Choosing the right platform for your eCommerce business can be challenging, especially with the different options available. Shopify is a popular choice for both new online stores and established brands. But with two main plans—Shopify Standard and Shopify Plus, it can be hard to decide which one suits your needs best.
So, how does business choose between Shopify Plus Design vs. Shopify Standard Design? When is it worth upgrading to Shopify plus design, and is the extra cost really justified? This blog will break down the key differences, helping both growing businesses and new entrepreneurs make informed decisions.
What is Shopify Standard Design?
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Shopify Standard Design is the base of all tools Shopify offers to its clients and it is quite convenient for building and editing the online stores. Shopify Standard is primarily targeted at small and midsize businesses, and there is nothing one can say about the choice of themes since there are many free and paid themes one can apply to correspond with the business’s positioning.
- Ease of Use: Shopify Standard is very easy to use and is very easy to manage. The customization process is also very easy since the web features are easily dragged and dropped across the platform and it does not require any form of programming knowledge.
- Customization Options: Shopify Standard provides very many options in the customization to allow but it is relatively constrained compared to Shopify Plus. Flexibility is achieved on layouts, color, font, and many other aspects but ‘ extra & rsquo; features usually need plugins or coding.
- Theme Store: Currently through its Theme Store, Shopify offers the client availability of more than 70 different themes. These are rendered to adapt gracefully to different devices and are not ugly but the level of styling freedom is rather restricted in the basic plan.
- Basic SEO Features: In its Shopify Standard package a set of SEO tools is provided, and while it provides all the necessary tools that a small business may need. However, additional features of SEO analysis are limited unless you pay for third-party tools.
The Shopify Standard package presented for small to medium businesses allows users to create an appealing online store and manage it without much trouble right from the start.
What is Shopify Plus Design?
Shopify Plus Design builds on top of Shopify Standard Design to an appropriate high level of difficulty for enterprise-level businesses. This is a paid tier and comes with advanced features for customization, high performance, and additional features aimed at catering to an increased number of sales and a complicated business environment.
- Advanced Customization: With the help of Shopify Plus, users get access to Script Editor, which is a base for creating unique scripts for checkout modifications, automatic discount creation, or even individualized shopping options. This level of control is not available in Shopify Standard and all clients of this solution can confirm this.
- Exclusive Themes: Like the Standard users, the Shopify Plus subscribers can theme from the Theme Store; but, they have an exclusive Shopify Plus Theme Store for the large volume stores. Most of these themes are packed with additional features and support for integration with other services.
- Dedicated Account Management: Support is another major area of departure with Shopify Plus: in addition to the robust customer service, the advanced platforms include access to dedicated support specialists. There is always a dedicated account manager, priority support is provided 24/7 and the company offers its Merchant Success Program.
- Performance Enhancements: Shopify Plus is designed for sites that get a lot of traffic. Greater caching, faster server processes, and direct access to the specific instance contribute to your site not going down when it is busy.
- Multi-Store Management: It also supports multiple locations and established brands selling through multiple points of sale since all these are stored and controlled through one account.
Shopify Plus is used for large enterprises or fast growing thus being equipped with all tools to improve the business effectively.
Shopify Plus Designs vs Shopify Standard Designs
Upon comparing Shopify Plus and Shopify Standard designs we find the following differences. Here’s a breakdown of the most critical distinctions:
Customization Flexibility
Shopify Standard: Only possesses simple options of editing through the Theme Editor. Some of the features that can be implemented in the form of a complex configuration are represented by third-party applications.
Shopify Plus: Includes Script Editor and Liquid, the proprietary templating language allowing for individual parts-level customization.
Performance and Scalability
Shopify Standard: Ideal for most business organizations with a relatively low to average customer flow.
Shopify Plus: Designed for both high volume and business use with optimization features such as dedicated servers and cache boosting.
Support and Resources
Shopify Standard: Getting access to the standard channels of support and community forums.
Shopify Plus: Personal account manager, special support service, and such perks as the Merchant Success Program.
Checkout Customization
Shopify Standard: Allowed in only simple checkout flow and restricted from further configuration.
Shopify Plus: Complete control over the checkout process with options such as discount, payment gateway, etc. at the discretion of the owner.
