Starting an online store is an exciting journey, but picking the right platform can feel like a puzzle. You need something that’s simple to set up, fits your budget, looks good, helps you sell, and grows with your business. Shopify and BigCommerce are two of the most popular options out there, trusted by millions of store owners worldwide. They both promise to make e-commerce easy, but they’re built differently, with unique strengths and quirks.
This article dives deep into every detail you need to decide between Shopify and BigCommerce: pricing breakdowns, ease of use, design options, sales and marketing tools, payment systems, scalability, customer support, security features, and analytics capabilities. We’ll use plain language, include a comparison table, and add an image placeholder to keep things clear. By the end, you’ll know exactly which platform suits your needs—whether you’re a beginner selling handmade crafts or a growing business aiming for millions in sales.
Introduction: What Are Shopify and BigCommerce?
Shopify and BigCommerce are platforms that let you create and manage an online store without needing to be a tech expert. They handle the complicated stuff—like building a website, processing payments, and keeping your store online—so you can focus on selling your products. Whether you’re offering physical items like clothes, jewelry, or furniture, digital goods like e-books or music, or even services like yoga classes, these tools have you covered.
Shopify began in 2006 in Canada. It was born when its founders, Tobias Lütke, Daniel Weinand, and Scott Lake, wanted to sell snowboards online but found existing platforms too clunky. They built Shopify from scratch, and it’s grown into a giant, powering over 1.7 million businesses by 2025. Big names like Gymshark, Allbirds, and even small startups use it. Shopify’s reputation comes from its simplicity and a massive app store that lets you add almost any feature imaginable.
BigCommerce started in 2009 in Austin, Texas, founded by Eddie Machaalani and Mitchell Harper. Their goal was to create a platform packed with powerful tools right out of the box, reducing the need for extra add-ons. It’s used by brands like Ben & Jerry’s, Skullcandy, and countless small businesses. BigCommerce focuses on giving you everything you need upfront, especially if you’re planning to scale up fast.
Both platforms offer hosting (keeping your site live), security, and updates, so you don’t need to hire a web developer. They let you sell across multiple channels—like your website, social media, or marketplaces—and handle orders from start to finish. But they differ in how they charge, what they include, and how they feel to use. Let’s break it all down step by step to see which one’s right for you.
Pricing: How Much Do They Cost?
Pricing is often the first thing you look at when choosing a platform. You need to know what you’re paying now and what might hit your wallet later as your store grows. Let’s explore Shopify and BigCommerce’s pricing in detail, with examples to show how it plays out.
Shopify Pricing
Shopify offers a range of plans to fit different business sizes:
- Basic: $29 per month if you pay yearly (or $39 month-to-month). This includes unlimited products, a website with a blog, sales channels (like Facebook or Instagram), basic reports (sales totals, visitor counts), and two staff accounts (logins for your team). It’s designed for people just starting out who want a simple store without extra bells and whistles.
- Shopify: $79 per month yearly (or $105 monthly). This steps up with professional reports (more details on sales and customers), shipping discounts (cheaper rates with carriers like USPS), and five staff accounts. It’s great for small businesses that are growing and need better tools to manage things.
- Advanced: $299 per month yearly (or $399 monthly). This is for bigger stores. You get advanced reports (like custom analytics), real-time shipping rates (exact costs from UPS or FedEx), and 15 staff accounts. It’s built for businesses with higher sales volumes and more complex needs.
- Shopify Plus: Custom pricing, starting around $2000 per month but can go much higher depending on your sales. This is for enterprise-level companies—think brands doing $1 million or more a year. It offers dedicated support, custom checkout designs, and extra power for massive traffic.
There’s a catch with Shopify: transaction fees. If you don’t use Shopify Payments (their built-in payment system), you pay extra per sale—2% on Basic, 1% on Shopify, 0.5% on Advanced, and lower (negotiated) on Plus. For example, sell $1000 using PayPal on Basic, and Shopify takes $20 on top of regular credit card fees (like 2.9% + 30¢). That can sting as your sales climb.
Shopify also has a Starter plan for $5/month, but it’s limited—good for selling via social media or adding a “Buy” button to a blog, not a full store. They offer a 3-day free trial, then $1/month for three months as a promo in 2025, which is a cheap way to test it out.
