Shopify vs BigCommerce: POS and Flow or Multi-Storefront and B2B
Shopify runs online and in-store selling from one admin: its POS app for iOS and Android syncs orders and inventory with the web store, and Shopify Flow automates store tasks on every plan. BigCommerce puts more weight on running several storefronts and wholesale channels from one control panel. Multi-Storefront gives each site its own domain, theme and categories, B2B Edition adds company accounts, quotes and a buyer portal, and Catalyst is its Next.js framework for headless builds. Both add a fee on orders taken through outside payment providers, and the rate falls on higher plans.
Shopify
Best for: Brands and retailers that want a hosted store and checkout, selling online, on social channels and in person from one admin.
BigCommerce
Best for: Growing ecommerce brands and B2B sellers that need multiple storefronts, channel selling, and customizable commerce infrastructure.
| At a glance | Shopify | BigCommerce |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $29/mo (annual billing) | $29/mo (annual billing) |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Market Signal | 82 / 100 | 73 / 100 |
| Built for | Freelancer, Small Business, Mid-Market, Enterprise | Small Business, Mid-Market, Enterprise |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android, API | Web, API |
| Founded | 2006 | Not listed |
Choose Shopify if...
you sell in person as well as online and want POS, stock across locations and store automations handled inside one admin.
Choose BigCommerce if...
you need several branded or regional storefronts on one catalog, or a wholesale buyer portal with quotes, invoices and company accounts.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Dimension | Shopify | BigCommerce |
|---|---|---|
| In-person selling | Stronger here | |
| Multiple storefronts | Stronger here | |
| B2B selling | Stronger here | |
| Store automation | Stronger here | |
| Marketplace channels | Comparable | Comparable |
We name a winner for each dimension and never one overall winner. The right pick depends on which of these matters most for your use case.
Plans and Pricing Side by Side
Shopify
From $29/mo (annual billing) · Free trial
| Plan | Monthly | Annual (mo) | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $39 | $29 | |
| Grow | Not listed | $79 | |
| Advanced | Not listed | $299 | |
| Plus | Custom | Custom |
|
Checked October 13, 2026 on Shopify's pricing page.
BigCommerce
From $29/mo (annual billing) · Free trial
| Plan | Monthly | Annual (mo) | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core | $39 | $29 |
|
| Growth | Not listed | $79 |
|
| Scale | Not listed | $299 | |
| Performance | Not listed | Not listed |
|
Checked October 13, 2026 on BigCommerce's pricing page.
Annual columns show the monthly cost when billed yearly. Vendors change prices often, so confirm on their site before you buy.
Market Signal Compared
| Score (0 to 100) | Shopify | BigCommerce |
|---|---|---|
| Market Signal | 82 | 73 |
| Market strength | 95 | 83 |
| Momentum | 38 | 40 |
| Traffic strength | 94 | 83 |
| Search visibility | 93 | 80 |
| Authority | 96 | 82 |
| Brand and market presence | 98 | 88 |
| Data confidence | Medium | Medium |
Market Signal measures each product's online footprint and momentum from Ahrefs and Semrush data, scored against other tools in its category (Ecommerce (46 tracked)). It shows market presence, which is not the same as product quality. Data through September 2026. How the score works
Integrations and Support
Both connect with: Klaviyo, Meta
| Shopify | BigCommerce | |
|---|---|---|
| Integrations only one lists | Google Analytics, TikTok Shop | Google, TikTok, Amazon, eBay, PayPal, Stripe |
| Support | Live chat, Phone, Email, Help center, Community forum | Help center, Community forum, Onboarding, Phone |
| Languages | English, Spanish, German, Russian, Dutch, French and 3 more | English, German, Spanish, Danish, Norwegian, French and 3 more |
| Headquarters | Ottawa, Canada | Not listed |
From each vendor's integrations and support pages. Lists show notable integrations, not every connector.
Other Tools to Consider
If neither Shopify nor BigCommerce fits, these are the closest alternatives we list, ordered by Overall Score.
Wix
Drag-and-drop website builder with built-in SEO tools, tiered ecommerce plans and an app market.
Lightspeed
Retail commerce platform combining point of sale, inventory and payments.
WooCommerce
Free, open-source WordPress plugin that adds a store, checkout and extension marketplace to a site.
PrestaShop
Open-source ecommerce software with hosted options and a marketplace for store modules and themes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do both platforms charge a fee if I use my own payment processor?⌄
Yes, with conditions. Shopify adds a third-party transaction fee when you take payments through a provider other than Shopify Payments, and the rate drops as you move up plans. BigCommerce charges nothing extra on its embedded providers, a list that includes Stripe, PayPal Braintree, Adyen and Klarna, but takes a share of order value on open providers below its Performance plan.
Which one handles international stores better?⌄
Shopify Markets on every plan lets one store show local currencies and local payment methods, and Plus organizations can add up to nine expansion stores for other regions or languages. BigCommerce handles the same need with Multi-Storefront: each storefront can set its own default currency, domain and theme while drawing on the shared catalog and order list.
Can I sell to wholesale buyers on a standard plan?⌄
On Shopify, yes: companies, net payment terms, quantity rules, draft orders and a quick order list work on Basic, Grow and Advanced, with a limit of three active catalogs until you move to Plus. BigCommerce's B2B Edition is installed from its app marketplace and provisioned through support, and adds quotes, invoice management and a self-service Buyer Portal.
Can I try both before choosing?⌄
Both offer a free trial and neither has a free plan. BigCommerce's pricing page describes a 15-day trial with no credit card, after which store data is kept for 90 days. Shopify starts with three free days followed by a discounted introductory period.
Written by SEM Solutions Editorial Team
Last updated October 13, 2026