Why am I being overcharged on Shopify for subscriptions?

Shopify Discussion
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Topic summary

A Shopify store owner received an unexpected $500 charge despite believing they only use free apps and pay the standard monthly subscription. They’re seeking clarification on this unexplained billing spike.

Potential causes identified:

  • Third-party apps with usage-based fees or expired free trials
  • Accumulated charges from previous billing cycles that weren’t immediately processed
  • Unintentional plan upgrades or annual subscription switches
  • Transaction fees from external payment gateways (PayPal, Stripe) if sales volume increased
  • Domain renewals or overages on services like Shopify Email

Recommended actions:

  • Review the detailed invoice breakdown under Settings > Billing
  • Check Apps and Sales Channels for any apps that began charging
  • Contact Shopify Support directly for itemized explanation and potential refund

The issue remains unresolved, pending the store owner’s investigation of their billing details and potential support contact.

Summarized with AI on November 1. AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.
1

I’ve been on Shopify for a while now and out of nowhere I get chaged almost $500. Saying that’s its for subscribtions but I used only free apps and only paid for the monthly subscription to shopify. But I shouldn’t get hit for a $500 bill with no evidence behind it on why im getting charged that! Can someone explain why is this happening?

2

Hi @Tcgkingdomusa

That’s definitely frustrating—getting hit with a $500 charge out of nowhere is not something anyone wants to deal with. Let’s break this down and figure out what’s going on.

Possible Reasons for the Charge:1. Third-Party App Fees – Even if you’ve been using “free” apps, some of them offer free trials or have usage-based fees (e.g., transaction-based charges, extra features beyond the free plan). Check your Billing section under Settings > Billing to see if any app fees were added.

  1. Pending Charges from Previous Billing Cycles – Shopify bills apps and services separately. Sometimes, charges from previous months (especially if an app didn’t charge right away) can roll over into your current invoice.

  2. Shopify Subscription Upgrade or Annual Plan – Did you recently change your Shopify plan? If you switched from a monthly to an annual plan, that could explain the higher bill. Check your Subscription Details under Settings > Plan.

  3. Transaction Fees & Shopify Payments – If you’re using an external payment gateway (like PayPal or Stripe), Shopify charges transaction fees. If your store had a spike in sales, that could explain the extra charge.

  4. Domain Renewals or Additional Services – If you bought a custom domain through Shopify or used extra services like email marketing (Shopify Email) beyond the free limit, those could be added to your bill.

What You Should Do:- Check Your Billing Breakdown: Go to Settings > Billing in your Shopify dashboard and review the detailed invoice. Shopify always provides a breakdown of charges.

  • Look for App Charges: Visit Settings > Apps and Sales Channels to check if any apps have started charging.
  • Contact Shopify Support: If you can’t find anything that justifies the charge, reach out to Shopify Support directly via chat or email—they can provide a detailed explanation and refund options if needed.

Let me know if you need help checking any of these—I know Shopify’s billing can sometimes be confusing!

If you need extra help, just let me know asap. Thanks
Daisy.