Shopify vs BigCommerce: 2025 Comparison

If you're planning to launch an ecommerce store, you'll soon have to face a serious dilemma: BigCommerce vs Shopify – which one should you choose?

Here at ecommerce-platforms.com, we've been living and breathing ecommerce ever since we created the site back in 2012.

We've tested dozens of different ecommerce tools and solutions over the years, which has given us a detailed perspective on what's available out there and what the users are most likely to resonate with.

Quick Answer: Shopify wins overall — it's better for serious growth, bigger stores, and long-term scaling.

BigCommerce is solid for smaller stores and merchants who want 0% transaction fees, but it falls short in performance and features when you dig deeper.

I’ve spent years building ecommerce businesses and testing just about every major platform out there. Shopify and BigCommerce are always two of the top contenders in the space, and for good reason — both are built for selling online.

But if you're stuck choosing between them, it's not as close a race as it seems on the surface.

I tested both platforms hands-on, digging into setup, sales features, templates, apps, and support.

In this breakdown, I’ll walk you through what matters most and show you which platform gives you more leverage to grow your store.

Quick Verdict

Shopify is best for:

• Businesses that want to scale fast
• Stores with large inventories
• Sellers needing robust multichannel features
• Anyone wanting powerful automation and AI tools

BigCommerce is best for:

• Smaller or niche businesses
• Merchants looking to avoid transaction fees
• Brands that want built-in features instead of relying on apps

Both platforms can get the job done, but Shopify consistently comes out on top where it really matters — sales tools, usability, integrations, and marketing features.

Shopify vs BigCommerce: Feature Comparison

Feature	Shopify	BigCommerce
Overall Rating	4.8/5	4.0/5
Starting Price	$29/month	$29/month
Free Trial	3 days + $1/mo for 3 mo	15-day free trial
Payment Gateways	100+	65+
Transaction Fees	Yes (unless using SP)	None
Templates	190+	150+
Built-in AI Tools	Shopify Magic	BigAI Copywriter
App Store	8,000+ apps	~1,200 apps
Best For	Scaling and enterprise	Small to mid-sized biz

Pricing: It's a Draw — But Shopify's Deal Is More Flexible

When I look at pricing, both Shopify and BigCommerce follow nearly identical structures.

They start at $29/month and scale up to $299/month across their core plans, making them some of the more premium platforms on the market.

Here’s a side-by-side breakdown of the pricing tiers:

Plan Tier	Shopify Pricing	BigCommerce Pricing
Entry-Level	Basic – $29/month	Standard – $29/month
Mid-Tier	Grow – $79/month	Plus – $79/month
High-Tier	Advanced – $299/month	Pro – $299/month
Trial/Promo	3-day trial + $1/month for 3 months	15-day free trial

Shopify’s Pricing:

• Basic: $29/month
• Shopify: $79/month
• Advanced: $299/month
• Promotional offer: First 3 months for $1/month (after a 3-day free trial)

BigCommerce’s Pricing:

• Standard: $29/month
• Plus: $79/month
• Pro: $299/month
• Trial: 15-day free trial with no credit card required

Both platforms sit at the higher end of the ecommerce builder spectrum, especially compared to budget-friendly options like GoDaddy or Squarespace. But you’re also getting enterprise-level features that match those higher costs.

What stands out about Shopify is the onboarding flexibility. Their $1/month deal gives you three months to set up, test, and even start selling without committing to the full monthly price. That’s a great buffer if you're building from scratch or trying to validate your product.

BigCommerce gives you more time upfront with a 15-day trial, which helps if you want to explore the platform without rushing. It’s also useful for agencies or devs who are testing setups for clients.

Where things start to differ is transaction fees. Shopify charges fees unless you use their native Shopify Payments gateway:

• Shopify Payments (US only): No additional fees
• Third-party gateways (e.g., PayPal, Stripe): Up to 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction on the Basic plan

BigCommerce, on the other hand, has a clear edge here. You can use any payment gateway you like without getting hit with extra fees from the platform itself.

This becomes a major factor if your store does high volume through Stripe or other external processors.

Key Considerations:

• Shopify's $1/month deal is great for new stores or side hustles in build mode
• BigCommerce's zero transaction fees give you more margin if you're already selling
• Both have similar base pricing, but app and feature costs can add up depending on your setup

Verdict: Tie

Both offer strong value, but if you're budget-conscious and expect low-volume sales, BigCommerce might save you money on transaction fees.

