Shopify vs. BigCommerce
Shopify and BigCommerce are website-building platforms designed primarily to help businesses create online stores and manage sales. Users often compare them for their ecommerce tools, design options, payment support, and ability to grow with a business.
The right choice depends on your needs. Compare their features, pricing, ease of use, customization options, and integrations to see which platform best fits your budget and selling plans.
Shopify VS BigCommerce: Which tool is the most popular?
| Tool | Reviews | Average rating | Positive reviews | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shopify | 110 | 1.24 | 10 (9%) | Most reviewed, but least favorably rated; 97 reviews were negative. |
| BigCommerce | 94 | 3.22 | 58 (62%) | Fewer reviews, but higher-rated and more positively received. |
Summary: Shopify is the most reviewed tool, while BigCommerce appears more popular with reviewers overall based on its higher average rating and larger share of positive reviews. Shopify is the least favorably received.
Shopify and BigCommerce: Quick Comparison Overview
I can’t perform a live web search in this chat, so this overview reflects established product positioning; features and plan limits may change.
| Ahrefs | Semrush | |
|---|---|---|
| Primary features | Backlink and competitor analysis; keyword research; site audits; rank tracking; content research. | SEO and competitor research; keyword tools; site audits; rank tracking; plus PPC, local SEO, social, and content-marketing tools. |
| Target audience | SEO specialists, content teams, link builders, and agencies focused on organic search. | SEO teams, agencies, and businesses seeking a broader digital-marketing toolkit. |
| Main advantages | Strong backlink research and a focused workflow for analyzing search performance and content opportunities. | Broad coverage across SEO and adjacent marketing channels, with tools for managing more of the marketing workflow in one platform. |
| Core value proposition | Find opportunities to grow organic traffic through links, keywords, and content insights. | Plan, analyze, and manage digital marketing across SEO, paid search, local, social, and content. |
| Ideal use cases | Backlink prospecting, competitor SEO analysis, keyword discovery, and content planning. | Coordinating SEO with PPC or other marketing activities; agency and multi-channel campaign research. |
Most liked vs most disliked features of Shopify and BigCommerce
| Platform | Overall sentiment | What users appreciate | Common concerns |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shopify | Mixed, with notable frustration around support and account or payment issues. | Users describe the platform as easy to navigate and value its broad range of built-in features, particularly for new store owners. | Reviews frequently criticize customer support for slow or unhelpful responses. Others report account-access problems, payment holds, unexpected charges, and poor responses to scams involving stores on the platform. |
| BigCommerce | Generally positive, with some requests for improved features and a smoother user experience. | Users praise its ease of setup, helpful technical support, customization options, API access, and PageBuilder. They also value its support for B2B and B2C businesses, different product types, inventory management, and mobile eCommerce. | Users note limitations in configurable products, geo-targeting, and some integrations, as well as opportunities to improve checkout and order-management transparency. Some advanced features take time to learn. |
Key Features of Shopify vs BigCommerce
Shopify vs. BigCommerce for website building
| Brand | Key features | How they benefit users | What stands out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shopify | Store themes and visual customization | Lets merchants create a branded storefront without building a site from scratch. | Shopify combines the storefront with its broader commerce platform, so products, orders, payments, and store management live in one ecosystem. |
| Commerce features built into the site | Users can build a store designed to sell, rather than a general-purpose website: product pages and checkout are part of the platform. | The close integration between the website and Shopify’s commerce tools is a central strength. | |
| Business tools | Shopify’s tools can help with tasks such as naming a business, creating a logo, generating a domain name, and calculating prices or profits—useful when setting up or running a store. | Its tools page offers a collection of utilities alongside the website and commerce platform. | |
| Apps and integrations | Merchants can add capabilities as their needs grow, rather than relying only on the built-in feature set. | Shopify’s large app ecosystem gives users many ways to extend a store. | |
| BigCommerce | Page Builder visual editor | Enables users to make storefront changes visually, helping teams build and update pages without coding every change. | BigCommerce highlights Page Builder as a way to customize storefront content within its commerce platform. |
| Themes and storefront customization | Gives merchants a starting design they can adapt to their brand and products. | BigCommerce pairs visual site building with options for more customized storefront development. | |
| APIs and headless commerce options | Developers can connect the commerce backend to a separately built front end, offering more control over the customer-facing site. | This flexibility can suit businesses that need a custom or multi-channel storefront. | |
| B2B and multi-storefront capabilities | Supports businesses with more complex selling needs, such as serving different customer groups or managing multiple storefronts. | BigCommerce’s product page emphasizes capabilities for scaling and more complex commerce operations. |
In short: Shopify is a strong fit for users who want a tightly integrated store-building and selling experience, with a broad app ecosystem and supplementary business tools. BigCommerce stands out for visual page building plus flexibility for more customized, B2B, or multi-storefront setups.
Sources: Shopify tools · BigCommerce product features
Feature availability can vary by plan and configuration.
