Shopify Plus Features You Didn’t Know You Needed

Running a Shopify store requires more than just an appealing website - it demands tools that work behind the scenes to keep everything running smoothly. Shopify Plus isn’t just a step up; it’s a platform packed with surprises that can revolutionize the way you manage and grow your business. 

While its headline features often grab the spotlight, there’s a wealth of powerful tools tucked away that many merchants overlook. 

Curious about what you’ve been missing out on? Stick around as we discuss the features you didn’t even know you needed.

Top 14 Shopify Plus Features That You Are Missing Out On 

Here are the top 14 features you might be missing out on—and why they’re an absolute necessity for your business.

#1 Advanced Permission Settings 

With Shopify Plus, you can control who gets access to what within your store’s admin panel. 

You can decide who can see, modify, or remove specific elements, such as Products or Orders, by assigning permissions to particular user roles. This adaptability allows you to delegate work while maintaining the security of critical regions.

Permissions do not, however, apply to all places, such as the Users section or the setting up and management of user roles. 

Instead, they’re managed by predefined system roles, ensuring that only trusted team members can handle these critical functions. This feature provides a practical way to maintain security and streamline your operations.

For instance, a global fashion retailer can grant its marketing team access to analytics and reporting tools while limiting their ability to modify store settings. This granular control ensures operational security and efficiency.

#2 Expansion Stores For Global Reach 

Expanding into international markets often necessitates tailored stores to cater to diverse customer preferences. Shopify Plus supports up to nine expansion stores, enabling businesses to create localized versions of their primary store. 

For example, a beauty brand can set up separate stores for the U.S., Europe, and Asia, each with localized content and pricing strategies, ensuring a personalized shopping experience for customers worldwide.

#3 Increased API Resources

Shopify Plus provides more robust API resources for companies that depend on custom apps and integrations. Higher API rate limitations and exclusive access to specific endpoints allow developers to create complex integrations without encountering performance issues. 

This feature is crucial for automating complex workflows and synchronizing data across various platforms, streamlining operations and improving efficiency.

#4 Specialized Apps and Channels

Shopify Plus gives users access to premium apps and sales channels appropriate for businesses with rapid growth. One of the most notable of them is the business-to-business (B2B) channel, which streamlines wholesale operations by providing features like customised pricing and terms of payment for various customers. 

Additionally, the Launchpad app allows for the scheduling and automation of sales events, ensuring smooth execution during peak shopping periods.

For instance, a home décor company can use Launchpad to automate product launches and flash sales, enhancing customer engagement and driving sales.

Also read: Steal these Shopify seo agency hacks for #1 ranking

#5 Shopify POS Pro Integration

Shopify Plus offers up to 20 locations with Shopify POS Pro for companies who run both physical and online stores. This integration ensures a unified inventory and sales system across all channels, providing customers with a consistent shopping experience.

For example, a customer can purchase a product online and return it in-store, with all transactions easily recorded in the same system, enhancing customer satisfaction and loyalty.

#6 Extensive Theme Management

Retaining customers requires a Shopify store that is both engaging and innovative. With Shopify Plus, you can add up to 100 themes to your account, which makes it easier to make design changes, A/B testing, and seasonal upgrades without interfering with your actual business.

This flexibility enables businesses to experiment with different layouts and styles to determine what resonates best with their audience, ultimately improving user experience and conversion rates.

#7 Shopify Plus Partner Program

The Shopify Plus Partner Program is designed for agencies, consultancies, and system integrators that provide services to help businesses succeed on Shopify. Partners can gain access to a variety of advantages by enrolling in this program, such as marketing assistance, training and educational materials, and company development opportunities. 

Depending on their business effect and level of experience, partners are divided into four tiers: Registered, Plus, Premier, and Platinum. To qualify, businesses should have proven experience with high-growth merchants, demonstrate thought leadership in commerce, and possess the technical expertise to build world-class solutions on Shopify Plus. 

Additionally, they should have a portfolio of high-volume merchants with a proven track record of success and have completed three or more successful referrals in the last 12 months.

Also read: Shopify vs Shopify plus: A comprehensive guide

#8 Expanded Location Management

As businesses scale, managing inventory across multiple warehouses or retail locations becomes increasingly complex. Shopify Plus supports up to 200 locations, enabling precise tracking and fulfillment operations. 

This feature ensures that stock levels are accurate, reducing the risk of overselling and enhancing customer satisfaction through timely deliveries. 

For instance, a global electronics brand can efficiently manage inventory across various regions, ensuring products are available where and when customers need them.

#9 Unlimited Development Stores

It is essential to test new features or design modifications before putting them into use on your live store. Shopify Plus offers unlimited development stores, allowing teams to experiment in a risk-free environment. 

