BigCommerce vs Shopify: Honest Comparison (2026)
VS
👑
Shopify
WINNER★8.7/10
The all-in-one commerce platform to start, run, and grow a business
From $39/mo
Visit Shopify ↗🏆Shopify wins with 8.7/10 — leading by 0.7 points
TL;DR
Shopify wins this comparison with a score of 8.7/10 vs 8.0/10. Choose BigCommerce for features, or Shopify for its strengths.
BigCommerce and Shopify are two of the top hosted e-commerce platforms, each enabling businesses to build and scale online stores without managing servers. BigCommerce differentiates itself with more built-in features and no transaction fees, while Shopify leads with its massive app ecosystem, brand recognition, and ease of use. This comparison helps you choose the platform that best fits your e-commerce strategy.
Key Differences at a Glance
Built-in Features
✓BigCommerce: More features included natively
Shopify: Core features plus app reliance
Transaction Fees
✓BigCommerce: Zero transaction fees
Shopify: 0-2% unless using Shopify Payments
App Ecosystem
BigCommerce: Moderate app selection
✓Shopify: 8000+ apps
Quick Verdict
Choose BigCommerce if you want more built-in features out of the box, zero transaction fees on any payment gateway, and strong multi-channel and B2B capabilities. Choose Shopify if you value the largest app ecosystem, the most polished user experience, and the broadest range of themes and integrations.
Overall Score Comparison
8.0
BigCommerce
0 categories won
VS
8.7
Shopify
3 categories won
Category
BigCommerce
Shopify
🏆Overall Score
8.0
▶
▲
8.7
💫Ease of Use
7.5
▶
▲
9.0
⚙Features
8.5
=
8.5
💰Value for Money
7.5
=
7.5
💬Customer Support
8.0
▶
▲
8.5
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | BigCommerce | Shopify |
|---|---|---|
| Core | ||
| Built-in Features | More features included natively | Core features plus app reliance |
| Pricing | ||
| Transaction Fees | Zero transaction fees | 0-2% unless using Shopify Payments |
| Ecosystem | ||
| App Ecosystem | Moderate app selection | 8000+ apps |
| Design | ||
| Themes | Good free and paid themes | Largest theme marketplace |
| Enterprise | ||
| B2B Features | Built-in B2B edition | Shopify Plus B2B features |
| UX | ||
| Ease of Use | Slightly steeper learning curve | Most intuitive interface |
| Marketing | ||
| SEO | Excellent built-in SEO tools | Good SEO with some URL limitations |
| Selling | ||
| Multi-Channel | Strong native multi-channel | Extensive multi-channel via apps |
| Technical | ||
| API & Headless | Strong headless commerce API | Hydrogen and headless options |
| Retail | ||
| POS | Third-party POS integration | Shopify POS (native) |
Pricing Comparison
| Pricing Feature | BigCommerce | Shopify |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Starting Price | $39/mo | $39/mo |
| Free Trial | 15 days | 3 days |
| Number of Plans | 3 | 4 |
| Value Rating | 7.5/10 | 7.5/10 |
BigCommerce Plans
Standard
$39/mo- \u2713Unlimited products
- \u2713No transaction fees
- \u2713Multi-channel selling
PlusPOPULAR
$105/mo- \u2713Everything in Standard
- \u2713Customer groups
- \u2713Abandoned cart saver
Pro
$399/mo- \u2713Everything in Plus
- \u2713Google customer reviews
- \u2713Custom SSL
Shopify Plans
Basic
$39/mo- \u2713Online store
- \u2713Unlimited products
- \u27132 staff accounts
- \u2713Shipping discounts up to 77%
- +1 more
ShopifyPOPULAR
$105/mo- \u2713Everything in Basic
- \u27135 staff accounts
- \u2713Professional reports
- \u2713Lower transaction fees
- +1 more
Advanced
$399/mo- \u2713Everything in Shopify
- \u271315 staff accounts
- \u2713Advanced report builder
- \u2713Third-party calculated shipping
- +1 more
Plus
$2300/mo- \u2713Everything in Advanced
- \u2713Unlimited staff
- \u2713Shopify Flow
- \u2713Launchpad
- +1 more
Which Should You Choose?
Choose BigCommerce if...
Businesses wanting built-in features without extra apps,Sellers wanting zero transaction fees with any gateway,B2B sellers needing wholesale pricing and quote management,Multi-channel sellers on Amazon eBay and social,Businesses that prefer fewer third-party dependencies
Choose Shopify if...
Businesses wanting the largest app and theme ecosystem,Sellers prioritizing ease of use and fast setup,Brands wanting extensive point-of-sale integration,Dropshipping businesses needing supplier app integrations,Businesses wanting the broadest community and support resources
Still not sure?
Explore alternatives and pricing for both tools.
Frequently Asked Questions
Shopify invested heavily in marketing, partnerships, and community building. BigCommerce is equally capable technically but has a smaller brand presence. This does not reflect product quality ??? many enterprise sellers prefer BigCommerce.
BigCommerce has a slight edge in SEO with fully customizable URLs, automatic sitemaps, and built-in microdata. Shopify has URL structure limitations (like mandatory /collections/ and /products/ prefixes) but is still very good for SEO.
BigCommerce includes more features natively than Shopify, reducing app dependency. Features like product ratings, faceted search, and real-time shipping quotes are built in, while Shopify typically requires apps for these.
Both handle high volume well. BigCommerce has no revenue caps on standard plans, while Shopify may require Shopify Plus for very high-volume stores. BigCommerce also includes more enterprise features on lower tiers.
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The Bottom Line
Shopify edges out BigCommerce with a 8.7/5 vs 8/5 rating — a moderate edge.
Choose BigCommerce if you want more built-in features out of the box, zero transaction fees on any payment gateway, and strong multi-channel and B2B capabilities. Choose Shopify if you value the largest app ecosystem, the most polished user experience, and the broadest range of themes and integrations. Ultimately, Shopify offers a moderate edge overall, but BigCommerce may still be the better pick depending on your specific priorities and budget.