BigCommerce vs Shopify – Comparison for modern e-commerce brands

If you want to build a store that goes live quickly and can scale long-term, BigCommerce and Shopify are two of the most exciting SaaS platforms on the market.

Both rely on a fully hosted system that removes technical hurdles for you :

• Hosting,

• Security,

• Updates and

• maintenance

are part of the offer. You get a powerful setup that's ready to use right away.

Shopify follows a highly structured, modular approach. You can get started right away, customize your design using drag and drop, and add products with just a few clicks. BigCommerce is similarly user-friendly but offers more flexibility with features that go beyond standard solutions.

This is particularly advantageous in the B2B sector and with more complex pricing structures.

Both platforms appeal to similar target groups : growing brands that don't want to maintain on-premise software and value a fast time to market. This is particularly attractive for DTC brands or hybrid omnichannel retail models. In addition to a central dashboard and numerous integrations, both systems provide the foundation for flexible scaling with manageable training effort.

Compared to traditional e-commerce shop systems like Shopware , where you have to take care of hosting and system maintenance yourself, BigCommerce and Shopify offer you a lean setup.

You can focus on your business while the system scales automatically in the background. The differences lie in the details, and we'll cover them in the next sections.

BigCommerce vs Shopify: Our 9 Tips ::/H2

When choosing between BigCommerce and Shopify, it's not just about technical specs.

It's about …

• suitability for everyday use,

• growth potential,

• Marketing power and

• Support.

So that you don't have to spend your fingers googling, here are 9 compact but well-founded tips.

9 tips on how to find the right platform for your business ::/H2

Choosing between BigCommerce and Shopify isn't about making a gut decision. It's about which system is a better fit for your goals, your team, and your setup. These 9 tips will show you the most important differences at a glance – practical, well-founded, and focused on what really matters for your e-commerce success.

1. Ease of use & setup: How quickly can you get started? ::/H3

The first steps with a shop system often determine the further course of your project. This is where you quickly differentiate between systems that offer MVP -friendly onboarding and those that are more geared toward tech teams.

criterion	Shopify	BigCommerce
Setup time	Ready to go in just a few hours	Somewhat more technology-intensive, takes longer
user interface	Intuitive, visual, no code required	More technical, more complex menus
Theme Editor	Drag-and-drop, live editing	Less visual, partly code-based
Training effort	Low	Medium to high

Shopify is suitable for teams that want to get started without a large development budget. BigCommerce offers a solid foundation, but usually requires a basic understanding of the technology. The theme editor, in particular, demonstrates that Shopify significantly lowers the barriers to entry.

2. Functions & Extensibility ::/H3

If you want to not only launch your online store but also scale it long-term, the right features and their expandability are crucial. Both systems offer a solid foundation. But how deep you can actually get into it differs significantly.

Native functions in comparison:

function	Shopify	BigCommerce
Discount codes & vouchers	Integrated	Integrated
Product variants	Up to 100 with 3 options	Up to 600 variants
Customer groups	About Apps	Natively available
SEO tools	Basic functions natively, rest via apps	Extensively natively integrated
Multi-currency	With Shopify Markets	Immediately available

BigCommerce Advantages :

• Comprehensive rights management for larger teams

• Native B2B features: tiered pricing, individual price lists, customer groups

• Product filtering, custom fields and faceted navigation directly on board

• API-first approach for integrations with ERP, CRM or PIM

Shopify Advantages :

• Over 8,000 extensions in the App Store

• Seamless integrations with tools like Klaviyo, Google Ads or Meta

• Native automation of shopping cart abandonment

• Extensible checkout logic (from Shopify Plus)

• Huge partner network for individual solutions

If you're looking for a system that comes with many business features out of the box, BigCommerce is a strong solution . The advantage is clearly its native nature. However, if you want flexible testing, want to rely on proven apps, and value modular growth, you'll find more flexibility with Shopify .

3. Design & Customization – how flexible are layout and CI? ::/H3

You don't want to look like everyone else. Your store should fit your brand and be flexible enough to adapt to your corporate identity. This includes not only the design of the homepage, but also the shopping experience on product pages, during checkout, and on mobile devices.

Shopify :

• Themes can be selected directly in the backend and edited live

• Color scheme, fonts and grid layout can be customized with a click

• Large selection of free and paid themes in the official store

• Access to the Liquid code for advanced customization

• Integration of headless approaches via Shopify Hydrogen and Storefront API possible

BigCommerce :

• Theme Engine (Stencil) offers more technical scope for developers

• Design API allows in-depth customization of templates, widgets and CSS

• Frontend can be fully customized with your own components

• No full-fledged visual editor, adjustments mostly via code

If you're a designer or marketer who wants to implement changes quickly and without a development team, Shopify is your playground. If you have a development team and want to delve deeper into the front-end architecture, BigCommerce opens up significantly more possibilities.

