Shopify vs BigCommerce
Shopify and BigCommerce are both dedicated ecommerce platforms rather than website builders that added a shop, which makes this the closest comparison in the category. Both start at the same price and neither has a free plan.
Which should you choose?
Choose Shopify if
- Merchants who want a hosted store running quickly with minimal upkeep
- Brands selling across web, social channels and physical retail
- Dropshipping and print-on-demand stores that rely on app integrations
- Growing businesses that expect to scale into Shopify Plus
Choose BigCommerce if
- Mid-sized merchants with larger catalogs and multiple sales channels
- B2B and wholesale sellers
- Agencies building headless or heavily customized storefronts
Cheapest to start
BigCommerce · From $29/mo
Free plan
Neither
Highest editor rating
Shopify · 4.7
| Compare | Shopify |
|---|---|
| Free plan | No |
| Free trial | Yes |
| Starting price | From $39/mo |
| Editor rating | 4.7 |
| Ease of use | Easy (4/5) |
| Category | Ecommerce |
| Pricing model | No free plan. Basic $39/month, Grow $105/month and Advanced $399/month billed monthly, each about 25 percent cheaper billed annually. Shopify Plus starts from $2,300/month. 3-day free trial, then $1/month for the first 3 months. |
| Plans |
|
| Platforms | CLI, Web, iOS, Android, API |
| Integrations | Facebook & Instagram, Google Ads, Google Analytics, PayPal, TikTok, YouTube |
| Best for |
|
| Pros |
|
| Cons |
|
| Abandoned cart recovery | Yes |
| AI assistant | Yes |
| API access | Yes |
| App marketplace | Yes |
| Custom domains | No |
| Discounts & coupons | Yes |
| Inventory management | Yes |
| Mobile app | Yes |
| Multi-currency | Yes |
| Payment processing | Yes |
| Point of sale | Yes |
| Reporting & dashboards | Yes |
| Templates | No |
| Webhooks | Yes |
Common questions
- Is Shopify cheaper than BigCommerce?
- BigCommerce starts lower, at $29 a month against $39 for Shopify. Both figures are the entry paid plan billed monthly, checked against each vendor's own pricing page. Higher tiers and add-ons can change the comparison, so price the plan you actually need.
- Does Shopify or BigCommerce have a free plan?
- Neither offers a permanently free plan. Shopify and BigCommerce offer a free trial instead.
- How long is the Shopify and BigCommerce free trial?
- Shopify offers a 3-day free trial, and BigCommerce offers a 15-day free trial.
- Which is easier to use, Shopify or BigCommerce?
- In VERILO's editorial assessment Shopify is the easier of the two, scoring 4 out of 5 against 3 for BigCommerce. That is a judgement about how quickly a new team gets productive, not a measured benchmark.
Our verdict
Shopify's Basic plan is $39 a month billed monthly; BigCommerce's entry Core plan is $29 a month billed annually and capped at $30,000 of trailing annual sales, so the two are not priced on the same basis. BigCommerce gives a much longer trial at 15 days against Shopify's 3, and is aimed at slightly larger operations — from about five people up. Shopify is the easier of the two, scoring 4 out of 5 for ease of use against BigCommerce's 3, and VERILO rates it 4.7 against 4.1. Shopify is the safer default; BigCommerce earns a look if you want more built in before paying for apps.
Go deeper
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