Similar prices on paper. Very different stores in practice.
Shopify and BigCommerce charge similar monthly prices. Shopify wins on apps, ecosystem and ease. BigCommerce includes more features out of the box, especially for B2B and complex catalogs, but ties your plan to how much you sell.
Our bias, declared
We work with Shopify brands most of the time, and we think Shopify is the safer default for most direct-to-consumer stores. BigCommerce deserves a serious look if you sell B2B, have large or complex catalogs, or want more built-in features without stacking paid apps. Read BigCommerce's plan limits closely. Its tiers are tied to your trailing 12-month online sales, so growth can force an upgrade.
Side by side
| Factor | Shopify | BigCommerce |
|---|---|---|
| Price, billed yearly | About $29, $79 or $299 a month | About $29, $79 or $299 a month on comparable tiers |
| Plan limits | Plans aren't capped by sales volume | Tiers tied to trailing 12-month online sales; growth can force an upgrade |
| Payment fees | No extra fee with Shopify Payments; 0.6%-2% extra with other processors | No platform fee with approved payment providers; fees may apply with others |
| Built-in features | Lean core, many features added through apps | More features included, like product options and B2B tools |
| App ecosystem | Very large app store | Smaller app marketplace |
| Ease of use | Very easy for small teams | Easy, with more settings to learn |
| B2B and wholesale | Strong on Shopify Plus | B2B tools available across more plans |
| Themes and design | Large theme store and design community | Smaller theme selection |
Choose shopify when
You're a DTC brand
Shopify's checkout, apps and marketing integrations are built for brands selling directly to consumers through ads, email and social.
You want the biggest ecosystem
Shopify has one of the largest ecosystems of apps, themes, agencies and developers, which makes hiring and extending easier.
You expect fast growth
Shopify's plans don't cap your sales volume, so a breakout month doesn't force a plan change.
Choose bigcommerce when
You sell B2B or wholesale
BigCommerce includes B2B features like customer groups and price lists on more plans, which can save on apps or a move to an enterprise tier.
Your catalog is large or complex
Stores with many variants, product options and custom fields often find BigCommerce handles them with fewer workarounds.
You want fewer paid apps
More built-in features can mean fewer monthly app subscriptions, which helps keep total cost predictable.
What each really costs
Both platforms charge roughly $29, $79 and $299 a month billed yearly for their main tiers, and both offer enterprise plans priced by quote.
The difference is in the fine print. Shopify adds 0.6%-2% per order if you don't use Shopify Payments. BigCommerce ties each plan to your trailing 12-month online sales, and recent changes lowered those limits and added fees for some payment providers. Check current terms before you commit.
Apps change the total. Shopify stores often pay for several apps each month. BigCommerce includes more features, which can lower app spend, but its smaller ecosystem can mean custom development for niche needs.
Related questions
Plan prices are similar. BigCommerce can cost less if its built-in features replace paid Shopify apps. It can cost more if your sales growth pushes you into a higher tier sooner than you planned.
Other comparisons
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