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. Whichever you choose, we build it with AI and have it live in days.
- Fixed price
- from $160
- Delivery
- 2 to 10 working days
- 10-working-day guarantee
- Live in 10 working days, or we keep working for free.
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
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 |
Pricing deep dive
Shopify Plus
| Plan | Licence price |
|---|---|
| Plus (standard) | $2,000/mo |
| Plus (high volume) | $2,000+ (variable pricing) |
| Plus (enterprise custom) | Custom negotiated |
| Team cost estimate | Per month |
|---|---|
| Up to $800K GMV/mo | $2,000 |
| $800K–$2M GMV/mo | $2,000–4,000 |
| $2M+ GMV/mo | Custom |
| Multi-store (10) | $2,000 (included) |
BigCommerce Enterprise
| Plan | Licence price |
|---|---|
| Enterprise | Custom (typically $1,000–5,000/mo) |
| Enterprise (high volume) | Custom negotiated |
| Team cost estimate | Per month |
|---|---|
| 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-store | Custom pricing |
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.
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.
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.
Shopify Plus vs BigCommerce: frequently asked questions
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.
Not sure which to pick?
Get a free 30-minute consultation. We'll analyze your requirements and recommend the right platform — no bias, no pressure.
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