BigCommerce Pricing
BigCommerce has similar tiers but with a key difference:
- Standard: $29.95 per month yearly (or $39.95 monthly). You get unlimited products, a website, sales channels, basic reports, and unlimited staff accounts. It’s close to Shopify Basic but gives more logins for your team, which is handy if you’ve got helpers.
- Plus: $79.95 per month yearly (or $105.95 monthly). This adds customer groups (target specific shoppers, like “VIPs”), product filtering (easier browsing), abandoned cart recovery, and more analytics. It’s perfect for stores picking up steam and wanting to boost sales.
- Pro: $299.95 per month yearly (or $399.95 monthly). This is for growing businesses with more traffic. You get custom SSL (a security boost), advanced filtering, Google customer reviews, and higher limits (up to $400,000 in yearly sales before upgrading). It’s ready for serious scale.
- Enterprise: Custom pricing, often thousands a month based on your needs. This is for big players—think companies with multiple stores or millions in sales. It includes dedicated support, priority features, and custom integrations.
The standout feature? BigCommerce charges no transaction fees on any plan, no matter which payment system you use—PayPal, Stripe, or anything else. You just pay standard credit card rates (like 2.9% + 30¢). Sell $1000 with PayPal? You keep $1000 minus card fees—no extra hit from BigCommerce. This is huge for stores with high sales. They offer a 15-day free trial, longer than Shopify’s standard offer, giving you more time to explore.
Pricing Table
Here’s how they compare at a glance:
| Feature | Shopify | BigCommerce |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $29/month | $29.95/month |
| Mid-Tier Price | $79/month | $79.95/month |
| Top Standard Price | $299/month | $299.95/month |
| Enterprise Price | Custom (Shopify Plus) | Custom (Enterprise) |
| Transaction Fees | Yes (0.5%-2%) | No |
| Unlimited Products | Yes | Yes |
| Staff Accounts | 2-15 (plan-dependent) | Unlimited |
Pricing Scenarios
Let’s walk through some examples to see how costs play out:
- Tiny Store: You sell $500 a month in handmade soaps. On Shopify Basic with PayPal, it’s $29 + $10 fees (2%) = $39 total. On BigCommerce Standard, it’s $29.95, no fees. BigCommerce is slightly cheaper here.
- Small Business: You hit $5000 a month selling T-shirts. Shopify Basic with PayPal is $29 + $100 fees = $129. BigCommerce Standard is $29.95. Now BigCommerce saves you nearly $100.
- Growing Store: You’re at $50,000 a month with pet supplies. Shopify Advanced with PayPal is $299 + $250 fees (0.5%) = $549. BigCommerce Pro is $299.95, no fees. That’s $250 saved.
- Big Player: You sell $500,000 a month in electronics. Shopify Plus might cost $2000 + $1000 fees (assuming 0.2% negotiated) = $3000. BigCommerce Enterprise could be $2000 (custom), no fees. BigCommerce pulls ahead by $1000.
Hidden Costs to Watch
Both need a domain (like www.yourstore.com), about $10-$20/year through them or elsewhere. Shopify’s apps can pile up—say, $10/month for SEO, $15/month for reviews, $20/month for shipping tools. That’s $45 extra fast. BigCommerce includes more features (like reviews or filtering), so you might spend less on add-ons. Premium themes cost $150-$350 on both if free ones don’t cut it. Shopify Payments avoids fees but locks you into their system, while BigCommerce’s flexibility lets you pick any gateway without penalty.
Pricing Compared to Others
How do they stack up to competitors? WooCommerce (on WordPress) is free but needs hosting ($5-$50/month) and plugins ($10-$100 each), making it cheaper for tech-savvy folks but trickier. Wix starts at $17/month, good for tiny stores but less powerful. Shopify and BigCommerce sit in the middle—affordable yet robust.
Takeaway: Shopify’s lower entry price suits beginners, but BigCommerce’s no-fee model saves big as you scale.
Ease of Use: How Simple Are They to Set Up and Run?
You don’t want a platform that feels like rocket science. Let’s see how Shopify and BigCommerce make things easy—or not.
