BigCommece vs Shopify 2026: Which is the Best Choice?

Choosing between BigCommerce and Shopify is not just about features. It is about choosing a platform that supports your business goals without creating unnecessary complexity or cost. While both are strong ecommerce platforms, they serve merchants differently in terms of ease of use, customization, built-in tools, pricing, and scalability. In this guide, we compare BigCommerce vs Shopify across the factors that matter most, so you can make a confident decision for your store in 2026.

Quick Verdict: Shopify vs BigCommerce 

Most online store owners should go with Shopify. It’s more affordable, easier to use, and scales better for the majority of ecommerce businesses. Shopify’s ecosystem of 8,000+ apps means you can add almost any feature you need without custom development.

BigCommerce is the better fit for a specific type of merchant. If you run a B2B operation, manage complex product catalogs with hundreds of variants, or process high volumes through third-party payment gateways, BigCommerce gives you more out of the box and never charges transaction fees.

Here’s the short version:

• Choose Shopify if you’re a beginner, small to mid-sized store, dropshipper, or want the largest app ecosystem
• Choose BigCommerce if you need built-in B2B tools, complex product options, or want zero transaction fees

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.

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

Features	BigCommerce	Shopify	The Winner
Pricing plans	Starting at $39 per month15-day free trial period	Starting at $39 per month 3-day free trial, then 1$ per month for the next three months	Shopify
Transaction Fees	No additional transaction fees on any plans	Transaction fees apply to merchants who do not use Shopify Payments	BigCommerce
Credit Card Processing Fees	Card transactions via PayPal start at 2.59% + $0.49 per transaction	US-based Shopify Payments: From 2.4% +10¢ to 2.6% + 10¢ per card transaction	Shopify
Sales Features	Sales limits by plan, POS integration, abandoned cart recovery on higher plans	No sales limits, POS hardware focus, abandoned cart recovery on all plans	Shopify
Ease of Use	User-friendly dashboard; 100+ payment gateways	Very user-friendly interface, 65+ payment gateways	Shopify
Shipping & Fulfillment	Free, flat, price, weight-based rates; dropshipping apps	Free, flat, price, weight-based rates; dropshipping apps	Tie
Marketing Features	Email forward; built-in SEO tools; built-in product reviews	Email forwarding; SEO tools; Product reviews	BigCommerce
Themes and Design	12 free themes176 paid-for themes	13 free themes237 paid for themes	Shopify
Apps and Scalability	1000+ apps, multiple storefronts on all plans	8,000+ apps, multiple storefronts on all plans	Shopify
Support and Security	24/7 customer supportPCI compliancefraud detection	24/7 customer supportPCI compliancefraud detection	Tie
Language Support	7 languages, including English, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Mexican Spanish	21 languages, including English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, and many more	Shopify
Trial Access to Support Email	Available during free trial	Only available for Shopify Plus users	BigCommerce

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

Both platforms offer discounts for annual billing. The table below shows both options.

Plan Tier	Shopify (Monthly / Yearly)	BigCommerce (Monthly / Yearly)
Entry	Basic: $39/mo · $29/mo yearly	Standard: ~$39/mo · $29/mo yearly
Mid	Grow: $105/mo · $79/mo yearly	Plus: ~$105/mo · $79/mo yearly
Upper	Advanced: $399/mo · $299/mo yearly	Pro: ~$399/mo · $299/mo yearly
Enterprise	Plus: from $2,300/mo	Enterprise: Custom pricing
Trial	$1/mo for first three months	15-day free trial

Shopify also offers a Starter plan at $5/month for merchants who only need a simple link-in-bio store or social selling page.

On monthly billing, both platforms start at roughly the same price: Shopify Basic at $39/month and BigCommerce Standard at around $39/month. On yearly billing, both entry plans drop to $29/month. At the mid-tier, both cost $105/month monthly or $79/month yearly. At the upper tier, both land at $399/month monthly or $299/month yearly. Both platforms save you 25% when you commit to annual billing.

One thing worth noting: Shopify renamed its mid-tier plan from “Shopify” to “Grow.” If you see older articles referencing a “Shopify plan” as a tier name, that naming is outdated.

BigCommerce offers a 15-day free trial with full feature access and no credit card required. Shopify’s promotional offer is $1/month for the first three months, which gives you more time at a lower cost but does require payment info.

BigCommerce sales thresholds: Unlike Shopify, BigCommerce enforces revenue-based plan upgrades. If your trailing 12-month online sales exceed $50,000, you’re automatically moved to the Plus plan. Above $180,000, you move to Pro. Beyond $400,000 in annual sales, BigCommerce charges an additional $150/month for every $200,000 increment. Shopify has no sales-based limits on any plan.

Credit Card Processing Fees

BigCommerce

When use  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 using  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.

Total Cost of Ownership

The sticker price does not show the full cost. Instead, you need to look at total cost of ownership (TCO), which includes your subscription, transaction fees, apps, and theme costs.

