Thinking about starting an online store in Australia? Shopify is the platform most Australian e-commerce businesses start on — and for good reason. In this guide we cut through the noise and show you exactly what you get, what it costs, and whether it's the right choice for your business in 2026.
Why Shopify Dominates Australian E-Commerce
Over 200,000 Australian businesses run on Shopify. From solo makers selling handmade goods to multi-million dollar brands, the platform scales with you. It handles payments, shipping, inventory, and marketing in one place — without requiring you to touch a line of code.
Shopify Plans — What You Actually Pay in Australia
| Plan | Monthly Cost (AUD) | Transaction Fee | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | ~$56/mo | 2% | New stores, side projects |
| Shopify | ~$149/mo | 1% | Growing businesses |
| Advanced | ~$419/mo | 0.6% | Scaling brands |
| Shopify Plus | From $2,300/mo | Negotiated | Enterprise |
All prices approximate AUD. Shopify offers a free trial — no credit card required to start.
What's Included on Every Plan
- Your own online store with customisable themes
- Shopify Payments (accept cards, PayPal, BNPL like Afterpay)
- Unlimited products
- 24/7 support
- Abandoned cart recovery
- Discount codes and gift cards
- Mobile-optimised store
- SSL certificate included
Shopify vs the Alternatives
| Platform | Starting Price | Ease of Use | AU Market Fit | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shopify | ~$56/mo | 5/5 | 5/5 | Most businesses |
| WooCommerce | Free + hosting | 3/5 | 4/5 | WordPress users |
| Squarespace | ~$32/mo | 4/5 | 3/5 | Creatives |
| Wix | ~$27/mo | 4/5 | 3/5 | Simple stores |
The Honest Verdict
Shopify is the best all-round e-commerce platform for most Australian businesses. It is not the cheapest — WooCommerce can be cheaper if you have technical skills — but the time you save on setup, support, and reliability is worth the premium for most operators.
If you are serious about selling online in Australia, Shopify is where to start.
Start your free Shopify trial
No credit card required. Build your store, add products, and only pay when you are ready to launch.
Start Free Trial on ShopifyHow to Get Started — Step by Step
- Click the Start Free Trial link above
- Enter your email and create a password
- Answer a few questions about your business
- Choose a theme from 100+ options
- Add your products
- Connect Shopify Payments (works instantly for AU businesses with ABN)
- Buy a domain or connect one you already own
- Launch
Most people have a working store within a day. The free trial gives you time to build and test before committing to a paid plan.