BigCommerce vs Shopify: Which E-Commerce Tool Is Better in 2026?

BigCommerce

From $29

Shopify

From $29

Quick verdict

Overall pick: BigCommerce

The two platforms are closely matched on price and feature coverage, so the decision hinges on transaction fees and positioning. BigCommerce is the stronger pick for high-volume merchants and B2B or multi-store brands because it charges zero native transaction fees, which matters more as order volume grows. Shopify suits scaling brands, dropshippers, and retail sellers, but its lack of 0% native transaction fees is a real cost to weigh. Buyers who process large volumes should favor BigCommerce; buyers prioritizing a retail and dropshipping fit may prefer Shopify.

Both start at $29 on their entry paid plan.
Only BigCommerce offers: 0% native transaction fees.

Try BigCommerce →Try Shopify →

Cost calculator

Team size: 5 users

Tool	Monthly	Yearly
BigCommerce · flat	$29.00	$348
Shopify · flat	$29.00	$348

Based on entry-level paid plans. Prices change, so check the vendor before you buy.

Which one should you choose?

If you need…	Pick	Why
High-volume merchant processing many orders	BigCommerce	BigCommerce charges 0% native transaction fees, while Shopify does not, so fees scale with volume on Shopify.
B2B or multi-store brand	BigCommerce	BigCommerce lists B2B and multi-store brands among its best-fit segments and matches Shopify on all eight tracked features except transaction fees.
Dropshipper or retail seller	Shopify	Shopify explicitly lists dropshippers and retail among its best-fit segments.
Budget-conscious starter comparing entry pricing	Tie	Both platforms start at $29/month on flat billing with no free plan.
Merchant needing POS, multi-currency, and APIs	Tie	Both offer POS support, multi-currency checkout, custom domains, app stores, and REST/GraphQL APIs.

Feature comparison: BigCommerce vs Shopify

Feature	BigCommerce	Shopify
Free plan	❌	❌
Starting price	$29 /mo	$29 /mo
Multi-channel inventory management	✅	✅
Abandoned cart recovery	✅	✅
Point of Sale (POS) hardware & integration	✅	✅
0% native transaction fees	✅	—
Custom domain with free SSL	✅	✅
Multi-currency international checkout	✅	✅
Rich third-party app marketplace	✅	✅
REST & GraphQL developer APIs	✅	✅

Highlighted rows are where the tools differ.

Pros and cons

BigCommerce

Zero native transaction fees, unlike Shopify
Flat pricing starting at $29/month
Covers all eight tracked features, including POS, multi-currency, and APIs
Positioned for high-volume merchants and B2B or multi-store brands

No free plan
Flat billing rather than per-seat pricing may not suit very small teams

Try BigCommerce →

Shopify

Flat pricing starting at $29/month, matching BigCommerce's entry price
Covers seven of eight tracked features, including POS, multi-currency, and APIs
Positioned for scaling brands, dropshippers, and retail
Founded in 2006, earlier than BigCommerce

Does not offer 0% native transaction fees
No free plan

Try Shopify →

COMMUNITY POLL

Which tool would you pick for your stack?

Cast your vote to see real-time peer recommendations from other software buyers.

At a glance

BigCommerce

Enterprise open-SaaS e-commerce platform with zero native transaction fees.

Founded 2009 · From $29 · 8/8 tracked features

Best for: high-volume merchants, B2B & multi-store brands

See BigCommerce alternatives →

Shopify

The all-in-one global commerce platform powering millions of businesses.

Founded 2006 · From $29 · 7/8 tracked features

Best for: scaling brands, dropshippers & retail

See Shopify alternatives →

FAQ

Is BigCommerce cheaper than Shopify?

Entry pricing is identical: both start at $29/month on flat billing with no free plan. BigCommerce can cost less overall for high-volume sellers because it charges 0% native transaction fees, while Shopify does not.

Do both platforms support POS and multi-currency?

Yes. Both BigCommerce and Shopify list POS hardware and integration support and multi-currency international checkout.

Which platform has zero native transaction fees?

Only BigCommerce. Shopify does not offer 0% native transaction fees.

Do both offer developer APIs and an app marketplace?

Yes. Both list REST and GraphQL developer APIs and a third-party app marketplace.

Which is better for B2B or multi-store brands?

BigCommerce lists B2B and multi-store brands among its best-fit segments, and it adds zero native transaction fees; Shopify's listed fits are scaling brands, dropshippers, and retail.

Related comparisons

Data last reviewed: pending verification. All E-Commerce tools →