Shopify gets most of the attention in the hosted e-commerce space, but BigCommerce is a real competitor. Both platforms provide complete e-commerce solutions with subscription pricing, built-in features, and app ecosystems. Both power thousands of successful stores. Choosing between them affects your costs, capabilities, and how you run your business.
The comparison is not always straightforward. Shopify has a larger app store and more brand recognition. BigCommerce has more features included at each pricing tier and better SEO capabilities. Each has strengths that matter for different types of businesses.
This piece covers what each platform offers, where they differ, and how to decide which fits your business.
The Overall Positioning
Both platforms target similar customers but with different approaches.
Shopify’s Approach
Shopify positions itself as the easiest way to start selling online. The interface is polished. The onboarding is smooth. The app store is large. The brand is strong.
Shopify’s strategy has been to make features available through apps rather than bundling everything in the core platform.
BigCommerce’s Approach
BigCommerce positions itself as a more feature-rich alternative that reduces reliance on apps. More capabilities are built in. Less need to add third-party solutions for common needs.
BigCommerce targets growing businesses that need more than basic features without paying app fees for each capability.
Market Share
Shopify is significantly larger. More stores. More apps. More community. More partners.
BigCommerce is smaller but established and reliable. Enough of a market to have a thriving ecosystem.
Pricing Comparison
Both use subscription pricing but structure it differently.
Shopify Plans
Basic Shopify: around $29-$39 per month.
Shopify: around $79-$105 per month.
Advanced Shopify: around $299-$399 per month.
Shopify Plus: custom enterprise pricing.
Plus payment processing fees. Plus app subscriptions.
BigCommerce Plans
Standard: around $29 per month.
Plus: around $79 per month.
Pro: around $299 per month.
Enterprise: custom pricing.
Plus payment processing fees. Plus app subscriptions.
The Pricing Similarity
Base pricing is remarkably similar between the two platforms. The differences come from what is included.
Sales Thresholds
BigCommerce has annual sales thresholds that require upgrading. Exceeding the threshold for your plan forces a move to a higher tier. Shopify does not have these thresholds.
For growing businesses, BigCommerce’s thresholds can force plan upgrades. Shopify’s pricing stays consistent regardless of sales volume until you consider Shopify Plus.
Transaction Fees
Shopify charges additional transaction fees (0.5% to 2%) if you use payment processors other than Shopify Payments. This penalizes not using their payment system.
BigCommerce does not charge additional transaction fees for using other payment processors. You pay only the payment processor’s fees.
For businesses that want payment flexibility, BigCommerce has a real advantage here.
Feature Comparison
Different features are built in versus available through apps.
Product Management
Both handle basic product management well. Products, variants, categories, images, descriptions.
BigCommerce supports more product variant options in the core platform. Shopify’s basic plans limit variant combinations.
Inventory Management
Both handle inventory tracking. Multi-location inventory is available on both but with different implementations.
Shopping Cart & Checkout
Both provide functional shopping carts and checkouts. Shopify’s checkout is highly optimized for conversions. BigCommerce’s checkout is customizable, allowing more design control.
Multi-Currency
Both support multi-currency selling. Implementation details differ.
Multi-Language
Both support multi-language stores. Shopify’s implementation is through Markets. BigCommerce uses different approaches.
Blog
Both include blogging capabilities. BigCommerce’s blog is more capable than Shopify’s basic blog.
Discounts & Promotions
BigCommerce includes more discount types built in. Shopify requires apps for some discount patterns that BigCommerce handles natively.
Gift Cards
Available on both, though on higher plans for some tiers.
Reviews
Both platforms integrate with review services but do not include reviews in the core product for most plans.
App Ecosystems
Both have app stores but with different scales.
Shopify App Store
Thousands of apps covering almost every conceivable e-commerce need. Many free apps. Many paid apps. Regular new additions.
The size of the ecosystem is a significant Shopify advantage.
BigCommerce App Marketplace
Fewer apps than Shopify. Still substantial but not as comprehensive.
BigCommerce’s approach of building more features into the core platform reduces the need for as many apps.
What This Means
Shopify offers more app options. BigCommerce needs fewer apps for the same functionality. Both approaches have merit.
For businesses that need very specific niche functionality, Shopify’s larger app store often has something. For businesses with standard needs, BigCommerce’s built-in features may cover what Shopify would require paid apps to provide.
Design & Themes
Both use themes to control appearance.
Shopify Themes
Free and premium themes available. Premium themes typically cost $180-$350 as one-time purchases.
The theme store is well-curated. Themes are generally high quality.
Customization through the theme editor. Deeper customization requires Liquid programming knowledge.
BigCommerce Themes
Free and premium themes available. Premium themes typically cost $150-$300.
Smaller theme selection than Shopify but quality is comparable.
Customization through the theme editor. Deeper customization uses Stencil (BigCommerce’s theming framework).
Winner
Shopify has more theme options. Both platforms produce good-looking stores with proper themes.
SEO Capabilities
Search engine optimization matters for stores.
Shopify SEO
Basic SEO features included. Meta titles and descriptions can be set. Sitemap automatic. Some structural elements are not optimal (products live under /products/ paths).
Some advanced SEO work requires apps or theme customization.
BigCommerce SEO
More SEO features built into the platform. Better URL structure options. More control over technical SEO elements.
Advanced users often find BigCommerce more accommodating to sophisticated SEO strategies.
Winner
BigCommerce has an edge on SEO capabilities, particularly for stores that prioritize organic search.
Payment Processing
The transaction fee situation matters.
Shopify Payments
Shopify’s built-in processor. No additional transaction fees on top of processing fees. Integrated into the platform.
Using other payment processors incurs Shopify’s additional transaction fees.
