BigCommerce — BigCommerce is an open SaaS ecommerce platform for fast-growing and mid-market brands. It works best for Mid-market ecommerce merchants avoiding Shopify transaction fees and B2B merchants needing price lists, purchase orders, and customer groups.
Shopify — Shopify is a leading global commerce company providing trusted ecommerce platforms. It works best for Direct-to-consumer brands launching their first online store and Dropshippers managing multiple supplier catalogs.
This comparison covers pricing, key strengths and limitations, and what each tool does best to help you choose the right fit for your workflow.
Quick Comparison
Feature
BigCommerce
Shopify
Rating
4.5 / 5
4.8 / 5
Pricing Model
Paid
Paid
Starting Price
$29/mo
$29/mo
Category
Ecommerce & Monetization
Ecommerce & Monetization
Free Plan
✗ No
✗ No
Pros & Cons
BigCommerce
Pros
No transaction fees on any plan — unlike Shopify's 0.5-2% fee on non-Shopify Payments
Headless commerce support connects BigCommerce backend to custom Next.js or Gatsby frontends
B2B features (price lists, purchase orders, net payment terms) included on Enterprise plan
Native multi-currency with local payment method support for international merchants
Cons
Revenue-based plan upgrades force tier change when annual GMV exceeds plan threshold
Fewer app integrations than Shopify — 1,500 vs 8,000+ available apps
Learning curve steeper than Shopify for merchants without prior ecommerce platform experience
Shopify
Pros
Fully hosted platform — no server management, security patching, or performance optimization required from the merchant
Shopify Payments eliminates third-party transaction fees; 100+ payment gateways supported for international expansion
App marketplace with 8,000+ integrations covers subscriptions, loyalty programs, advanced analytics, and international shipping
Point-of-sale system included — syncs online and in-person inventory in real time for omnichannel retailers
Cons
Transaction fees apply on every sale unless using Shopify Payments, which is unavailable in several countries
Shopify scores 4.8/5 vs BigCommerce's 4.5/5 in our editorial ratings, making it the higher-rated option overall. Shopify is especially strong for Direct-to-consumer brands launching their first online store.
Which is cheaper, BigCommerce or Shopify?+
BigCommerce starts from $29/mo. Shopify starts from $29/mo. Neither tool offers a free plan — visit each pricing page for current rates.
What is the main difference between BigCommerce and Shopify?+
BigCommerce is an open SaaS ecommerce platform for fast-growing and mid-market brands. Shopify is a leading global commerce company providing trusted ecommerce platforms. The key distinction is focus: BigCommerce is best suited for Mid-market ecommerce merchants avoiding Shopify transaction fees, while Shopify works better for Direct-to-consumer brands launching their first online store.
Verdict
Recommended choice
Shopify
Based on our editorial ratings, Shopify scores higher (4.8/5 vs 4.5/5). Shopify is particularly well-suited for Direct-to-consumer brands launching their first online store. That said, BigCommerce remains a strong choice if mid-market ecommerce merchants avoiding shopify transaction fees is your priority.