4. Multichannel & POS – how well does omni-channel sales work? ::/H3

Multichannel isn't a buzzword, it's a revenue driver. Customers move between social media, marketplaces, Google Shopping, and brick-and-mortar stores. What matters is how seamlessly your platform connects these channels and how much additional effort this requires.

channel	Shopify POS & Multichannel	BigCommerce with third-party providers
Social Commerce	Native linking with Meta, TikTok, Pinterest	Plugin or API based
Marketplaces	Amazon, eBay etc. can be directly linked	Additional tools required (e.g. CedCommerce)
On-site cash register solution	Shopify POS app with central backend	Integration via third-party providers such as Square
Data synchronization	Real-time sync of all channels centrally	Partly manually or via middleware

Shopify offers a sophisticated system with an integrated POS app and robust interfaces. You can manage inventory centrally and don't need any additional solutions for social sales. BigCommerce offers similar options, but through third-party providers, which can involve additional costs and maintenance effort.

5. Scalability – how well do the platforms grow? ::/H3

As your store gains momentum, you need a platform that can keep up. Not just in terms of traffic, but also in terms of feature depth, system architecture, and international expansion.

Scaling factor	Shopify Plus	BigCommerce Enterprise
Hosting & Infrastructure	Inclusive, auto-scaling	External, flexible choice
API capability	Headless-ready, modern interfaces	Highly customizable, even for complex use cases
Multistore option	Possible via workarounds and partner solutions	Available ex works
Use Case Focus	D2C, B2C, rapid growth	B2B, complex business processes

Shopify Plus is like a scalable framework designed for high performance out-of-the-box, including a CDN, auto-scaling hosting, and maintenance. This makes it ideal for brands that want to grow with clear roadmaps and without technical baggage. Especially in the D2C space, where time to market counts, Shopify delivers results quickly.

BigCommerce Enterprise, on the other hand, scores points if you want to intervene deeply in business processes: Custom modules, individual server configuration, and multi-level architecture offer scope for large B2B setups or individual commerce logic.

In our comparison Shopify Plus vs Bigcommerce Enterprise you can read detailed details and tips.

6. Internationalization: Which platform offers more global power? ::/H3

The global e-commerce boom has long been a reality. But international shops need more than just translation. They must be able to map payment methods, legal requirements, shipping logic, and tax calculations for every market.

function	Shopify (Markets)	BigCommerce
Domains & Languages	Manageable directly in the backend	Via app or individual solution
Currency switching	Automatic, with local pricing logic	Possible via third-party providers
Local payment methods	Native integration (e.g. Klarna, Sofort, iDEAL)	Mostly via APIs or plugins
Tax calculation	Automated according to market specifications	Partially manual configuration
Checkout customization	Country-specific with Shopify Plus	Only via additional developments

Shopify Markets makes internationalization easy to manage : You manage domains, currencies, languages, and prices centrally. Furthermore, various local payment methods are available, which you can activate without additional tools. The entire checkout process can be tailored to regional specifics. This is a major advantage for global growth without agency dependency.

BigCommerce also offers internationalization , but on a more modular level. Necessary features like multilingual or multicurrency support can usually only be enabled with third-party apps or additional setup. This creates flexibility, but also requires more maintenance and technical support.

If you want to enter new markets with manageable effort, Shopify offers a complete toolkit. BigCommerce gives you more design freedom.

7. Performance & Security::/H3

No matter how beautifully designed your store is, if it loads too slowly or is unavailable, your target audience will abandon your site. Loading speed not only affects the user experience, but also your Google ranking and conversion rate.

factor	Shopify	BigCommerce
Hosting	Own hosting with integrated scaling	Hosting via partner or self-managed
CDN	Globally integrated (Cloudflare)	Optional, depending on your hosting setup
SSL certificate	Standard, automatically activated	Optional, partly to be integrated manually
Updates	Automatically and regularly	Manually or depending on the setup
Uptime	Maximum stability through SaaS infrastructure	Variable, depending on infrastructure

Shopify provides you with a completely stable system that runs without any additional effort. Hosting, CDN, SSL, and updates are included. This reduces technical dependencies and saves you hours of support. Especially with international shops or large campaigns, you can rely on stable loading times and system availability.

BigCommerce gives you more control , but you're in charge of hosting and performance. This can lead to better results if you work with a strong development team. However, it also increases the effort required for monitoring, debugging, and security.

If you don't want to deal with caching, server load, or DNS management on a daily basis, Shopify is a less stressful solution .

