BigCommece vs Shopify 2024: Which is the Best Choice? 

Need help choosing between BigCommerce vs Shopify? We will dig into each platform to help you decide which is better for your business.

BigCommerce vs Shopify: Key Takeaways

• BigCommerce and Shopify offer essential features for building and maintaining online stores, such as unlimited products, file storage, and 24/7 support.
• BigCommerce targets mid-market and enterprise-level businesses, while Shopify caters to a broader range of businesses, including small and medium-sized businesses and solopreneurs.

BigCommerce vs Shopify: Pros and Cons

Explore the strengths and weaknesses of BigCommerce and Shopify to make an informed decision for your online store.

Shopify 

Pros

• User-friendly and easy to set up
• More affordable for small businesses
• Flexible and customizable product options
• Built-in POS features and hardware kits
• Robust inventory management
• Support for various payment gateways
• A wider range of dropshipping apps & integrations
• Comprehensive security features and support resources
• Wider language support

Cons

• Transaction fees can add up
• Checkout customization can be limited
• Limited product variant creation
• Multi-store support requires the Plus plan
• Some security features only available on higher plan
• Unlimited staff account support is on a higher plan only

BigCommerce

Pros

• Easy to set up online store
• No transaction fees apply to all plans
• Flexible and customizable product options
• Support for a wide range of POS suppliers
• Support for various payment gateways
• Great for SEO, content marketing, and email marketing
• Buit-in product review system
• The ability to build multiple stores with one account in all plans
• Comprehensive security features and support resources
• Support for an unlimited number of staff accounts on all plans

Cons

• Expensive for smaller businesses
• Abandoned cart recovery available on the Plus plan or higher
• Lack of built-in tool for multi-language selling
• Sales limit

BigCommerce vs Shopify: A Table Comparison

Take a closer look at this comprehensive table comparison to see how each platform stacks up against the other.

BigCommerce vs Shopify: In-Depth Comparison.

Seeking an in-depth analysis of BigCommerce versus Shopify? Delve into this detailed comparison to gain insights into the key distinctions and find the perfect fit for your e-commerce venture.

Pricing & Fees

When it comes to pricing and fees, both BigCommerce and Shopify offer a range of subscription plans to choose from. Here is an overview of their pricing structures.

Pricing

BigCommerce

BigCommerce offers four pricing plans that suit different types of business needs. They are as follows:

• BigCommerce Standard: $39 per month
• BigCommerce Plus: $105 per month
• BigCommerce Pro: $399 per month
• BigCommerce Enterprise — pricing varies, depending on your business requirements

There’s also a 15-day free trial period that gives you full access to all its features at no cost.

Note: BigCommerce recently updated its pricing for Standard, Plus, and Pro plans. 

The right way to check BigCommerce pricing is to visit its official website and navigate to the pricing page. Here are the detailed steps.

• Step 1: Head to BigCommerce.com and select the Essentials tab
• Step 2: Click on Pricing and choose Monthly. Here, you will find information about the different pricing options and the features of each plan.

Shopify

Shopify offers five pricing plans, with the most affordable option starting at only $5 per month:

• Basic – $29 per month billed annually, $39 per month billed monthly
• Shopify – $79 per month billed annually, $105 per month billed monthly
• Advanced – $299 per month billed annually, $399/month billed monthly
• Starter – $1 per month for the first three months; $5 per month after that
• Plus – Starts at $2,000 per month

As with BigCommerce, there’s a 25% discount on your monthly charge if you pay for your Shopify plan on an annual basis.

Shopify also offers a free trial period that’s three days long, which is shorter compared to the BigCommerce free trial. However, after your free trial ends, you will have the option to pay $1 per month for next first month. This will give you a total of 90 days to try out the platform for just $3.

💡 Note: The above Shopify pricing tiers are for the US and Canada. While the pricing plan names are the same worldwide, you can expect to see variations in pricing based on your location.

Transaction Fees

BigCommerce does not charge any transaction fees on any of its plans. In contrast, Shopify imposes a transaction fee of up to 2% per sale for store owners who do not use Shopify Payments.

It’s important to highlight that Shopify Payments is not universally available, limiting its use to certain countries. Consequently, merchants in regions without Shopify Payments access must resort to third-party payment gateways for credit card processing, typically incurring additional transaction fees.

Credit Card Processing Fees

BigCommerce

When utilizing Paypal powered by Braintree as the default payment gateway for accepting customers’ card payments on BigCommerce, the anticipated processing fees typically range between 2.05% to 2.59% + 49c per transaction.

Shopify

For US-based merchants utilizing Shopify Payments, the processing fee varies from 2.4%-2.6% + 10c per transaction. If Shopify Payments isn’t utilized, an extra transaction fee of up to 2% (depending on the current plan) will be incurred on top of the credit card processing fees.

