OUR VERDICT
Pick Shopify for the app ecosystem, Shop Pay and the path to Plus. Pick BigCommerce if you need no transaction fees, custom URLs and native multi-storefront on a mid-tier plan.
SIDE BY SIDE
Shopify vs BigCommerce, row by row.
Green marks the better option for most DTC stores; amber means it depends on your setup.
| Shopify | BigCommerce | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | $39–$399 + apps | $39–$399, no transaction fee on third-party gatewaysBetter |
| Transaction fees | 0% with Shopify Payments; 0.6–2% otherwise | NoneBetter |
| Apps | Deepest ecosystem in commerceBetter | Smaller marketplace |
| Checkout | Shop Pay, Extensibility on PlusBetter | Hosted, customisable on Enterprise |
| Product options | 100 variants (2,000 on Plus) | 600 variants, modifiersBetter |
| URLs & SEO | Fixed /products/ structure | Custom URLs, native 301sBetter |
| Speed | Fast themes, Hydrogen availableBetter | Stencil; gets heavy with apps |
| B2B | Native on PlusDepends | B2B Edition add-onDepends |
| Multi-storefront | Expansion stores on Plus | Native on Plus plansBetter |
| Enterprise path | Shopify PlusDepends | BigCommerce EnterpriseDepends |
FREE MIGRATION PLANNER
Plan your WooCommerce to Shopify redirects
Enter your store to list every URL, see which keep their path, and get the 301 redirect map.
Run the planner →FREE SEO & AEO CHECKER
Check your new Shopify store for AI answers
See if ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity and Google AI Overviews can find, read and cite your store.
Run the checker →FAQ
Questions about Shopify vs BigCommerce
Still torn?
We’ll look at your store on a 30-minute call.
Book a callDoes BigCommerce really have no transaction fees?
BigCommerce does not add its own transaction fee on third-party payment gateways, while Shopify charges one unless you use Shopify Payments. Card processing fees still apply on both, so compare the total cost at your volume, not the headline.
Can we keep our URLs moving from BigCommerce?
Most of them, and every old URL that has to change gets a one-to-one 301 redirect. Shopify uses fixed path prefixes such as /products/ and /collections/, so we map each BigCommerce URL before launch and monitor 404s after.
Which has the better app for subscriptions?
Shopify. Its app ecosystem is larger, and both Shopify Subscriptions and dedicated subscription apps integrate with Shop Pay and the hosted checkout. We pick the app based on your catalogue and how customers manage their plans.
Is BigCommerce better for B2B?
BigCommerce includes some B2B features on mid-tier plans. Shopify Plus has native B2B with company accounts, price lists and payment terms, and many stores run B2B and DTC from one store. See B2B & wholesale.
How long does a BigCommerce to Shopify migration take?
A platform migration typically takes eight to twelve weeks, depending on catalogue size, customer data and how much of the design changes. You get a fixed timeline with the proposal. See migrations.
You've reached the end, so now…
Tell us what you're selling.
Send us your store. Within one business day you get a short Loom from a senior: the three things we'd fix first, what it would cost, and whether we're the right team for it.
- No pitch deck, no discovery-call theatre
- You keep the audit whether or not you hire us
- Fixed-scope quotes, no hourly surprises
Prefer to talk? Book 20 minutes with Haniel or call +1 855-764-4977