Shopify vs BigCommerce Pricing Comparison
Prices are in U.S. dollars. Annual prices are monthly equivalents billed yearly; taxes, payment-processing fees, and optional add-ons may apply.
Shopify pricing
| Plan | Month-to-month | Annual billing | Main differences |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $5/month | No annual price listed | For selling through social media, messaging apps, or simple product links. Includes a basic online storefront, but not the full store-building and management features of the higher plans. |
| Basic | $39/month | $29/month ($348 billed yearly) | Full online store for solo entrepreneurs. Includes 2 staff accounts, basic reports, and standard store features. U.S. online card rates start at 2.9% + 30¢. |
| Grow (formerly Shopify) | $105/month | $79/month ($948 billed yearly) | Adds capacity for a small team, with 5 staff accounts and standard reports. U.S. online card rates start at 2.7% + 30¢. |
| Advanced | $399/month | $299/month ($3,588 billed yearly) | For businesses with more complex needs. Includes 15 staff accounts, advanced reports, and third-party calculated shipping rates. U.S. online card rates start at 2.5% + 30¢. |
| Plus | Starts at $2,500/month on a 1-year term | Starts at $2,300/month on a 3-year term | Enterprise plan with features such as checkout customization, B2B capabilities, organization management, and expansion stores. Pricing and terms depend on the contract. |
BigCommerce pricing
| Plan | Month-to-month | Annual billing | Main differences |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | $39/month | $29/month ($348 billed yearly) | Core ecommerce features, unlimited products and staff accounts, professional reporting, real-time shipping quotes, and coupons, discounts, and gift cards. Includes up to $50,000 in online sales per year. |
| Plus | $105/month | $79/month ($948 billed yearly) | Adds customer groups and segmentation, abandoned-cart recovery, persistent carts, and stored credit cards. Includes up to $180,000 in online sales per year. |
| Pro | $399/month | $299/month ($3,588 billed yearly) | Adds features such as product filtering and Google customer reviews. Includes up to $400,000 in online sales per year; higher sales can increase the price. |
| Enterprise | Custom quote | Custom quote | For larger businesses needing tailored capabilities, support, and commercial terms. Pricing is not publicly listed. |
Trials, discounts, and pricing differences
| Detail | Shopify | BigCommerce |
|---|---|---|
| Annual discount | The listed annual rates for Basic, Grow, and Advanced are about 25% lower than month-to-month billing. | The listed annual rates for Standard, Plus, and Pro are about 25% lower than month-to-month billing. |
| Free trial or promotion | Shopify advertises a 3-day free trial and may offer a promotional period, such as $1/month for the first 3 months. Promotions can change. | BigCommerce offers a 15-day free trial. |
| Sales-based price limits | The listed plans are not presented with the same public annual-sales thresholds as BigCommerce’s Standard, Plus, and Pro plans. | Standard, Plus, and Pro have annual online-sales thresholds; exceeding a plan’s limit can affect the required plan or price. |
| Transaction fees | Shopify’s card-processing rates vary by plan. Additional transaction fees may apply when using a third-party payment provider rather than Shopify Payments. | BigCommerce says it does not charge additional platform transaction fees. Payment-provider processing fees still apply. |
Sources: Shopify pricing · BigCommerce pricing
Support Options Comparison: Shopify vs BigCommerce
| Support option | Shopify | BigCommerce |
|---|---|---|
| Live chat | Offers 24/7 chat support through its Help Center. Customers are guided through the support flow, which may ask them to sign in and describe the issue. | Offers live chat support through its Support Center. Support access and options may vary by account or plan. |
| Phone support | Does not list phone support as a standard customer-support channel; its main route is online chat. | Provides phone support, alongside online support channels. Customers can use the Support Center to find the relevant contact option. |
| Documentation | The Help Center includes searchable guides and troubleshooting information for setting up and running a store. | The Support Center provides product documentation and troubleshooting articles in a searchable knowledge base. |
| Additional resources | Shopify also offers community resources and learning materials, including courses and tutorials through Shopify Academy. | BigCommerce supplements support with learning resources such as webinars, tutorials, and community materials. |
| Overall | Strongest for self-service guidance and round-the-clock online chat; phone support is not listed. | Offers a broader mix of direct contact channels, including phone support, as well as documentation and learning resources. |
Unique Features of Shopify Vs BigCommerce
| Brand | Features uncommon in a general-purpose website builder | Added value—and why they may decide the choice |
|---|---|---|
| Shopify | A broad set of free business tools: Shopify’s tools page includes utilities such as a business-name generator, logo maker, QR-code generator, invoice generator, and profit-margin calculator. | These can help a seller handle early business tasks without sourcing each tool separately. That is useful for someone launching a store who values practical commerce support as well as a site-building interface. The tools are largely standalone utilities, however, rather than proof that every function is built into the store platform. |
| BigCommerce | B2B commerce capabilities: The product page presents features for business-to-business selling, a more specialized set of workflows than most general website builders provide. | Businesses selling to other businesses may need account-based purchasing, negotiated pricing, or more involved buying processes. Native B2B capabilities can reduce reliance on custom development or separate systems. |
| BigCommerce | Multi-storefront management: BigCommerce supports managing multiple storefronts from a shared commerce setup. | A retailer can run separate storefronts—for example, for different brands, regions, or customer groups—without managing each as an entirely separate operation. This can be a deciding factor for businesses expanding beyond one site or market. |
| BigCommerce | Headless commerce and open APIs: The product page highlights options for connecting BigCommerce’s commerce backend to a separately built front end. | This gives teams more control over the customer-facing experience and lets them use different front-end technologies. It matters most when a business has unusual design, performance, or integration needs that a standard website-builder template cannot easily accommodate. |
| BigCommerce | Commerce-focused omnichannel and international selling: BigCommerce promotes selling across channels and markets as part of its product offering. | Centralizing commerce across more than one channel or market can make expansion easier than assembling separate tools for each one. It is particularly relevant to retailers with complex catalog, inventory, or regional requirements. |
Sources: Shopify tools · BigCommerce product features
Most frequently asked questions about Shopify vs BigCommerce
Which is easier to use for building an online store, BigCommerce or Shopify?
