BigCommerce
Shopify
| Feature | BigCommerce | Shopify |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | From $39/mo | From $39/mo |
| Free Plan | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Rating | 4.2 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 |
| Best For | mid-market-retailers, b2b-commerce, multi-channel-sellers, growing-brands | ecommerce, dtc-brands, dropshippers, small-businesses |
| Founded | 2009 | 2006 |
| Online Store | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multi Channel | ✓ | ✗ |
| B2b | ✓ | ✗ |
| Headless Api | ✓ | ✗ |
| Seo | ✓ | ✗ |
| Multi Storefront | ✓ | ✗ |
| Analytics | ✓ | ✓ |
| Payments | ✗ | ✓ |
| Shipping | ✗ | ✓ |
| Pos | ✗ | ✓ |
| Marketing | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ BigCommerce Pros
- No transaction fees on any plan
- Built-in B2B/wholesale features
- Multi-storefront from one dashboard
- Headless commerce with API flexibility
✗ BigCommerce Cons
- Annual revenue caps force plan upgrades
- Theme customization requires code
- App ecosystem smaller than Shopify
✓ Shopify Pros
- Easy to set up
- Huge app store
- Great themes
- POS included
✗ Shopify Cons
- Transaction fees
- Limited without apps
- Theme customization limits
The Verdict
BigCommerce is built for mid market retailers and b2b commerce, with a focus on online-store and multi-channel. Shopify targets ecommerce and dtc brands and leads with online-store and payments.
Both tools come in at similar price points ($39/mo for BigCommerce, $39/mo for Shopify), so pricing won't make the decision for you.
Neither tool offers a free plan, so factor the subscription cost into your decision from the start.
Feature-wise, BigCommerce offers broader built-in capabilities (7 features vs 6), while Shopify takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
Bottom line: Shopify has a slight overall edge — but if no transaction fees on any plan matters most to you, BigCommerce may still be the right call.