BigCommerce vs. Shopify: A Side-by-Side Comparison

BigCommerce vs Shopify: Which Platform Wins? eCommerce isn’t just the future—it’s the backbone of global retail today. In 2025, Shopify powers approximately 27% of all eCommerce websites worldwide, while BigCommerce holds around 3.2% of the global platform market share. With millions of eCommerce sites competing for customer attention, choosing the right platform is no longer just a technical decision. It’s a growth strategy.

In this comparison, we’ll break down how BigCommerce and Shopify stack up on built-in features, scalability, design flexibility, and ease of use. This side-by-side look will help both fast-growing DTC brands and established B2B retailers make a confident and informed choice for their next stage of growth.

What is Shopify? Shopify describes itself as “a complete commerce platform that lets you start, grow, and manage a business.” It enables merchants to build and customize an online store and sell across multiple channels, including web, mobile, in person, brick-and-mortar locations, pop-up shops, social media, and online marketplaces.

Shopify is a fully hosted, cloud-based solution delivered as Software as a Service (SaaS). With SaaS platforms , businesses pay a monthly subscription that varies based on the plan and selected features. This model removes the need for server maintenance and software updates, allowing merchants to focus on running and growing their store.

The Pros and Cons of Shopify Shopify offers a user-friendly interface, a wide selection of professionally designed templates, the flexibility to create custom designs, and 24/7 customer support. These features make it an attractive option for many online retailers.

However, the platform does have drawbacks. Transaction fees can be high, and certain regulated industries may face restrictions or be unable to sell their products on Shopify.

Shopify Pricing Plans Shopify offers a straightforward tiered pricing model, along with two additional options: the enterprise-level Shopify Plus and the lightweight Shopify Lite plugin that integrates with an existing site.

Basic

For solo entrepreneurs

$39 USD/mo

Grow For small teams

$105 USD/mo

Advanced As your business scales

$399 USD/mo

Plus

For more complex businesses

$2,300 USD/mo

Prices current as of early 2025. Always check Shopify’s pricing page for the latest rates.

Transaction fees range from 2 percent down to 0.5 percent depending on your plan, unless you use Shopify Payments. Credit card processing with Shopify Payments typically costs 2.9% + 30¢ per online transaction. Many third-party apps also carry their own monthly fees, some $10–$15 or more. For high-volume or regulated-market sellers, it’s important to weigh these ongoing costs against the platform’s value and feature set.

What is BigCommerce? BigCommerce describes itself as “helping merchants sell more at every stage of growth, from small startups to mid-market businesses, to large enterprises. As a leading Open SaaS solution, BigCommerce empowers merchants to build, innovate, and grow their businesses online.” Founded in 2009, it now serves tens of thousands of ecommerce merchants in more than 150 countries.

The platform supports multi-storefront selling in over 100 currencies and more than 100 languages, making it a strong choice for globally scaling businesses. Merchants can choose from fully customizable, pre-built themes or use the drag-and-drop builder without needing coding skills. This is especially valuable for smaller teams without in-house developers. BigCommerce also allows the sale of regulated, legal products without the restrictions found on some other platforms.

With its combination of global reach, flexible design options, and transparent pricing, BigCommerce remains a major contender in the eCommerce platform market.

BigCommerce Pricing Plans BigCommerce aligns closely with Shopify on base plan costs, but it stands out by charging no transaction fees. That means retailers keep more of their revenue, regardless of payment provider. For larger businesses, the Enterprise plan offers custom pricing based on annual online sales.

Credit card processing fees still apply, typically ranging from 2.05% to 2.59% + 49¢ per transaction, depending on the payment processor.

Standard For individuals and small brands

$29 USD/mo

Plus For ambitious small businesses

$79 USD/mo

Pro For fast-growing businesses

$299 USD/mo

Enterprise

For established businesses

Custom pricing and terms

Prices current as of 2025. Always check BigCommerce pricing for the most up-to-date rates.

A UI/UX Comparison of Shopify and BigCommerce When evaluating any eCommerce platform, two key factors to consider are the user interface (UI) and the user experience (UX). The UI refers to the tools, layout, and navigation used by the retailer on the backend. A well-designed UI is simple, intuitive, and helps store owners manage their site efficiently, ultimately supporting higher sales conversions.

UX takes a broader view. It encompasses the overall customer journey—from finding products to completing a purchase—and includes competitive analysis, identifying customer pain points, and ensuring every touchpoint aligns with the brand’s goals, mission, and values.

The Shopify UI/UX One example of how UI impacts UX is a platform’s point-of-sale (POS) system. Shopify enables retailers to manage products, payments, and customers across all sales channels, both in-store and online. The POS app can be customized to improve checkout speed on the sales floor or while selling on the go.

Features include barcode scanning with any iOS device, the ability to save and retrieve carts, staff roles and permissions for B2B transactions, and low stock alerts. These tools help create a smooth and efficient experience for both the retailer and the customer.

The BigCommerce UI/UX BigCommerce takes a more flexible approach to POS. Retailers can use BigCommerce as the central hub for inventory and orders, while connecting the POS system that best meets their needs. This flexibility allows businesses to choose their preferred provider and control related costs.

BigCommerce does offer its own POS option, but there is no requirement to use it. Merchants can integrate with third-party solutions to align with their sales strategy and budget.

Sales Limits of Shopify vs. BigCommerce When choosing a platform, it’s important to ask about sales limits—will you be required to upgrade as your store grows?

BigCommerce sets annual sales thresholds for each plan. For example, the Standard plan requires an upgrade once your store reaches $50,000 in online sales. This is not an immediate cutoff. Merchants receive a grace period until they exceed 1,000–2,000 orders above the limit (depending on the plan) over a 12-month period. In many cases, upgrading can be beneficial, as higher-tier plans unlock features that support scaling businesses.

Shopify has no formal sales limits. You can remain on your current plan regardless of revenue. However, a growing store (especially one operating across multiple channels, languages, or currencies) will eventually need the tools and performance available on higher plans to maintain a smooth customer experience and profitable operations.

TL;DR Shopify and BigCommerce share many core features, but there are key differences to consider. Base pricing is similar, yet BigCommerce often delivers better value by avoiding transaction fees. Its customization options and flexibility make it a strong choice for merchants with specific design or operational needs. BigCommerce also stands out for its robust UI and UX, especially for larger or rapidly scaling businesses.

Ready to make the move to BigCommerce? Our team designs, builds, and optimizes eCommerce stores that drive results. As a certified BigCommerce partner, we’ll help you create a site that’s scalable, conversion-focused, and built to perform from day one.

Related Articles