Shopify vs BigCommerce
A detailed, side-by-side comparison of Shopify and BigCommerce. 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.
Shopify vs BigCommerce at a Glance
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
★ 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 vs BigCommerce Feature Comparison
Here is how Shopify and BigCommerce compare across the features that matter most. We have tested both platforms extensively across client implementations.
| Feature | Shopify | BigCommerce |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan Available | No | No |
| Starting Price | £24/month | £24/month |
| Best For | Businesses wanting the easiest, most complete e-commerce platform with massive app ecosystem | Larger stores and B2B sellers wanting enterprise features without transaction fees |
| Our Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.2/5 |
| Mobile App | Yes | Limited |
| Email Marketing | No | No |
| Automation | Limited | Limited |
| Reporting | Basic | Basic |
| Integrations | Limited | Limited |
| API Access | Limited | Yes |
| Ikaroa Exclusive Discount | N/A | N/A |
Shopify vs BigCommerce Pricing
Pricing is often the deciding factor. Here is a full breakdown of what each platform charges at every tier:
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
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)
Not sure which to pick?
Our team has implemented both Shopify and BigCommerce for clients. We can help you decide based on your specific needs.
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
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
Our Verdict: Shopify vs BigCommerce
Both Shopify and BigCommerce are solid options, but they serve different needs. Having implemented both for multiple clients, here is our recommendation:
Choose Shopify if you need Businesses wanting the easiest, most complete e-commerce platform with massive app ecosystem. With a starting price of £24/month and a rating of 4.5/5, it offers easiest e-commerce platform to use.
Choose BigCommerce if you need Larger stores and B2B sellers wanting enterprise features without transaction fees. Starting at £24/month with a 4.2/5 rating, it excels at more built-in features than shopify (fewer apps needed).
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 Shopify and BigCommerce? 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 Shopify or BigCommerce for your business, migrate your data, and train your team. We have done it dozens of times.
Free consultation. No obligation.