If you want a deal to get started fast or you're building something from scratch, Shopify wins with the $1/month offer. It comes down to what phase your business is in and where your margins are tightest.

Selling Tools: Shopify Is Built for Real Growth

Sales features can make or break an ecommerce platform, and from my experience, Shopify simply does more here — especially if you’re managing a large inventory, planning to scale quickly, or want automation that just works out of the box.

Both platforms offer core ecommerce tools like inventory management, discount creation, and abandoned cart recovery.

But Shopify’s ecosystem around those tools feels more refined and powerful — particularly when speed and efficiency matter.

Shopify’s standout tools:

• Shopify Magic: Built-in AI that automatically generates product descriptions with suggested keywords and tone
• Abandoned cart recovery: Available on all paid plans, including the entry-level one
• Flexible discount engine: Create offers based on collections, order value, customer groups, or product tags
• 100+ payment options: Includes Shopify Payments, Shop Pay, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay
• Point-of-sale system: Seamlessly connects online and in-person sales, ideal for hybrid retailers
• Inventory sync: Real-time syncing between channels (Amazon, Instagram, TikTok, etc.)

Shopify also gives you sales analytics and performance dashboards by default. It’s easy to track what’s working and pivot without needing external tools right away.

BigCommerce matches some of that:

• BigAI Copywriter: Their version of product description AI, introduced in 2024. Helpful, but not as seamless or context-aware as Shopify Magic
• Multichannel capabilities: Sell across Facebook, Amazon, Instagram
• Advanced filtering: Set up product categories and customer groups for segmentation
• Zero transaction fees: This directly impacts margins if you’re doing volume

BigCommerce does a solid job with multichannel selling and includes some built-in sales tools, especially for product variations and B2B setups. But in practice, it takes longer to configure and feels less guided than Shopify.

Here’s a quick head-to-head on the key sales tools:

Feature	Shopify	BigCommerce
AI Copywriting	Shopify Magic (built-in)	BigAI Copywriter (limited)
Abandoned Cart Recovery	Included on all plans	Included on Plus+ plans
Discount Engine	Highly flexible	Good, but less customizable
Multichannel Selling	Native integrations	Native integrations
Payment Options	100+	65+
POS Integration	Included	Requires external setup

What I noticed testing both: Shopify lets me move faster. The interface, the integrations, and the automation make daily tasks feel effortless. BigCommerce delivers similar features, but many of them require more manual setup or third-party apps to reach the same level.

For example, with Shopify, I was creating discounts and syncing my inventory with TikTok in a few clicks. BigCommerce required a bit more configuration and trial-and-error to get the same outcomes.

Verdict: Shopify wins

Shopify’s sales tools, automation, and integrations give you a serious edge once orders start rolling in. It’s simply more polished, more efficient, and easier to scale with — especially when time and resources are tight.

Payment Processing: BigCommerce Saves You Fees, Shopify Gives You More Choice

When it comes to processing payments, both platforms offer solid options — but they take very different approaches.

Shopify supports over 100+ payment gateways, including their own built-in processor, Shopify Payments.

This gives you flexibility, global coverage, and native features like Shop Pay, which speeds up checkout and improves conversion rates for returning customers. If you're using Shopify Payments, you also avoid additional transaction fees from Shopify itself.

BigCommerce offers around 65 payment integrations, covering major processors like PayPal, Stripe, Authorize.net, and others.

It’s slightly more limited in terms of geographic and niche processor support, but it has one major advantage: BigCommerce doesn’t charge any transaction fees — no matter which provider you choose.

Shopify Payment Fees:

• Basic Plan: 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction (if not using Shopify Payments)
• Shopify Plan: 2.6% + 30¢
• Advanced Plan: 2.4% + 30¢
• Using Shopify Payments: Avoids additional platform fees, but standard credit card rates still apply

BigCommerce Payment Fees:

• Transaction Fees: 0% (platform-level)
• You only pay standard gateway processing fees, such as Stripe or PayPal rates (e.g., 2.9% + 30¢)

That 2% difference in fees on Shopify’s side adds up quickly when you’re moving volume. For example, at $10,000 in monthly sales using PayPal, Shopify could cost an extra $200 compared to BigCommerce — unless you're exclusively using Shopify Payments.

