BigCommerce vs. Shopify: 7 Key Points Where BigCommerce Wins
Choosing the right e-commerce platform can make or break your business. While Shopify often dominates headlines as the go-to solution for online stores, BigCommerce has steadily carved out a niche as the more powerful, scalable, and feature-rich alternative—especially for mid-size to enterprise businesses and B2B sellers.
If you’re weighing your options, this guide will walk you through seven key segments where BigCommerce outperforms Shopify and why it might be the better long-term investment for your brand.
1. Built-in Features: More Power Right Out of the Box
One of BigCommerce’s biggest advantages is its feature-rich core platform. Unlike Shopify, which requires merchants to rely on third-party apps for many essential functions, BigCommerce includes advanced features natively. Some highlights:
- Real-time shipping rate calculations
- Advanced product filtering (faceted search)
- Multi-currency and international selling tools
- Gift wrapping and store credit systems
- Customer segmentation and price lists
This not only saves money on app subscriptions but also improves site performance and simplifies store management.
🛠️ Why It Matters: You get enterprise-grade tools without having to piece together your tech stack.
2. B2B Commerce Capabilities: Built for Wholesale
If you’re selling B2B, Shopify can feel like a workaround-heavy experience—unless you’re on Shopify Plus with custom development. BigCommerce, on the other hand, was designed with B2B in mind. It supports:
- Custom price lists for different customer groups
- Invoice-based payments and quote requests
- Bulk pricing rules and volume discounts
- Tax-exempt customers
- Integration with ERP and procurement systems
Whether you’re managing large accounts or complex pricing structures, BigCommerce delivers the tools you need—no plugins required.
🏢 Why It Matters: You can support both B2B and B2C on one platform without compromise.
3. Multi-Storefront Management: One Backend, Many Brands
BigCommerce offers powerful multi-storefront capabilities that allow you to manage multiple stores (with different branding, domains, or customer segments) from a single backend.
This is especially valuable if you:
- Operate multiple brands
- Sell in different regions or languages
- Run B2C and B2B storefronts separately
Shopify, in contrast, typically requires you to create and manage separate stores for each brand or region—often requiring Shopify Plus and additional fees.
🌍 Why It Matters: Simplify operations, reduce costs, and expand internationally with less friction.
4. SEO Capabilities: Take Full Control of Your Rankings
Shopify is notorious among SEOs for its rigid URL structures (e.g., /collections/, /products/), which you can’t change. BigCommerce gives you full control over URLs, metadata, and on-page SEO, making it easier to optimize for organic search.
BigCommerce also supports:
- Custom 301 redirects
- AMP support for faster mobile pages
- Enhanced schema markup
🧠 Why It Matters: Better SEO means more visibility, traffic, and sales—without fighting platform limitations.
5. No Transaction Fees—No Strings Attached
One of Shopify’s lesser-known drawbacks is its transaction fee policy. If you choose to use a payment gateway other than Shopify Payments, Shopify charges additional transaction fees (up to 2%).
BigCommerce, by contrast, charges no extra transaction fees, no matter which gateway you use.
💳 Why It Matters: You maintain full control over payment providers—and save on every sale.
6. Headless Commerce: BigCommerce is More Developer-Friendly
If you want a custom frontend experience using a CMS like WordPress, Contentful, or a custom React/Vue build, BigCommerce is often the better choice. It offers:
- Robust REST and GraphQL APIs
- More generous API rate limits
- Native headless commerce integrations
- Open SaaS architecture
While Shopify does offer headless capabilities, developers often find BigCommerce more flexible, especially for high-traffic or content-heavy experiences.
💡 Why It Matters: You get creative freedom without being locked into rigid templates.
7. Scalability and API Limits: Built for Growth
As your business scales, so does your need for backend integrations, automation, and API performance. BigCommerce supports higher API call volumes and offers tools that scale with your growth—including multi-channel sales (eBay, Amazon, Walmart, Facebook) and integrations with major ERPs.
Whether you’re processing thousands of SKUs or integrating with external systems, BigCommerce can handle it.
📈 Why It Matters: Performance and reliability are key to long-term growth—and BigCommerce is built to grow with you.
Final Thoughts: Who Should Choose BigCommerce?
While Shopify shines for beginners and solo entrepreneurs, BigCommerce is the smarter choice for:
✅ B2B and wholesale sellers
✅ Brands running multiple stores or product lines
✅ SEO-focused businesses
✅ Stores needing deep customization or headless builds
✅ Enterprises needing powerful native features
At the end of the day, choosing BigCommerce isn’t just about features—it’s about future-proofing your business.
Considering a switch or building a new store?
BigCommerce might just be the edge your business needs to scale smarter and faster.
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