The Starter plan is Altera's free plan for every Shopify store. Use it for small fixes, and to test your files and settings before a large import.
What the Starter plan includes
Every data type: Import and export products, orders, customers, collections, metafields, metaobjects, and every other data type Altera supports
Every file format: Excel (.xlsx), CSV, and Google Shopping feeds
Unlimited jobs: Run as many manual imports and exports as you need
Same speed: Jobs on the Starter plan run at the same speed as on paid plans
Limits
Item limit
Each import or export processes up to 10 items of each data type. The limit counts items, not spreadsheet rows: a product with all its variants is one item, and an order with all its line items is one item.
The limit applies to each data type on its own. For example, an import file with 15 products and 15 orders imports 10 products and 10 orders. The job page shows how many items were processed, for example "10 of 15 products imported". An export file ends with a message where the limit was reached (JOB003).
Other limits
One job at a time: Start the next job when the current one is finished
No scheduling: Scheduled and recurring imports and exports need a paid plan
No CLI or API access: The Altera CLI and API keys need a paid plan
MCP: AI tools connected through the Altera MCP can run up to 10 imports and exports per day, with the same item limit
Community plan (legacy)
The Starter plan replaced the free Community plan on October 27, 2026. Stores that were on the Community plan before that date keep it, with its limit of 100 items of each data type. New stores can't select it.
Upgrading to Pro
Upgrade to the Pro plan ($15 a month) for:
No item limit: Import and export files of any size
Scheduled jobs: Run imports and exports automatically
Several jobs at the same time
CLI and API access
Custom data transformations
To upgrade, go to Settings > Plan in the app. The Pro plan includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Getting help
Starter plan users have full access to our documentation and support. If you have questions about the Starter plan, or about which plan fits your needs, reach out to our support team.