1/26/2025

Resolving Shopify Product Limit Issues on Basic Plans

Are you a new Shopify merchant who’s excitedly setting up your store and suddenly finds yourself bumping against product limits? If you’ve just started exploring the options available with Shopify, you might be in for a rude awakening regarding the limitations imposed on the BASIC PLAN. Let’s dig into the various aspects of the Shopify product limits and how you can navigate these challenges to ensure your online store runs smooth & efficiently.

Understanding Shopify's Product Limit on Basic Plans

The Shopify BASIC PLAN is a fantastic starting point for small businesses & entrepreneurs. It provides all the essential features needed to kick-start your eCommerce venture. However, there are some caveats that you might not be aware of.

Key Limitations of the Basic Plan

750 New Product Variants Per Day: You can upload & create a total of 1000 product variants every 24 hours. This includes different sizes, colors, or styles. While this might sound generous at first, if you’re planning a large inventory, you'll notice the limitation very quickly.
50,000 Total Product Variants: Your store can have a maximum of 50,000 product variants total. This can be quite limiting for brands that offer multiple styles or customization options.
Storage Space Restrictions: The BASIC PLAN also limits storage space significantly. You may quickly run into trouble if your images, videos, or documents exceed the limits set by Shopify. You get 50 GB for documents that do not contain videos, 500 GB for videos, and 1000 total files. None of these limits are immediately obvious, leading many users to frustration down the line.

As one user on the Shopify Community notes, many merchants experience difficulties when they attempt to upload product variants but discover they hit the daily limit unexpectedly.

Strategies for Overcoming Product Limitations

Now that we've established the limitations, let's tackle how to overcome these hurdles efficiently.

1. Plan Your Inventory Recentralization

Before you feel overwhelmed by limits, take a step back & plan your inventory carefully. What are the best-selling products that require multiple variants? Focus on creating those items first to maximize your hitting limits. Prioritize getting core items live rather than trying to fill your store immediately with every product you have.

2. Use Bulk Upload Functions Wisely

Make use of the CSV import feature on Shopify. When you bulk upload products, consider structuring your CSV file carefully to ensure you aren’t maxing out your variant limits. If you plan on adding more items, consider staggering your CSV uploads. This way, you avoid hitting the 1000 daily variant limit and can keep your store functional & active.

3. Upgrade Plan When Necessary

If you find yourself constantly juggling product variants & forever bumping into limits, it might be time to think about upgrading to the Shopify Advanced Plan or even Shopify Plus. The benefits of upgrading typically come with fewer restrictions, allowing for a broader catalog.

4. Consider External Inventory Management Apps

There are specifically built apps that help manage larger inventories outside of Shopify’s native limitations. Tools such as Matrixify or Excelify allow you to manage bulk data efficiently without pressing against product limits. They can help make your workflow smooth & effective.

Another beneficial app to integrate is Store Automator. This app could assist you in keeping track of your inventory more effectively, saving headaches down the road.

5. Optimize Product Listings for Efficiency

When creating product listings, focus on optimizing their effectiveness. Have visually appealing images that clearly define each variant (i.e., if you sell t-shirts in various colors, show images of each color variant in the product listing). This will help reduce the clutter while providing consumers all necessary information.

6. Manage Variants Intelligently

Instead of having multiple variants product for every single color & size combination, consider reducing the number of variants you have. For instance, only offering two or three sizes in high-demand colors can substantially decrease the total number of variants you'll need to manage.

Important Notes on Managing Your Products

Monitor Your Inventory Count Strategically

When Uploading variants, it’s essential to keep a close watch on your total product variants. If you don't, then you may reach your limit & be unable to add additional items or fulfill orders. Make sure you have a system in place to track your products vs. the number of variants left to add. This could be a spreadsheet, a document, or even another external application that allows integration.

Utilize Shopify’s API for Advanced Functions

If you’re tech-savvy or have developers on your team, consider leveraging the Shopify API. You can create unique functionalities or workflows that cater specifically to your eCommerce needs without relying solely on Shopify’s standard interface. The API offers vast capabilities, including bulk uploads, which can help bypass some limitations.

To ease your interactions with the Shopify API, make sure to understand how rate limits work. As one user experienced, hitting 1,000 variant limit can have repercussions on your ability to manage stock effectively if you don't strategize & plan well.

Conclusion: Navigating Shopify Product Limits with Arsturn

While Shopify’s BASIC PLAN provides gentle stepping stones for newcomers in eCommerce, the limitations can feel quite daunting. However, by strategizing your approach to inventory management and integrating useful tools & apps, you'll ensure your Shopify experience is enjoyable & productive.

Additionally, if you're looking for a way to enhance customer engagement & streamline your operations, don’t forget to check out Arsturn. Arsturn’s no-code API chatbot builder allows you to create conversational chatbots quickly & customize them for your unique needs. These bots can answer FAQs, guiding your customers and addressing concerns before they even arise, thus improving customer satisfaction & optimizing your business operations.

In the ever-evolving world of eCommerce, don't let product limits capsize your ambitions. Effective management, strategic planning, and leveraging modern tools like Arsturn empower you to sail smoothly through your Shopify journey. Get started now, and watch your Shopify store thrive like never before!