What are the 6 Differences between Shopify Basic vs. Plus with a GTM Plan?

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Are you considering starting an online business or looking to upgrade your existing e-commerce platform? Look no further than Shopify! With its user-friendly interface and powerful features, Shopify offers two distinct plans: Basic and Plus. 

In this blog, we’ll explore the differences between the two, specifically when paired with a GTManager (Google Tag Manager) Plan. So, fasten your seatbelts as we dive into the world of Shopify and uncover the secrets behind these plans!

Before we delve into the nitty-gritty, let’s take a moment to appreciate the significance of Google Tag Manager. In today’s data-driven world, tracking and managing website tags play a pivotal role in understanding customer behavior, optimizing marketing campaigns, and enhancing overall website performance. 

GTManager simplifies this process by providing a centralized platform for deploying and maintaining tags without the need for complex coding. It’s a game-changer for businesses of all sizes, and integrating it with your Shopify store can unlock a realm of possibilities.

Now, let’s get down to business! We aim to shed light on the key disparities between Shopify Basic and Plus plans when combined with a GTM Plan. By uncovering these differences, we’ll help you make an informed decision on which plan suits your business needs and goals. So, whether you’re a budding entrepreneur or an established online retailer, get ready to uncover the secrets of Shopify’s plans and the added benefits that a GTM integration brings.

Here is a brief overview of differences between the Shopify Basic vs. Shopify Plus plans and we will delve further into these topics later on:

  1. Enhanced E-commerce Tracking: Discover how Shopify Basic and Plus differ in their e-commerce tracking capabilities when paired with GTM.
  2. Advanced Customization Options: Uncover the level of customization available with each plan, and how GTM amplifies your options.
  3. Scalability and Performance: Explore how Shopify Basic and Plus cater to different business sizes and the role GTM plays in managing growth.
  4. Integrated Marketing Features: Learn about the marketing tools and integrations that come with each plan, including how GTM can supercharge your campaigns.
  5. Customer Support and Access Permissions: Understand the support levels offered by Shopify Basic and Plus, and how GTM can streamline access permissions for your team.
  6. Pricing and Cost Considerations: Delve into the pricing structures of Shopify Basic and Plus, and the added value a GTM Plan brings to your overall investment.

By the end of this blog post, you’ll have a comprehensive understanding of the differences between Shopify Basic and Plus plans, especially when paired with a GTM Plan. 

You can check out this blog which explains how GTManager can enhance your store’s performance!

So, without further ado, let’s embark on this exciting journey and unlock the secrets that await!

Welcome to the world of Shopify Basic, where simplicity meets functionality! If you’re just starting your e-commerce journey or looking for a straightforward online store solution, this plan has got you covered. Shopify Basic offers a range of features to help you establish your digital presence and sell your products with ease. 

From user-friendly store setup to reliable customer support, here’s a rundown of what you can expect:

  • Intuitive Store Creation: With Shopify Basic, building your online store is a breeze. You’ll have access to a user-friendly interface that simplifies the process of designing and customizing your storefront. Get creative and showcase your brand’s unique personality effortlessly.
  • Secure Hosting: Say goodbye to server woes! Shopify takes care of all your hosting needs, ensuring your store is secure, reliable, and always ready to handle incoming customer traffic. Focus on growing your business while Shopify handles the technical side.
  • Mobile-Optimized Shopping: In today’s mobile-centric world, it’s crucial to provide an exceptional shopping experience across devices. Shopify Basic enables you to create a mobile-friendly store that caters to your customers’ on-the-go browsing and buying habits.
  • Flexible Payment Options: From credit cards to digital wallets, Shopify Basic supports multiple payment gateways, allowing your customers to pay the way they prefer. Seamlessly integrate with trusted providers and offer a hassle-free checkout experience.
  • Basic Reporting: Keep tabs on your store’s performance with built-in analytics. Shopify Basic provides essential reporting features to help you track sales, monitor traffic, and gain valuable insights into your customers’ behavior.
  • Customer Support: Need a helping hand? Shopify Basic offers 24/7 customer support to assist you with any technical or operational issues you may encounter. They’re just a click away to ensure your online store stays up and running smoothly.

If you want to delve deeper into Shopify Basic, watch this video!

Now that you have a grasp of Shopify Basic’s features, let’s explore how the power of Google Tag Manager (GTM) can enhance your store’s tracking capabilities. GTM is a powerful tool that allows you to manage and deploy various tracking codes and tags on your website without the need for complex coding. Integrating GTM with Shopify Basic is a straightforward process. Simply install the GTM container code provided by Google into your Shopify store’s theme code, and you’re ready to start harnessing the benefits.


