Shopify Versus Shopify Plus: What Does Upgrading Get You?

Choosing Between Shopify and Shopify Plus

Earlier this year, we touched on the differences between Shopify Plus and Magento 2. While that comparison was a helpful indicator of the right platform for some eCommerce businesses, those that have chosen Shopify have a new decision to make: Shopify or Shopify Plus?

With COVID-19, Shopify reported fluctuations with respect to eCommerce merchants switching between Shopify and Shopify Plus. Some storefronts found that the extra features of Shopify Plus were too much, while other eCommerce businesses needed more from their Shopify experience. This begs the question: What is the difference between Shopify and Shopify Plus?

Shopify and Shopify Plus share a lot of similarities, and both reign as the number one choice for certain companies based on need. Generally speaking, the two offer the same services, with the main difference being the size and scale of them. Read on to see some of the benefits of Shopify Plus, and assess whether you need to upgrade your store!

Increased Customer Capacity

One of the biggest upgrades that accompanies a Shopify Plus membership is the ability to handle a much higher volume of transactions. Shopify Plus can take up to 10,000 checkouts per minute, which is vital for larger eCommerce stores. It can handle such a significant number because Shopify's system is built on cloud architecture that is backed by load-balancing systems, ensuring storefronts always have the necessary bandwidth for influxes of customers. Of course, this heightened capacity for customer load means nothing if a site loads slowly. Another benefit of Shopify Plus is fast, streamlined, and customisable checkout pages with no extra expenses.

Standardised API Modules

API refers to the methods of communication available between different softwares. API modules are software components with the ability to communicate, which are available with a Shopify Plus subscription. Standardising API communication allows for module app connections that share Shopify Plus information for streamlined user experiences. On Shopify Plus, ads and applications are quickly and easily integrated from a data standpoint.

Better Management Capabilities

Currently, Shopify's normal plan offers a restricted number of staff accounts for your store. One upgrade Shopify Plus offers is the ability to add more of them. In fact, you can have an unlimited number of staff accounts, and they come with additional permission settings.

While Shopify does have multi-channel generalised support for store owners, Shopify Plus actually offers support in the form of a personalised and dedicated support contact. This "Launch Engineer" helps with moving your store to Shopify from another platform (if necessary) and setting up your new storefront. They're a great single-point contact for platform-specific questions you may have.

Lastly, Shopify Plus has a better inventory management system than the normal Shopify subscription. This is helpful as businesses begin to expand and increase their inventory of products, which tends to happen often with larger stores. It can also be really beneficial for Shopify storefront owners who are balancing inventory across both a digital and a physical space, such as a brick-and-mortar store.

Radiant’s Shopify Themes and Expertise

Each with their own benefits, navigating the decision between Shopify and Shopify Plus can be tricky, especially for fast-growing businesses trying to assess their needs. Radiant knows that picking between the two is just the first of many decisions you'll have to make about your Shopify storefront, and you shouldn't make them alone! Not only does our team design and build custom Shopify websites, but we have Shopify experts with the experience and know-how to transform the content and conversion of your site. Whether your storefront is run via Shopify or Shopify Plus, we're ready to optimise your success through improved SEO, website speed, and browser compatibility. Contact us today to get started with eCommerce specialists that make running a Shopify store a breeze!