify

starter plan is built for people to test

an idea if you don't necessarily want to

spend all the money in time really

either uh with building out a full

website then that's really the why they

made the starter plan you do still get

access within the starter plane you get

access to essential features like

product pages the checkout inbox and

Link pop so you can start selling right

away even if your device is only a

smartphone so you can get started on

just a smartphone with the starter plan

as well then the nice thing about the

starter plan is because you're still on

Shopify as an ecosystem and platform

then you're able to take that

established like customer base or demand

for your product and then you can

explore the basic plan which adds other

features such as theme editing which I

talk a lot about here on this channel

blog posts and more so you get a

full-fledged actual website other than

them not necessarily clarifying that

right there you get a whole website

versus just like a link pop page I'll be

going into what exactly that means uh

and Beyond just the product pages and

linking directly there so in terms of

what else the starter plan includes of

course we have here again the starter

plan gives you a simplified version of

an online store so you still get product

pages you still get the contact page

there check out you get the ability to

do mobile point of sale through their

point of sale app you have the link pop

which is a link in BIO tool which we

will be taking a look at that as well

you do get access to Shopify apps I know

this is a common question a lot of

people commented on my starter plan

video is yes you do get access to

Shopify apps and the app store which

means if you go in the app store for

Shopify there that opens you up to a

whole host of different types of uh

features that really extend the

capabilities of Shopify such as it maybe

if you're interested in doing Shopify

Drop Shipping or just starting a Drop

Shipping business in general you can do

that with the starter plan utilizing the

apps built into the Shopify App Store

now of course some may not necessarily

be compatible just because you may need

an actual like whole website for them

but you can still install Shopify apps

and still use them on your Shopify

starter plan which is really great again

like I said some apps are more built for

having a whole Shopify website but you

can still install them and at least use

them and most will work just fine with

the starter plans so most are compatible

most I mean you're still on Shopify you

just don't have the whole website aspect

of it so you may not necessarily worry

about like landing pages with like

pagefly or something like that but you

still can you know use the order

fulfillment things such as like printful

de-essers uh printify the different

email app Shopify inbox as well really a

lot of the different core features that

you would need when starting out a store

and you're just keeping things a little

bit simpler which is nice so again you

are a little bit limited there but you

do have access to the app so yes you can

install and use the apps just want to

clarify that again

you can also of course use their order

management and fulfillment Network makes

no sense how else are you going to

fulfill your products so of course they

have to give you that with the starter

plan uh as well now taking a look at

exactly what link pop is uh link pop is

essentially sort of a way that you can

build like a mini site or

um

basically like a basic version of a

website as you can see here these are a

few different examples that they have

popping up here you can link your

products directly on the link pop page

so maybe uh this this can sort of be a

replacement for link tree if you're

looking to sell products and it is

designed from Shopify I also have a

video going over more details on link

pop as well uh if you're interested in

that video that will be here in the card

there if you want to learn more about

link pop but link pop is compatible with

the Shopify starter plan it's free uh

like link pop is Free by on its own so

you don't even technically need this

starter plan or the basic plan to get to

get started with link pop but you can

link your Shopify store to it and then

Market your products directly on this

page and this can act sort of as a

website uh like a miniature website that

you can use with the Shopify starter

plan so you use the starter plan to

actually sell and fulfill your orders in

your list your products for sale and

accept payments and all those kind of

things with the starter plan and then

link pop allows you to to then Market

those products on this page so you can

link this from your YouTube channel

Instagram social media or even Tick Tock

or wherever you're even linking

um you know to on social media if you

are going the more social media route of

promoting your products if you're

creating ads you could just link

directly to your product page I wouldn't

even bother with setting up a link pop

but I figured I'd mention it just

because a lot of people do have social

media followings that are looking to

sell uh on Shopify whether it be like

merch uh print on demand merch things

like that uh you have that option there

or selling coffee things like that so

you can customize this free page a lot

more uh you know and basically use this

sort of as a makeshift website uh to

then list out you know your products

through the starter plan so that's

something worth considering I figured I

would mention it because it is

compatible and it's easy to use so

that's sort of your website sort of semi

website taken care of there in

comparison to the basic plan the basic

plan in terms of all of its features it

does give you a lot more uh control over

the whole online store so basically you

get an actual online store with the

basic plan on Shopify you don't actually

get a online store website with a Blog

so here are the things that you're

missing from the starter plane that you

do get on the basic plan and some of

these may be features that you want such

as the theme editing so if you do want a

whole website that you can edit the

theme customize things I have my test

store for tutorials here just to show

you what a basic Shopify store I mean I

just

don't take this as graphic design advice

here this is just basic I use this for

tutorials here on this channel but you

know you can list out different pages

and really customize the look and feel

of your site a lot more uh you know

create little sliders and everything uh

you know you just have a lot more

flexibility with an actual whole website

that you can use for your Shopify store

so that is something uh worth

considering there uh if you are

deciding between you know the starter or

basic plan if you do want a whole

website then you got to go with the

basic plan again you do get a lot more

features customization in terms of a

whole website that you do get with the

basic plan in terms of other features

blog post is another thing that you only

get with the basic plans so if we go

here uh we can go to the blog and you

know you can write posts like Canada

Rolex get wet uh you know and write some

lorem ipsum there and have your author

listed and yada yada I mean really you

know you can actually create blog posts

and try and maybe rank those in Google

get some SEO uh going your way for your

online store so that's something again

worth considering something that you

could explore and do with a whole

website you can't really do with just

the starter plan so the starter plan is

really better for people that are maybe

selling through social media one or if

you are just doing ads like on Tick Tock

ads or wherever you're running ads and

just sending people directly to a

product page there's not really no need

for a whole website if you're just going

to be sending people to a product page

you can just get by with the starter

plan so kind of depends on your overall

marketing strategy and if you just want

that extra features and capabilities

there and more so you know the and more

is kind of what I've already explained

there in terms of what else you get with

the website uh yeah so that's really the

basic differences here between the

starter and the basic plan uh ultimately

again like I said it depends on your

marketing strategy here so if you're

just doing things like through social

media or marketing to your audience then

you really don't need anything beyond

the starter plan at least to start

selling products and the nice thing is

you can always upgrade in the future to

the basic plan if hey maybe you start

with start playing ah this doesn't

exactly have everything that I wanted

from an e-commerce platform then you

could always upgrade to the basic plan

and all your data is then still saved on

your account so you're not worrying

about like oh I'm going to lose my data

migration and all that you're still in

the same eco system on Shopify so all

your data will still be there and that

makes it a lot nicer in the long run as

you continue to grow or scale your

business so you could start out and

start a plan if it has everything that

you want upgrade to the basic plan later

or you say screw it and just start with

the basic plan at the beginning because

you actually wanted the whole Ecommerce

website so that's the biggest difference

there and worth considering I hope this

video sort of clears up the differences

and similarities pros and cons pricing

and all that between the starter plan

and the basic plan on Shopify again if

you are interested in getting signed up

with Shopify you go and check out that

first link Down Below in the description

that's brentwoodski.com Shopify we'll

take you right over to this page here

we're going to start with a Shopify free

trial again right now they are doing a

promotional offer where you can start a

free trial and enjoy three months of

Shopify

for a dollar a month on select plans

again

you can use that first link Down Below

in the description if you guys found

this video helpful or enjoyed it then be

sure to smash that like button hit the

Subscribe Button as well and the

notification Bell as well so you're

notified whenever I upload a new video

but anyway guys that's all for today's

video and I'll see you in the next one

peace out