Shopify is generally the easier starting point for beginners: reviewers often praise its guided setup and straightforward store editor. BigCommerce is also capable, but feedback more often describes its dashboard and range of settings as taking longer to learn. If you want to get a polished store running quickly, Shopify may feel simpler; if you’re comfortable with a more feature-dense interface, BigCommerce is worth considering. This is a summary of common review themes, not a verbatim quotation.
Which platform offers better website design and templates?
Shopify is often favored for its accessible theme editor and large selection of themes, including many polished designs. BigCommerce offers flexible, commerce-focused themes, but reviewers sometimes find that fine-tuning a design requires more technical effort. Both can create professional storefronts; compare the specific themes you like and check whether the layout changes you need are available without code.
Which is better for customizing a website without coding?
Shopify tends to suit users who want to make common storefront edits through a visual editor, although advanced changes can still require code or an app. BigCommerce provides extensive controls, but review feedback often notes that its options can feel less intuitive at first. For either platform, complex layouts or highly specific functionality may call for developer help.
Which platform has stronger ecommerce features built in?
BigCommerce is often praised for including a broad range of commerce tools in the platform, which can reduce reliance on add-ons for some stores. Shopify is also a strong ecommerce platform, but reviewers frequently point to its app ecosystem when discussing how to extend store functionality. The better choice depends on your needs: compare the built-in features you’ll actually use with the cost and upkeep of any apps you may need.
Which is more affordable: BigCommerce or Shopify?
There isn’t one universally cheaper option. Reviewers comparing costs often note that Shopify’s total can rise when a store adds paid apps or themes, while BigCommerce plan limits and pricing should be checked against the store’s sales volume and requirements. Shopify may also charge transaction fees when using certain third-party payment providers; fees depend on the plan, location, and payment setup. Compare current plan prices, payment-processing costs, and required add-ons for your own scenario.
Which platform has more apps and integrations?
Shopify is commonly recognized by reviewers for its large app marketplace and broad choice of integrations. BigCommerce also supports integrations and offers substantial built-in functionality, but users may find fewer options for some specialized needs. Before choosing, check whether the tools you already use—such as accounting, shipping, marketing, or inventory software—integrate with your preferred platform, and whether the integration has extra fees.
Which is better for SEO and attracting organic traffic?
Both platforms provide core SEO features, including editable page metadata and tools for managing storefront content. Review feedback tends to focus less on a decisive platform winner and more on the work needed to produce good results: site speed, useful product descriptions, clean navigation, and quality content. BigCommerce is sometimes praised for its built-in commerce and SEO controls, while Shopify is often described as straightforward to manage; either can support an effective SEO strategy.
Which platform is better for a growing or large online store?
Both can support growing businesses, but they approach store management differently. BigCommerce is often considered attractive to merchants seeking extensive native commerce features, while Shopify is frequently praised for its ecosystem and ease of expanding through apps and services. Reviewers also flag the importance of checking plan limits and likely costs as a business grows. Estimate your catalog size, order volume, integrations, and operational needs before deciding.
Which has better customer support, BigCommerce or Shopify?
Support experiences vary by issue and customer, so reviews don’t point to a guaranteed winner. Users of both platforms report valuing access to help when store setup, payments, or integrations cause problems; some reviews also describe delays or difficulty resolving more complex cases. Compare the support channels and availability included with the plans you’re considering, and look at recent reviews that match your region and type of issue.
Should I choose BigCommerce or Shopify for my website builder?
Choose Shopify if ease of setup, a large app ecosystem, and a beginner-friendly editing experience are your priorities. Consider BigCommerce if you value a broad set of built-in commerce tools and are comfortable spending more time learning the platform. Reviewers’ recurring advice is to evaluate the complete store you need—not just the website editor—including payment costs, essential integrations, theme flexibility, and the work involved in managing the store.
