Does Shopify Plus charge transaction fees?

If you use Shopify Payments, there are no transaction fees. Using third-party gateways incurs a 0.15–0.30% fee on top of gateway charges. BigCommerce charges zero transaction fees regardless of gateway.

Which is better for B2B e-commerce?

BigCommerce Enterprise has stronger native B2B features including custom price lists, buyer portals, and quote workflows. Shopify Plus offers B2B through its wholesale channel, which is functional but less comprehensive.

What is headless commerce and which supports it better?

Headless commerce separates the frontend from the backend. Both platforms support it well — Shopify via Hydrogen/Storefront API, BigCommerce via its open SaaS APIs. BigCommerce is slightly more frontend-agnostic.

Can BigCommerce match Shopify app ecosystem?

No. Shopify has 8,000+ apps versus BigCommerce 1,000+. However, BigCommerce includes more features natively (reducing app dependency), and its open APIs enable custom integrations.

Which handles higher order volumes better?

Both handle high volumes well. Shopify Plus has proven reliability during massive flash sales. BigCommerce Enterprise scales reliably with guaranteed uptime SLAs. Performance differences are negligible for most merchants.

Shopify Plus vs BigCommerce: Honest 2026 Comparison

An unbiased, feature-by-feature comparison from a team that implements both platforms daily. No affiliate bias — just implementation experience and real data.

10Features Compared

2026Last Updated

BothPlatforms Implemented

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Quick Verdict

Which One Is Right for You?

Choose Shopify Plus if...

Largest e-commerce app ecosystem (8,000+ apps)
Shopify Payments simplifies checkout and payouts
Hydrogen headless framework for modern storefronts
Strongest brand recognition and merchant support network

Choose BigCommerce if...

Zero transaction fees on all payment gateways
Open SaaS architecture with greater API flexibility
Stronger native B2B features without add-ons
No revenue-based pricing tiers that penalize growth

Feature-by-Feature

Detailed Comparison

Feature	Shopify Plus	BigCommerce
Starting Price	$2,000/mo (Shopify Plus)	Custom pricing (BigCommerce Enterprise)
Transaction Fees	0.15–0.30% (non-Shopify Payments)	No transaction fees on any plan
Multi-Storefront	10 storefronts included	Multiple storefronts with shared catalog
Customization	Liquid templating + checkout scripts	Open SaaS with full API access
Headless Commerce	Hydrogen framework + Storefront API	Native headless with any frontend
B2B Features	B2B wholesale channel	Native B2B edition with price lists
App Ecosystem	8,000+ apps on Shopify marketplace	1,000+ apps on BigCommerce marketplace
Themes	150+ themes (many premium)	100+ themes with page builder
International Commerce	Shopify Markets for multi-currency/language	Multi-currency and localization built-in
API Rate Limits	GraphQL-based, higher limits on Plus	Generous REST and GraphQL APIs

Cost Analysis

Pricing Deep Dive

Shopify Plus

Plus (standard)$2,000/mo

Plus (high volume)$2,000+ (variable pricing)

Plus (enterprise custom)Custom negotiated

Team Cost Estimate

Up to $800K GMV/mo$2,000

$800K–$2M GMV/mo$2,000–4,000

$2M+ GMV/moCustom

Multi-store (10)$2,000 (included)

BigCommerce Enterprise

EnterpriseCustom (typically $1,000–5,000/mo)

Enterprise (high volume)Custom negotiated

Team Cost Estimate

Up to $400K GMV/mo$1,000–2,000

$400K–$1M GMV/mo$2,000–3,500

$1M+ GMV/mo$3,500–5,000+

Multi-storeCustom pricing

Best For

Who Should Choose Shopify Plus

D2C Brands Scaling Fast

Shopify Plus powers the largest D2C brands with proven reliability during flash sales and viral moments.

Omnichannel Retailers

Unified POS, online store, social selling, and marketplace integrations in one platform.

App-Dependent Workflows

If you rely on specialized apps, Shopify's 8,000+ marketplace gives you the most options.

Shopify Ecosystem Users

Existing Shopify merchants upgrading to Plus for checkout customization and automation.

Best For

Who Should Choose BigCommerce

High-Volume, Multi-Gateway Stores

BigCommerce charges zero transaction fees, saving significant money for stores using non-native gateways.

B2B and Wholesale Operations

BigCommerce B2B Edition offers native price lists, quote management, and buyer portals.

Headless Commerce Projects

BigCommerce open SaaS architecture pairs flexibly with any frontend framework.

Margin-Sensitive Businesses

No revenue-based pricing tiers means your costs do not escalate automatically with GMV growth.

Expert Opinion

Our Recommendation

Shopify Plus is the default choice for D2C brands that want the largest ecosystem and simplest operations. BigCommerce Enterprise is compelling for B2B commerce, multi-gateway stores, and businesses that want open SaaS flexibility without transaction fees. Maxwize evaluates your specific requirements to recommend the right platform.

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FAQ

Shopify Plus vs BigCommerce — FAQ

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