Shopify vs BigCommerce
Detailed comparison to help you choose the right tool for your needs
S
Shopify
The all-in-one commerce platform for growing businesses
4.5
Editorial RatingB
BigCommerce
Enterprise e-commerce with no transaction fees
4.2
Editorial RatingQuick Comparison
Rating
4.5
vs4.2
Starting Price
$39
vs$39
Pricing Model
paid
vspaid
Feature
Shopify
BigCommerce
Online store with customizable themes and templates
Shopify Payments -- built-in card processing in 17 countries
Inventory tracking across multiple locations and warehouses
Abandoned cart recovery emails and SMS automation
Point of sale (POS) system for in-person selling
App marketplace with 10000 integrations for any workflow
No transaction fees on any plan -- only payment processor fees
Multi-channel selling to Amazon, eBay, Facebook, and Instagram built in
Abandoned cart recovery included from the Standard plan
Real-time shipping quotes from major carriers on all plans
Headless commerce API for custom storefront development
Built-in product filtering and faceted search on all plans
Shopify Pros
- Largest e-commerce app ecosystem -- any integration exists
- Shopify Payments eliminates processor setup and reduces transaction fees to zero
- Scales from first product to millions in revenue without platform migration
- Built-in shipping integrations with USPS, UPS, and DHL at discounted rates
- POS system unifies online and in-person inventory and sales in one dashboard
- Strong abandoned cart recovery and basic email marketing built into all plans
Shopify Cons
- Transaction fees of 0.5% to 2% per sale if not using Shopify Payments
- App costs accumulate fast -- upsells, subscriptions, and reviews often need paid apps
- Blog and content features are weak compared to WordPress
- Theme customization beyond basics requires Liquid templating knowledge
- Advanced reporting locked behind the $399/mo plan
BigCommerce Pros
- No transaction fees on any plan -- saves significantly at mid-to-high volume
- More features built in than Shopify -- fewer paid apps needed
- Multi-channel selling to major marketplaces included in base price
- Strong headless commerce API for custom storefronts
- Better native B2B features than Shopify on comparable plans
BigCommerce Cons
- Smaller third-party app ecosystem than Shopify
- Steeper learning curve -- more options up front can feel overwhelming
- Annual sales limits on each plan -- exceeding them forces an upgrade
- Design customization requires more technical knowledge than Shopify
- Fewer payment gateway options natively compared to Shopify Payments