Overview of Shopify and BigCommerce
Shopify and BigCommerce are two major ecommerce platforms designed for creating and managing online stores. Shopify is known for its user-friendly interface and extensive app ecosystem. It targets small businesses, startups, and scaling brands, with an enterprise offering called Shopify Plus.
BigCommerce also serves a range of businesses but appeals especially to fast-growing and larger merchants with more built-in features and its BigCommerce Enterprise solution. Both platforms support online retailers at any growth stage, making the Shopify vs BigCommerce decision crucial for cost, flexibility, and long-term scalability.
Key Takeaways
- Shopify charges extra transaction fees if you use payment gateways other than Shopify Payments, while BigCommerce does not.
- BigCommerce includes more advanced features on lower tiers; Shopify often requires paid apps for similar capability.
- Both platforms are PCI DSS compliant and support unlimited products, but BigCommerce allows unlimited staff accounts on all plans.
- Shopify and BigCommerce both offer extensive ecosystem support but differ in how add-ons and features are accessed.
| Feature | How Shopify handles it | How BigCommerce handles it | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plan pricing | Starts at $39/month; three tiers (Basic, Shopify, Advanced) | Starts at $39/month; Standard, Plus, Pro tiers | Both: Small to midsize businesses |
| Transaction fees | Fees apply if not using Shopify Payments | No additional fees for any gateway | BigCommerce: Lower-cost payment processing |
| Staff accounts | Limits on lower tiers; more on higher plans | Unlimited on all plans | BigCommerce: Larger teams |
| Product & sales limits | Unlimited products; sales caps may apply | Unlimited products and sales | BigCommerce: High-volume stores |
| Advanced features | Many require paid apps | Included (e.g., real-time shipping, gift cards) | BigCommerce: Out-of-the-box functionality |
| PCI DSS / SSL | Compliant; SSL included | Compliant; SSL included | Both: Secure online selling |
Pricing Structures Compared
Both Shopify and BigCommerce start at $39/month for their entry-level plans. Shopify offers three main tiers: Basic, Shopify, and Advanced. Advanced features such as reporting and extra staff accounts are only available on higher Shopify plans.
BigCommerce’s Standard, Plus, and Pro plans follow similar pricing but provide more advanced features as standard. Transaction fees are a crucial difference: Shopify charges transaction fees on all sales made through external gateways, unless you use Shopify Payments. BigCommerce, in contrast, does not charge extra transaction fees, regardless of gateway or processor. This policy can have a notable impact on your total cost if you don’t use Shopify Payments as your processor.
Product, Sales, and Staff Limits
Both platforms support unlimited products in your store catalog. However, Shopify may apply sales caps with its native payment gateway, and the number of allowed staff accounts increases as you move up in plan tiers.
BigCommerce supports unlimited staff accounts and does not place sales volume restrictions on any of its plans. Both offer advanced reporting, but these tools are available only on higher-tier plans for each service.
Payment Gateways and Transaction Fees
Shopify allows a wide range of payment gateways through its ecosystem, but you’ll pay additional transaction fees unless using Shopify Payments. This can add substantial costs for merchants preferring another payment processor.
BigCommerce is more flexible: it does not impose any additional transaction fees, regardless of which payment gateway you select. For stores with high transaction volumes or unique payment needs, BigCommerce’s approach leads to better pricing predictability.
Security and Compliance Measures
Shopify and BigCommerce are both PCI DSS compliant by default and provide SSL certificates on all plans. This ensures sensitive payment data is protected and helps maintain customer trust. No explicit information is available about either platform supporting HIPAA compliance for health data–if that’s relevant to your business, you’ll need to confirm with each provider.
Key Feature Differences
Shopify stands out for its vast Shopify App Store, allowing users to expand and customize almost any part of their store. But many advanced features—like real-time shipping rates or gift cards on lower plans—require add-ons, which can add to your costs.
BigCommerce, by contrast, includes more robust features as standard. Real-time shipping rates, gift cards, and other tools are included even on lower-priced plans. This can reduce your dependency on third-party apps, streamlining store management and potentially lowering long-term expenses.
Customization, Themes, and Templates
Both Shopify and BigCommerce offer a variety of themes and templates to help you launch a visually appealing storefront. Shopify’s theme selection is larger, with an active marketplace and a straightforward editor. Extensive community and developer support make customizations relatively accessible. Theme modifications in Shopify are generally handled through its Liquid templating language.
BigCommerce also provides a range of responsive themes suitable for various industries. Its theme engine is flexible, allowing for further customizations through HTML, CSS, and its own styling options. Both platforms let you tailor the storefront experience, though Shopify’s larger template market may be an advantage if you’re seeking highly customized designs.
Multi-Channel Selling and Mobile Responsiveness
Shopify and BigCommerce both offer strong support for multi-channel selling, including integration with social media platforms, marketplaces, and point-of-sale systems. This flexibility lets you engage customers wherever they shop.
Mobile responsiveness is a priority for both platforms, with modern themes that adapt well to any device. This ensures a smooth experience for shoppers and efficient store management for owners working on-the-go.
Choosing the Right Platform for Your Needs
Shopify may be the better choice if you value an extensive app ecosystem, want access to thousands of templates, or desire flexibility as your business expands. However, prepare for possible extra costs for advanced features and transaction fees if you don’t use Shopify Payments.
BigCommerce is well suited for growing merchants who need comprehensive features out-of-the-box, unlimited staff, and cost predictability with no transaction fees. It’s also appealing to larger teams and businesses with complex catalog or sales needs.
Consider your priorities—ongoing costs, included features versus expansion with apps, and the size of your team—when choosing between Shopify and BigCommerce.
Conclusion
Both Shopify and BigCommerce are robust ecommerce platforms, each with distinct strengths. Shopify’s app marketplace and customization flexibility are hard to match, while BigCommerce provides more features natively and a more predictable pricing model. Assess your payment gateway needs, feature preferences, and team size to find the best fit for your business.
Which is better for large businesses: Shopify or BigCommerce?
BigCommerce is often better for large businesses due to unlimited staff accounts and more built-in features, reducing reliance on third-party apps and keeping long-term costs predictable.
What are the main differences in pricing between Shopify and BigCommerce?
Both start at $39/month, but Shopify charges extra transaction fees unless you use Shopify Payments. BigCommerce does not charge additional fees for using external gateways, making it more cost-effective for some.
How do Shopify and BigCommerce compare on security and compliance?
Both are PCI DSS compliant and include SSL certificates on all plans. HIPAA compliance is not publicly specified by either provider.
Which platform offers better integrations with third-party services?
Shopify, via the Shopify App Store, offers more integrations and apps, but BigCommerce also offers strong ecosystem support through the BigCommerce Marketplace. The best choice depends on your integration needs.
How do Shopify and BigCommerce handle transaction fees?
Shopify imposes fees if not using Shopify Payments; BigCommerce does not charge additional transaction fees regardless of the payment gateway.
Can I migrate easily from Shopify to BigCommerce or vice versa?
Migration is possible in both directions but may require the use of third-party tools or technical support to transfer products, orders, and customer data accurately.
What are the pros and cons of using Shopify vs BigCommerce?
- Shopify pros: Extensive app marketplace, flexible design, strong support. Cons: Transaction fees (unless using Shopify Payments), reliance on apps for advanced features.
- BigCommerce pros: More built-in features, no transaction fees, unlimited staff. Cons: Fewer themes, may require more setup for extensive customization.