In 2025, the e-commerce market is more competitive than ever. Whether you’re a small business launching your first online store or an enterprise scaling globally, choosing the right platform can significantly impact your success. Shopify and BigCommerce are two of the biggest players in the space, but they serve slightly different business needs. Here’s a detailed breakdown to help you decide which one is right for you.
Ease of Use and Setup
Shopify is known for simplicity. Its user-friendly dashboard and guided setup make it possible to launch a store within hours, even with no technical background. BigCommerce, on the other hand, has a steeper learning curve. It offers more advanced options out-of-the-box, which is great for seasoned users but can feel overwhelming for beginners.
Design and Customization
Shopify offers a wide selection of sleek, mobile-responsive themes with an intuitive drag-and-drop editor. It’s perfect for those who want a visually appealing store without coding. BigCommerce also provides professional themes but relies more heavily on customization through HTML, CSS, and its Stencil framework, which appeals to developers looking for deeper control.
Features vs App Dependence
BigCommerce comes loaded with powerful built-in features such as advanced SEO tools, multi-channel selling, and B2B capabilities. This reduces the need for third-party apps. Shopify has a lighter core but makes up for it with an extensive app marketplace offering thousands of integrations. The downside is that costs can add up as you stack apps for advanced functionality.
Pricing and Fees
Both platforms start at similar price points, around $29–$39 per month. However, Shopify charges extra transaction fees (0.5%–2%) if you don’t use Shopify Payments. BigCommerce does not charge transaction fees, giving you more flexibility with payment gateways. That said, BigCommerce has sales thresholds tied to its pricing plans, so fast-growing stores may move to higher tiers sooner.
SEO and Marketing
BigCommerce shines in SEO with more advanced control over URLs, metadata, and site structure. Shopify performs well for standard SEO needs, but advanced customization is limited without apps. On the marketing side, Shopify’s ecosystem gives merchants access to AI-powered tools like Shopify Magic, making content creation and product descriptions more efficient.
Scalability and B2B Capabilities
If you’re running a large store with thousands of SKUs or need advanced B2B features, BigCommerce is the stronger choice. It supports complex catalogs, custom pricing, and bulk ordering natively. Shopify handles scalability well but has limits—such as 100 product variants—unless you use additional apps or upgrade to Shopify Plus.
International and Multi-Channel Selling
Both platforms support selling across multiple channels like Amazon, eBay, and social media. BigCommerce stands out with native multi-currency, multi-language, and multi-storefront support, making it ideal for global businesses. Shopify offers international selling too, but some features require higher-tier plans or third-party solutions. For physical stores, Shopify’s POS system is more polished and widely adopted.
Customer Support and Security
Both platforms provide 24/7 support, SSL certificates, and PCI compliance. Shopify is often praised for faster response times and a more extensive support community. BigCommerce delivers strong enterprise-level support, with detailed documentation and account management for larger businesses.
Innovation and Market Position
Shopify continues to dominate the market with its massive user base and frequent rollout of new features. It has become the go-to platform for entrepreneurs and growing brands. BigCommerce, while smaller in user base, is carving its niche with enterprise clients and businesses that demand robust built-in features without heavy reliance on apps.
BigCommerce vs Shopify: Who Should Choose Which?
| Business Type or Goal | Best Platform |
|---|---|
| First-time entrepreneurs | Shopify |
| Dropshipping businesses | Shopify |
| Design-focused brands | Shopify |
| Large product catalogs | BigCommerce |
| B2B or wholesale operations | BigCommerce |
| International expansion | BigCommerce |
| Predictable pricing without extra fees | BigCommerce |
| Strong POS integration for retail stores | Shopify |
Final Verdict
If you value ease of use, beautiful themes, and a vast app ecosystem, Shopify is the best choice in 2025. It’s built for entrepreneurs who want to get online fast and scale steadily. But if your business is enterprise-level, requires complex catalogs, or wants built-in features without relying on third-party apps, BigCommerce is a better fit.
The decision ultimately depends on your business model: Shopify is perfect for simplicity and rapid growth, while BigCommerce is ideal for scalability and complexity.