Shopify Fees in Australia: Complete Breakdown (2026)
The short answer
Shopify charges no marketplace commission. You pay 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction in payment processing (Basic plan via Shopify Payments), plus a monthly plan fee from approximately $59 AUD.
Shopify doesn't take a cut of your sales like Depop or eBay do - there's no commission per item sold. What you pay is a monthly subscription (approximately $59 AUD on the Basic plan) and payment processing at 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction through Shopify Payments. The catch: you're responsible for driving your own traffic. No built-in buyer marketplace means no free discovery - you need to invest in marketing.
Fee Breakdown
| Fee Type | Rate / Amount |
|---|---|
| Marketplace Commission | None |
| Shopify Payments Processing (Basic) | 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction |
| Shopify Payments Processing (Shopify plan) | 2.6% + $0.30 per transaction |
| Shopify Payments Processing (Advanced) | 2.4% + $0.30 per transaction |
| Third-Party Payment Gateway Surcharge | 0.5% extra (Basic), 0.25% (Shopify plan), 0.15% (Advanced)Only applies if you don't use Shopify Payments |
| Basic Plan Fee | ~$59 AUD/month (USD $39/month) |
| Shopify Plan Fee | ~$159 AUD/month (USD $105/month) |
| Advanced Plan Fee | ~$599 AUD/month (USD $399/month) |
| Listing Fee | Unlimited products included |
What You Actually Pay
Real examples at common price points. All amounts in AUD.
| Item Price | Platform Fee | Payment Fee | Total Fees | You Receive | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $25.00 | - | $1.03 | $1.03 | $23.97Processing only - plan fee not included in this calculation | 4.1% |
| $50.00 | - | $1.75 | $1.75 | $48.25Processing only - plan fee not included in this calculation | 3.5% |
| $100.00 | - | $3.20 | $3.20 | $96.80Processing only - plan fee not included in this calculation | 3.2% |
| $200.00 | - | $6.10 | $6.10 | $193.90Processing only - plan fee not included in this calculation | 3.0% |
| $500.00 | - | $14.80 | $14.80 | $485.20Processing only - plan fee not included in this calculation | 3.0% |
How Shopify Fees Compare
| Platform | Commission | Payment Processing | Effective Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shopify (Basic) | 0% | 2.9% + $0.30 | ~3% + $59/month plan |
| eBay (under $25K/year) | 0% | Included | 0% |
| Depop (AU) | 10% | 2.9% + $0.30 | ~13% |
| Etsy | 6.5% | 3% + $0.25 | ~9.5-10% |
| WooCommerce (self-hosted) | 0% | ~2.9% + $0.30 | ~3% + hosting costs |
| Squarespace Commerce | 0% | ~2.9% + $0.30 | ~3% + plan fee |
Tips to Reduce Your Shopify Fees
Use Shopify Payments instead of a third-party gateway to avoid the additional 0.5% surcharge on Basic plan.
Move to the Shopify plan ($159/month) only when your monthly processing fees saved exceed the $100/month plan difference - the breakeven is around $40,000 in monthly sales.
Enable Afterpay/BNPL options. They typically have a slightly higher processing fee but increase average order value significantly - the net result is often positive.
Reduce chargebacks through clear product descriptions and good photos. Chargeback fees ($15-25 per dispute) add up.
Consolidate shipping into fewer, larger shipments. Fewer transactions means fewer processing fees - encourage customers towards your minimum free shipping threshold.
Negotiate annual billing for your Shopify plan. Annual prepayment typically offers a 10-25% discount over monthly billing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Shopify charge transaction fees in Australia?
Shopify doesn't charge a marketplace commission. When using Shopify Payments (the built-in processor), the only fee is 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction on the Basic plan (lower on higher plans). If you use a third-party payment gateway instead of Shopify Payments, an additional 0.5% surcharge applies on the Basic plan.
What is the cheapest Shopify plan available in Australia?
The Basic plan costs USD $39/month (approximately $59-65 AUD depending on exchange rates). Shopify also offers a Starter plan at USD $5/month for selling through social media and messaging apps only - no standalone store. The trial plan is 3 months at $1/month for new Shopify merchants in Australia, then moves to the regular price.
Is Shopify worth it for a small reseller in Australia?
For small or occasional sellers, probably not. If you're selling a few items a month, the $59 AUD/month plan fee doesn't make economic sense compared to a free marketplace like eBay or Facebook Marketplace. Shopify makes sense when you're building a brand with repeat customers, or processing $5,000+ per month where the commission savings over platforms like Depop (which takes 13%) start to compound significantly.
Can I use Shopify for free in Australia?
Shopify offers a 3-day free trial and then a special $1/month rate for the first 3 months for new Australian merchants. After that, the full plan price applies. There's no permanently free tier for a full Shopify store. The Starter plan at $5/month lets you sell through social media without a full storefront.
Do I need to charge GST on my Shopify store in Australia?
If your annual turnover exceeds $75,000, you must register for GST and charge 10% GST on Australian sales. Shopify has built-in Australian tax settings - you can configure it to automatically calculate and add GST to applicable orders. Below the $75K threshold, GST registration is optional, but income is still assessable for income tax purposes.
Sell on Shopify and More Platforms at Once
Crosslist your items across Shopify and other Australian marketplaces from one dashboard. Shopfront keeps inventory in sync so you never double-sell.