Shopify Beats BigCommerce in These Key Areas: A Detailed Comparison
When it comes to launching and scaling an online store, two of the most popular platforms that often come head-to-head are Shopify and BigCommerce. While both are powerful eCommerce solutions, Shopify tends to edge ahead in several key areas — especially for small to mid-sized businesses looking for ease of use, flexibility, and speed.
In this blog, we’ll break down exactly where Shopify beats BigCommerce and why many merchants choose it as their go-to eCommerce platform.
1. Ease of Use
One of Shopify’s standout features is its intuitive, beginner-friendly interface. You don’t need any technical knowledge to get started. From product uploads to theme edits, Shopify makes everything seamless with a drag-and-drop editor.
BigCommerce, on the other hand, offers more built-in features out of the box, but this often results in a steeper learning curve. Users frequently report that the dashboard feels more complicated and requires a bit more technical know-how.
✅ Verdict: Shopify is faster and easier to learn for beginners.
2. App Ecosystem
Shopify boasts a massive app store with over 8,000 apps. Whether you need advanced marketing tools, automation software, shipping integrations, or upsell plugins, there’s an app for that — usually multiple options.
BigCommerce has a smaller app store, which limits some functionality and customizability unless you’re ready to build your own integrations or hire a developer.
✅ Verdict: Shopify wins with a far larger and more diverse app marketplace.
3. Themes & Custom Design
Shopify offers a wide range of professionally designed themes — both free and paid — that are mobile-friendly and easily customizable through its visual editor. You can create a great-looking store without touching a line of code.
BigCommerce also has responsive themes, but fewer in number, and deep customization often requires HTML/CSS edits.
✅ Verdict: Shopify provides a better selection of stylish and customizable themes.
4. Payments & Transaction Fees
Shopify supports hundreds of payment gateways, including Shopify Payments, which removes additional transaction fees if used. This can significantly reduce costs for high-volume merchants.
BigCommerce supports multiple gateways as well but doesn’t have a built-in solution like Shopify Payments — and it may charge fees depending on your plan and chosen processor.
✅ Verdict: Shopify Payments offers a simple, fee-free solution for many merchants.
5. Mobile App Functionality
Shopify’s mobile app allows you to run your entire store from your phone — add products, fulfill orders, chat with customers, track inventory, and view real-time analytics.
BigCommerce’s mobile app is more limited in features, mainly offering basic store monitoring.
✅ Verdict: Shopify provides a more powerful and flexible mobile app experience.
6. Multi-Channel Selling
Shopify integrates natively with major sales channels like:
- Amazon
- eBay
- Facebook & Instagram Shops
- TikTok
- Walmart Marketplace
This lets you manage all sales from one centralized dashboard. BigCommerce supports multi-channel too, but Shopify’s integrations are broader and more tightly integrated.
✅ Verdict: Shopify is stronger for omnichannel and social commerce.
7. Point of Sale (POS) System
If you run both an online and physical store, Shopify’s built-in POS system is a game changer. It’s deeply connected to your online inventory, customer profiles, and analytics.
BigCommerce does not offer a native POS system and instead relies on third-party integrations like Square or Clover.
✅ Verdict: Shopify’s native POS system is ideal for hybrid businesses.
8. Community & Resources
With a larger user base, Shopify offers more:
- Tutorials
- Forums
- Webinars
- Developer support
This thriving community means help is always available — whether it’s from official support or the global Shopify user network.
✅ Verdict: Shopify has stronger community support and learning resources.
9. Developer & Freelancer Ecosystem
Need custom features? Shopify has a vast pool of certified developers, designers, and freelancers. Its popularity means it’s easier (and often cheaper) to find expert help.
BigCommerce’s ecosystem is growing but still lags behind Shopify in terms of expert availability.
✅ Verdict: Shopify is better supported by third-party professionals.
10. Speed to Launch
Thanks to its easy setup, modern themes, and plugin-rich app store, Shopify enables entrepreneurs to launch stores faster with fewer technical barriers.
BigCommerce’s robust backend is great for large-scale operations, but setup takes longer and can be more technical.
✅ Verdict: Shopify is the better option for a fast, hassle-free launch.
Conclusion: Is Shopify Right for You?
If you’re a small to mid-sized business owner, solopreneur, or someone new to eCommerce, Shopify offers a compelling, user-friendly solution that scales with you. Its robust app ecosystem, theme variety, and built-in tools make it a great all-in-one platform — particularly if you value simplicity and speed.
BigCommerce is still a powerful alternative, especially for enterprise-level merchants who want more built-in features and don’t mind a steeper learning curve. But for most users, Shopify clearly leads in usability, integrations, and ecosystem support.
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