Shopify says its TCO is 31% lower than BigCommerce, based on its internal research. According to Shopify, BigCommerce may offer more built-in features, but Shopify makes up for that with a lower starting price and faster setup. As a result, merchants may still spend less overall, even after adding apps.

However, BigCommerce makes a different case. It argues that merchants can save money because several useful features already come built in. For example, product reviews, advanced product options, and multi-storefront support may not require extra tools. In contrast, Shopify users may need paid apps for some of these features.

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

Shopify has a dedicated POS system with its own hardware (card readers, terminals, retail kits). Shopify POS is tightly integrated with your online store, syncing inventory and customer data in real time. According to Shopify, its POS system delivers 22% better TCO and 20% faster implementation than competing solutions.

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

BigCommerce offers fewer themes (about 12 free and 130+ premium options price d $150-300), but they excel in functionality and are designed with conversion optimization in mind. BigCommerce themes often include more built-in features and customization options directly in the theme settings, allowing for deeper modifications without requiring coding knowledge or additional apps.

Shopify

Shopify offers over 1000 free and paid themes ranging from $150 to $420 for every industry, from food and drink to home and garden, meeting specific customer requirements.  Shopify’s themes often feature better visual appeal and more modern designs, with an intuitive drag-and-drop editor that makes customization accessible to non-technical users.

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

• Abandoned cart recovery is a critical feature for any online store. Shopify includes it on every plan with easy-to-use email templates. BigCommerce restricts it to the Plus plan ($105/month) and higher, and the setup process involves more technical steps.
• Multichannel selling is supported by both platforms. You can sell on Amazon, eBay, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest from either one. Shopify tends to offer smoother integrations and faster setup for social commerce channels.
• Multi-currency and multi-language support differ significantly. Shopify Markets is a built-in tool for cross-border selling that handles currencies, languages, local domains, and international payment methods from your dashboard. BigCommerce supports multi-currency natively, but requires a third-party app like Weglot for multi-language support.
• Product variants are a BigCommerce strength. BigCommerce supports up to 600 SKUs per product with multiple option types, custom fields, and variant-specific pricing. Shopify’s default limit is 100 variants per product (three options with combined variants), though apps can increase this limit.

Store locations are another Shopify advantage. You can manage up to 1,000 inventory locations (retail outlets, warehouses, pop-ups) on most plans. BigCommerce doesn’t offer native multi-location inventory management and requires third-party apps.

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. 

B2B and Wholesale

This is BigCommerce’s strongest differentiator.

BigCommerce includes native B2B features on all plans: customer groups with custom pricing, purchase order support, quote management, and bulk pricing rules. You can run a B2B storefront alongside your DTC store without extra apps.

Shopify’s B2B capabilities are locked behind Shopify Plus ($2,300/month). On lower plans, you’ll need third-party apps like Wholesale Club or Bold Custom Pricing to replicate basic B2B functionality.

The Verdict 

If B2B is a core part of your business, BigCommerce saves you significant money and complexity.

Ease of Use

BigCommerce

BigCommerce has a steeper learning curve. Its dashboard shows more options upfront, which can feel overwhelming for first-time store owners. BigCommerce’s drag-and-drop page builder actually offers more flexibility than Shopify’s. You can place elements anywhere on a page, while Shopify limits you to rearranging elements within predefined sections.

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 29 dropshipping apps available for BigCommerce. 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, I can access a diverse selection of fully customizable email templates through Shopify Email, the platform’s built-in email marketing solution. 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, offering a cost-effective way to engage my audience through email marketing.

Shopify offers a suite of SEO tools. These tools help improve store visibility and attract more organic traffic, ultimately boosting sales and conversions.If you’re looking to strengthen your store’s SEO, consider using tools like Avada SEO Image Optimizer to handle on-page SEO audits, image optimization, and page speed improvements alongside your platform’s native SEO features.

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

The Shopify App Store is  an excellent starting point for improving your 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. 

Staff Accounts and Multi-Store

Feature	Shopify	BigCommerce
Staff Accounts (Entry)	Solo only (Basic)	Unlimited (Standard)
Staff Accounts (Mid)	5 (Grow)	Unlimited (Plus)
Staff Accounts (Upper)	15 (Advanced)	Unlimited (Pro)
Multi-Storefront	Plus plan only ($2,300/mo)	All plans

The Verdict 

BigCommerce wins on staff accounts and multi-store support. Every BigCommerce plan includes unlimited staff accounts and the ability to run multiple storefronts. On Shopify, unlimited staff accounts require the Plus plan, and multi-storefront is also a Plus-only feature.

For teams with more than five people or businesses running multiple brands, BigCommerce offers better value on lower-tier plans.

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.

Migrating Between Shopify and BigCommerce

If you’re already on one platform and thinking about switching, both BigCommerce and Shopify offer migration support.

BigCommerce provides a Data Migration Service and integrations with third-party migration tools. Shopify has a growing network of migration partners and its own import tools for products, customers, and orders.If you’re currently on BigCommerce and considering Shopify, check out our guide on BigCommerce to Shopify migration for a step-by-step walkthrough.

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.