Shopify
Shopify is built for simplicity. When you sign up, it’s like having a guide walk you through. It asks: “What’s your store name?” “What do you sell?” Answer “Jane’s Crafts” and “handmade bags,” and it sets up a basic site in minutes. The dashboard—your control center—is clean and friendly. You’ve got tabs: Products (add stuff to sell), Orders (track sales), Customers (see who’s buying), and Settings (adjust everything). Nothing’s hidden in confusing menus.
Adding a product is quick. Click “Add Product,” type “Leather Tote Bag,” set $25, upload a photo from your phone, write “Stylish and durable,” and save. Takes three minutes. The editor is drag-and-drop—move a picture, add a “Shop Now” button, change colors—all without coding. It’s so easy that people often launch their store the same day they sign up.
Support’s solid: 24/7 chat and email on all plans, phone support on Advanced ($299) and up. The help center has articles like “How to Add Products” and videos showing every step. There’s a massive community too—forums and Facebook groups where users share tips. If your store won’t load at midnight, chat fixes it in 10 minutes.
BigCommerce
BigCommerce is user-friendly too, but it’s got more to explore. Sign up, and it asks similar questions—store name, what you sell—then builds your site. The dashboard is modern, with sections for Products, Orders, Marketing, Analytics, and Settings. It’s not hard, but there are more options upfront—like setting up customer groups or filters—which might take an extra hour to figure out if you’re new.
Adding a product works the same: “Add Product,” enter “Wooden Coaster Set,” price it at $15, upload a photo, describe it as “Perfect for coffee lovers,” and save. The editor is drag-and-drop too—drag a banner to the top, drop a product list below, tweak the font. No coding needed, though tech folks can dive into deeper settings.
Support shines here: 24/7 chat, email, and phone on every plan—even Standard ($29.95). Shopify saves phone support for pricier plans, so BigCommerce feels more accessible. Their help center has guides like “Setting Up Your First Product” and video tutorials. If you’re stuck, a quick call sorts it out.
Step-by-Step Scenario
Imagine you’re selling candles:
- Shopify: 9 a.m., sign up. 9:05, name it “Glow Haven.” 9:10, pick a free theme. 9:15, add “Lavender Candle” ($10) and “Vanilla Candle” ($12). 9:25, drag a photo to the homepage. 9:30, hit “Launch.” Selling by 9:35.
- BigCommerce: 9 a.m., sign up. 9:05, name it “Candle Cozy.” 9:10, choose a theme. 9:20, add those candles. 9:30, explore filters (like “Scent”), set one up. 9:45, add a banner. 9:55, launch. Selling by 10.
Shopify’s faster—30 minutes vs. an hour—but BigCommerce’s extra steps (like filters) add value later.
User Stories
- Shopify User: Sarah, a baker, says, “I had my cookie store up in an hour. The dashboard’s so simple—I clicked around and figured it out.”
- BigCommerce User: Mike, a toy seller, says, “It took me a day to get comfy, but phone support helped. Now I love the extra features.”
Ease Compared to Others
WooCommerce needs WordPress know-how and plugin setup—hours or days for newbies. Wix is drag-and-drop but simpler, better for tiny sites. Shopify and BigCommerce balance ease and power, with Shopify edging out for speed.
Takeaway: Shopify’s the simplest to start, but BigCommerce is still easy and offers more support options.
Design: Making Your Store Look Amazing
Your store’s design is its first impression. A good look keeps customers browsing. Let’s see what Shopify and BigCommerce bring to the table.
Shopify
Shopify offers over 100 themes—pre-made designs for your store. About 8 are free, and paid ones range from $150 to $350. Free themes like “Dawn” are clean and modern—great for startups selling anything from books to bikes. Paid ones like “Prestige” (perfect for fashion) or “Broadcast” (bold for tech) add layouts and effects, like slideshows or hover animations.
The editor is drag-and-drop. Want a big photo of your product? Drag it to the top. Need a red “Buy Now” button? Drop it in and pick the color. No coding needed, but if you know HTML or CSS, Shopify uses Liquid—a coding language—to let you tweak every pixel. All themes are responsive—they adjust to look great on phones, tablets, and laptops, which matters since 50%+ of shoppers use mobile.
BigCommerce
BigCommerce has over 150 themes, with 12 free ones. Paid themes cost $150 to $350, similar to Shopify. Free options like “Cornerstone” are simple and versatile—good for clothes, food, or gifts. Paid ones like “Vault” (sleek for tech) or “Fortune” (sharp for big stores) offer extras like product zoom or multi-column layouts.
