BLOG

Shopify vs BigCommerce | 10 Differences You Should Know 

Shopify vs BigCommerce Do you want to know the differences between Shopify and BigCommerce as you are in the process of setting up your shopping cart and selecting the best platform for your online business? Yes, these two are the most popular platforms in the industry today and you have rightly narrowed down on these two options. Moreover, it is important that you pick the most suitable platform for your needs so that you are not forced to switch to a new platform within a short time after the installation. Let us look at the top ten differences between these two shopping carts. Both ecommerce platforms are hosted solutions.

1. Pricing Structure and Sales Limits

Cost is more than just a monthly subscription. In 2026, both platforms have updated their entry-level tiers.

• BigCommerce: Plans start at $39/month (Standard). A major “catch” is the annual sales limit. If you cross $50,000 in yearly sales on the Standard plan, you are automatically upgraded to the Plus plan ($105/mo).

• Shopify: Plans also start at $39/month (Basic). Unlike BigCommerce, Shopify has no sales limits. You can sell $1 million on the Basic plan if you choose, though you’ll likely want to upgrade to the Grow ($105/mo) or Advanced ($399/mo) plans for better reporting and lower transaction rates.

2. Transaction Fees and Payment Flexibility

This is where the math gets tricky.

• BigCommerce: Known for its “no transaction fees” policy. You can use almost any payment gateway (Stripe, PayPal, Adyen) without paying a penalty to BigCommerce.

• Shopify: Encourages you to use Shopify Payments. If you do, there is 0% transaction fee. However, if you insist on using a third-party processor, Shopify charges a “tax” of 0.2% to 2% depending on your plan.

3. Ease of Use (The Learning Curve)

• Shopify: Widely considered the “Apple” of e-commerce. Its interface is incredibly intuitive, and its new AI Sidekick helps beginners set up stores using natural language.

• BigCommerce: Offers more power out-of-the-box, but the dashboard is more complex. While it has improved its “Page Builder” (drag-and-drop), it still feels more “technical” and may require a bit more time to master.

4. Design and Customization

First impressions matter. The “Theme” market has exploded recently.

• Shopify: Now offers over 1,000+ premium themes and about 12-15 highly polished free themes. Because Shopify is so popular, it is much easier to find affordable freelance designers to customize your site.

• BigCommerce: Offers around 200+ themes. While fewer in number, many BigCommerce themes are built for massive catalogs (thousands of products) and are extremely stable.

5. Native Features vs. App Reliance

• BigCommerce: The “Everything Included” platform. It includes features like professional reporting, ratings/reviews, and complex product variants natively. You rarely need to buy extra apps.

• Shopify: Follows a “Lean” philosophy. The base platform is simple, and you add what you need via the Shopify App Store, which now boasts over 8,000+ apps.

Note: Be careful with Shopify; “app-creep” can quickly drive your $39 monthly bill to $300+ if you aren’t careful.

6. Trial Periods and Entry Deals

• BigCommerce: Generally offers a standard 15-day free trial.

• Shopify: While their official trial is 3 days, they frequently run a “$1 for 3 months” promotion. This has become their most popular entry point, allowing you to build your store for 90 days for almost nothing.

7. Real-Time Shipping Quotes

• BigCommerce: This is a standout feature. Even on the $39 Standard plan, you get real-time carrier shipping quotes (UPS, FedEx, etc.).

• Shopify: Previously, this was only for “Advanced” users. Today, it is more accessible, but to get the best rates and automated carrier integration, you typically need the Grow plan or higher.

8. Multi-Channel & POS (Point of Sale)

• Shopify: The king of “Omnichannel.” If you have a physical “brick-and-mortar” shop, Shopify’s POS system is world-class and perfectly synced. They view the online store as just one of many places you sell (TikTok, Instagram, Amazon, Physical Store).

• BigCommerce: Has caught up significantly and now offers Multi-Storefront (MSF), allowing you to manage multiple brands or international stores from one single login—a feature Shopify usually reserves for its “Plus” (Enterprise) users.

9. SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

• BigCommerce: Historically has a slight edge here. It allows for more flexible URL structures and has better “out-of-the-box” SEO settings.

• Shopify: Has closed the gap significantly. While it used to be rigid with URL structures (like /products/ in every link), it now offers enough flexibility for 99% of businesses to rank on Page 1 of Google.

10. Ecosystem and Community

• Shopify: The ecosystem is massive. If you have a problem, there are millions of YouTube videos, forum posts, and experts ready to help. It’s hard to get “stuck.”

• BigCommerce: Smaller but more dedicated. Their support is often cited as being more “human” and accessible for mid-market businesses that need a dedicated account manager.

Final Verdict: Which should you choose?

• Choose Shopify if: You are a beginner, a lifestyle brand, or a business that wants to sell heavily on social media and in-person. It is the easiest to scale aesthetically.

• Choose BigCommerce if: You have a massive product catalog, you hate being forced to use specific payment processors, or you are a B2B business that needs complex features without paying for extra apps.