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E-Commerce · head to head

Klarna vs Shopify Plus

Klarna logo

Klarna

E-Commerce

Buy now pay later and instalment checkout for online and in-store merchants

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Shopify Plus logo

Shopify Plus

Fashion

Enterprise e-commerce for fashion brands

From
$2000/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Klarna merchant fees for the short-term products run around 5.99% plus a fixed fee in the United States, roughly double a standard card rate, so unless Klarna measurably lifts average order value or conversion it is a straight margin loss.; Shopify Plus starting at $2,500/month with 1-year minimum commitment, no upper limit specified
  • They diverge on capability: Klarna covers Pay in 4, Shopify Plus covers Unlimited bandwidth.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Klarna and Shopify Plus actually diverge.

Attributes where Klarna and Shopify Plus differ
AttributeKlarnaShopify Plus
Starting priceOn request$2000/month
Pricing modelquotesubscription
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb, Mobile, Pos, Api
CategoryE-CommerceFashion
FoundedUnknown2006

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Klarna

  • Pay in 4
  • Pay in 30 days
  • Longer-term financing
  • Klarna app placement
  • Klarna Checkout
  • In-store payments
  • On-site messaging
  • Merchant portal

Only in Shopify Plus

  • Unlimited bandwidth
  • Shopify Flow automation
  • Multi-store management
  • Wholesale B2B portal
  • Advanced reporting
  • Headless commerce
  • International selling
  • POS integration

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Klarna

  • A fashion or furniture retailer with average order values high enough that a 3% fee uplift is repaid by a larger basketnot Shopify Plus
  • A merchant selling to younger shoppers who have low credit card penetration and would otherwise abandon at checkoutnot Shopify Plus
  • A European retailer wanting a single hosted checkout that handles instalments, invoice and card in one flownot Shopify Plus
  • A brand that wants distribution inside Klarna's shopping app as an acquisition channel rather than only a payment optionnot Shopify Plus

Shopify Plus

  • D2C e-commercenot Klarna
  • Wholesale B2Bnot Klarna
  • Omnichannel retailnot Klarna
  • International expansionnot Klarna
  • Flash salesnot Klarna

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Klarna

  • Merchant fees for the short-term products run around 5.99% plus a fixed fee in the United States, roughly double a standard card rate, so unless Klarna measurably lifts average order value or conversion it is a straight margin loss.
  • Rates are negotiated and unpublished, which means small merchants pay the standard rate while large ones negotiate down, and you cannot benchmark what you are being charged without going to market.
  • Returns and partial refunds are handled through Klarna's systems rather than your payment processor, so your finance team reconciles a second settlement flow and customer service handles a second dispute process.
  • Buy now pay later is being brought under consumer credit regulation in the UK, the EU and Australia, which is already changing affordability checks and disclosures; the checkout experience that converts today may be legally required to add friction.
  • Klarna owns the post-purchase relationship, sending payment reminders and marketing in its own name, so a shopper who has a poor collections experience associates it with your brand while you have no control over the messaging.

Shopify Plus

  • Starting at $2,500/month with 1-year minimum commitment, no upper limit specified
  • Additional stores cost $300/month each, or require negotiating revenue share for more complex operations

Pricing, plan by plan

Klarna

On request
  • Klarna for Business$undefined/year
    • Per-transaction percentage plus a fixed fee, negotiated by merchant
    • No published rate card; rates vary by market, product and volume
    • Short-term products priced materially above card interchange

Shopify Plus

$2000/month
  • Plus$2000/month
    • Unlimited staff accounts
    • Shopify Flow automation
    • Wholesale channel
  • Plus Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Everything in Plus
    • Custom checkout
    • Dedicated infrastructure

Which should you pick?

Choose Klarna if

  • You need pay in 4.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want pay in 30 days.
Klarna review

Choose Shopify Plus if

  • You need unlimited bandwidth.
  • You work on Web, Mobile, Pos, Api.
  • You also want shopify flow automation.
Shopify Plus review

Questions people ask

Is Klarna or Shopify Plus better?
Neither clearly leads. Klarna starts at On request and Shopify Plus at $2000/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Klarna or Shopify Plus?
Klarna starts at On request and Shopify Plus at $2000/month.
Does Klarna or Shopify Plus run on more platforms?
Klarna runs on Web, iOS, Android. Shopify Plus runs on Web, Mobile, Pos, Api.
What is Klarna best used for?
Klarna is most often used for a fashion or furniture retailer with average order values high enough that a 3% fee uplift is repaid by a larger basket, a merchant selling to younger shoppers who have low credit card penetration and would otherwise abandon at checkout, a european retailer wanting a single hosted checkout that handles instalments, invoice and card in one flow, a brand that wants distribution inside klarna's shopping app as an acquisition channel rather than only a payment option. Of those, a fashion or furniture retailer with average order values high enough that a 3% fee uplift is repaid by a larger basket and a merchant selling to younger shoppers who have low credit card penetration and would otherwise abandon at checkout are not what Shopify Plus is typically brought in for.
What can Klarna do that Shopify Plus cannot?
Klarna covers Pay in 4, Pay in 30 days, Longer-term financing, Klarna app placement. Shopify Plus covers Unlimited bandwidth, Shopify Flow automation, Multi-store management, Wholesale B2B portal.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Klarna: What does Klarna cost a merchant?

Klarna does not publish a rate card. In the United States most merchants pay around 5.99% plus $0.30 for short-term products, with longer-term financing nearer 3.29% plus $0.30, and large merchants negotiate lower.

Shopify Plus: How much does Shopify Plus cost?

Shopify Plus starts at $2,500 USD per month on a 1-year term or $2,300 USD per month on a 3-year term.

Source
Klarna: Does the merchant carry the credit risk?

No. Klarna pays the merchant the full amount less fees and takes the risk of the shopper not paying.

Shopify Plus: How much do additional stores cost on Shopify Plus?

Additional stores cost $300 USD per month per store, or customers can choose a variable revenue share model for more complex business operations.

Source
Klarna: Can I use Klarna alongside my existing processor?

Yes. It is normally added as an additional payment method through Shopify, Adyen, Stripe or a direct integration rather than replacing your card acquirer.

Shopify Plus: What features are included in Shopify Plus?

Shopify Plus includes B2B tools, headless commerce APIs, POS system, checkout customization, analytics, automation tools, and unlimited online stores (main plus 9 expansion stores included).

Source
Klarna: Is Klarna still independent?

Yes. It listed on the New York Stock Exchange in September 2025 and holds a Swedish banking licence.

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