The Verdict

Shopify emerges as the winner. While both platforms offer competitive rates, Shopify’s streamlined process, particularly through Shopify Payments, provides a more convenient and user-friendly experience for merchants.

POS (Point of Sale)

BigCommerce

I appreciate that BigCommerce does not impose any additional fees for in-person transactions conducted through its POS system. This feature gives me peace of mind and allows me to seamlessly manage online and offline sales without worrying about extra charges.

Shopify

I find it noteworthy that Shopify applies a credit card fee to all transactions, starting at 2% per transaction. While this fee is a standard part of processing payments through Shopify, merchants need to consider it when calculating their overall costs and profit margins. 

The Verdict

BigCommerce triumphs due to its no-fee credit card processing fees, setting it apart as the preferable option for merchants seeking to avoid additional expenses.

Themes & App Fees

BigCommerce

When considering themes for my BigCommerce store, I find that premium themes usually range from $75 to $399. Additionally, there’s a variety of apps available, including both free and paid options. 

For instance, the paid apps on BigCommerce typically range from $9 to $50 monthly. Many of these apps offer a free trial or a free plan, giving me the flexibility to decide whether or not to upgrade to a paid service.

Shopify

Shopify offers free and paid themes ranging from $140 to $380 for every industry, from food and drink to home and garden, meeting specific customer requirements. 

The Verdict

After comparing the themes and app fees between BigCommerce and Shopify, BigCommerce emerges as the winner. BigCommerce offers competitive pricing and flexibility, providing excellent value for merchants looking to manage their stores efficiently while keeping costs under control.

Sales Features

BigCommerce

When using BigCommerce, I appreciate the abandoned cart recovery feature, which allows me to schedule up to three automated follow-up emails. However, the process is complex, involving entering phrase names and values or using HTML code. It’s worth noting that this functionality is only available in the BigCommerce Plus plan or higher, which starts at $105 per month.

I also value the ability to sell products in multiple languages and currencies, as it enhances the credibility of my store and improves the customer experience, leading to higher conversion rates. 

However, unlike Shopify, BigCommerce lacks a built-in tool for multi-language selling. To enable this feature, I can use Weglot, a paid app that dynamically translates my entire BigCommerce store.

Furthermore, I like the option to sell products through various online marketplaces and social media platforms, including Facebook, Amazon, eBay, Instagram, and Pinterest. However, it’s worth noting that BigCommerce does not offer a built-in feature to manage multiple store locations. Instead, I would need to rely on third-party apps to implement this functionality.

Shopify

When using Shopify, I find the sales features approach more straightforward and user-friendly. A series of pre-built templates that make powerful e-commerce platforms customizing follow-up emails easy. I can effortlessly add discounts, images, or links to my email reminders, enhancing the effectiveness of my marketing efforts.

To enable multi-currency and multi-language features in my Shopify store, I use Shopify Markets, the platform’s built-in tool for cross-border sales. Once enabled, Shopify Markets allows me to manage currencies, languages, local domains, and even payment processors for my international markets, all directly through my Shopify dashboard.

One of the standout features of Shopify is its ability to add, edit, and manage up to 1,000 locations, regardless of my plan (except for the Starter plan). These locations can include retail outlets, warehouses, or pop up shops, providing me with greater flexibility and control over my sales channels.

The Verdict

I like BigCommerce for its robust sales features, including the abandoned cart recovery feature and the ability to sell products in multiple currencies. While it may require some additional setup compared to Shopify, the flexibility and customization options available on BigCommerce make it a strong contender for my online store needs. 

Ease of Use

BigCommerce

BigCommerce’s features are more scalable but may be less suited for beginners. However, BigCommerce has made some recent improvements to its ease of use. I particularly appreciate the drag-and-drop builder, which offers superior design flexibility compared to Shopify. With BigCommerce, I can select a page element I like and insert it wherever I want, streamlining the website customization process.

Shopify

When using Shopify, I notice that adding products is a breeze – just fill out a quick form for each item. Along the way, helpful pointers assist me, like sales tips on comparing prices. While I can rearrange page elements from a list, I can’t freely drag and drop elements anywhere on a page as I do with BigCommerce.

The Verdict

Shopify has emerged as a more accessible platform to use than BigCommerce. With its straightforward product-adding process and helpful pointers, Shopify simplifies merchants’ user experience. 

Shipping & Dropshipping

BigCommerce

When using BigCommerce, to enable dropshipping, you’ll need to install a third-party app from BigCommerce’s app market. There are several apps available for dropshipping with BigCommerce, totaling 29 options. Some notable apps include Ali-Express Dropshipping, Spocket, Wholesale2B, Inventory Source, Pop Customs, CustomCat, and Syncee. Additionally, popular print-on-demand (POD) services like Printify and Printful are supported, with a total of 18 POD integrations available.

