BigCommerce
PaidEnterprise e-commerce with no transaction fees
About BigCommerce
BigCommerce is a hosted e-commerce platform targeting mid-market and enterprise merchants who need more built-in functionality than Shopify provides without relying on a paid app ecosystem. The platform charges no transaction fees on any plan -- only payment processor fees from the chosen gateway. Standard at $39/month matches Shopify Basic in price but includes more features by default: product filtering, real-time shipping quotes, abandoned cart recovery, and multi-channel selling to Amazon, eBay, Facebook, and Instagram are all included without add-on apps. Plus at $105/month adds customer groups, stored credit cards, and Google customer reviews. Pro at $399/month adds custom product filtering, Google reviews, and priority support. Enterprise is custom-priced for high-volume merchants. BigCommerce also supports headless commerce via API, making it a common backend choice for teams building custom storefronts with React or Next.js. Reddit positions BigCommerce as the stronger choice for mid-market merchants who find Shopify app costs adding up -- the lower total cost of ownership at scale is the consistent argument in its favor. The tradeoff is a steeper learning curve and a smaller third-party app ecosystem than Shopify.
Key Features
Pricing Plans
Standard
- Online store
- No transaction fees
- Multi-channel selling
- Abandoned cart recovery
Plus
- Customer groups and segmentation
- Stored credit cards
- Google customer reviews
- Everything in Standard
Pro
- Custom product filtering
- Priority support
- Up to 400 custom product filters
- Everything in Plus
Enterprise
- Custom pricing
- Dedicated account manager
- Priority API support
- SLA guarantee
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
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
Best For
- Mid-market merchants finding Shopify app costs adding up at scale
- B2B sellers needing customer groups and tiered pricing without enterprise pricing
- Developers building headless commerce storefronts needing a robust API backend
Not Ideal For
- Small or new stores where Shopify simplicity and ecosystem are more valuable
- Sellers who want a simple setup without evaluating many built-in options
Potential Deal Breakers
- Annual sales thresholds on each plan -- exceeding the Standard limit forces an upgrade to Plus even mid-year
- Smaller app marketplace means some Shopify-native integrations require custom development
- No free trial beyond 15 days -- merchants must commit before fully evaluating fit
Data & Privacy
E-commerce platform. Merchant and customer data stored on BigCommerce infrastructure. PCI DSS Level 1 compliant. SOC 2 Type 2 certified. GDPR tools available. No customer data used for AI training. Full store data exportable.
Who Is This For?
Hands-on tested May 2026
Signup Experience
Signup starts a 15-day free trial with no credit card. Store setup wizard walks through adding products, configuring shipping zones, and connecting a payment gateway. More configuration options up front than Shopify -- the wizard covers more ground before the store is ready.
For Home Users
Overkill for casual or hobby sellers. Shopify is simpler for a first store, and Gumroad is faster for digital products. BigCommerce is built for merchants who need a full commercial operation, not a side business.
For Business Users
A strong alternative to Shopify for mid-market stores where transaction fees and app costs matter. Standard at $39/mo includes abandoned cart recovery and multi-channel selling that Shopify gates behind higher plans or paid apps. Zero transaction fees are the headline benefit at scale.
Our Verdict
The strongest alternative to Shopify for merchants who have outgrown the entry tier and find monthly app costs a recurring frustration. Zero transaction fees and more built-in features make the total cost of ownership lower at volume -- the tradeoff is a smaller ecosystem and a steeper initial setup curve.
Related Articles
Best E-Commerce Platforms for Small Business 2026
Shopify Basic costs $39/month plus 2% on every transaction with a third-party gateway. BigCommerce charges the same $39 with zero platform fees. WooCommerce is free. Gumroad takes 10% per sale with no monthly fee. Here is which fits your store type and volume.
Read moreComparisonsShopify vs BigCommerce 2026: Full Feature and Pricing Comparison
Shopify and BigCommerce charge identical prices at every tier: $39, $105, $399/month. BigCommerce charges zero transaction fees while Shopify takes 0.5-2% unless you use Shopify Payments. Here is the full feature and fee breakdown at every plan level.
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