DoodleWeb
Shopify logo vs Bi

Shopify vs BigCommerce: which should you choose?

Short answer: Choose Shopify for apps and checkout conversion; choose BigCommerce for native B2B, large catalogues and no extra gateway fees.

Short answer

Shopify or BigCommerce?

Choose Shopify for apps and checkout conversion; choose BigCommerce for native B2B, large catalogues and no extra gateway fees. DoodleWeb builds on and migrates between both, so this is a platform-neutral recommendation.
Shopify cost
USD 39–399/mo; Shopify Plus from about USD 2,300/mo.
BigCommerce cost
USD 39–399/mo; Enterprise quoted by revenue.
Shopify best for
Brands that want reliable checkout
BigCommerce best for
Merchants with large catalogues

Last updated: September 2026 · Source: DoodleWeb, Columbia Tower, 701 5th Ave 42nd Floor, Seattle WA 98104 · info@doodleweb.io · (425) 359-0168

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Side by side

Shopify vs BigCommerce compared on nine factors

FactorShopifyBigCommerce
Best forBrands that want reliable checkout, apps and scale without running servers.Merchants with large catalogues, B2B pricing or multi-storefront needs.
Editing experienceOnline Store 2.0 theme editor with sections and blocks.Page Builder with Stencil themes.
HostingFully hosted, PCI DSS Level 1.Fully hosted, PCI compliant.
Typical costUSD 39–399/mo; Shopify Plus from about USD 2,300/mo.USD 39–399/mo; Enterprise quoted by revenue.
Extensibility8,000+ apps, Functions, Hydrogen headless, Admin API.Apps, open APIs, headless with Catalyst.
SEO controlSolid; fixed URL prefixes (/products/, /collections/) must be redirected to.Flexible URLs and built-in redirects.
SecurityManaged and PCI compliant.Managed and PCI compliant.
MultilingualShopify Markets for languages and currencies.Multi-storefront and multi-currency.
HeadlessYes, Hydrogen and the Storefront API.Yes, Catalyst and GraphQL Storefront API.
Shopify logo

Shopify

Hosted commerce platform from starter stores to Shopify Plus.

Strengths

  • Best-in-class checkout conversion
  • No hosting or patching
  • Huge app ecosystem

Trade-offs

  • Transaction fees unless Shopify Payments
  • Fixed URL structure
  • App costs add up

DoodleWeb is a Shopify Partner.

Bi

BigCommerce

Hosted commerce platform strong in B2B and large catalogues.

Strengths

  • No transaction fees
  • Built-in B2B features
  • Flexible URL structure

Trade-offs

  • Smaller app ecosystem
  • Revenue-based plan upgrades
  • Smaller agency talent pool
Decision guide

Pick in four questions

Q1

Do you need complex permissions or 20+ languages?

Yes → Either

Q2

Does marketing need to ship pages without developers?

Yes → Shopify

Q3

Do you want zero hosting or patching?

Yes → Shopify

Q4

Do you want full code ownership?

Yes → Neither; both are hosted

FAQ

Shopify vs BigCommerce questions

Is Shopify or BigCommerce better?

Choose Shopify for apps and checkout conversion; choose BigCommerce for native B2B, large catalogues and no extra gateway fees.

Which is cheaper, Shopify or BigCommerce?

Shopify: USD 39–399/mo; Shopify Plus from about USD 2,300/mo. BigCommerce: USD 39–399/mo; Enterprise quoted by revenue.

Which is better for SEO, Shopify or BigCommerce?

Shopify: Solid; fixed URL prefixes (/products/, /collections/) must be redirected to. BigCommerce: Flexible URLs and built-in redirects.

Can I migrate from Shopify to BigCommerce later?

Yes. DoodleWeb migrates between Shopify and BigCommerce in either direction with content scripts, a full 301 redirect map and Search Console monitoring.

Who is Shopify best for?

Brands that want reliable checkout, apps and scale without running servers.

Who is BigCommerce best for?

Merchants with large catalogues, B2B pricing or multi-storefront needs.

More platform comparisons

Q&A

Frequently asked questions about DoodleWeb

What is DoodleWeb?
DoodleWeb is a Seattle-headquartered digital agency (founded 2019) that designs, builds, and grows websites and digital platforms on Drupal, WordPress, Shopify, Webflow, BigCommerce, and React for higher education, government, aerospace, healthcare, nonprofit, and growing brands across the United States.
Where is DoodleWeb based?
DoodleWeb is a Seattle, WA agency headquartered at Columbia Tower, 701 5th Ave, 42nd Floor, Seattle, WA 98104, United States. We serve clients across the United States.
What services does DoodleWeb offer?
Custom web design and development, CMS builds and migrations (Drupal, WordPress, Webflow, Shopify, BigCommerce), eCommerce, headless commerce, React/Next.js engineering, React Native mobile apps, rebranding, accessibility (WCAG 2.2 AA, AODA, Section 508), Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), and SLA-backed managed hosting and maintenance.
How much does a DoodleWeb website cost?
Marketing sites run $12K–$25K, CMS rebuilds run $25K–$80K, and enterprise Drupal, headless commerce, and government platforms start at $80K and scale to $250K+. Every quote is fixed-fee with no hidden retainers and is returned within two business days of the discovery call.
How long does a website project take?
Marketing sites launch in 6–10 weeks, mid-market CMS platforms in 10–16 weeks, and enterprise Drupal, government, or commerce rebuilds in 4–6 months. Exact timeline, milestone dates, and acceptance criteria are written into the SOW before kickoff.
Can DoodleWeb get my brand cited by ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, and Claude?
Yes. Our AEO/GEO program restructures content into Q&A patterns, ships FAQ / Organization / Article / BreadcrumbList JSON-LD schema, publishes /llms.txt and /llms-full.txt, and runs weekly citation tests across all four major answer engines so engines extract and cite your brand. Initial citations typically appear within 30–60 days.
How do I contact DoodleWeb?
Email info@doodleweb.io, call +1-425-359-0168, or book a free 30-minute consultation at https://book.doodleweb.io. You will speak directly with a senior strategist, not a sales rep.