Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Platform Overview
- BigCommerce
- Shopify Plus
- Pricing and Cost Structure
- Core Ecommerce Features
- Multi-Channel Selling
- Payment and Checkout
- Performance and Scalability
- Enterprise Features
- Automation and Workflows
- International Commerce
- Security and Compliance
- Support and Resources
- When to Choose BigCommerce
- When to Choose Shopify Plus
- Next Steps
Introduction
When your business reaches enterprise-level scale, you need an ecommerce platform that can handle high-volume sales, complex operations, and sophisticated business requirements. BigCommerce and Shopify Plus are two of the leading enterprise ecommerce platforms, each offering powerful features designed for large-scale online businesses.
This comprehensive comparison will help you understand the key differences between these enterprise platforms, their pricing structures, advanced features, and which one might be the best fit for your growing business.
Quick Overview
BigCommerce: Feature-rich enterprise platform with no transaction fees
Shopify Plus: Scalable enterprise solution with extensive app ecosystem
Platform Overview
BigCommerce
BigCommerce is a comprehensive, cloud-based ecommerce platform designed for businesses of all sizes, with particular strength in serving mid-market and enterprise companies. It’s known for its robust built-in features, excellent SEO capabilities, and the absence of transaction fees across all plans.
Shopify Plus
Shopify Plus is the enterprise version of Shopify, designed for high-volume merchants and large-scale operations. It builds upon Shopify’s user-friendly foundation while adding enterprise-grade features, scalability, and advanced automation capabilities.
Pricing and Cost Structure
BigCommerce Enterprise Pricing
- Standard Plan: $29.95/month
- Plus Plan: $79.95/month
- Pro Plan: $299.95/month
- Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing
- Transaction Fees: 0% on all plans
- Payment Processing: 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction
Shopify Plus Pricing
- Shopify Plus: $2,000/month
- Transaction Fees: 0% when using Shopify Payments
- Payment Processing: 2.4% – 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction
- Additional Costs: Apps, themes, and custom development
- Revenue Threshold: Typically $1M+ annual revenue
Core Ecommerce Features
Product Management
| Feature | BigCommerce | Shopify Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Product Variants | 250 variants per product | 100 variants per product |
| Product Options | ✓ Built-in | ✓ App required |
| Bulk Import/Export | ✓ Advanced | ✓ Good |
| Inventory Management | ✓ Advanced | ✓ Good |
| Multi-location Inventory | ✓ Built-in | ✓ App required |
Multi-Channel Selling
BigCommerce Multi-Channel Features
- Marketplaces: Amazon, eBay, Walmart, Google Shopping
- Social Commerce: Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok
- B2B Features: Built-in B2B capabilities
- Headless Commerce: API-first architecture
- Point of Sale: Limited POS options
Shopify Plus Multi-Channel Features
- Marketplaces: Amazon, eBay, Walmart, Google Shopping
- Social Commerce: Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok
- B2B Features: Shopify Plus B2B
- Headless Commerce: Shopify Hydrogen
- Point of Sale: Shopify POS Pro
Payment and Checkout
BigCommerce Payment Features
- Payment Gateways: 65+ built-in gateways
- Transaction Fees: 0% platform fees
- Checkout Customization: Limited customization
- One-Page Checkout: ✓ Available
- Guest Checkout: ✓ Available
- Saved Payment Methods: ✓ Available
Shopify Plus Payment Features
- Payment Gateways: 100+ payment gateways
- Transaction Fees: 0% when using Shopify Payments
- Checkout Customization: Extensive customization
- One-Page Checkout: ✓ Available
- Guest Checkout: ✓ Available
- Saved Payment Methods: ✓ Available
Performance and Scalability
BigCommerce Performance
- Uptime: 99.99% uptime guarantee
- Page Load Speed: Fast, optimized performance
- Traffic Handling: Unlimited bandwidth
- CDN: Global CDN included
- API Limits: High API rate limits
- Scalability: Excellent for high-volume stores
Shopify Plus Performance
- Uptime: 99.99% uptime guarantee
- Page Load Speed: Fast, optimized performance
- Traffic Handling: Unlimited bandwidth
- CDN: Global CDN included
- API Limits: Higher API rate limits
- Scalability: Excellent for enterprise-level stores
Enterprise Features