While Shopify Basic provides a solid foundation for your e-commerce venture, it’s essential to understand its limitations when it comes to GTM. Due to its restricted access to certain features, such as advanced customizations and third-party integrations, the full potential of GTM may not be fully realized. However, with thoughtful planning and creative workarounds, you can still leverage a GTM Plan to enhance tracking and implement basic marketing tags effectively.

 

Remember, the Shopify Basic plan offers an excellent starting point for your online business, and when coupled with GTM, you can optimize your tracking capabilities and make data-driven decisions. Stay tuned as we delve deeper into the differences between Shopify Basic and Plus with a GTM Plan, uncovering more insights to help you choose the perfect solution for your e-commerce needs.


Are you ready to take your online business to the next level? Look no further than Shopify Plus, the ultimate platform designed to supercharge your e-commerce endeavors. Packed with exclusive features and advantages, this plan is a game-changer for ambitious merchants like you. 

 

We’ll delve into the extraordinary world of Shopify Plus, highlighting its enhanced customization options, unbeatable scalability, and the art of leveraging Google Tag Manager (GTM) effectively:

  • Enhanced Customization Options: Shaping Your Brand’s Identity With Shopify Plus, bid farewell to generic templates and embrace the freedom of customization. Craft a unique online storefront that perfectly reflects your brand’s identity and captures the attention of your target audience. From tailored themes and custom checkout experiences to personalized marketing campaigns, the possibilities are endless. Break free from the constraints of cookie-cutter designs and unlock your brand’s true potential with Shopify Plus.
  • Unbeatable Scalability: Growing at Your Own Pace One of the biggest advantages of Shopify Plus is its ability to grow alongside your business. Whether you’re experiencing a sudden surge in traffic or planning to expand into new markets, this platform has got you covered. Say goodbye to performance worries and hello to uninterrupted growth. Shopify Plus effortlessly handles high-volume sales, peak traffic periods, and surges in demand, ensuring a seamless shopping experience for your customers, no matter how big or small your business becomes.
  • The Art of Leveraging Google Tag Manager (GTM) Effectively Harness the power of data and make smarter marketing decisions with the integration of Google Tag Manager in Shopify Plus. GTM allows you to easily manage and deploy various tracking codes, pixels, and scripts, all from a single platform. Say farewell to the tedious manual implementation process and embrace efficiency with GTM’s user-friendly interface. Seamlessly track user behavior, optimize conversions, and gain valuable insights that drive your business forward.

 

What is Shopify Plus?

 

Shopify Plus is the ultimate weapon in the ecommerce arsenal. With its enhanced customization options, unbeatable scalability, and the ability to leverage Google Tag Manager effectively, this plan is tailor-made for ambitious businesses looking to dominate the online marketplace. Embrace the power of Shopify Plus and watch your business thrive like never before. Upgrade today and unlock the true potential of your ecommerce empire.

 

Remember, success awaits those who dare to go beyond the basics. Start your Shopify Plus journey with a GTM Plan today!

 

Create Shopify store with the right plan!

 

When it comes to creating your online store on Shopify, choosing the right plan is crucial. We will explore the differences between Shopify Basic and Shopify Plus, with a special focus on the implications of these choices on your Google Tag Manager (GTM) usage.So, let’s dive in and discover the 6 factors to consider when deciding between these two options.

 

6 Features that Make a Difference: 

 

