Prices checked October 24, 2026
BigCommerce vs Shopify: which platform fits in 2026?
BigCommerce and Shopify are both hosted platforms from $29 a month billed yearly, but each BigCommerce plan has a sales limit and moves up automatically as you grow, while Shopify's pricing page sets no sales limit. BigCommerce builds buyer portals, quotes and purchase approvals into its B2B tools, and charges no extra fee with its embedded payment providers. Shopify suits brands that sell mostly direct to consumers and want Shop Pay, Shopify Markets and its app ecosystem.
BigCommerce vs Shopify, side by side
Ten things that decide the switch, from each platform's own pages, checked on October 24, 2026. Prices in US dollars, before tax.
Price
- BigCommerce
- Core $29, Growth $79 or Scale $299 a month billed yearly ($39, $105 or $399 monthly), each up to a sales limit. Performance from $1,499 a month.
- Shopify
- Basic $29, Grow $89 or Advanced $359 a month billed yearly. No sales limit on any plan. Plus from $2,300 a month.
Transaction fees
- BigCommerce
- None with BigCommerce's embedded payment providers. With others: 2% on Core, 1% on Growth, 0.6% on Scale.
- Shopify
- None with Shopify Payments. With another payment provider: 2% on Basic, 1% on Grow, 0.6% on Advanced, 0.2% on Plus.
Payments
- BigCommerce
- Embedded providers include BigCommerce Payments, Stripe, PayPal and Adyen. PayPal Braintree from 2.89% + 29¢ per US card payment.
- Shopify
- Shopify Payments with Shop Pay built in, from 2.9% + 30¢ per US online card payment on Basic down to 2.25% + 30¢ on Plus.
Apps
- BigCommerce
- Apps from BigCommerce's app marketplace.
- Shopify
- Thousands of apps in the Shopify App Store.
SEO
- BigCommerce
- SEO settings in the control panel, and APIs for headless storefronts.
- Shopify
- Editable titles, meta descriptions and image alt text on every page, and products that can sell in AI chats on every plan.
Speed and hosting
- BigCommerce
- Hosted by BigCommerce.
- Shopify
- Hosted by Shopify, with unlimited bandwidth and a free SSL certificate on every plan.
B2B
- BigCommerce
- Built in: account pricing, buyer portals, quotes, purchase approvals and company hierarchies.
- Shopify
- Built in on every plan with up to 3 catalogs. Plus adds unlimited catalogs.
International selling
- BigCommerce
- Several storefronts from one back end, for regions, languages and brands.
- Shopify
- Shopify Markets on every plan: unlimited countries, translated storefronts, local currencies and domains, duties and taxes.
Ownership and lock-in
- BigCommerce
- Hosted platform with open APIs. Your plan moves up automatically when sales pass its limit.
- Shopify
- Hosted platform. Products and customers export as CSV files at any time. Themes and apps are built for Shopify.
Support
- BigCommerce
- 24/7 chat and email on every plan. Phone support from Growth up.
- Shopify
- 24/7 live chat on every plan, enhanced on Advanced, priority support on Plus.
Stay on BigCommerce, or switch?
Plenty of stores should stay on BigCommerce. Here is when it is the right call, and when Shopify fits better.
Stay on BigCommerce if
- B2B is your core, and BigCommerce's buyer portals, quotes and account pricing already fit
- You use one of its embedded payment providers, so you pay no extra order fee
- You run several storefronts from one back end, and they work well
- Your team and integrations are built around BigCommerce's APIs
Shopify is the better fit if
- Your plan keeps moving up with your sales, or you pay 0.9% on sales above the Scale limit
- You sell mostly direct to consumers and want Shop Pay in your checkout
- You sell abroad and want Shopify Markets on every plan
- You want apps for nearly every need from thousands in the Shopify App Store
- You want point of sale on the same platform as your online store
What a move from BigCommerce costs and takes
Entry prices are the same, so the difference shows as you grow: BigCommerce plans follow your sales, Shopify plans follow the features you need.
Shopify's plan
Basic is $29 a month billed yearly, Grow $89 and Advanced $359, with no sales limit. Plus starts at $2,300 a month.
The migration
Our BigCommerce migrations start at $8,000, and most stores move in 4 to 6 weeks. Larger catalogs or complex integrations can take longer.
Apps and SEO
BigCommerce apps do not transfer, so we find a Shopify equivalent for each. Every URL gets a 301 redirect, and metadata moves with the pages.
Your store stays live
We build the Shopify store in parallel while BigCommerce stays fully live, and the switch takes minutes.
Ready to move? See how our BigCommerce to Shopify migration works, or book a call about your store.
BigCommerce vs Shopify questions
Is BigCommerce cheaper than Shopify?
They start at the same price: BigCommerce Core and Shopify Basic are both $29 a month billed yearly. BigCommerce plans have sales limits and move up as you grow, from $30,000 a year on Core. Shopify plans have no sales limit, so the price changes only when you choose a plan with more features.
Which is better, BigCommerce or Shopify?
BigCommerce is a strong choice for B2B-heavy stores that use its buyer portals, quotes and approvals. Shopify suits brands that sell mostly direct to consumers and want Shop Pay, Shopify Markets, point of sale and a large app store.
Does BigCommerce charge transaction fees?
Not with its embedded payment providers, such as BigCommerce Payments, Stripe, PayPal and Adyen. With any other provider, BigCommerce charges 2% on Core, 1% on Growth and 0.6% on Scale, on top of the provider's own fees.
What happens when BigCommerce sales pass the plan limit?
BigCommerce moves the store up a plan automatically: Core covers up to $30,000 in yearly sales and Growth up to $100,000. Scale covers $33,333 a month and charges 0.9% on sales above that, and at $2 million a year the store moves to Performance.
Shopify Plus vs BigCommerce Performance: how do they compare?
Shopify Plus starts at $2,300 a month on a three-year term, or $2,500 on a one-year term. BigCommerce's high-volume plan, Performance, has custom pricing starting at $1,499 a month billed annually, with a dedicated customer success manager.
Which is better for B2B, BigCommerce or Shopify?
BigCommerce builds buyer portals, quotes, purchase approvals and company hierarchies into its B2B tools. Shopify includes B2B on every plan with up to 3 catalogs, and Plus adds unlimited catalogs, deposits and partial payments. For complex B2B workflows, compare both against your own process.
How long does a BigCommerce to Shopify migration take?
Most of our BigCommerce to Shopify migrations take 4 to 6 weeks. Larger catalogs or complex integrations can take longer, and the free migration plan gives you the exact timeline.
Sources
Each platform's own pages, checked on October 24, 2026. Prices are in US dollars and change often, so check the platform before you decide.
Not sure you should switch?
Book a call. We look at your store and tell you whether Shopify would pay off, even when the answer is to stay.