BigCommerce Payment Flexibility
Integrates with many payment processors. No additional transaction fees regardless of which processor you use.
Businesses can use whatever payment processor fits best without penalty.
Winner
BigCommerce for payment flexibility.
Multichannel Selling
Selling beyond your own store.
Shopify Multichannel
Strong integrations with social media platforms, marketplaces, and other sales channels. Facebook, Instagram, Amazon, eBay, and others integrate through the Shopify system.
BigCommerce Multichannel
Also strong multichannel capabilities. Integrations with major marketplaces and social platforms.
Winner
Both handle multichannel well. Shopify has slightly more polished integrations for some channels.
B2B Capabilities
Selling to businesses versus consumers.
Shopify B2B
Available on Shopify Plus. Adds features like quote requests, customer-specific pricing, and payment terms.
For lower-tier plans, B2B features are limited.
BigCommerce B2B
More B2B features available on standard plans. Better handling of customer-specific pricing, quotes, and B2B workflows.
For businesses with B2B customers, BigCommerce may be more accommodating without moving to their enterprise tier.
Winner
BigCommerce for B2B capabilities without enterprise pricing.
Reporting & Analytics
Understanding your business.
Shopify Analytics
Built-in analytics improve at higher plan tiers. Basic Shopify has basic reports. Advanced Shopify includes advanced reports.
Google Analytics integrates for deeper analysis.
BigCommerce Analytics
Similar tiered approach. More reports available at each tier compared to equivalent Shopify plans.
Winner
BigCommerce provides more reports at lower price points.
Support
Getting help when needed.
Shopify Support
24/7 support via chat and email. Phone support depending on plan. Documentation is extensive. Community is large.
BigCommerce Support
24/7 support via chat, email, and phone. Documentation is thorough. Community is smaller than Shopify’s.
Winner
Both provide good support. Shopify’s larger community means more third-party resources.
When to Choose Shopify
Some situations favor Shopify.
Priority on Ease of Use
Shopify’s polished interface and onboarding process fit non-technical users well.
Need for Specific Apps
If you need niche functionality, Shopify’s larger app store increases the chance you can find it.
Small or Medium Business Focus
Shopify serves small to medium businesses particularly well.
Fashion, Apparel, & Consumer Products
The bulk of Shopify’s ecosystem targets these categories. Many themes and apps focus on these.
International Expansion
Shopify Markets simplifies international selling.
Preference for Established Brand
Shopify’s stronger brand recognition matters for some businesses.
When to Choose BigCommerce
Other situations favor BigCommerce.
SEO Priority
If organic search matters significantly, BigCommerce’s SEO capabilities are stronger.
B2B Elements
Businesses with B2B customers or B2B-specific features benefit from BigCommerce’s stronger B2B offering at lower tiers.
Payment Flexibility
If you want to use payment processors other than the platform’s built-in one, BigCommerce does not penalize you for it.
Growing Businesses
BigCommerce’s inclusion of more features at each tier may cost less as businesses grow than Shopify with app dependencies.
Complex Product Catalogs
Businesses with many product variants and complex catalogs may find BigCommerce more accommodating.
Fewer Apps Preferred
If you would rather have functionality built in than added through apps, BigCommerce’s approach fits.
The Overall Verdict
Neither platform is objectively better than the other.
Different Strengths
Shopify wins on ease of use, app ecosystem, and brand recognition.
BigCommerce wins on SEO, B2B, payment flexibility, and built-in features.
The Real Question
Which strengths matter for your business? Which weaknesses can you accept?
For most consumer-focused small to medium businesses, Shopify is the easier default choice. The ecosystem and ease make it work.
For businesses with specific needs that align with BigCommerce’s strengths, BigCommerce may fit better. Growing businesses, B2B elements, SEO focus, or payment flexibility priorities all favor BigCommerce.
Trial Both
Both platforms offer free trials. Actually trying each with your specific business context reveals things that comparison articles cannot.
Migration Considerations
Moving between platforms is possible but disruptive.
From Shopify to BigCommerce
Products, customers, and orders can be exported and imported. Themes and configurations must be recreated. Apps have to be replaced with BigCommerce equivalents.
From BigCommerce to Shopify
Similar considerations. Migration is doable but takes work.
The Cost of Migration
Weeks or months of work depending on store complexity. Business disruption during migration is real.
Starting on the right platform saves this pain later.
Closing Thoughts on Choosing Between Platforms
The choice between Shopify and BigCommerce is not obvious. Both are legitimate platforms that power successful businesses. The right choice depends on what matters most for your specific situation.
For most new stores, Shopify is the safer default. The ecosystem is larger. The onboarding is smoother. The community is bigger. If you are unsure, Shopify is unlikely to be wrong.
For businesses with specific needs that align with BigCommerce’s strengths, seriously consider it. The built-in features, payment flexibility, and SEO capabilities matter for many businesses.
For businesses that value payment processor flexibility, BigCommerce’s stance against additional transaction fees is a genuine advantage that saves real money over time.
For businesses focused on organic search as a primary traffic source, BigCommerce’s SEO capabilities provide advantages that compound over time.
The comparison ultimately comes down to trade-offs. Shopify’s ecosystem versus BigCommerce’s built-in features. Shopify’s ease of use versus BigCommerce’s flexibility. Shopify’s payment penalties versus BigCommerce’s payment freedom.
Both platforms are capable enough that success comes down to what you build on top of them. Great products, effective marketing, good customer service, and quality operations produce successful stores on either platform. Poor execution fails on both.
Try both if you can. Read reviews. Talk to other business owners. Then make the choice that fits your specific business. Whichever you choose, the platform becomes the foundation for years of business growth. Take the time to make the right choice, and one significant decision about your online business becomes settled.
