Shopify merchants launching or expanding a wholesale channel often assume they need Shopify Plus to sell B2B. That assumption changed in April 2026. When comparing Shopify B2B vs Shopify Plus for wholesale, the answer depends on your scale and complexity.
You no longer need Plus to run a proper wholesale operation on Shopify, because native B2B now runs on every paid plan. Plus is for merchants who need unlimited catalogs, checkout extensibility, and expansion stores. A B2B app offers a third path: enterprise-grade wholesale features on any plan without a Plus upgrade.
This guide breaks down what each option includes and what it costs, then explains how to choose the right path for your wholesale business.
Shopify B2B vs Shopify Plus: The Short Answer
If you want to sell wholesale on Shopify, you have three real options: native Shopify B2B on any paid plan, Shopify Plus, or a B2B app that adds advanced features to any plan.
Shopify B2B is the native wholesale feature suite built into the Shopify platform. It lets you create company profiles, set custom pricing through catalogs, offer net payment terms, and give B2B buyers a self-serve ordering experience. According to Shopify’s April 2026 announcement, Shopify extended its foundational B2B features to merchants on Basic, Grow, and Advanced plans, at no extra cost (April 2, 2026).
Shopify Plus is Shopify’s enterprise plan. It includes unlimited catalogs, direct catalog assignment to companies, partial payments and deposits, plus checkout customization through Shopify Functions. Plus is built for high-volume merchants with complex requirements.
A B2B app is the middle ground. Apps like B2Bridge add enterprise B2B capabilities to any paid Shopify plan, including unlimited price lists, net terms, quote-to-order, and sales rep portals. This path makes sense when native B2B hits its limits but Plus is more than you need.
Wholesale vs B2B: Clearing Up the Terms
B2B means business-to-business: selling products or services to other businesses rather than to individual consumers. Wholesale is the most common B2B model. It refers to selling goods in bulk to resellers and distributors at discounted pricing.
Every wholesale operation is B2B, but not all B2B is wholesale. A manufacturer selling custom parts to a single corporate buyer is B2B, even if there is no bulk discount.
The scale of B2B commerce is hard to overstate. According to the U.S. International Trade Administration, the global B2B market forecast values the global B2B ecommerce market at $36 trillion in 2026.
On Shopify, native B2B replaced the legacy Wholesale Channel (deprecated April 30, 2024). If you are still using the old channel, it is time to migrate.
What Changed in April 2026
Before April 2, 2026, native Shopify B2B was exclusive to Plus merchants, and Plus starts at $2,300 per month on a 3-year term. That meant wholesale sellers on Basic, Grow, or Advanced plans had to rely on apps or workarounds.
Shopify removed that paywall. Core B2B features are now available on every paid plan at no extra cost. Company profiles, catalogs, net terms, volume pricing, quantity rules, and B2B checkout all run on Basic, Grow, and Advanced.
This change cut the entry cost for a proper wholesale setup. Merchants can now run Shopify B2B without Plus and start selling to wholesale buyers for as little as $39 per month.
What You Get with Native Shopify B2B (Any Paid Plan)
Native Shopify B2B includes a set of wholesale features designed for business buyers. These features are now standard on Basic, Grow, and Advanced plans.
According to the Shopify B2B features by plan documentation, on the Basic, Grow, and Advanced plans, you can assign up to 3 active catalogs across all your B2B markets (Shopify Help Center). Here is what the native feature set includes.
Custom Catalogs and Pricing
Catalogs control which products and prices your B2B customers see. Each catalog can hold product visibility rules, custom pricing, and quantity requirements. You assign catalogs to companies through Markets.
On non-Plus plans, you can create up to 3 active catalogs. That works for merchants with a few customer tiers (for example, wholesale and distributor). If you need more catalogs for regional pricing or customer-specific rates, you will hit this cap.
Volume pricing and quantity rules (minimums, maximums, increments) are included on all paid plans. These let you require case-pack quantities or offer price breaks for larger orders. Learn more about setting up custom B2B price lists.
Payment Terms and Self-Serve Ordering
Net payment terms let B2B buyers place orders and pay later. Shopify supports Net 15, Net 30, Net 60, and Net 90 out of the box. You can also accept vaulted credit cards and ACH bank transfers (US only) through the B2B checkout.
These terms matter because most wholesale buyers expect to pay on invoice, not at checkout. Offering net terms removes friction and helps close accounts that would otherwise shop elsewhere.
B2B buyers get a self-serve ordering experience. They can log in, view their assigned catalog, place orders, and reorder past purchases. For a deeper look at net terms, read how net payment terms work.
What Shopify Plus Adds for B2B
Shopify Plus unlocks the full native B2B feature set. For high-volume or complex wholesale operations, these additions can justify the cost.
According to Shopify B2B outcomes data, Shopify reports up to 33% more self-serve orders within 12 months after adopting B2B on Shopify (internal Shopify data, July 2022 to October 2024). These results come from merchants using B2B on Shopify.
Here is what Plus adds beyond native B2B:
- Key point: Unlimited catalogs let you assign unique pricing and product visibility to each company or location.
- Key point: Direct catalog assignment bypasses the Markets-based model. You assign catalogs straight to companies and locations.
- Key point: Partial payments and deposits let you collect money upfront and schedule remaining payments.
- Key point: Checkout extensibility through Shopify Functions gives you control over payment rules and shipping logic.
- Key point: Expansion stores let you run dedicated B2B storefronts separate from your DTC store.
- Key point: Higher API limits support heavier ERP and CRM integrations.
