BigCommerce vs Shopify
A detailed, side-by-side comparison of BigCommerce and Shopify. We compare features, pricing, ease of use, and value for money to help you make the right choice in 2026.
Reviewed by the Ikaroa team · Last updated: March 2026
Quick Verdict
Shopify edges ahead overall with a rating of 4.5/5. However, BigCommerce (4.2/5) may be the better fit if you prioritise Larger stores and B2B sellers wanting enterprise features without transaction fees. Read on for the full breakdown.
BigCommerce vs Shopify at a Glance
BigCommerce
★ 4.2BigCommerce is an enterprise-grade e-commerce platform that provides headless commerce, multi-channel selling, and advanced B2B capabilities. Unlike Shopify, it includes many features natively without requiring apps, including multi-currency, multi-language, and advanced product options. Popular with larger stores and B2B sellers.
Starting from: £24/month
Best for: Larger stores and B2B sellers wanting enterprise features without transaction fees
Read full review →Shopify
★ 4.5Shopify is the world's leading e-commerce platform, powering millions of online stores globally. It provides everything needed to start, run, and grow an online business, from website building and product management to payment processing and shipping. Known for its ease of use and extensive app ecosystem.
Starting from: £24/month
Best for: Businesses wanting the easiest, most complete e-commerce platform with massive app ecosystem
Read full review →BigCommerce vs Shopify Feature Comparison
Here is how BigCommerce and Shopify compare across the features that matter most. We have tested both platforms extensively across client implementations.
| Feature | BigCommerce | Shopify |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan Available | No | No |
| Starting Price | £24/month | £24/month |
| Best For | Larger stores and B2B sellers wanting enterprise features without transaction fees | Businesses wanting the easiest, most complete e-commerce platform with massive app ecosystem |
| Our Rating | 4.2/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Mobile App | Limited | Yes |
| Email Marketing | No | No |
| Automation | Limited | Limited |
| Reporting | Basic | Basic |
| Integrations | Limited | Limited |
| API Access | Yes | Limited |
| Ikaroa Exclusive Discount | N/A | N/A |
BigCommerce vs Shopify Pricing
Pricing is often the deciding factor. Here is a full breakdown of what each platform charges at every tier:
BigCommerce Pricing
Standard
£24/month
- ✓Online store
- ✓Unlimited products
- ✓Unlimited staff
- ✓Multi-channel selling
Plus
£58/month
- ✓Everything in Standard
- ✓Customer segmentation
- ✓Abandoned cart recovery
- ✓Store credit
Pro
£221/month
- ✓Everything in Plus
- ✓Google customer reviews
- ✓Custom SSL
- ✓Advanced product filters
Enterprise
Custom
- ✓Everything in Pro
- ✓Priority support
- ✓Custom facets
- ✓API calls (unlimited)
Shopify Pricing
Basic
£24/month
- ✓Online store
- ✓Unlimited products
- ✓2 staff accounts
- ✓Basic reports
Shopify
£59/month
- ✓Everything in Basic
- ✓5 staff accounts
- ✓Professional reports
- ✓Lower card rates
Advanced
£289/month
- ✓Everything in Shopify
- ✓15 staff accounts
- ✓Custom reports
- ✓Lowest card rates
Shopify Plus
From £1,750/month
- ✓Enterprise features
- ✓Unlimited staff
- ✓Dedicated support
- ✓Customisable checkout
Not sure which to pick?
Our team has implemented both BigCommerce and Shopify for clients. We can help you decide based on your specific needs.
BigCommerce Pros and Cons
✓Pros
- •More built-in features than Shopify (fewer apps needed)
- •No transaction fees on any plan
- •Excellent B2B capabilities
- •Strong headless commerce support
- •Multi-currency included natively
✗Cons
- •Annual sales limits on Standard and Plus plans
- •Fewer themes than Shopify
- •Smaller app ecosystem
- •Less intuitive for beginners
- •Higher plans are expensive
Shopify Pros and Cons
✓Pros
- •Easiest e-commerce platform to use
- •Massive app ecosystem (8,000+ apps)
- •Excellent payment processing (Shopify Payments)
- •Scales from small to enterprise
- •Strong SEO capabilities
✗Cons
- •Transaction fees if not using Shopify Payments
- •Monthly costs add up with apps
- •Limited customisation without coding
- •Content management is basic compared to WordPress
- •Migrating away is difficult
Our Verdict: BigCommerce vs Shopify
Both BigCommerce and Shopify are solid options, but they serve different needs. Having implemented both for multiple clients, here is our recommendation:
Choose BigCommerce if you need Larger stores and B2B sellers wanting enterprise features without transaction fees. With a starting price of £24/month and a rating of 4.2/5, it offers more built-in features than shopify (fewer apps needed).
Choose Shopify if you need Businesses wanting the easiest, most complete e-commerce platform with massive app ecosystem. Starting at £24/month with a 4.5/5 rating, it excels at easiest e-commerce platform to use.
Still not sure? Talk to the Ikaroa team. We have helped hundreds of businesses make this exact decision, and we are happy to point you in the right direction.
🎁 Get either product at a discount through Ikaroa Partners
Consider Open Doors Instead
Why choose between BigCommerce and Shopify? Open Doors gives you the best features of both in one platform, for less. It is an all-in-one CRM with email marketing, SMS, funnels, booking, invoicing, automation, and more, starting at just £97/month with unlimited contacts.
Need implementation help?
Ikaroa can set up BigCommerce or Shopify for your business, migrate your data, and train your team. We have done it dozens of times.
Free consultation. No obligation.