StudioAnchorCompare · Online shop
StudioAnchor Store and Shopify for studios
Shopify is the big general-purpose ecommerce platform. Store is StudioAnchor’s online shop for studios: merch, recital tickets, digital downloads and gift cards in one storefront. Here’s how they compare, with Shopify’s figures from its own pricing page.
Updated
Shopify
What Shopify costs.
| Plan | Billed monthly | Billed yearly | Online card rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $39/month | $29/month | 2.9% + 30¢ |
| Grow | $105/month | $89/month | 2.7% + 30¢ |
| Advanced | $399/month | $359/month | 2.5% + 30¢ |
Side by side
Built for different jobs.
| Shopify | StudioAnchor Store | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Businesses that mainly sell online | Studios and community businesses |
| Free plan | Not advertised (free trial) | Yes |
| Event tickets with door scanning | Not on the pricing page | Built in |
| Pre-orders and waitlists | Not on the pricing page | Built in, on paid plans |
| Gift cards | Yes | Yes, on paid plans |
| Digital downloads | Not on the pricing page | Yes, on every plan |
| Taxes | Estimates and collects duties and taxes (with Shopify Payments) | Not calculated |
| App store and selling abroad | Large app store, selling by region | Not offered |
Which to pick
An honest answer.
Shopify is the better fit if selling is a big part of your business: lots of products, selling in several countries, tax tools, and a large app store.
Store is the better fit for a studio whose shop is about the season: recital tickets scanned at the door, t-shirt pre-orders, costumes and gift cards, with a free plan to start.
Questions
Is Shopify overkill for a dance studio’s shop?
It can be. Shopify is built for businesses whose main job is selling online, with a large app store and global selling. Its Basic plan is $39 a month ($29 billed yearly) plus card fees from 2.9% + 30¢. A studio selling recital t-shirts, tickets and gift cards a few times a year may not need that much.
Can Store sell recital tickets?
Yes. Store sells tickets with a QR code for each buyer, and staff scan them at the door with a phone. Shopify’s pricing page doesn’t list ticketing as built in.
Does Store have a free plan?
Yes. Store has a free plan and two paid plans; current prices and per-sale fees are shown inside Store when you sign up.
Does Store handle sales tax like Shopify?
No. Store doesn’t calculate or collect sales tax today. Shopify’s pricing page lists estimating and collecting duties and taxes with Shopify Payments, so if tax handling matters for what you sell, that’s a reason to look at Shopify.
Sources
Competitor and rule details come from each organization’s own pages, checked on the date shown. Prices and plans change; check the source before you buy.
- Shopify pricing checked October 24, 2026