BigCommerce Enterprise Capabilities
- Multi-Store Management: ✓ Available
- Advanced Analytics: Built-in advanced reporting
- Customer Segmentation: ✓ Available
- Automated Marketing: Built-in marketing tools
- API Access: Comprehensive REST and GraphQL APIs
- Webhooks: ✓ Available
- Custom Fields: ✓ Available
- Stencil Theme Engine: Custom theme development
Shopify Plus Enterprise Capabilities
- Multi-Store Management: ✓ Available
- Advanced Analytics: Shopify Analytics Plus
- Customer Segmentation: ✓ Available
- Automated Marketing: Shopify Flow automation
- API Access: Comprehensive REST and GraphQL APIs
- Webhooks: ✓ Available
- Custom Fields: ✓ Available
- Liquid Theme Engine: Custom theme development
Automation and Workflows
BigCommerce Automation
- Marketing Automation: Built-in email marketing
- Order Management: Automated order processing
- Inventory Automation: Low stock alerts
- Customer Automation: Abandoned cart recovery
- Workflow Builder: Limited workflow options
Shopify Plus Automation
- Marketing Automation: Shopify Flow
- Order Management: Automated order processing
- Inventory Automation: Advanced inventory management
- Customer Automation: Advanced customer segmentation
- Workflow Builder: Shopify Flow visual workflow builder
International Commerce
BigCommerce International Features
- Multi-Currency: 140+ currencies supported
- Multi-Language: Built-in language support
- Regional Pricing: ✓ Available
- Tax Management: Automated tax calculation
- Shipping Zones: Advanced shipping rules
- Local Payment Methods: Regional payment options
Shopify Plus International Features
- Multi-Currency: 135+ currencies supported
- Multi-Language: Built-in language support
- Regional Pricing: ✓ Available
- Tax Management: Automated tax calculation
- Shipping Zones: Advanced shipping rules
- Local Payment Methods: Regional payment options
Security and Compliance
BigCommerce Security
- PCI Compliance: Level 1 PCI DSS compliant
- SSL Certificates: Free SSL included
- Fraud Protection: Built-in fraud detection
- Data Encryption: End-to-end encryption
- Backup and Recovery: Automatic backups
- GDPR Compliance: ✓ Compliant
Shopify Plus Security
- PCI Compliance: Level 1 PCI DSS compliant
- SSL Certificates: Free SSL included
- Fraud Protection: Advanced fraud detection
- Data Encryption: End-to-end encryption
- Backup and Recovery: Automatic backups
- GDPR Compliance: ✓ Compliant
Support and Resources
BigCommerce Support
- 24/7 Support: ✓ Available for Enterprise
- Dedicated Account Manager: ✓ Enterprise customers
- Documentation: Comprehensive documentation
- Community Forum: Active community
- Training Resources: Webinars and tutorials
- Implementation Services: Available
Shopify Plus Support
- 24/7 Support: ✓ Available
- Launch Engineer: ✓ Dedicated launch engineer
- Documentation: Comprehensive documentation
- Community Forum: Active community
- Training Resources: Shopify Plus Academy
- Implementation Services: Available
When to Choose BigCommerce
- You want to avoid transaction fees
- You need advanced built-in features
- You prioritize SEO capabilities
- You want more predictable pricing
- You need extensive product variant options
- You prefer a more traditional ecommerce platform
When to Choose Shopify Plus
- You need extensive automation capabilities
- You want access to a large app ecosystem
- You need advanced workflow automation
- You want excellent mobile commerce features
- You need comprehensive POS integration
- You prefer a more modern, app-based approach
Final Verdict
Choose BigCommerce if: You want a feature-rich platform with no transaction fees, excellent SEO capabilities, and more predictable pricing structure.
Choose Shopify Plus if: You need advanced automation, extensive app ecosystem, and prefer a modern, scalable approach to enterprise ecommerce.
Both platforms are excellent choices for enterprise-level businesses, but they serve different priorities. BigCommerce excels in built-in features and cost predictability, while Shopify Plus offers superior automation and ecosystem integration.
Next Steps
Ready to make your enterprise ecommerce decision? Here are some recommended next steps:
- BigCommerce: Request a demo and pricing quote
- Shopify Plus: Contact sales for a consultation
- Compare specific enterprise features you need
- Calculate total cost of ownership including apps and custom development
- Consider your long-term scalability and automation needs
