When it comes to building an online store, pricing plays a huge role in your decision. Two of the most popular e-commerce platforms—Shopify and BigCommerce—offer powerful tools, but their costs vary depending on your needs and growth plans.
In this article, we’ll dive deep into the pricing structures, hidden costs, and value for money between Shopify and BigCommerce. By the end, you’ll know which one is better for your business budget.
Shopify Pricing Overview
Shopify is widely known for its ease of use and versatility. Its pricing tiers are structured to cater to everyone—from casual sellers to enterprise-level businesses.
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Starter – £5/month: Perfect for selling on social media or via simple links. It’s not a full e-commerce site but gives you a low-risk way to start.
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Basic – £19/month (annual billing): Includes an online store, blog, unlimited products, 24/7 support, and basic reports. Great for small to medium-sized businesses.
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Shopify/Grow – £49/month: Unlocks more staff accounts, lower transaction fees, and advanced features like better reporting and shipping discounts.
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Advanced – £259/month: Best for scaling stores that need more customization, advanced analytics, and global sales support.
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Shopify Plus – Custom (~£1,800/month): Enterprise-grade solution with enhanced performance, automation, and dedicated support.
Extra Shopify Costs to Consider
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Transaction fees: If you don’t use Shopify Payments, you’ll pay an extra percentage on top of card processing fees.
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Apps: Many essential features (SEO tools, advanced reporting, upselling, etc.) require third-party apps. These can add £20–£200+ per month.
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Themes: Free themes are available, but premium ones typically cost £150–£300 as a one-off.
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Custom development: If you need tailored features, hiring a developer can increase costs significantly.
BigCommerce Pricing Overview
BigCommerce takes a different approach, offering more built-in features at the expense of slightly higher starting prices.
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Standard – $29/month (~£25): Includes unlimited products, no platform transaction fees, and basic marketing features.
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Plus – $79/month (~£65): Adds customer segmentation, abandoned cart recovery, and stored credit cards—tools that Shopify users often need paid apps for.
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Pro – $299/month (~£240): Designed for high-volume sellers; includes advanced filtering, custom SSL, and better scalability.
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Enterprise – Custom: Tailored pricing for very large businesses with advanced needs.
Extra BigCommerce Costs to Consider
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Revenue thresholds: Each plan has a sales cap. For example, Standard caps annual sales at $50k. If you exceed it, you’ll be pushed to a higher tier.
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Apps & integrations: While BigCommerce includes more features by default, advanced marketing or ERP integrations may still cost extra.
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Themes: Premium themes cost around $150–$300, similar to Shopify.
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Payment processing: Like Shopify, you’ll still pay Stripe/PayPal fees—but BigCommerce doesn’t add extra platform transaction fees.
Shopify vs BigCommerce: Pricing Comparison
Here’s how the two platforms compare side-by-side:
| Plan Level | Shopify Price (annual billing) | BigCommerce Price (annual billing) | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry Level | £5 (Starter) / £19 (Basic) | $29 (~£25) | Shopify is cheaper for very small sellers. BigCommerce gives you a full store at Standard. |
| Mid Tier | £49 (Grow) | $79 (~£65) | Shopify may require extra apps, BigCommerce includes more built-in features. |
| Advanced | £259 (Advanced) | $299 (~£240) | Similar pricing; BigCommerce includes more by default, but Shopify has more polished integrations. |
| Enterprise | Custom (from ~£1,800) | Custom | Both scale up depending on requirements. |
Transaction Fees: A Key Difference
One of the biggest cost factors is transaction fees.
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Shopify: If you don’t use Shopify Payments, you’ll pay an additional fee (0.5%–2%) on each transaction.
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BigCommerce: No additional transaction fees, regardless of payment provider.
For high-volume stores, this difference can save hundreds—or even thousands—per year.
Features vs Cost: Which Gives Better Value?
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Shopify Pros
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Lower entry price for small sellers.
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Huge app marketplace to expand functionality.
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Easy to use with sleek, modern designs.
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Shopify Cons
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Reliance on third-party apps increases costs.
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Transaction fees if you avoid Shopify Payments.
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Advanced features locked behind higher plans.
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BigCommerce Pros
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More built-in features at lower tiers (abandoned cart recovery, customer segmentation, etc.).
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No extra transaction fees.
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Better suited for high-volume growth.
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BigCommerce Cons
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Higher starting price.
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Annual sales limits force upgrades.
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Fewer apps and design themes compared to Shopify.
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Which Is More Cost-Effective?
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For small businesses/startups: Shopify is usually cheaper to get started, especially with the £5 Starter plan.
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For growing businesses: BigCommerce becomes more cost-effective as you scale, because you save on transaction fees and get more built-in tools.
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For enterprise: Both platforms offer custom pricing—here, the decision is less about cost and more about integrations, support, and scalability.
Final Thoughts
When comparing Shopify vs BigCommerce pricing, the right choice depends on your business size and growth trajectory.
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Choose Shopify if you want a simple, affordable way to start, with the flexibility to grow using apps and integrations.
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Choose BigCommerce if you expect rapid growth and want more built-in features without relying heavily on third-party apps.
Either way, remember that the subscription fee is only one part of the total cost of running an e-commerce store. Transaction fees, apps, themes, and development all add up. A smart decision comes from looking at your long-term needs, not just today’s budget.