  1. Enhanced E-commerce Tracking: Get a Pulse on Success When it comes to tracking your e-commerce performance, Shopify Basic and Plus offer different levels of capabilities. With a GTM Plan, you can enhance these tracking capabilities even further. Basic provides you with essential tracking features, such as tracking conversions and sales. Plus, on the other hand, goes above and beyond by offering advanced tracking options like customer behavior analysis and cart abandonment tracking. When paired with GTM, you unlock a treasure trove of data, empowering you to make data-driven decisions and optimize your store’s performance.
  2. Advanced Customization Options: Create a Unique Shopping Experience Customization is the heart and soul of any successful online store. Shopify Basic provides a solid foundation for customization, allowing you to choose from a range of themes and templates. However, if you truly want to stand out from the crowd, Shopify Plus is the way to go. Plus offers advanced customization options like personalized checkout experiences and script editor access, allowing you to tailor every aspect of your store to match your brand’s unique identity. And with GTM, you can seamlessly integrate custom tracking codes and scripts, taking your store’s customization to new heights.
  3. Scalability and Performance: Growing at Your Pace Every business dreams of scaling and expanding. Shopify Basic is perfect for small to medium-sized businesses, providing a reliable platform to establish your online presence. However, if you have ambitious growth plans, Shopify Plus offers enhanced scalability and performance features. Plus can handle high-volume sales, offers dedicated support, and provides access to exclusive APIs, ensuring your store can handle any surge in traffic. And with GTM, you can effectively manage your growing store’s performance by optimizing tags and scripts, ensuring a seamless shopping experience for your customers.
  4. Integrated Marketing Features: Supercharge Your Promotions Marketing is the lifeblood of any successful e-commerce business. Both Shopify Basic and Plus offer a variety of marketing tools and integrations to help you reach your target audience. However, Shopify Plus takes it a step further by providing advanced marketing features like multi-channel sales, custom automation workflows, and third-party integration support. And with the power of GTM, you can track and manage your marketing campaigns with ease, ensuring maximum ROI and boosting your brand’s visibility.
  5. Customer Support and Access Permissions: Building a Collaborative Team As your store grows, you’ll need reliable support and streamlined access permissions for your team. Shopify Basic offers 24/7 customer support via email, chat, and phone. However, Shopify Plus takes it to the next level by offering dedicated account managers and priority support, ensuring quick resolutions to any issues. When combined with GTM, you can also manage access permissions for your team members efficiently, allowing them to collaborate seamlessly without compromising security.
  6. Pricing and Cost Considerations: Investing Wisely Lastly, let’s talk about pricing. Shopify Basic offers an affordable starting point, perfect for new businesses. On the other hand, Shopify Plus comes with a higher price tag but offers enterprise-grade features and support. When evaluating the cost, it’s crucial to consider the added value a GTM Plan brings. GTM allows you to manage all your tracking codes and scripts efficiently, saving you time and resources in the long run.

When it comes to integrating Google Tag Manager with your Shopify store, the differences between Basic and Plus become significant. With Shopify Basic, you have limited control over the implementation of GTM. However, Shopify Plus grants you the freedom to leverage GTM to its full potential, allowing for advanced tracking, data management, and marketing automation. This flexibility can make a substantial impact on your marketing efforts and provide invaluable insights.

 

Factors to Consider: 

 

  1. Budget: Shopify Basic offers a cost-effective solution for small to medium-sized businesses, while Shopify Plus caters to larger enterprises with more substantial budgets.
  2. Growth Potential: If your business has aggressive growth plans, Shopify Plus provides the scalability and advanced features necessary to support your ambitions.
  3. Customization Needs: Consider the level of customization required for your brand’s unique identity. Shopify Plus offers unparalleled flexibility in tailoring your store to perfection.
  4. GTM Integration: If Google Tag Manager plays a pivotal role in your marketing strategy, opting for Shopify Plus will grant you greater control and optimization possibilities.
  5. Support and Resources: Assess the level of support and resources you require. Shopify Plus offers dedicated support, account management, and priority access to new features.

 

This video explains more about GTManager

Choosing between Shopify Basic and Shopify Plus with a GTM Plan requires careful consideration. Assess your business needs, growth ambitions, customization requirements, and the role of GTM in your marketing strategy. By taking these factors into account, you’ll be well-equipped to make an informed decision and create a successful online store that aligns with your goals.

Build the Best Online Shopping Websites and Optimize them with GTManager

 

When it comes to building the best online shopping website, optimizing your Google Tag Manager (GTM) implementation plays a crucial role. GTM allows you to efficiently manage and deploy various tracking codes and tags on your website, enabling you to gather valuable data and make informed decisions. In this section, we’ll provide you with general tips for optimizing your GTM implementation and discuss specific considerations for Shopify Basic users. 

 

Additionally, we’ll share recommendations for Shopify Plus users to maximize their Google Tag Manager capabilities.

 

General Tips for Optimizing Google Tag Manager Implementation:

  • Keep it Organized: Structure your GTM account with a logical hierarchy. Use folders and naming conventions to keep tags, triggers, and variables well-organized and easy to manage. This will save you time and effort when making changes or troubleshooting.
  • Test, Test, Test: Before deploying any new tags, thoroughly test them to ensure they’re firing correctly. Use GTM’s preview and debug mode to validate your tags and verify that they’re capturing the desired data accurately. Testing will help you identify and fix any issues early on.
  • Minimize Tag Bloat: Avoid adding unnecessary tags to your website. Each tag increases the page load time, potentially impacting user experience and SEO. Only include tags that are essential for tracking and analytics purposes to keep your website fast and responsive.
  • Utilize Built-in Variables: GTM provides a range of built-in variables, such as page URLs, referrers, and click classes. Take advantage of these variables to simplify tag configuration and reduce the need for custom JavaScript coding.
  • Document Changes: Maintain documentation of your GTM setup, including tag configurations, triggers, and variables. This documentation will help you and your team understand the implementation and make future updates or additions more efficiently.