Here’s how it compares:

Payment Feature	Shopify	BigCommerce
Number of Gateways	100+	~65
Native Payment Processor	Shopify Payments	None
Platform Transaction Fees	0% with Shopify Payments, up to 2% otherwise	0% on all plans
Accelerated Checkout	Shop Pay	PayPal One Touch (via PayPal)
Multi-Currency Support	Built-in	Built-in

Where Shopify shines is in checkout experience. Shop Pay is smooth, pre-filled, and conversion-boosting. It also works with accelerated checkouts across Instagram, Facebook, and Google.

If you're building a brand focused on mobile traffic and conversion rate optimisation, that matters.

But if your margins are tight and you’re pushing higher volumes through Stripe or PayPal, those platform transaction fees on Shopify start to eat into profits unless you switch everything over to Shopify Payments — which may not be available in all countries or suit every business model.

A few questions to consider:

• Are you using PayPal or Stripe as your primary gateway?
• Is Shopify Payments available in your country?
• Would Shop Pay make a noticeable difference to your conversion rate?

Verdict: BigCommerce wins

If fee savings are your priority, BigCommerce clearly has the advantage. It gives you full freedom to use any gateway without cutting into your margins. Shopify only closes that gap if you're using Shopify Payments — and even then, you’re still paying standard credit card rates.

App Ecosystem: Shopify Has the Numbers, BigCommerce Has the Essentials

Shopify’s app store is massive — over 8,000 apps — covering everything from upsells and loyalty programs to dropshipping, fulfillment, accounting, and customer reviews.

This gives you endless flexibility to customize your store, automate workflows, and plug into virtually any marketing or logistics stack.

But that flexibility comes with a trade-off. Many core functions that you’d expect to be built-in often require third-party apps — and some of those come with monthly fees. That means you’ll likely spend more over time if you want advanced functionality or automation.

BigCommerce, on the other hand, has a smaller app library with around 1,200 apps, but more functionality comes baked into the platform.

You don’t need apps for things like:

• Product reviews
• Unlimited staff accounts
• Real-time shipping quotes
• Customer groups and segmentation

This makes BigCommerce a cleaner setup for store owners who don’t want to be overwhelmed with app choices or ongoing plugin costs.

Key app types in Shopify’s ecosystem:

• Klaviyo: Email marketing and segmentation
• ReConvert: Checkout upsells and thank you page optimization
• Judge.me / Loox: Visual product reviews
• DSers / Spocket / Oberlo (legacy): Dropshipping integrations
• Yotpo / LoyaltyLion: Loyalty and referral programs
• PageFly / Shogun: Custom landing pages and design tweaks

A lot of these tools are Shopify-first, meaning they launch on Shopify first or offer deeper integrations compared to BigCommerce. That’s a big deal if you're relying on best-in-class software to scale your store.

Here’s a quick breakdown:

Feature Category	Shopify	BigCommerce
App Library Size	8,000+ apps	~1,200 apps
Built-in Essentials	Minimal	Product reviews, staff, shipping
Cost of Advanced Features	Often paid (third-party)	More included by default
Shopify-First Integrations	Yes (Klaviyo, ReConvert, etc.)	Limited or slower to launch
Developer Community	Large and active	Smaller ecosystem

BigCommerce’s approach works well if you want to keep things lean and avoid app fatigue. But the moment you need to extend your store — with SMS, advanced analytics, loyalty, or personalization — Shopify gives you the tools and partners to do it.

Verdict: Shopify wins

The ecosystem is more mature and broader in scope. The trade-off is that you’ll likely pay for more apps over time, but you’ll unlock deeper functionality and tighter integrations that can drive serious growth.

Marketing + SEO: Shopify Gives You the Advantage

Marketing is where Shopify really shines. Whether you're running email campaigns, promoting on social media, or trying to rank higher on Google, Shopify gives you more tools right out of the box — all tightly integrated into the dashboard.

Shopify Marketing Tools:

• Shopify Email: Create and automate branded email campaigns without leaving the platform
• Social Selling: Direct integrations with TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube Shopping
• Shopify Marketplace Connect: Sync your listings with Amazon, Walmart, and eBay
• SEO Booster App: Developed in partnership with Semrush to give stores a full SEO audit and actionable recommendations
• Built-in blog system: With categories, tags, and SEO metadata support

What makes a difference in practice is the ease of use. I could launch a campaign, post a product to TikTok, and schedule abandoned cart emails — all without touching a plugin.