Its editor is drag-and-drop too. Move a “Sale” banner up, stack product images below, change the font to bold—all easy. For coders, BigCommerce uses Stencil, a framework like Liquid. The “Page Builder” tool lets you design pages by stacking sections—no extra cost. Themes are responsive too, ensuring your store shines on any screen.
Image Placeholder
Picture this: two laptops side by side. The left shows a Shopify store with a bright, colorful theme selling flowers—big photos, pink buttons, floral accents. The right shows a BigCommerce store with a sleek, modern theme selling gadgets—dark background, sharp lines, blue highlights. Caption: “Shopify and BigCommerce both offer eye-catching designs to match your vibe.”
Customization Walkthrough
Say you sell coffee:
- Shopify: Pick “Dawn.” Drag a coffee bean photo to the header. Drop a “Shop Now” button in green. Change the background to brown. Add a product grid. Takes 20 minutes.
- BigCommerce: Choose “Cornerstone.” Stack a banner with “Fresh Brews.” Slide in a product list. Tweak the font to “Coffee Vibes.” Add a footer with your logo. Done in 25 minutes.
Shopify’s app store has design add-ons—like “Shogun” ($39/month) for fancier pages—while BigCommerce builds more into Page Builder, like custom banners or testimonials.
Theme Shopping Tips
Shopify’s theme store sorts by industry—fashion, tech, health—so you find a fit fast. BigCommerce does too, with filters for free, paid, or mobile-ready. Both let you preview themes live—see how “Dawn” or “Cornerstone” looks with your products before committing. Free themes are basic but functional; paid ones add polish and options.
Design Compared to Others
WooCommerce themes (via WordPress) range from free to $100, but you need tech skills to tweak them. Wix offers 800+ free templates, super easy to edit but less e-commerce-focused. Shopify and BigCommerce strike a balance—lots of choices, simple to use, built for selling.
Takeaway: BigCommerce has more themes, but Shopify’s designs are just as stunning and flexible.
Sales and Marketing Tools: Getting Customers and Keeping Them
Selling isn’t just about products—it’s about reaching people and making them buy. Let’s explore the tools Shopify and BigCommerce offer.
Email Marketing
- Shopify: Includes Shopify Email, a basic tool. Send “Thanks for shopping!” or “New items in stock!” emails. It’s free for 10,000 emails/month, then $0.001 each ($10 for 10,000 more). For targeting—like emailing only “Hat Lovers”—you need apps. Mailchimp ($13/month) or Klaviyo ($20/month) add segmentation and automation.
- BigCommerce: Has built-in email tools. Send automated order confirmations or “Welcome” emails on all plans. On Plus ($79.95) and up, create customer groups—like “Frequent Buyers” or “First Timers”—and send tailored offers. It integrates with Mailchimp or Klaviyo too, but the built-in stuff might be enough.
Abandoned Cart Recovery
- Shopify: If someone adds socks to their cart but leaves, you can email them manually on any plan. For automation—like “Your socks are waiting!”—you need an app. “RecoverMyCart” ($15/month) sends emails with a 10% off code, tracking who returns.
- BigCommerce: Includes Abandoned Cart Saver on Plus ($79.95) and higher. It auto-sends emails—like “Forgot these?”—with customizable messages and discounts. It shows stats on recovered sales, no app required.
Social Media Selling
Both connect to Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest. Shopify has apps—like “Facebook Shop” ($10/month)—to add “Buy” buttons or run ads. BigCommerce builds this in: sync products to Instagram, sell directly, no extra cost. Both let you manage social sales from the dashboard.
SEO and Advertising
SEO (getting found on Google) is key. Both let you add keywords—like “best running shoes”—to titles and descriptions. Shopify’s apps—like “SEO Booster” ($19/month)—optimize further. BigCommerce’s built-in tools—like editing URLs or meta tags—are strong out of the box. For ads, both link to Google Ads; Shopify’s app ecosystem offers more ad tools.
Marketing Scenario
You sell phone cases:
- Abandoned Cart: A customer adds a “Galaxy Case” but leaves. BigCommerce emails: “Still want this? 15% off!” Shopify needs “RecoverMyCart,” but it does the same once set up.