Shopify Basic offers a solid foundation for an online store, but it comes with some limitations regarding GTM implementation. While Shopify Basic allows you to integrate GTM, it lacks native support for data layer variables. To overcome this limitation, you can leverage the Shopify Data Layer Variable Builder app, which enables you to create and manage data layer variables within GTM.

 

Common Qualities of Top Shopify Websites!

 

Additionally, Shopify Basic users should carefully evaluate the number of tags and triggers they implement to prevent any negative impact on page load times. It’s crucial to prioritize essential tracking tags and optimize their firing rules to maintain a seamless user experience.

Recommendations for Shopify Plus Users to Maximize GTM Capabilities

If you’re using Shopify Plus, you have the advantage of more advanced features and capabilities. 

 

Here are some recommendations to make the most of your GTM implementation:
  • Leverage Enhanced Ecommerce Tracking: With Shopify Plus and GTM, you can implement enhanced ecommerce tracking, which provides valuable insights into user behavior, conversion rates, and product performance. Take advantage of this feature to optimize your marketing strategies and improve overall sales.
  • Utilize Custom Data Layer Variables: Shopify Plus allows you to create custom data layer variables, enabling you to capture and pass specific information to your tags. Leverage these variables to track personalized data, such as user segments, customer lifetime value, or subscription details.
  • Implement Advanced Event Tracking: Shopify Plus users can implement advanced event tracking using GTM. By tracking specific user interactions, such as form submissions, video plays, or button clicks, you can gain deeper insights into user engagement and optimize your website accordingly.

 

Here is a guide for using Google Tag Manager with Shopify!

 

Optimizing your GTM implementation is essential for building the best online shopping website. Whether you’re on Shopify Basic or Shopify Plus, following these general tips and considering the specific recommendations will help you harness the power of GTM to gather valuable data and enhance your website’s performance.

 

Congratulations, savvy entrepreneurs and ambitious retailers! You’ve embarked on a journey through the captivating world of Shopify, exploring the key disparities between its Basic and Plus plans when paired with the mighty GTManager. As we reach the conclusion, let’s take a moment to recap the crucial differences and highlight the significance of understanding their impact on your GTM usage.

 

In the realm of Shopify Basic, simplicity meets functionality. It offers a solid starting point for your e-commerce venture, providing user-friendly store creation, secure hosting, and mobile-optimized shopping. With essential reporting and 24/7 customer support, it’s a perfect choice for budding businesses. And when paired with GTM, you can enhance your tracking capabilities and unleash the power of data-driven decisions.

 

On the other side, we have Shopify Plus, the ultimate weapon in the e-commerce arsenal. With enhanced customization options and unbeatable scalability, Plus caters to ambitious merchants looking to dominate the online marketplace. Integrated with GTM, it allows for advanced tracking, data management, and marketing automation, empowering you to thrive like never before.

 

Understanding the impact on GTM usage is crucial, especially if tracking and managing website tags play a pivotal role in your data-driven business strategies. Shopify Basic, while a fantastic starting point, comes with some limitations regarding GTM implementation. However, creative workarounds can still enable you to leverage GTM effectively for essential tracking and marketing tags.

 

For those embracing Shopify Plus, the world of GTM opens up wide. Enhanced ecommerce tracking, custom data layer variables, and advanced event tracking provide invaluable insights that fuel your marketing prowess. Remember, knowledge is power, and understanding the strengths of each plan with GTM integration empowers you to make the right choice for your e-commerce goals.

 

So, as you venture forth into the realm of Shopify, embrace the spirit of experimentation, testing, and iteration. GTM is your trusty ally, offering flexibility and efficiency in deploying tracking codes and scripts. Continuously refine and optimize your GTM implementation for optimal results, maximizing the potential of your chosen Shopify plan.

 

In conclusion, whether you’re a fresh-faced entrepreneur seeking simplicity or a bold retailer with grand ambitions, both Shopify Basic and Shopify Plus have something extraordinary to offer. Understand your business needs, consider the impact on GTM usage, and choose the plan that aligns with your vision for success.

 

Now, armed with the knowledge of these plan differences and the power of GTM, unleash your e-commerce empire with confidence. 

 

May your Shopify journey be filled with triumphs and newfound insights!