Shopify Surcharge for 3rd Party Processor (0.2%): CA$503.50
CA$11,014.45
* Shown rates are based on averages. Real costs depend on your industry, credit card mix, and negotiated terms. See footnote for more details.
Monthly Cost vs. GMV — Best Envelope
Shopify Payments — Lowest Monthly Cost
Third-Party Processor — Lowest Monthly Cost
Lines show the lowest monthly cost for each processor across all plans at your current order mix and AOVs. The vertical lines mark your current GMV and the processor break-even. Dots label where the best plan changes along each line.
Your Best Value Option
Shopify Advanced + Third-Party Payment Processor – Lowest monthly cost at CA$9,438.45, saving you CA$1,288.35/month (CA$15,460.20/year) vs Shopify Advanced + Shopify Payments.
Key Switch Points
Within a Third-Party Payment Processor, best plan changes from Shopify Advanced to Shopify Plus at around CA$1,000,880 GMV.
Why this wins right now
Lower percentage fees on your online sales outweigh Shopify’s surcharge on Third-Party Payment Processors.
In-person rates are also favorable at your mix and AOVs.
The result is a lower effective cost per order across channels.
Impact you can feel
Your savings of CA$1,288.35/month (≈CA$15,460.20/year) could be reinvested in different areas of your business:
Advertising reach – roughly 257,669 extra ad impressions every month.
Technology stack – Offset the cost of apps, automation tools, or integrations that make operations smoother.
Inventory – Buy additional stock or expand into a new product line without added financial strain.
Logistics – Cover part of your shipping or fulfillment costs to improve delivery times.
The right savings give you flexibility — whether you fuel growth, resilience, or efficiency.
Next Steps
Based on your current GMV, the most cost-effective option is Shopify Advanced + Third-Party Payment Processor. These savings are real and measurable. Want to put them in place? Complete the short form below and one of our payment specialists will connect with you.
Talk to a payments specialist
We’ll review your numbers and benchmark the best plan + processor for your store.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Shopify Plan & Payment Calculator do?
It compares monthly costs across Shopify plans (Basic, Grow, Advanced, Plus) and payment options (Shopify Payments vs. a third-party payment provider). Using your order volumes and average order values, it estimates plan fees, POS Pro costs, and payment processing fees to reveal the lowest total monthly cost for your store.
How are Shopify payment fees calculated in this tool?
We model percentage-plus-fixed pricing for online and in-person payments. For third-party payment providers, Shopify’s surcharge applies only to online GMV. Plan subscriptions and POS Pro fees are added. Totals are shown per plan so you can compare Shopify Payments vs. a third-party payment provider at your current sales mix.
Does my country affect the rates?
Yes. Rates vary by merchant country. calcul8.shop currently supports country-specific defaults (e.g., Canada and USA). Your totals reflect the region you select; international and Amex uplifts may also apply depending on your provider.
What is GMV and why does the chart show break-even points?
GMV (Gross Merchandise Volume) is your total sales in a period. The chart projects monthly cost vs. GMV and marks break-even points where the cheapest payment provider or plan can change. This shows when switching plan tiers or payment providers may lower your costs as you grow.
When should I consider a third-party payment provider?
Third-party payment providers can be cheaper when their rates offset Shopify’s third-party surcharge on online GMV. The calculator indicates if a third-party wins now, and at what GMV a payment provider flip occurs for your current mix and AOVs.
How do POS Pro and the number of locations affect costs?
If you enable POS Pro, per-location fees are added (Shopify Plus includes a number of locations by default). In-person processing rates apply to your in-store orders. Changing locations or in-person volumes updates your totals instantly.
Are the rates exact quotes?
No. The tool uses published Shopify fees and benchmark third-party rates for planning purposes. Actual pricing depends on your industry, card mix, volume, risk profile, and negotiated terms. For an exact quote, request a personalized analysis using the contact form here. See the legal note here.
Does annual billing change my results?
Yes. If you select annual billing, the calculator applies Shopify’s annual plan pricing in your monthly totals. This can shift which plan is most cost-effective at a given GMV.
What data does calcul8.shop store?
We do not store personal or payment data from the calculator form. If you request a consultation, we securely collect basic contact details and a store URL solely to connect you with a payment specialist. See our Privacy Policy.
Can I use the results to choose a Shopify plan right now?
Yes—as guidance. The calculator identifies the lowest estimated monthly cost and shows upcoming switch points. We recommend confirming final pricing with Shopify and obtaining a tailored third-party payment provider offer before you commit. To proceed, use the contact form here.
Why does the cheapest option sometimes include switching plan and payment provider at the same time?
At certain GMV levels, the combination that minimizes total cost may change along two dimensions: Shopify plan tier and payment provider. The chart and narrative call this out (for example, “switch to a third-party payment provider + Shopify Plus at ~$X GMV”) so you know the exact destination combo that wins.
Is this affiliated with Shopify?
No. calcul8.shop is an independent tool for educational and planning purposes and is not endorsed by or affiliated with Shopify. Shopify is a trademark of Shopify Inc. See the legal note here.
Your Shopify payment rates depend on your merchant country. Select the country where your business entity is registered.
How many online orders your store processes in a typical month. This helps calculate total online sales volume (GMV) and payment processing fees.
Your average online order size before taxes and shipping. Used to estimate the effective rate of percentage fees and fixed transaction fees.
Enable this if you also sell through a physical store or point-of-sale system. This will include card-present transactions in the cost analysis.
The number of transactions you process in person during a typical month (POS or retail). Helps calculate in-person GMV and fees.
Your average in-store order size. Used with order count to estimate your in-person GMV and transaction fees.
POS Pro is Shopify’s advanced point-of-sale subscription. If enabled, additional per-location fees are included in your monthly costs.
How many physical locations (stores or outlets) you operate. Determines the total POS Pro cost when enabled, except on Shopify Plus where 200 locations are included.
Your current or intended Shopify subscription (Basic, Grow, Advanced, Plus). Each plan has its own monthly fee and payment rates.
Shopify’s built-in payment processor. Using it avoids third-party surcharges, with rates that vary by your Shopify plan and card type (domestic, international, Amex).
External gateways (like Stripe or Moneris) used instead of Shopify Payments. Shopify adds a surcharge on online sales when you use them. Toggle to see how costs compare.
GMV is your total monthly sales volume, online and in-person combined. It’s calculated automatically from your orders and average order values.