BigCommerce covers the basics but leaves a lot to third-party tools or custom setups.

BigCommerce Marketing Tools:

• Built-in banners and coupon tools
• Newsletter integration: Requires plugins or external apps
• Abandoned cart emails: Included only on mid-tier plans and up
• SEO features: Includes sitemaps, URL control, and alt text editing
• Limited native social selling options: You’ll rely on third-party integrations for most marketplaces

The gap becomes more noticeable with SEO. Shopify has better URL structure, easier redirects, and built-in support for image optimization and structured data.

With the Semrush integration, you also get access to keyword analysis and content planning — something BigCommerce doesn't offer natively.

Feature	Shopify	BigCommerce
Built-in Email Marketing	Yes (Shopify Email)	No (requires app)
Social Channel Integrations	TikTok, Meta, Google, YouTube	Limited
Marketplace Syncing	Amazon, eBay, Walmart	Possible via third-party apps
SEO Support	Semrush Booster App, blog, metadata	Basic on-page SEO tools
Abandoned Cart Emails	All plans	Plus plan and higher

If your marketing stack includes content, email, SEO, social ads, and marketplaces — Shopify handles all of that more natively and with less friction.

And because their app store includes marketing-first partners like Klaviyo, Omnisend, and Google Ads integration, your growth toolkit is already connected.

Verdict: Shopify wins

Shopify is ahead when it comes to building traffic and converting visitors. From SEO and email to TikTok and Amazon listings, it gives you more ways to promote your brand without patching together disconnected tools.

It’s a better long-term bet for content-driven, SEO-heavy, or performance marketing–focused brands.

Ease of Use: Shopify Is Just Simpler

I’ve set up stores on both platforms more times than I can count. And if there’s one thing that stood out every time, it’s this: Shopify is smoother from start to finish.

The setup feels faster, the layout is cleaner, and nothing feels buried.

Shopify onboarding:

• Asks a few simple questions (what you’re selling, where you’re selling)
• Instantly creates a backend tailored to your store type
• Provides a 13-step launch checklist with action items and guidance
• Clear next steps: add a product, select a theme, set up checkout

BigCommerce onboarding:

• Requires more initial details (name, store type, phone number)
• Setup felt slower and less intuitive
• First-time experience includes a 4-step checklist, which felt a bit too light for beginners
• Navigating between features (like design or tax settings) wasn’t as straightforward

When I landed in the admin panels, the difference was obvious. Shopify’s dashboard feels like it was built for merchants who want to get moving fast. Everything from adding products to installing apps is labelled, searchable, and easy to follow.

BigCommerce has definitely improved over the past few years — the interface is cleaner now, and there’s more guidance than there used to be.

But compared to Shopify, it still feels clunky, especially when jumping between advanced settings or configuring third-party integrations.

Feature	Shopify	BigCommerce
Onboarding Speed	Quick and guided	Slower and more detailed
Setup Checklist	13 steps	4 steps
Navigation	Clean and intuitive	Can be disjointed
Learning Curve	Beginner-friendly	Takes more trial and error

Verdict: Shopify wins

Shopify removes more friction during setup and day-to-day tasks. It saves time and lets you focus on selling instead of learning where things are buried.

Themes + Templates: Shopify Has the Edge in Style and Range

Visual presentation can make or break a store’s credibility. And in this department, Shopify offers more style, more variety, and more industry-specific layouts.

Shopify Theme Overview:

• 190+ total templates
• 13 free themes
• Premium themes range from $100 to $500 (one-time)
• Designed with conversion in mind (clean layouts, fast load times, mobile-optimised)

BigCommerce Theme Overview:

• 150+ templates
• 12 free themes
• Premium themes range from $100 to $400
• Focused more on utility and function than visual polish

Both platforms use a section-based editor, not a true drag-and-drop builder. You can reorder content blocks and add standard modules, but the level of visual freedom is still somewhat limited unless you get into custom code.

Where Shopify pulls ahead is polish.

The templates are modern, responsive, and purpose-built for niches like apparel, electronics, beauty, and food. Customising colours, fonts, and page layouts also feels faster — the preview window updates live, and it’s easier to keep brand consistency.

