đź›’ BigCommerce vs Shopify (2025): Which eCommerce Platform is Right for You?
Starting or scaling an online business is exciting—but it also comes with big decisions. One of the biggest? Choosing the right eCommerce platform.
Two names often come up in that conversation: BigCommerce and Shopify.
Both are powerful, both are well-respected, and both can help you build a successful store. But they’re not identical, and the right choice really depends on your specific goals, resources, and business model.
So if you’re weighing up BigCommerce vs Shopify, you’re in the right place. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the key differences, advantages, and potential downsides of both platforms—with no jargon, no fluff—just clear, honest insights.
Who Is This For?
This comparison is perfect if you’re:
- Launching a new eCommerce business
- Migrating from WooCommerce, Magento, or another platform
- Scaling your current store and need more flexibility
- Looking for better SEO, lower costs, or built-in features
Let’s dive in.
1. Ease of Use: How Beginner-Friendly Are They?
Shopify – Built for Simplicity
If you’ve never built a website before, Shopify feels like a breath of fresh air. Everything is intuitive, drag-and-drop, and designed to help you launch fast. From the dashboard to adding products, it’s all super beginner-friendly.
“I built my first store in one weekend with Shopify, and I didn’t need to Google anything.” – a lot of entrepreneurs, probably
BigCommerce – More Control, Slightly More Complexity
BigCommerce offers more advanced features out of the box, which is awesome—but it also means a steeper learning curve. The interface isn’t as slick or beginner-focused as Shopify’s, especially if you’re not tech-savvy.
âś… Winner: Shopify (especially for beginners and solo founders)
2. Pricing & Hidden Fees
Both platforms start at $39/month, but here’s where things get interesting.
Shopify Pricing
- Basic: $39/mo
- Shopify: $105/mo
- Advanced: $399/mo
BUT: Shopify charges up to 2% transaction fees if you don’t use their in-house payment gateway (Shopify Payments).
BigCommerce Pricing
- Standard: $39/mo
- Plus: $105/mo
- Pro: $399/mo
No extra transaction fees, no matter which payment processor you choose.
âś… Winner: BigCommerce (more flexibility, no hidden fees)
3. Features: What Do You Get Out of the Box?
Shopify is famously app-focused. Many essential features like product reviews, advanced reports, or custom checkout options require third-party apps (sometimes paid).
BigCommerce, on the other hand, includes more features natively, such as:
- B2B pricing options
- Real-time shipping quotes
- Advanced reporting
- Multi-currency support
- Unlimited staff accounts
This means fewer apps, fewer costs, and fewer headaches as you grow.
âś… Winner: BigCommerce (better value, especially long-term)
4. SEO: Which One Helps You Rank Better?
Both platforms are SEO-friendly and give you access to essential tools:
- Custom URLs
- Editable meta titles/descriptions
- Image alt tags
- Mobile-responsive themes
That said, BigCommerce gives slightly more control over technical SEO. For example, you can edit robot.txt files and URLs more freely, which can be useful for SEO pros.
✅ Winner: BigCommerce (but only just—Shopify still does a great job here)
5. Apps, Themes & Integrations
Shopify has a massive ecosystem with 8,000+ apps and hundreds of sleek, mobile-optimized themes. Whether you want to add live chat, run A/B tests, or launch a loyalty program—there’s an app for that.
BigCommerce’s app store is smaller (around 1,000+), but because more features are built-in, you may not need as many third-party tools to get started.
âś… Winner: Shopify (more apps, more themes, more flexibility for customization)
6. Scalability: Which Platform Grows With You?
If you’re building a small boutique store, both Shopify and BigCommerce will serve you well.
But if you’re planning for rapid growth or run a high-volume B2B business, BigCommerce really shines.
Its native support for:
- Bulk pricing tiers
- Customer groups
- Large product catalogs
- Multi-channel selling (Amazon, eBay, Facebook, Walmart)
…makes it a strong contender for larger operations.
Shopify can scale too—especially with Shopify Plus—but that comes with a much higher price tag.
âś… Winner: BigCommerce (ideal for scaling up or B2B)
BigCommerce vs Shopify: Final Verdict
So—which is better? Here’s a quick breakdown to help you decide:
| You Should Choose… | If You Want… |
|---|---|
| Shopify | Simplicity, faster setup, huge app ecosystem, dropshipping |
| BigCommerce | More built-in features, no transaction fees, B2B support, better scaling |
Both platforms are excellent—it really comes down to your business needs and technical comfort.
If you’re a solo founder, just getting started, or love using apps to customize your experience, Shopify is fantastic.
If you’re growing fast, need advanced features out of the box, or serve B2B clients, BigCommerce might be your better bet.
🙌 Need Help Deciding or Migrating?
At Cortexic, we’ve helped 100+ brands choose, migrate, and grow their eCommerce stores using the right tools. Whether you’re launching your first product or moving from another platform, our team can help you build a high-performing store tailored to your goals.
📞 Let’s chat! We’ll help you compare BigCommerce vs Shopify based on your real-world needs—not just feature lists.
