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Shopify vs BigCommerce – which one suits your eCommerce venture best? In this thorough comparison, we’re here to guide you!
Delve into our analysis to explore the nuanced strengths and weaknesses of these top-tier eCommerce platforms. Gain valuable insights and make your choice to kickstart your dream business a breeze!
Pricing
Regarding the pricing of Shopify and BigCommerce, please take a quick look at this comparison table.
Summary Table
| Shopify | BigCommerce | |
| Monthly Plans | $39–$399/month | $39–$399/month |
| Annual Fees | $29–$299/month | $29–$299/month |
| Starter Plan | $5/month | None |
| Discounted plans | 25% discount on yearly plans | 25% discount on yearly plans |
| Free Trial | 3 days, then $1/month for 3 months | 15 days |
| Product limits | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Storefront included | 1 | 3-8 |
| Staff accounts | 2-15 | Unlimited |
| Transaction fees (*) | Yes | No |
| Credit card fees (*) | Yes | Yes |
*Transaction fees
Third-party transaction fees are expenses incurred with every transaction when employing an external payment service provider to process customer payments. It’s noteworthy that BigCommerce doesn’t impose transaction fees across its plans.
As for Shopify, no transaction fees apply to stores using Shopify Payments. However, opting for a third-party payment provider results in additional charges:
- 2% for Basic Shopify
- 1% for Shopify
- 0.5% for Advanced Shopify plans.
*Credit card fees
Shopify Payments charges fees ranging from 2.4% to 2.9% of the purchase amount and a fixed 30¢ transaction fee. These transaction-related charges usually include interchange fees, so you don’t have to calculate them separately.
In comparison, BigCommerce imposes fees ranging from 2.05% to 2.9% of the purchase amount and an additional 30¢ per transaction.
Now, we’ll analyze the pricing of the monthly plans for both platforms. We will delve into enterprise plans later.
📝 Just a friendly reminder: Shopify has multiple alternatives, including BigCommerce, and the case goes vice versa. If you are wondering which platform to choose, make sure to check our article on Shopify competitors. It can give you a deeper understanding of platforms’ pros and cons.
Shopify vs BigCommerce: Monthly & Annual plans
Both BigCommerce and Shopify offer 3 pricing plans at the same prices: $39/month, $105/month, and $399/month.
BigCommerce plans include Standard, Plus, and Pro.
Shopify’s plans include Basic, Shopify, and Advanced.
For annual plans, as observed on the website in October 2023, BigCommerce has raised its discounts to match Shopify’s level, offering a 25% discount if you pay annually. Previously, BigCommerce offered a 10% discount, whereas Shopify has maintained its 25% discount.
There are notable distinctions between the two platforms. One significant difference lies in the inventory locations offered: Shopify allows up to 1,000 locations, whereas BigCommerce only permits up to 8.
Furthermore, Shopify stands out by enabling users to translate their stores into multiple languages, providing a seamless shopping experience for customers in diverse markets. In contrast, for BigCommerce, you need to install a multilingual app to translate your store.
However, BigCommerce doesn’t restrict the number of staff accounts you can create. In contrast, Shopify Basic plan allows only two staff accounts, with an increase allowed for higher plans. Moreover, BigCommerce allows you to create and manage multiple storefronts (3-8 storefronts) from a single account, while each Shopify account only permits one store.
Regarding the higher-tier plans, namely the $105/month and $399/month options, both platforms don’t provide significantly enhanced features compared to their basic offerings.