Multi-Store Functionality
Shopify Standard: Supports only one store, and this store has to be managed by one account only.
Shopify Plus: Permits several stores in a specific account, which is useful for companies operating across different continents or in different brands.
Cost
Shopify Standard: Pricing is easy to understand: there are four plans to choose from starting from $29/month and ending up with $299/month.
Shopify Plus: With beginning at $2,000 per month, this is because the service offering is best suited for large business enterprises.
These are some differences that depict the fact that Shopify Plus is best for organizations with huge operations while Shopify Standard is also the best for small-scale eCommerce operations.
When to Upgrade from Shopify Standard to Shopify Plus
Being aware of when to change from Shopify Standard to Shopify Plus is an important factor in the development of your business. Here are some scenarios where upgrading makes sense:
High Traffic Volume
If you are facing an issue of increased traffic at your site particularly during those periods when there is business, Shopify Plus comes with improved functionality features to ensure that users are not frustrated by the slow response of pages.
Need for Advanced Customization
If your business needs certain changes in the checkout steps, or if it targets the use of complicated discounting structures, then the Script Editor and Liquid access in Shopify Plus is the right feature that you need.
Multiple Brands or International Sales
If the project is going to establish a business in various markets or work with several brands, the function of the multi-stores of Shopify Plus can be a lifesaver.
Dedicated Support Requirements
If your organization is growing, then qualified individual assistance will be required significantly. But, those who use Shopify Plus enjoy an account manager available as well as priority support – that’s crucial.
Scaling Operations
If your business is experiencing exponential growth and needs a platform that can accommodate the growth without a hit in performance, then Shopify Plus is made for such a business.
To say that Shopify Plus unlocks additional features is a good part of the truth; it is about adapting your store’s environment to your business and setting advanced analytics in Shopify Plus.
Is Shopify Plus Design Worth the Extra Investment?
Shopify Plus is not cheap, so it’s crucial to check whether the benefits outweigh the expenses in this case. Considering the key benefits of custom Shopify Plus design Here are some factors to consider:
- Return on Investment (ROI): Since the features of Shopify Plus are rather advanced, it’s possible to generate more sales or decrease operational costs, which can bring the money spent on the platform back quickly.
- Brand Perception: Super premium brands: The option for a completely tailored shopping experience can overall improve the perception of the brand and retention of the customer.
- Operational Efficiency: The feature of Shopify Plus which is extravagant, the dispensation of routine responsibility via the means of script minimizes the time taken to perform tasks and the likelihood of error in the process hence enhancing the efficiency of the system.
- Future-Proofing: This can be viewed as future-proofing your business because investing in Shopify Plus will open up many more avenues for future growth and development. It also means that as you mature, the platform can grow with you, and you are not faced with yet another migration or switching of the platform in the future.
But if the business is still relatively young or the degree of customization required is not very high, then it may not be worth the incremental cost. In such cases, the strategy of making the most out of Shopify Standard can be viewed as more appropriate.
Navigating Shopify Design Choices with OyeCommerz!
At OyeCommerz, we understand the unique needs of growing businesses. Whether you’re looking for advanced customization and scalability with Shopify Plus or the simplicity and cost-effectiveness of Shopify Standard, our team can help you make the right decision. We’ll craft a design that perfectly aligns with your brand and business goals, ensuring a seamless shopping experience for your customers.
Don’t wait, let’s transform your online store into a high-performing, visually stunning platform. Ready to get started? Contact us today!
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Conclusion
In conclusion, selecting between Shopify Standard Design and Shopify Plus Design depends largely on your business’s needs and long-term vision. For businesses seeking a reliable, easy-to-use platform, Shopify Standard offers all the essential tools to build and manage an online store efficiently. On the other hand, if your brand is poised for rapid expansion, requires advanced customization, or needs robust support, Shopify Plus is designed to accommodate those demands.
Investing in the right solution can be the difference between maintaining steady growth and unlocking your store’s full potential. As you weigh your options, consider how your chosen platform will support your goals today and in the future.
Wondering which platform is the best fit for your eCommerce business? Collaborating with the right enterprise Shopify agency can make all the difference in turning your vision into reality.
