True cost comparison — not just what the pricing page says
Quick Verdict
Framer saves you 62%
Best for Shopify
Modern website builder with AI features. Sleek and fast, but CMS limits and custom domain pricing cr
Best for Framer
E-commerce platform for online stores. $39/mo sounds simple but transaction fees, app costs, and the
E-commerce platform for online stores. $39/mo sounds simple but transaction fees...
Advertised
$39
/month
True Cost
$519
/month (typical)
Transaction Fees (Non-Shopify Payments)
Using Stripe, PayPal, or other gateways instead of Shopify Payments adds 2% (Basic), 1% (Shopify), o...
App Store Cost Accumulation
Most functional stores need 5-15 paid apps (reviews, SEO, email pop-ups, upsells, inventory). Averag...
Premium Theme Purchase
Free themes are limited. Premium themes cost $180-$350 one-time. Many stores buy 2-3 themes before f...
Shipping Label Markup
Shopify Shipping offers discounted rates but marks up USPS/UPS/DHL prices by 5-15% compared to direc...
$29/mo annual
$79/mo annual
$299/mo annual
Affiliate link — we may earn a commission
Modern website builder with AI features. Sleek and fast, but CMS limits and cust...
Advertised
$15
/month
True Cost
$345
/month (typical)
Per-Editor Surcharges
Each plan includes 1 editor. Additional editors cost $20/mo (Basic) or $40/mo (Pro/Scale). 3-person ...
1 CMS Collection on Basic
Basic plan ($10/mo annual) allows only 1 CMS collection. Any site needing blog + team + testimonials...
Convert Add-on for Forms
Form submissions and analytics tracked via Convert add-on at $50 per 500,000 events. Separate from b...
Localization Costs
Each additional language/locale costs $20/month. A 5-language site adds $80/mo on top of base plan....
Advanced Hosting Add-on
URL rewrites and advanced hosting features require $200 add-on. Not included in any standard plan....
$10/mo annual
$30/mo annual
$100/mo annual
Framer advertises $15/mo. Shopify advertises $39/mo.
Framer has 5 documented hidden fees. Shopify has 4.
Framer confidence: 72%. Shopify confidence: 84%.
| Metric | Shopify | Framer | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advertised Price | $39/mo | $15/mo | Framer |
| True Monthly Cost | $519/mo | $345/mo | Framer |
| Hidden Fee Total | +$480/mo | +$330/mo | Framer |
| # Hidden Fees | 4 | 5 | Shopify |
| Confidence Score | 84% | 72% | Shopify |
| Pricing Tiers | 4 | 4 | — |
| Affiliate Program | Up to $150 per referral (varies by plan) | None | — |
Try the tool that fits your needs. Both offer free trials or free tiers.
Shopify advertises $39/mo and Framer advertises $15/mo. However, when you include hidden fees, Shopify has 4 documented hidden fees adding +$480/mo, while Framer has 5 hidden fees adding +$330/mo. Based on true cost, Framer is typically 62% cheaper.
Shopify has 4 documented hidden fees: Transaction Fees (Non-Shopify Payments), App Store Cost Accumulation, Premium Theme Purchase, Shipping Label Markup. These add approximately +$480/mo on top of the $39/mo advertised price.
Framer has 5 documented hidden fees: Per-Editor Surcharges, 1 CMS Collection on Basic, Convert Add-on for Forms, Localization Costs, Advanced Hosting Add-on. These add approximately +$330/mo on top of the $15/mo advertised price.
Choose Shopify if: Modern website builder with AI features. Sleek and fast, but CMS limits and custom domain pricing cr. Choose Framer if: E-commerce platform for online stores. $39/mo sounds simple but transaction fees, app costs, and the. The right choice depends on your team size, usage volume, and which features you need most.
This comparison is based on manual research of official pricing pages, terms of service, and user reports. Shopify data has a 84% confidence score and Framer has 72%. Prices were last verified in April 2026. For the most accurate estimate, enter your specific usage in our calculator.
Enter your usage to see personalized pricing for both tools
Use Free Calculator