- Key point: Dedicated support gives you a Merchant Success Manager and priority access.
For a detailed breakdown, see our guide to Shopify Plus B2B features.
Blended vs Dedicated B2B Storefronts
On Shopify, you can run B2B in two ways: blended or dedicated.
A blended store serves both B2C and B2B customers from the same storefront. Retail shoppers see standard pricing; logged-in B2B buyers see their assigned catalog and terms. This model keeps inventory and admin in one place.
A dedicated store is a separate B2B-only storefront. It runs on its own domain with a wholesale-focused theme and checkout. Plus expansion stores make dedicated B2B stores practical to manage.
Choose blended when B2B is a secondary channel or you want simplicity. Choose dedicated when your wholesale buyers need a distinct experience, or when mixing audiences complicates merchandising. Read more on blended vs dedicated stores.
Shopify B2B vs Shopify Plus for Wholesale: Side-by-Side Comparison
This table compares native Shopify B2B (available on Basic, Grow, and Advanced) with Shopify Plus for B2B.
| Feature | Native B2B (Basic, Grow, Advanced) | Shopify Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Active catalogs | Up to 3 | Unlimited |
| Catalog assignment | Via Markets | Direct to companies/locations |
| Partial payments / deposits | Not available | Available |
| Checkout customization | Limited | Shopify Functions, full extensibility |
| Expansion / dedicated stores | Not available | Available |
| ACH payments (US) | Available | Available |
| Support | Standard | Dedicated Merchant Success Manager |
| Starting price | $39/mo (Basic) | Starting at $2,300/mo (3-year term) |
Both options include company profiles, net payment terms, volume pricing, quantity rules, and self-serve ordering.
What Each Option Costs
According to standard Shopify plan pricing from Shopify, Basic is $39 per month and Grow is $105 per month. Advanced is $399 per month.
If you need additional B2B functionality beyond native features, you can add a wholesale app to any of these plans. App pricing varies, but most are a fraction of the jump to Plus.
According to the Shopify Plus pricing page, Shopify Plus starts at $2,300 a month on a 3-year term, or $2,500 a month on a 1-year term (Shopify). At higher transaction volumes, Plus pricing scales with revenue.
For a merchant running a simple wholesale operation, the cost gap is significant. A Basic plan plus a B2B app costs far less than Plus, which starts at $2,300 per month on a 3-year term.
The Gaps Neither Plan Fully Closes
Even with native B2B or Shopify Plus, some wholesale needs fall outside what Shopify includes. These gaps are where a B2B app adds value.
- Key point: Native B2B does not support a request-for-quote workflow. Buyers cannot request custom pricing or submit quotes for approval.
- Key point: If your sales team places orders on behalf of buyers, native B2B does not provide a rep portal. Apps like B2Bridge include portals for sales reps.
- Key point: The 3-catalog cap on non-Plus plans limits merchants with many pricing tiers or customer-specific rates.
- Key point: Native B2B on Basic, Grow, and Advanced does not support collecting deposits at checkout.
B2Bridge fills these gaps on any paid Shopify plan. The app adds unlimited price lists, company accounts with roles and permissions, net payment terms, a self-service buyer portal, and RFQ workflows. B2Bridge is trusted by 500+ Shopify merchants running wholesale on their existing stores.
For a comparison of app options, see best wholesale app for Shopify.
How to Choose: A Simple Decision Framework
Use this framework to match your wholesale stage to the right Shopify path.
- Launching your first wholesale channel or running simple tiered pricing: Start with native B2B on a standard plan. If you need RFQ or sales rep portals, add a B2B app.
- Outgrowing 3 catalogs or need deposits: Add a B2B app like B2Bridge to your standard plan. You get enterprise-grade features without the Plus price tag.
- Large multi-store operations with heavy integration needs: Shopify Plus makes sense when you need unlimited catalogs, checkout extensibility, and expansion stores. At this scale, the cost is often justified.
- Hybrid approach: Some merchants start with a B2B app on a standard plan, then upgrade to Plus as volume grows. This keeps costs low while you validate the wholesale channel.
The real question is what your wholesale operation needs now and what it will need in 12 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need Shopify Plus for B2B?
No. Core B2B features have been available on every paid Shopify plan since April 2026. Plus is for merchants who need unlimited catalogs, checkout customization, or expansion stores.
Are wholesale and B2B the same thing?
Wholesale is a type of B2B. B2B refers to any business-to-business commerce; wholesale specifically means selling goods in bulk to resellers or retailers at discounted pricing.
Does standard Shopify work for wholesale?
Yes. Basic, Grow, and Advanced plans include company profiles, net payment terms, volume pricing, and up to 3 active catalogs. For more advanced needs, add a B2B app.
How much does Shopify Plus cost for B2B?
Shopify Plus starts at $2,300 per month on a 3-year term, or $2,500 per month on a 1-year term. B2B features are included at no additional cost on Plus.
What’s the best wholesale app for Shopify?
The best app depends on your needs. Look for an app that covers RFQ, sales rep portals, and unlimited catalogs without requiring a Plus upgrade.
Ready to add enterprise-grade B2B to your Shopify store? B2Bridge gives you unlimited price lists, net payment terms, quote-to-order workflows, and sales rep portals on any paid Shopify plan. Start your free trial and see how it works for your wholesale business.
all-in-one) and see how it works for your wholesale business.
As a Product Marketing Executive at B2Bridge, I focus on the Enterprise B2B Ecommerce domain. I leverage my understanding of product and user psychology to deliver customer-centric content that addresses business challenges and fuels growth.
