Shopify vs GOAT — which takes less?
| Shopify | GOAT | |
|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | Basic 2.9% + $0.30 / Grow 2.7% / Advanced 2.5% online | 9.5% commission + $5-$15 seller location fee + 2.9% cash-out |
| $100 → fees | $3.20 | $14.50 |
| $100 → net | $96.80 | $85.50 |
Side-by-side quick reference
| Amount | Shopify fees | Shopify net | GOAT fees | GOAT net | Difference | Shopify charge→net | GOAT charge→net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $10.00 | $0.59 | $9.41 | $5.95 | $4.05 | shopify +$5.36 | $10.61 | $16.58 |
| $25.00 | $1.03 | $23.97 | $7.38 | $17.62 | shopify +$6.35 | $26.06 | $33.15 |
| $50.00 | $1.75 | $48.25 | $9.75 | $40.25 | shopify +$8.00 | $51.81 | $60.78 |
| $100.00 | $3.20 | $96.80 | $14.50 | $85.50 | shopify +$11.30 | $103.30 | $116.03 |
| $250.00 | $7.55 | $242.45 | $28.75 | $221.25 | shopify +$21.20 | $257.78 | $281.77 |
| $500.00 | $14.80 | $485.20 | $52.50 | $447.50 | shopify +$37.70 | $515.25 | $558.02 |
| $1,000.00 | $29.30 | $970.70 | $100.00 | $900.00 | shopify +$70.70 | $1,030.18 | $1,110.50 |
Shopify formula
payment processing 2.90% + $0.30
Basic 2.9% + $0.30 / Grow 2.7% / Advanced 2.5% online — verified 2026-11-10
GOAT formula
9.5% commission + $5-$15 seller location fee + 2.9% cash-out
9.5% commission + $5-$15 seller location fee + 2.9% cash-out — verified 2026-11-10
Shopify fee formula & hidden costs
payment processing 2.90% + $0.30
Worked example: $100.00 gross → $3.20 fees → $96.80 net. Reverse gross-up: charge = (target + fixed) / (1 − rate) → to net $100.00 charge $103.30.
Hidden fees to watch
- Using any gateway other than Shopify Payments adds a 2%/1%/0.6% transaction penalty by plan.
- Shopify keeps the card fee when you refund an order.
- Currency conversion for cross-border orders adds ~1.5-2%.
- The monthly plan fee ($39-$2,300) is a real per-order cost at low volumes — amortize it above.
GOAT fee formula & hidden costs
9.5% commission + $5-$15 seller location fee + 2.9% cash-out
Worked example: $100.00 gross → $14.50 fees → $85.50 net. Reverse gross-up: charge = (target + fixed) / (1 − rate) → to net $100.00 charge $116.03.
Hidden fees to watch
- The $5-$15 seller location fee is charged per order on top of commission.
- Cashing out costs 2.9% of your earnings.
- Ratings below 90 raise commission to 15-25% — one bad shipment is expensive.
- GOAT holds funds until authentication passes; rejected items cost return shipping.
Frequently asked questions
Which takes less on a $100 sale: Shopify or GOAT?
Shopify takes $3.20 (net $96.80); GOAT takes $14.50 (net $85.50). Shopify wins by $11.30 at $100.
Which is better for international sellers, Shopify or GOAT?
Shopify: Basic 2.9% + $0.30 / Grow 2.7% / Advanced 2.5% online. GOAT: 9.5% commission + $5-$15 seller location fee + 2.9% cash-out. Check the regional variants above — rates change materially by country.
What is the effective take rate difference between Shopify and GOAT?
At $100, Shopify takes 3.2% vs GOAT at 14.5% — a 11.3 point gap before modifiers.