- Email: You launch a “Winter Sale.” Shopify Email sends a blast to all customers. BigCommerce groups “Top Spenders” and offers them 20% off.
- Social: You post on Instagram. Shopify’s app adds a “Shop Now” link; BigCommerce syncs it automatically.
Marketing Compared to Others
WooCommerce needs plugins for email or carts (e.g., $50/year each). Wix has basic email but lacks advanced recovery. Shopify and BigCommerce excel—Shopify with apps, BigCommerce built-in.
Takeaway: BigCommerce offers more free tools; Shopify powers up with apps.
Payments: Taking Money Smoothly
Payments need to be easy for customers and cost-effective for you. Here’s how they work.
Shopify
Shopify supports over 100 payment gateways: PayPal, Stripe, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Shopify Payments. With Shopify Payments, you pay credit card rates—2.9% + 30¢ online, 2.7% in-person (if you sell offline)—and no extra fees. Use another gateway, and transaction fees apply: 2% on Basic, 1% on Shopify, 0.5% on Advanced. Sell $1000 with PayPal on Basic? That’s $20 extra.
BigCommerce
BigCommerce also supports 100+ gateways—PayPal, Stripe, Square, Klarna, even regional ones. No transaction fees, ever. You pay card rates (like 2.9% + 30¢). Sell $1000 with PayPal? No additional cost from BigCommerce.
Payment Examples
- $5000 Sales: Shopify Payments = $145 (2.9% + 30¢). PayPal on Basic = $145 + $100 fees = $245. BigCommerce with PayPal = $145.
- $50,000 Sales: Shopify Advanced with PayPal = $1495 (2.9% + 30¢) + $250 fees = $1745. BigCommerce = $1495.
Checkout Process
Shopify’s checkout is fast—name, address, card, done. Shopify Plus customizes it (e.g., add your logo). BigCommerce’s checkout is smooth too, with guest checkout on all plans—buyers don’t need an account.
Takeaway: BigCommerce saves on fees; Shopify’s Shopify Payments is slick if you use it.
Scalability: Growing Without Limits
Your platform must handle growth—more products, more traffic. Let’s see how they scale.
Shopify
Shopify offers unlimited products and bandwidth on all plans. It’s hosted on Google Cloud, so it’s fast even during Black Friday rushes. Apps like Stocky ($29/month) manage inventory; Shopify Plus handles millions in sales for brands like Nestlé.
BigCommerce
BigCommerce also gives unlimited products and bandwidth, with 99.99% uptime. Features like multi-storefront (multiple shops, one account) start on Pro ($299.95). Enterprise plans power giants like Toyota.
Growth Story
Start with 10 hats. Hit 1000 products and $100,000/month. Shopify scales with apps; BigCommerce uses built-in tools like filtering.
Takeaway: Both scale well; BigCommerce is more enterprise-ready.
Customer Support: Help When You Need It
Support matters when things go wrong. Here’s what you get.
Shopify
24/7 chat and email on all plans; phone support on Advanced ($299) and up. Help center, videos, and a huge community back you up.
BigCommerce
24/7 chat, email, and phone on every plan—even Standard ($29.95). Guides, videos, and a community help too.
Support Example
Shipping breaks. Shopify chat fixes it in 15 minutes (phone on higher plans). BigCommerce phone support sorts it in 10.
Takeaway: BigCommerce offers more support options.
Security: Keeping It Safe
Security builds trust. Both deliver.
Shopify
Free SSL, PCI DSS compliant, Google Cloud hosting.
BigCommerce
Free SSL, PCI DSS, plus ISO 27001 for extra cred.
Takeaway: Both secure; BigCommerce has more certifications.
Analytics: Tracking What Works
Data guides decisions. Here’s how they help.
Shopify
Basic reports on low plans; advanced stats on Shopify ($79) and up. Apps enhance it.
BigCommerce
Detailed reports on all plans—sales, customers, trends.
Takeaway: BigCommerce gives more data upfront.
Conclusion: Your Choice
Shopify’s best for beginners or app lovers—small to medium stores. BigCommerce suits high-volume or growing businesses with no fees and built-in tools. Test their trials and pick your fit.