This feature ensures that any modifications are thoroughly vetted, maintaining the integrity and performance of the live store.

For example, a tech gadget retailer can test a new checkout process in a development store to identify and resolve potential issues before going live, ensuring a smooth customer experience.

#10 Advanced Internationalization with Markets

Reaching a global audience requires more than just multiple storefronts; it demands a cohesive strategy to manage various markets effectively.

With up to 50 markets included, Shopify Plus allows companies to customise their products for various geographies with regard to price, language, and payment methods.

This level of customization ensures a personalized shopping experience for customers worldwide, fostering brand loyalty and increasing conversion rates.

For example, a footwear company can offer region-specific products and promotions, catering to local preferences and increasing sales.

#11 Better Checkout Customizations With Shopify Functions 

Shopify plus merchants have now access to Shopify functions which gives you full control over your checkout. That means you do not have to rely on liquid or rigid templates.

Shopify functions offer the ability to customize every aspect of your checkout flow. This includes adding custom fields to applying unique discount logic, offering upsells, and even tailoring payment options based on customer behavior or cart value. 

What’s especially important to note is that Shopify is gradually replacing Shopify Scripts (which many Plus merchants previously used for checkout logic) with this newer, more powerful solution. 

Shopify Functions is designed to be future-proof — meaning it’s app-friendly, secure, and flexible enough to meet the ]needs of modern brands.

#12 Introduction of Pickup Points

One of the features that’s making life easier for both merchants and customers is Pickup Points. With this, Shopify Plus now allows you to offer third-party pickup locations—like local post offices, retail partner stores, or parcel lockers—right from the checkout.

Why is this such an important update? Because it gives your customers more control and flexibility over how they receive their orders. Maybe they’re not home during delivery hours, or perhaps they prefer picking up their package on their commute. 

With Pickup Points, you're catering to real-world shopping habits and making last-mile delivery much more convenient.

#13 Bulk Inventory Update Tool

This update takes away the heavy lifting of updating each product individually in a large catalogue.

Whether you're adjusting prices for a seasonal sale or updating stock levels after a new shipment, this tool makes it easy to apply changes to multiple products at once. You can also tweak product descriptions to improve SEO, all without the hassle of making individual updates.

#14 Expanded Variant Limits 

Previously, merchants were limited to offering only 100 variants per product. This has proven to be restrictive when they were trying to provide customers with a wide range of choices. 

But with the recent update, this limit has been increased to 2,000 variants per product!

This means you can now offer a greater variety of colors, sizes, styles, or even custom options—all within a single product listing. 

The increased variant is helpful for both merchants as well as customers since it improves the shopping experience. Customers can find the exact product they are looking for without navigating through multiple pages - ultimately improving sales and reducing cart abandonment rate.

Also read: Custom Integrations a Shopify Plus Development Agency Can Build

How Much Do You Need To Spend For Shopify Plus?

As of 2025, Shopify Plus offers a transparent and predictable fee structure with the following base fees:

• 1-Year Term: Starting at a minimum of $2,500 per month.
• 3-Year Term: Starting at a minimum of $2,300 per month or a variable platform fee for more complex business structures.

For more complex and higher-volume businesses, a variable platform fee is applied based on revenue and business model:

• For the 1-Year Option - the platform fee rises to 0.40% of direct-to-consumer (D2C) sales and 0.18% of business-to-business (B2B) sales, with a minimum fee of $2,500.
• 3-Year Option - Users who commit to a three-year contract enjoy a discounted variable rate of 0.35% of monthly sales volume or a minimum of $2,300 (whichever is higher).

These license fees cover the core features and functionalities of the platform, plus additional access to enterprise-level exclusive features.

Also read - A guide to split testing for pricing. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

What is the difference between Shopify Basic and Shopify Plus?

Shopify Basic is ideal for small businesses, offering essential ecommerce tools. Shopify Plus caters to large-scale enterprises, providing advanced features like unlimited staff accounts, dedicated support, higher API limits, automation tools, and multi-store management for global expansion.

What are the limitations of Shopify Plus?

This platform has certain limitations like -  restricted backend customization, dependency on third-party apps for specific functionalities, higher monthly costs and transaction fees for non-Shopify Payments.

How many brands use Shopify Plus?

As of 2024, over 60,000 websites globally are powered by Shopify Plus, with 46,084 of them being live websites.

Conclusion

Shopify Plus offers a powerful suite of features that go beyond the basics, providing businesses with the tools they need to scale and succeed in a competitive market. 

From advanced permissions and global expansion capabilities to smooth integration and testing environments, these features are designed to enhance operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.