Comparison
BigCommerce vs Shopify: Which E-commerce Platform Wins?
Published July 4, 2026
BigCommerce and Shopify are two of the leading hosted e-commerce platforms. They’re more alike than different; both handle hosting, security and checkout for you, so the decision comes down to a few specifics. Here’s a clear comparison.
The quick verdict
- Choose Shopify for the largest app and theme ecosystem, the smoothest experience, and a proven path to scale.
- Choose BigCommerce if you prefer more built-in features without relying on apps, and value no transaction fees on any payment gateway.
Head-to-head
| Factor | Shopify | BigCommerce |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of use | Excellent | Very good |
| App ecosystem | Largest | Smaller but capable |
| Built-in features | Good; extend via apps | More out of the box |
| Transaction fees | On non-Shopify gateways | None on any gateway |
| B2B / large catalogues | Strong (esp. Plus) | Strong |
| Scalability | Excellent | Excellent |
Where each pulls ahead
Shopify wins on ecosystem and momentum; there’s an app, theme or partner for almost anything, and the admin experience is famously smooth. That breadth reduces custom work and risk.
BigCommerce includes more advanced features natively (so you stack fewer apps) and charges no transaction fees regardless of your payment gateway, which can matter for higher-volume or B2B stores.
How to decide
For most merchants, Shopify’s ecosystem and ease make it the lower-risk default. If your store is large, B2B-heavy, or you specifically want more built-in functionality and gateway flexibility, BigCommerce deserves a close look.
Our take
We build on both and will recommend based on your catalogue, budget and roadmap rather than a preference of our own. Either way, the store’s speed, merchandising and checkout experience will drive far more revenue than the platform badge.
Weighing it up for your store? Tell us about it, or see our e-commerce development service.