GST Pro is better suited for Shopify merchants in India who need GST-compliant invoices and GST reporting, while Shopify's default invoicing is suitable only for basic order receipts.
GST Pro does not count how many times an invoice is printed or downloaded. Instead, it tracks the total number of Shopify orders processed.
Each order created in Shopify is processed by the app
Plan eligibility is tied to the order sequence number
Printing the same invoice multiple times does not increase usage
Free plan: invoices can be generated for the first 50 orders of the month
Attempting to generate an invoice for order #51 requires an upgrade
This applies even if no invoices were printed earlier
This behavior is intentional by design. GST Pro processes every order, not just printed invoices, to ensure:
Accurate GST calculations
Complete data synchronization
Reliable GST reports (such as GSTR-1)
Consistent compliance records
Because GST filings must include all transactions, the app cannot ignore orders that were created but not printed.
"Prints should count, not orders"
"Cancelled or test orders shouldn't count"
"Only specific orders should sync"
Shopify's default invoicing:
Generates a basic invoice or receipt
Does not track usage limits
Does not process orders for GST compliance
Does not generate GST-specific reports
It is designed for documentation, not tax compliance.
GST Pro is the better option if you need:
GST-compliant tax invoices
Correct CGST / SGST vs IGST logic
Zero-GST export invoices
Discount-aware GST calculation
GST reports such as GSTR-1
Audit-ready invoice records
Shopify default invoices may be sufficient if:
You only need a basic receipt
GST filing is handled outside Shopify
You do not require GSTIN or tax split visibility
You do not generate GST reports from Shopify data
GST Pro plan limits are based on order volume, not print actions
Historical data before installation may require manual syncing
Shopify checkout settings still control what customers are charged
The app cannot override Shopify's tax calculation at checkout
For Indian Shopify merchants who require GST-compliant invoicing and reporting, GST Pro is the more appropriate solution. Shopify's default invoicing is best suited for stores with minimal GST requirements.