Shopify vs Stripe
A side-by-side look at Shopify and Stripe: what each costs to start, whether there is a free plan, how easy they are to pick up, and which features and integrations they cover.
Which should you choose?
Choose Shopify if
- Merchants who want a hosted store running quickly with minimal upkeep
- Brands selling across web, social channels and physical retail
- Dropshipping and print-on-demand stores that rely on app integrations
- Growing businesses that expect to scale into Shopify Plus
Choose Stripe if
- SaaS and subscription businesses
- Developers building custom checkout or marketplace flows
- Online businesses selling in many currencies
- Startups that want one provider for online and in-person payments
Cheapest to start
Not comparable
Free plan
Neither
Highest editor rating
Tied
| Compare | Shopify |
|---|---|
| Free plan | No |
| Free trial | Yes |
| Starting price | From $39/mo |
| Editor rating | 4.7 |
| Ease of use | Easy (4/5) |
| Category | Ecommerce |
| Pricing model | No free plan. Basic $39/month, Grow $105/month and Advanced $399/month billed monthly, each about 25 percent cheaper billed annually. Shopify Plus starts from $2,300/month. 3-day free trial, then $1/month for the first 3 months. |
| Plans |
|
| Platforms | CLI, Web, iOS, Android, API |
| Integrations | Facebook & Instagram, Google Ads, Google Analytics, PayPal, TikTok, YouTube |
| Best for |
|
| Pros |
|
| Cons |
|
| Abandoned cart recovery | Yes |
| AI assistant | Yes |
| API access | Yes |
| App marketplace | Yes |
| Client portal | No |
| Discounts & coupons | Yes |
| Inventory management | Yes |
| Mobile app | Yes |
| Multi-currency | Yes |
| Payment processing | Yes |
| Point of sale | Yes |
| Recurring invoices | No |
| Reporting & dashboards | Yes |
| SSO / SAML | No |
| Subscription billing | No |
| Tax reports | No |
| Webhooks | Yes |
Common questions
- Does Shopify or Stripe have a free plan?
- Neither offers a permanently free plan. Shopify offers a free trial instead.
- How long is the Shopify and Stripe free trial?
- Shopify offers a 3-day free trial. Stripe does not offer one.
- Which is easier to use, Shopify or Stripe?
- In VERILO's editorial assessment Shopify is the easier of the two, scoring 4 out of 5 against 3 for Stripe. That is a judgement about how quickly a new team gets productive, not a measured benchmark.