When starting an online store with Shopify, one of the key questions many new users have is: “Which Shopify plan has a domain?” While Shopify allows you to create and manage an online store across all its plans, the handling of domains works a little differently depending on your needs. In this article, we’ll break down how domains work on Shopify and which Shopify plans include options for buying or connecting a domain name to your store.
How Shopify Handles Domains
Before diving into specific Shopify plans, it’s important to understand how Shopify handles domains. Shopify doesn’t automatically provide a free custom domain (e.g., www.yourstore.com) on any plan. Instead, every Shopify store starts with a free Shopify subdomain (e.g., www.yourstore.myshopify.com) when you sign up. While this is great for testing and building your store, most businesses will want a more professional custom domain.
The good news is that Shopify allows you to either buy a custom domain through Shopify or connect a third-party domain that you purchase from a different domain provider (such as GoDaddy, Namecheap, etc.). Every plan offers these domain options, but none include a domain as part of the base price.
Which Shopify Plans Allow You to Buy or Connect a Domain?
All Shopify plans give you the option to buy or connect a domain, but none of the plans come with a domain included in the monthly subscription fee. Let’s look at each plan to understand how domains work within Shopify’s pricing structure:
1. Shopify Starter
The Shopify Starter plan is the most basic plan at $5 per month. It allows you to sell via social media or existing websites, but it does not include a full Shopify storefront. Since there is no full storefront on this plan, custom domains aren’t typically needed. However, you can still buy and connect a domain if you wish to use Shopify’s checkout and payment features elsewhere.
2. Basic Shopify
The Basic Shopify plan, priced at $39 per month, is the first plan that provides you with a full-fledged online store. With this plan, you can connect or buy a custom domain directly from Shopify. Shopify also makes it easy to manage your domain settings, whether you purchase the domain through Shopify or use a third-party domain provider.
Important: If you don’t buy a custom domain, you will be stuck with the default Shopify subdomain (yourstore.myshopify.com), which may not look as professional for businesses looking to build a brand.
3. Shopify (Standard)
The Shopify (Standard) plan, priced at $105 per month, includes the same domain options as the Basic plan. You can either buy a domain through Shopify or connect an existing domain from another provider. The process for setting up and managing your domain is straightforward, and the higher subscription price primarily reflects additional features rather than any change in domain management.
4. Advanced Shopify
The Advanced Shopify plan, priced at $399 per month, includes the same domain features as the previous plans. You can buy a custom domain or connect an existing domain to your store. As with all other Shopify plans, the domain is not included in the monthly subscription fee, but this plan gives you advanced tools for larger businesses looking to scale.
5. Shopify Plus
Shopify Plus, the enterprise-level plan, offers all the features of the lower-tier plans, including the ability to buy or connect a domain. However, the price for Shopify Plus starts at around $2,000 per month, and it’s designed for high-volume merchants and enterprises. Custom domains are fully supported, but like the other plans, you will need to purchase your domain separately.
Buying a Domain Through Shopify
If you decide to buy your domain directly through Shopify, it’s a simple process that allows you to manage everything from one platform. Shopify offers competitive rates for domain purchases, and it will automatically configure the domain for you. This ensures that your domain works seamlessly with your Shopify store, without the need for complicated DNS settings.
Here’s how to buy a domain through Shopify:
- Log in to your Shopify Admin account.
- Go to Online Store and click on Domains.
- Click Buy New Domain and enter the domain you want to purchase.
- Follow the steps to complete the purchase and your domain will automatically be connected to your Shopify store.
Once purchased, Shopify will handle domain registration, and you’ll be billed annually for the domain. Shopify also provides SSL certificates for domains bought through their platform, ensuring your store is secure for customers.
Connecting a Third-Party Domain
If you already own a domain through a third-party provider like GoDaddy or Namecheap, you can easily connect it to your Shopify store. Here’s how:
- Log in to your Shopify Admin account.
- Go to Online Store and click Domains.
- Select Connect Existing Domain.
- Enter the domain you own and follow the instructions to update your domain settings through your domain provider.
Once connected, your domain will be associated with your Shopify store, and customers can access your site through your custom domain.
Conclusion
Which Shopify plan has a domain? While no Shopify plan includes a free domain as part of the monthly subscription, all plans allow you to buy a domain or connect an existing one. For those looking to build a professional online presence, we recommend choosing the Basic Shopify plan or higher, as these plans offer a complete storefront and full support for custom domains. Whether you buy your domain through Shopify or use a third-party provider, having a custom domain is an essential step in building your brand online.
