Shopify dominates the market with 28% of all e-commerce sites and simpler setup, while BigCommerce offers more advanced built-in features like multi-channel selling and better for enterprises requiring customization without coding.
BigCommerce vs Shopify — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Enterprise-focused e-commerce platform with native multi-channel and B2B capabilities.
Cloud-based SaaS e-commerce platform with managed hosting and user-friendly interface.
Market Share. Starting Monthly Cost. Built-in Sales Channels. Product Catalog Limit. Transaction Fees (if using own payment processor). Native Multi-vendor/B2B Features. Setup Complexity for Beginners
Choose Shopify if you're a beginner or small business prioritizing ease of use, fast setup, and extensive app ecosystem—it's the most accessible platform. Choose BigCommerce if you're scaling an enterprise, need native B2B/multi-vendor features, built-in multi-channel selling, or want advanced functionality without paying for 100+ apps.
BigCommerce: $29.95/month (Standard) | Shopify: N/A
BigCommerce: 2,100+ reviews | Shopify: N/A
BigCommerce: Native B2B with wholesale pricing and bulk ordering | Shopify: N/A
BigCommerce: Amazon, eBay, Shopify, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and more | Shopify: N/A
BigCommerce: Advanced APIs with GraphQL, full headless commerce | Shopify: N/A
BigCommerce: Multi-coupon stacking, promotion banners, bulk coupon management, automation workflows | Shopify: N/A
BigCommerce: 21-45 days | Shopify: 7-14 days
BigCommerce: 1,500+ apps | Shopify: 6,000+ apps
BigCommerce: Extensive native features included | Shopify: Moderate; app-dependent for advanced needs
BigCommerce: Superior API access with full headless commerce | Shopify: Good GraphQL API; limited headless options
BigCommerce: $20M+ GMV (optimal fit) | Shopify: $0-20M GMV (optimal fit)
BigCommerce: High; requires technical expertise | Shopify: Low; point-and-click setup
BigCommerce: Unlimited (100M+) | Shopify: N/A
BigCommerce: 1-3 days | Shopify: 30-60 minutes
BigCommerce: 600+ apps | Shopify: 10,000+
BigCommerce: 24/7 (168 hours) | Shopify: 24/7 dedicated support team
BigCommerce: $29.95/month | Shopify: $39/month
BigCommerce: Generous/Unlimited | Shopify: N/A
BigCommerce: Comprehensive (All plans) | Shopify: N/A
BigCommerce: More technical, steeper curve | Shopify: N/A
BigCommerce: Small to enterprise | Shopify: N/A
BigCommerce: $29.95-$299.95 | Shopify: N/A
BigCommerce: 130+ pre-built | Shopify: Hosting, SSL, domain, support included
BigCommerce: 500K+ (tested) | Shopify: N/A
BigCommerce: Moderate (API-driven, template modifications) | Shopify: 6 (limited to Liquid)
BigCommerce: 8,000+ Certified Partners | Shopify: N/A
BigCommerce: Fully managed (99.99% SLA) | Shopify: N/A
BigCommerce: Minimal (non-technical users OK) | Shopify: N/A
BigCommerce: $5,000-$15,000 | Shopify: N/A
BigCommerce: 250 calls/15sec | Shopify: N/A
Monthly Transaction Processing Limit (Entry Plan)
BigCommerce: 135+ gateways | Shopify: N/A
BigCommerce: 40,000 requests/hour | Shopify: 2 requests/second (standard)
BigCommerce: 100+ | Shopify: ~300 (optimized for sales)
BigCommerce: Advanced (multi-location, variants, SKU tracking) | Shopify: N/A
BigCommerce: Amazon, eBay, Walmart, Facebook native | Shopify: N/A
BigCommerce: Requires CSS knowledge for advanced customization | Shopify: N/A
BigCommerce: $29.95/month | Shopify: N/A
BigCommerce: Unlimited | Shopify: Unlimited
BigCommerce: 5-7 days | Shopify: 2-3 days
BigCommerce: ~600 apps | Shopify: ~8,000+ apps
BigCommerce: Yes (built-in) | Shopify: No (requires apps)
BigCommerce: Yes (301 redirects, structured data, XML control) | Shopify: Limited (basic automation)
BigCommerce: Unlimited | Shopify: Unlimited (pricing tier independent)
BigCommerce: Amazon, eBay, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Shopify (4+ native) | Shopify: N/A
BigCommerce: Full REST API with custom code | Shopify: N/A
BigCommerce: 8-12 hours (technical setup) | Shopify: N/A
BigCommerce: $29.99/month | Shopify: N/A
BigCommerce: 100+ native integrations | Shopify: N/A
BigCommerce: 500 official apps | Shopify: N/A
BigCommerce: 2-4 hours (assisted setup) | Shopify: N/A
BigCommerce: 0% (no platform fees) | Shopify: 2.0-2.9%
BigCommerce: Standalone platform (not WordPress-dependent) | Shopify: N/A
BigCommerce: $500,000+ (Enterprise capable) | Shopify: N/A
BigCommerce: $79.95/month | Shopify: $105/month
BigCommerce: 0% (if using own gateway) | Shopify: 2.9% + 30¢ (Shopify Payments)
BigCommerce: 50+ native channels | Shopify: 6-8 native, 120+ via apps
BigCommerce: 24-48 hours | Shopify: 1-2 hours
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: 4.6 Million+
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: 2.0% (third-party gateways) / 0% (Shopify Payments)
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: Fully Managed SaaS
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: Native AI-driven commerce agents built-in
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: 200+ templates
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: Phone, Email & Chat
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: Yes ($2,300+/month)
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: 0 (self-driven)
Typical Seller Monthly Revenue Threshold
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: $5,000+ (lower barrier)
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: 0% (on Shopify Payments)
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: Advanced (Liquid code access)
Base Monthly Subscription (Starter Plan)
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: Included in subscription
Monthly Active Buyers (Marketplace Access)
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: Self-driven traffic
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: 2.9% + $0.30
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: Zero (must generate own traffic)
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: 5 days (with traffic setup)
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: Complete (10/10)
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: 100% direct access to customer emails and data
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: Unlimited products
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: 2.9% + $0.30 (Shopify Payments)
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: Extensive (9/10)
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: Self-generated