Shopify

Shopify offers a staggering selection of 530 dropshipping apps, making it the go-to platform for both aspiring and seasoned business owners. This extensive array of options makes finding and connecting merchants to a supplier hassle-free.

The Verdict

Shopify emerges as the winner in the comparison of shipping and dropshipping. With its vast selection of 530 dropshipping apps, Shopify provides merchants unparalleled flexibility and convenience in finding and connecting with suppliers. 

Marketing Features

BigCommerce

When it comes to marketing features, BigCommerce provides a seamless experience. The platform offers built-in integrations with renowned email marketing services like Mailchimp, Constant Contact, and Klaviyo. This functionality enables easy synchronization of customer data and automation of email marketing campaigns directly from the BigCommerce store. 

Moreover, BigCommerce equips users with robust SEO tools to optimize their online presence for search engines, enhancing visibility and attracting organic traffic. 

Additionally, the platform offers a diverse range of analytics and reporting tools to track and analyze ecommerce performance comprehensively. Integration with Google Analytics and Google BigQuery further enriches the data insights, empowering merchants to make informed decisions for business growth.

Shopify

When using Shopify, if I use Shopify Email, the platform’s built-in email marketing solution, I gain access to a diverse selection of fully customizable email templates. These templates enable me to seamlessly create and send branded emails to my subscribers. Additionally, I can send up to 10,000 emails per month for free. Beyond this limit, I’ll pay $1 for every 1,000 emails I send, providing a cost-effective solution for engaging with my audience through email marketing.

Shopify offers a suite of SEO search engine optimization tools. These tools help improve store visibility and attract more organic traffic, ultimately boosting sales and conversions.

The Verdict

Shopify emerges as the top choice for small businesses or solopreneurs seeking an e-commerce platform without relying on third-party marketing apps or integrations to promote their products.

Apps & Scalability

BigCommerce

BigCommerce offers a robust ecosystem through its App Store, providing merchants access to thousands of apps and integrations. These apps enable merchants to customize their online stores, enhance customer service, and expand their marketing reach effectively.

With over thousands of apps available, merchants have a wide variety of options. They can browse the App Store by category, price, rating, type, and compatibility to find the best fit for their business needs.

Shopify

I find the Shopify App Store to be an excellent starting point for improving my online store through third-party integrations. With over 8,000 apps available, the Shopify App Store stands out as the biggest app store. Whether I want to add customer reviews, enhance my email marketing strategies, or start a print-on-demand (POD) business, there are always Shopify apps available to meet my needs.

The Verdict

BigCommerce emerges as the winner in the realm of apps and scalability. With its extensive App Store offering thousands of apps and integrations, BigCommerce provides merchants with ample opportunities to customize their online stores, enhance customer service, and expand their marketing reach. 

Support & Security

BigCommerce

When I purchase a BigCommerce plan, I have access to 24-hour ‘live agent’ customer support via phone, email, or chat. Additionally, with BigCommerce, I receive an onboarding consultant as part of the BigCommerce Enterprise plan, ensuring priority treatment when requesting phone support.

Shopify

When I use Shopify, I have access to a dedicated Support team available 24/7 to answer my questions, regardless of the Shopify plan my store is on. Additionally, I appreciate the helpful prompts throughout the Shopify website dashboard that directly link to relevant pages within the Shopify knowledge center. This feature allows me to learn more at my own pace, which is especially helpful when familiarizing myself with new software.

The Verdict

In terms of support and security, both BigCommerce and Shopify offer robust assistance to their users. Both platforms provide dedicated support teams available 24/7 to address user inquiries and concerns, regardless of the subscription plan. Additionally, they offer helpful resources and knowledge centers to facilitate self-learning and troubleshooting.

Shopify or BigCommerce: Which is the Best Fit For Your Needs?

Whether BigCommerce or Shopify is the best fit for your needs depends on your business size, budget, and specific ecommerce requirements.

Shopify may be the best fit for:

• You are a small or medium-sized merchant on a tight budget who wants to expand your business online.
• You are one of those entrepreneurs who operate your business alone.
• You are new to the dropshipping or Print-on-Demand business and need an ecommerce platform with built-in tools to get started.
• You want to market your brand or products on social media platforms or an existing website.

BigCommerce may be the best fit for:

• You are looking for an ecommerce platform that offers flexibility and customization options to handle your complex product catalogs.
• As a larger business with a high monthly sales volume, you’re looking for an ecommerce platform with lower transaction fees.
• You are a mid-market enterprise or business searching for an ecommerce platform.

Bigcommerce vs Shopify: FAQs

Bottom Up

That’s our ultimate battle: BigCommerce vs Shopify. While BigCommerce is better suited for larger businesses with complex needs, Shopify is ideal for small and medium-sized businesses requiring a more straightforward, easy-to-use, and streamlined ecommerce solution.