Shopify vs BigCommerce
A head-to-head comparison for 2026 -- pricing, features, and which is better for different use cases.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Shopify | BigCommerce |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $39/mo | $39/mo |
| Free Plan | 3-day trial | 15-day trial |
| Transaction Fee | 0% (Shopify Pay) / 2% without | 0% on all plans |
| Products | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Channels | Online, social, POS | Online, social, marketplaces |
| Best For | Most online stores | High-volume + B2B stores |
Shopify -- Overview
Shopify has the largest app ecosystem in e-commerce (8,000+ apps), the most mature multichannel selling (Instagram, TikTok, Amazon, POS), and the strongest brand recognition. Shopify Payments eliminates transaction fees. The platform is designed for merchants who want a simple path from idea to selling store.
At $39/month (Basic), Shopify is competitively priced. The 2% transaction fee on non-Shopify-Payments orders incentivizes using their payment processor. Most stores end up paying more than $39/month once they add essential apps -- reviews, upsells, email marketing -- that BigCommerce includes natively.
BigCommerce -- Overview
BigCommerce includes more features natively than any competitor. Multi-storefront support, headless commerce API, B2B edition, product variants (up to 600 vs Shopify's 100), and 0% transaction fees on every plan regardless of payment processor. Enterprise features at small business pricing.
At $39/month (Standard), BigCommerce matches Shopify's price while including features Shopify charges for via apps. The app ecosystem is smaller (1,000+ vs 8,000+) but you need fewer apps because more is built in. For high-volume stores, the 0% transaction fee saves significant money -- a store processing $50K/month saves $1,000/month vs Shopify's 2% non-Shopify-Payments fee.
Key Differences
Ecosystem vs built-in features. Shopify's advantage is its massive app ecosystem and multichannel reach. BigCommerce's advantage is native features that Shopify charges for via apps. Shopify wins on breadth and simplicity. BigCommerce wins on out-of-the-box capability and transaction fee savings.
Transaction fees are the hidden cost difference. BigCommerce charges 0% on all plans regardless of payment processor. Shopify charges 0% with Shopify Payments but 0.5-2% with other processors. For stores using Stripe, PayPal, or other processors, BigCommerce saves money on every transaction. For stores happy with Shopify Payments, the difference is zero.
B2B and headless commerce favor BigCommerce. BigCommerce's B2B Edition handles customer-specific pricing, quote management, and purchase orders. The headless commerce API is more mature and flexible. For B2B or headless architectures, BigCommerce is the stronger choice. For standard D2C stores, Shopify's simplicity wins.
The Verdict
Choose Shopify for the largest app ecosystem, best multichannel selling, and simplest merchant experience. Best for D2C stores that want the easiest path to selling. Choose BigCommerce for more native features, 0% transaction fees on all plans, and stronger B2B and headless commerce support. Best for high-volume stores and B2B operations.