8. Costs & Price Structure ::/H3

When choosing your platform, it's not just the entry price that counts, but also the long-term cost. This includes fixed monthly costs, variable fees, and additional extensions. The TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) determines whether your platform is compatible with your business model.

Cost factor	Shopify	BigCommerce
Basic fees	From $39 (Basic), up to approximately $2,300+ (Plus)	Sales-dependent levels starting at approximately $29
Transaction fees	Yes, with external gateways (e.g. PayPal)	None, even with third-party gateways
Extensions	Partly paid in the App Store	Many features included natively
Enterprise pricing	Transparent and predictable	On request, depending on sales and setup

Shopify offers a clearly structured pricing structure . You know what to expect in advance and can easily factor in scaling costs. While extensions cost extra, they can be added flexibly and canceled as needed.

BigCommerce relies on revenue-based pricing. This can be more cost-effective during periods of significant growth, as there are no transaction fees. However, you need good control, especially in the enterprise segment, where special terms are negotiated.

If predictability and modular expansion are important to you, Shopify is easier to calculate. If you're already generating high sales and want to avoid fees, BigCommerce may offer a better cost structure.

Read more about Shopify Advanced vs Shopify Plus here and find out when it’s worth switching.

9. Support, Community & Partner Network ::/H3

Even the best platform is useless if you're left alone to deal with a problem. That's why it's important to know how well you're being supported—both by official support, the community, and external service providers.

Area	Shopify	BigCommerce
Support	24/7 via chat, email, sometimes telephone	Business Hours, Ticket System
Community	Very active, worldwide, many German-speaking forums	Smaller, primarily focused on the US market
Agency network	Large, highly specialized (e.g. CRO, migration)	Small, little focus on the DACH region
documentation	Comprehensive, regularly updated	Solid, but technically complex

Shopify impresses with global support available around the clock. Additionally, you'll find numerous agencies specializing in conversion optimization, setup, migration, and custom development. The network is particularly strong in German-speaking countries.

BigCommerce has good documentation and reliable support, although it's often only available during US business hours. Its partner network is smaller, especially in the DACH market, and relies more on in-house expertise.

If you value fast response, local expertise, and strong agency partners, Shopify will provide you with a better support backbone in the long run .

If you are looking for support, you can find suitable support from our Shopify Plus agency here.

Shopify vs BigCommerce - Our Conclusion ::/H2

Ultimately, the decision between Shopify and BigCommerce largely depends on your goals for your online store. If you want to get started quickly without having to delve deeply into the technology, then a Shopify setup is a good choice.

You get a reliable ecosystem, a strong partner network, and a user interface that works even without developer knowledge. This is a clear advantage, especially for D2C brands, startups, and agile marketing teams.

BigCommerce, on the other hand, shines when you have more complex requirements, such as in the B2B sector, with tiered pricing, or multi-store structures. Even if you like to delve deeply into the code or want to consciously control your infrastructure yourself, BigCommerce is the more robust platform. However, you'll need a tech-savvy team for this.

Here again the direct comparison in a clear table:

Area	Shopify	BigCommerce
Introduction	Fast, without developers	More technology-intensive, more setup
Extensibility	App-based, modular	Many functions natively
design	Visual customization, Liquid	Developer-friendly, APIs
Multichannel	Strong, natively integrated	Third-party provider required
Scaling	Automatic, SaaS	Manually, depending on configuration
internationalization	Integrated with Shopify Markets	Expandable with additional tools
Performance & Security	Hosting included, updates automatically	Hosting yourself, security plugins required
Cost structure	Clearly calculable, TCO transparent	Variable, worthwhile with high turnover
Support & Community	Strong worldwide	Expandable in the DACH region

You can find out more about this topic in the comparison WooCommerce vs Shopify.

Bonus: Further system comparisons & alternatives ::/H3

If you're still unsure whether Shopify or BigCommerce is the right system for your business, it's worth taking a look at other platform comparisons. Especially in the mid-funnel phase, the phase when you're weighing different options against each other, it's important to know all the relevant systems, including their strengths, weaknesses, and typical use cases.

If you want maximum flexibility and have a strong development team, check out the Magento vs. Shopify comparison. This is especially relevant if you want to self-host and need full access to the code.

If you're particularly interested in pricing and licensing models, Zoey vs Shopify Plus could offer exciting insights, ideal for growing B2B stores.

If you sell products through creative marketplaces or are building a DIY brand, the Shopify vs. Etsy comparison is helpful. It shows you how Etsy and Shopify differ in terms of target audience, fees, and scaling.

And if you're looking for a flexible Shopware alternative, you'll find a detailed comparison of how Shopify performs in a German context compared to the established solution from Jena.

All articles will help you make the best decision for your shop system .