Theme Feature	Shopify	BigCommerce
Total Templates	190+	150+
Free Options	13	12
Premium Theme Cost	$100–$500	$100–$400
Customiser Usability	Easier	More technical
Visual Design Quality	More modern and stylish	More functional and plain

Verdict: Shopify wins

If you care about the way your store looks and want a wide range of well-designed, mobile-ready options, Shopify is the better option — especially for consumer-facing brands.

Customer Support: Shopify Has Broader Options

When you hit a wall — whether it’s during setup, launch, or while troubleshooting orders — fast, helpful support matters. And in my experience, Shopify offers more ways to get help, more depth in its resources, and a stronger community around it.

Shopify Support:

• 24/7 live chat assistant, which connects to a human advisor if needed
• Phone support (available for Shopify Plus merchants)
• Massive Help Center with guides, how-tos, video walkthroughs, and business tips
• Community forums, email marketing advice, and partner tutorials
• Active support across social channels: Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok

BigCommerce Support:

• Phone support available on all plans
• Live chat and email via ticket/contact form
• Helpful but smaller knowledge base
• Fewer onboarding tutorials and walkthroughs
• Less social engagement from the support team

The Help Center content on Shopify is also more actionable. I’ve found it easier to search for terms, follow step-by-step instructions, and solve issues without having to open a support ticket. BigCommerce has solid support agents, but its content library doesn’t go as deep.

Support Channel	Shopify	BigCommerce
24/7 Chat	Yes	Yes
Phone Support	Plus plan only	All plans
Help Center	Extensive, with video + guides	Moderate depth
Social Media Help	Multiple platforms	Limited
Community Forum	Active and broad	Smaller community

Verdict: Shopify wins

Shopify simply has more support resources, and in my experience, the Help Center answers were more detailed and actionable. When things go wrong or you need fast direction, that makes a big difference.

International Features: Both Do the Job, but Shopify Has the Edge

If you’re selling internationally, you’ll need tools that help you localise the buying experience — everything from currencies to translated storefronts.

What both platforms offer:

• Multi-currency checkout
• International shipping integrations
• Language translation capabilities
• Tax and shipping rules for multiple regions

Shopify adds:

• Shopify Markets: Built-in tool to manage international pricing, tax, domains, and language switching in one place
• Automatic language redirection based on user browser settings
• Support for 30+ languages with localised URLs
• Advanced multi-region domain routing to optimise SEO

BigCommerce does let you set up currencies and manage exchange rates manually, which gives you more control — but also more complexity. It’s a bit more hands-on compared to Shopify’s all-in-one approach.

International Feature	Shopify	BigCommerce
Multi-Currency Support	Built-in with auto-conversion	Manual setup
Language Translations	Over 30 languages supported	Supported via apps
Regional SEO Tools	Yes, with Shopify Markets	Limited
Custom Pricing by Region	Yes	Requires custom logic
Domain Redirection	Automatic	Manual

Verdict: Shopify wins

It’s easier to manage an international site on Shopify — especially if you're using Shopify Markets. Everything’s built to scale across regions with less hassle, which matters if global traffic is part of your growth plan.

Shopify vs BigCommerce – Video Version

Final Verdict: Which Should You Choose?

Both platforms are capable ecommerce solutions — but they serve different use cases.

If you’re just looking for a simple ecommerce platform with no transaction fees, BigCommerce can absolutely get the job done. It’s functional, flexible, and priced right for merchants who want to avoid third-party fees and keep their setup lean.

But if you're serious about growing a real ecommerce business, Shopify is the platform you want to build on. It outperforms in critical areas like:

• Sales features
• App ecosystem
• SEO and marketing tools
• Globalisation
• Customer support
• Theme quality
• Usability

Here’s what I’d recommend based on store type:

• New to ecommerce or running a smaller store? Try BigCommerce if transaction fees are your biggest concern and you want more built-in tools without apps.
• Planning to scale fast, automate processes, or need best-in-class tools? Go Shopify.
• Running a global brand with complex logistics or multiple currencies? Shopify is the stronger long-term fit.

I’ve worked with clients on both platforms, and Shopify consistently delivers better results — especially once you’re past the MVP stage and ready to grow.

Whether it’s conversions, automation, or user experience, Shopify gives you more leverage as your store scales.