Platform Overview

Shopify

Shopify Overview

Shopify: Best-in-class ecommerce with vast app ecosystem and themes. Higher transaction fees without Shopify Payments.

BigCommerce

BigCommerce Overview

BigCommerce: More built-in features (no transaction fees, multi-channel, B2B) with similar pricing.

Pros and Cons

Shopify Pros

  • Vast app ecosystem (8,000+ apps) for nearly any feature need
  • Professional, conversion-optimized themes — many included free
  • Shopify Payments eliminates transaction fees (0% rate)
  • Excellent 24/7 support via phone, chat, and email
  • Shopify Fulfillment Network for end-to-end logistics

Shopify Cons

  • 0.5–2% transaction fee for third-party payment gateways
  • Some essential apps require paid plans ($29–$299+/month)
  • Limited built-in B2B features without add-ons

BigCommerce Pros

  • Zero transaction fees across all payment processors
  • Robust built-in B2B features (customer groups, volume pricing)
  • Multi-channel selling native (Amazon, eBay, Facebook, Google)
  • Free and premium themes included
  • Headless commerce support for enterprise brands

BigCommerce Cons

  • Smaller app ecosystem (~1,000 apps vs Shopify's 8,000+)
  • Support quality can vary compared to Shopify
  • Some features locked behind higher-tier plans

Payment Processing Comparison

Shopify's native payment processor, Shopify Payments (powered by Stripe), charges 0% transaction fees — making it one of the most cost-effective payment solutions for ecommerce. However, if you use an external gateway like PayPal or Stripe directly, Shopify adds a 0.5–2% surcharge on top of the processor's rate.

BigCommerce, by contrast, charges zero transaction fees regardless of payment method. This is a significant advantage for sellers who prefer gateways like Stripe, Adyen, or Braintree without any platform markup. The savings can be substantial at scale — at $500K annual revenue, avoiding a 1% Shopify surcharge alone saves $5,000 per year.

Both platforms support all major credit cards, digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay), buy-now-pay-later options, and invoicing. BigCommerce additionally offers native support for Chase Pay, Amazon Pay, and Pay With Venmo.

Themes and Design

Shopify leads in theme quality with over 100 paid and free themes designed specifically for conversion and mobile responsiveness. Themes range from $0–$350 and integrate seamlessly with the theme editor. The Shopify OS (Online Store 2.0) lets you add apps and sections anywhere on the page.

BigCommerce themes are fewer in number (~330) but include high-quality options, many of which are free. BigCommerce themes are equally mobile-optimized and support drag-and-drop customization through its Stencil framework.

Multi-Channel and Omnichannel Selling

BigCommerce has a clear edge here with native integrations to Amazon, eBay, Facebook, Instagram, Google Shopping, Pinterest, and Square POS — all available without third-party apps on most plans. This makes BigCommerce ideal for sellers running multi-channel operations who want inventory and orders consolidated in one dashboard.

Shopify's multi-channel capabilities come primarily through its app ecosystem. While Shopify POS works beautifully with Shopify's online store, connecting to Amazon or eBay typically requires paid apps like CedCommerce or ChannelAdvisor ($50–$500/month). However, Shopify's new YouTube and TikTok integrations are natively built in.

Support and Resources

Shopify offers industry-leading 24/7 support via phone, live chat, and email, plus an extensive documentation library and community forum. Shopify's support team is known for fast response times and knowledgeable agents.

BigCommerce provides 24/7 live chat and email support, with phone support available on higher-tier plans. Its support is generally adequate but less comprehensive than Shopify's, particularly for complex technical issues that may require developer involvement.

Fee Comparison

Aspect Shopify BigCommerce Notes
Transaction Fee 0% (Shopify Pay) 0% (built-in) BigCommerce no fees
Built-in Features Limited Extensive (B2B, multi-channel) BigCommerce richer
App Ecosystem Vast (8000+) Moderate (1000+) Shopify more apps
Themes Professional, paid Free and paid BigCommerce has free
Scalability Excellent Excellent Similar

Our Recommendation

BigCommerce for built-in features and no transaction fees; Shopify for app ecosystem and themes.

Key Takeaways

What to Consider

  • BigCommerce's zero-transaction-fee model saves money at scale if you use third-party payment gateways.
  • Shopify's app ecosystem is unrivaled — if you need a specific feature, there's likely a best-in-class app for it.
  • Use our Shopify Fee Calculator to estimate your exact monthly costs.

Tips for Choosing

Actionable Advice

  • Start with Shopify if you're a new ecommerce seller who wants the simplest setup and the largest app marketplace. The learning curve is gentler and support is more accessible.
  • Switch to BigCommerce if your annual revenue exceeds $100K and you're paying for external payment gateway surcharges — the zero-transaction-fee model pays for itself quickly.
  • Evaluate multi-channel needs: If you sell on Amazon, eBay, and your own store simultaneously, BigCommerce's native integrations can eliminate $50–$200/month in third-party app fees.
  • Test both platforms with their free trials (Shopify: 3 days + $1/month; BigCommerce: 15-day trial) before committing. Build a test product catalog in each to evaluate the admin experience.