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: All product types
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: $100-150 (optional)
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: ~30% of all online stores
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: $5 (Starter plan minimum)
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: 2.7% + $0.30
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: 10+ (online store, POS, social, marketplace, B2B, wholesale)
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: Unlimited with advanced sync
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: $5 (Starter Plan)
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: $5-39 (all-inclusive)
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: Hours to 1 day
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: Separate subscriptions required
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: $2,300+ (Shopify Plus enterprise)
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: Ongoing regular updates
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: $105 (Shopify Plan)
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: $2,300+ (Shopify Plus)
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: None (paid plans only)
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: Mobile-optimized by default
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: 6 (Liquid templating limits)
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: Shopify manages all compliance
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: $468 + transaction fees ($2,900)
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: 6,800 verified apps
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: 1-2 hours to launch
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: Theme/app API limited (Liquid template language)
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: Level 1 (fully managed)
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: Full REST & GraphQL APIs
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: 100+ sales channels (Amazon, Facebook, TikTok, eBay, etc.)
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: Included in all plans
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: $348-3,588/year
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: 99.99% guaranteed
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: Built-in tools with limitations on code-level access
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: Possible but complex; vendor lock-in concerns exist
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: 0% (Shopify Payments)
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: $468 (plan) + $0 (fees)
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: Must drive own traffic
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: 100% - you own all customer records
Profit Margin Retention (Example: $100 sale)
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: $71 (after $29 monthly allocation)
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: Unlimited - custom domain, full HTML/CSS
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: 2-4 hours (24/7 chat)
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: 0.3-0.7 (2-5 days)
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: 2 (minimal technical knowledge)
BigCommerce: N/A | Shopify: 100+ (Shopify Plus)
How to choose between BigCommerce and Shopify
BigCommerce vs Shopify — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for BigCommerce vs Shopify. Contains 180 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
BigCommerce vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for BigCommerce vs Shopify.
BigCommerce is cheaper if you need multi-channel selling or B2B features—the $29.95 entry price and 0% transaction fees save thousands annually compared to Shopify's $39 base + 2.9% transaction fees + 10+ paid apps ($100-300/month). However, Shopify can be cheaper for single-channel micro-merchants with <$20K annual revenue who don't need additional features.
Can I switch from Shopify to BigCommerce later?
Yes, but it requires migration. Both platforms offer data export tools, and migration services exist, though you'll need to reconfigure apps, themes, and workflows. BigCommerce has native import tools that make Shopify migrations smoother than reverse migrations.
Which is better for selling on Amazon and eBay simultaneously?
BigCommerce wins decisively. It has native Amazon and eBay integration with inventory sync built-in. Shopify requires separate apps like Sellfy or Simprosys (costing $30-99/month each) to achieve the same functionality.
Shopify offers 24/7 live chat support across all plans. BigCommerce offers 24/7 phone/chat support only on plans $79.95+. Shopify's support is faster (average 2-minute response) while BigCommerce averages 5-10 minutes, though both have strong ratings (Shopify 4.8/5, BigCommerce 4.6/5 on Trustpilot).
Which platform scales better for large enterprises?
BigCommerce is purpose-built for enterprise scale with native B2B, wholesale, and multi-vendor support that don't require app dependencies. Shopify requires 15+ apps for equivalent enterprise features, creating fragility and higher costs ($200-400/month in app subscriptions). For stores exceeding $1M annual revenue, BigCommerce's 0% transaction fees provide significant savings.
How to Choose Between BigCommerce and Shopify
Market Share: BigCommerce has 2.2% of e-commerce sites, while Shopify has 28% of e-commerce sites.
Starting Monthly Cost: BigCommerce has $29.95, while Shopify has $39.
Built-in Sales Channels: BigCommerce has 50+ integrations (Facebook, Amazon, eBay, Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest), while Shopify has 120+ apps required for same functionality.
Product Catalog Limit: BigCommerce has Unlimited products on all plans, while Shopify has Unlimited products on all plans.
Consider: Transaction Fees (if using own payment processor)
Transaction Fees (if using own payment processor): BigCommerce has 0%, while Shopify has 0%.
Consider: Native Multi-vendor/B2B Features
Native Multi-vendor/B2B Features: BigCommerce has Built-in B2B, wholesale, and multi-vendor support, while Shopify has Requires third-party apps ($50-300/month).
Consider: Setup Complexity for Beginners
Setup Complexity for Beginners: BigCommerce has Steeper learning curve, requires more configuration, while Shopify has Drag-and-drop simplicity, fastest setup (under 1 hour).