Shopify in the Philippines: pricing, GCash payments and setup

The short answer

Yes, you can use Shopify in the Philippines. Basic is $25 a month, or $19 a month billed yearly, in US dollars; there is no peso billing.

Shopify Payments and Shop Pay aren't available here. You take GCash, Maya and cards through PayMongo, Xendit or Dragonpay, all of which connect to Shopify and pay out in pesos. PayPal also works for Philippine business accounts.

Shopify pricing in the Philippines

Plan cards on the Philippine page show a bare '$', and the comparison table confirms it's US dollars. Basic and Grow are cheaper than on the US page; Advanced and Plus are not.

The current trial is 3 days free, then $1 a month for 3 months. POS Pro adds $89 a month. The final price at checkout can differ by billing country.

Stores without Shopify Payments pay a third-party transaction fee on top of gateway fees. Shopify's US page lists 2% on Basic, 1% on Grow and 0.6% on Advanced; the Philippine page doesn't print the row, so confirm the rate with Shopify.

Taking GCash and Maya on Shopify

GCash and Maya reach Shopify through a payment gateway, not directly. Three Philippine gateways support Shopify, and all three also work with WooCommerce.

None of these gateways work with Squarespace. PayPal is available to Philippine business accounts and connects through Shopify's standard PayPal Express setup.

How you get paid

Your gateway pays you in pesos to a Philippine bank or e-wallet. Shopify doesn't handle payouts for stores without Shopify Payments.

PayMongo's default payout schedule for new accounts is weekly, on Wednesdays. You can change it, which is worth doing early if cash flow matters. Bank payouts need at least PHP 80 cleared and take 1 to 2 banking days to arrive.

PayPal can also receive payments for Philippine business accounts. Its withdrawal terms for the Philippines aren't covered here.

Couriers and cash on delivery

The main Philippine couriers publish their own Shopify apps. You can also offer COD through Shopify's manual payment methods; those orders stay unpaid until you mark them paid, and they carry no third-party transaction fee.

VAT on Shopify in the Philippines

Since June 2025, RA 12023 applies 12% VAT to digital services from non-resident providers, who must register with the BIR. Shopify hasn't published a Philippine billing-tax page, so whether it adds 12% VAT to your Shopify bill isn't stated.

Budget for the possibility until Shopify confirms it on your invoice.

Shopify vs Shopee, Lazada and local builders

Shopee, Lazada and TikTok Shop are the major marketplaces in the Philippines. They're a different model: you sell inside their storefront, under their rules, while Shopify gives you your own site and checkout.

Prosperna is a Philippine store builder with a free account and built-in GCash and PayMongo, according to the vendor. Its paid plan prices aren't published in a form we could verify.

WooCommerce (7.6) supports all three local gateways. Wix (8.6) supports Xendit and Dragonpay but not PayMongo.

Verdict

Shopify (9.0) is the right choice if you want a brand store you control, with GCash and Maya through PayMongo or Xendit and official courier apps from LBC, J&T and Ninja Van. It costs US dollars every month and adds a transaction fee on gateway payments.

It isn't the right choice if you're just testing a product or rely on marketplace traffic. Start on Shopee, Lazada or TikTok Shop, and add a Shopify store once you have repeat customers to send to it.