Shopify Plus v/s BigCommerce Enterprise: Which eCommerce Platform Is Best for Your Business?

Choosing the right enterprise eCommerce platform is a big decision for any growing business. Both Shopify Plus and BigCommerce Enterprise are the two of the best options out there, each with its own strengths. But which one is the right fit for your business?

Shopify Plus, according to its followers, is easy to use and offers a great marketplace and app ecosystem, as well as scalability in the case of brands such as Gymshark and Kylie Cosmetics. On the other hand, BigCommerce Enterprise offers many out-of-the-box capabilities, good SEO, and more technical flexibility in order to minimize the use of third-party apps. 

Global ecommerce app development and sales are expected to reach $7.4 trillion by 2025 (according to Exploding Topics), so the right choice is crucial in determining customer experience, operational efficiency, and growth. This particular blog “Shopify Plus v/s Bigcommerce Enterprise” scrutinizes to attract business owners and decision-makers targeting the best enterprise eCommerce solutions for their organizations. So, let’s go in!

Overview of Shopify Plus

Shopify Plus is suitable for enterprises, owing to its excellent features and tools to cater to e-commerce on a large scale. Its flexibility, scalability, and reliability have made it a choice for very fast-growing businesses.

With it, companies can efficiently manage inventories, payments, and customer data – all in one place. The platform comes with advanced marketing and analytic tools that help businesses optimize and increase their revenues. Of course, it should be added that Shopify Plus is a very secure and reliable infrastructure that can help businesses easily maintain their websites with their traffic and transaction numbers.

Benefits :

✔ Scalability – Handles heavy traffic and large order volumes easily.

✔ Customization – Get access to Shopify’s Liquid code for custom store designs.

✔ Multi-Channel Selling – Sell across social media, marketplaces, and in person.

✔ Automation- Built-in tools like Shopify Flow for automating tasks.

✔ Dedicated Support – Dedicated account manager with 24-hour priority customer support. 

Major brands, such as Gymshark, Heinz, and Tesla, are known to rely on Shopify Plus because of its credibility and ease of use. It is an ideal choice for businesses that are looking for hassle-free e-commerce solutions that offer speed, efficiency, and scalability.

Overview of BigCommerce Enterprise

What is BigCommerce? BigCommerce is another enterprise-level eCommerce platform with a definite focus on simplifying the development and maintenance of online stores: presenting them to customers through a very smooth interface while having developed complex customization and integration features.

Due to BigCommerce, businesses can design and build their web stores without worrying about learning complex programming. Instead, through a drag-and-drop website builder, they can design the layout and aesthetics of their web stores in seconds without writing even one line of code. Besides, BigCommerce provides plenty of self-sufficient features and integrations, which include but aren’t limited to payment gateways, shipping providers, and marketing tools.

Essential Features:

✔ Scalability- Effortlessly handling high traffic and very complex catalogs.

✔ Customization- Open SaaS architecture with unrestricted API access for fully customized solutions.

✔ SEO & Performance- Excellent tools for SEO and lightning-speed pages to greater ranking performance.

 ✔ No Transaction Fees- Unlike Shopify Plus, BigCommerce does not charge extra per transaction cost.

 ✔ B2B and Multiple Store Support- Best suitable for wholesalers as well as brands that can be sold through several storefronts.

Skullcandy and Toyota are just some examples of companies whose business relies on the flexibility and strength of BigCommerce Enterprise. It is a good proposition for all businesses looking for customization, flexibility, and reduced operating costs.

Key Differences Between Shopify Plus vs BigCommerce Enterprise

Now that we have an understanding of Shopify Plus and BigCommerce Enterprise, let’s explore the key differences between them. Both platforms are very strong contenders for e-commerce scaling businesses. Still, for the sake of ease, Shopify Plus will fit better, whereas BigCommerce Enterprise is more suited for companies that require more customization and built-in features. Below are some key differences compared side by side. 

Comparison Table

Feature	Shopify Plus	BigCommerce Enterprise
Ease of Use	Simple, user-friendly interface	More technical, requires customization.
Customization	Limited to Shopify’s Liquid code	Open SaaS with full API access for custom solutions
Scalability	Best for fast-growing brands	Handles complex catalogs and high-volume businesses.
SEO Features	Basic SEO tools rely on apps	Advanced SEO with built-in features
Transaction Fees	0.15% per transaction (unless using Shopify Payments)	No transaction fees, supports more payment gateways.
Built-in Features	Requires third-party apps for advanced features	Many advanced tools are built-in (B2B, multi-store, SEO, etc.)
Multi-Store Support	Available but requires extra setup	Built-in support for multiple storefronts.
B2B Capabilities	Requires third-party apps	Built-in B2B features for wholesalers
Customer Support	24/7 priority support + dedicated account manager	24/7 support with better developer assistance
Pricing	Starts at ~$2,000/month and varies with revenue.	Custom pricing based on business needs.
Best For	Brands looking for ease of use & automation.	Businesses need flexibility & built-in tools.

Aside from that, both are large business eCommerce platforms, where Shopify Plus works well with simplicity, whereas BigCommerce Enterprise is better suited to companies needing more customization and built-in features.

Pricing and Cost Structure: Shopify Plus v/s BigCommerce Enterprise

Well, Pricing is one of the most important factors to take into account when deciding upon either Shopify Plus or BigCommerce Enterprise. While both platforms come with powerful features, there is a clear distinction between their pricing structures. Let us look at it in detail.

Shopify Plus Pricing Breakdown

• Starts at $2,000/month (or a percentage of revenue after a certain threshold).
• Custom pricing for high-revenue businesses.
• Additional costs for apps, premium themes, and third-party integrations.
• Transaction fees of 0.15% per sale unless using Shopify Payments.

BigCommerce Enterprise Pricing Breakdown

• There is no starting price; it is custom-based on the size of the business and sales volume.
• The average starting point is $1,000/month to $1,500/month but may vary with requirements.
• No additional fees for transactions, even if a third-party payment gateway is used.
• Includes a lot more built-in features compared to Shopify Plus, thus saving on extra costs.

Hidden Costs and Additional Fees

• Shopify Plus contains numerous paid apps for advanced functionality like B2B and multi-store.
• BigCommerce Enterprise comes with more out-of-the-box functionality, thus lowering dependency on paid applications.
• Custom shopify plus development services and integration are available for both platforms at an extra cost.

Which is more affordable? (i.e., BigCommerce Enterprise, which means lesser transaction fees and more built-in features.) This makes it the best choice for a budget-conscious customer. However, if ease of use and automation are preferred over cost, then Shopify Plus may fit the bill.

Strengths and Weakness of Shopify and BigCommerce

Shopify Plus and BigCommerce Enterprises are two premium-level e-commerce platforms. However, both platforms have their strong and weak points. Such understanding will make it easier for businesses to choose what fits them based on their requirements. Below is a detailed breakdown of the advantages and disadvantages.

Strengths of Shopify Plus

1. Right usability interface

The Shopify Plus interface is designed for ease of use, allowing even those without technical expertise to efficiently manage their store through a user-friendly dashboard.

2. App Collection Large-scale Connected

There are thousands of apps/configurations, which further make it easy for businesses to add or modify the feature for managing applications during marketing, automation, or analytics.

3. Speedy and scalable

The hassle-free, high traffic and order handling is well-established for many budding brands.

4. Multi-channel selling

Multi-channel selling can be done by using social media, online and offline marketing channels (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc.)

5. Right customer care

The 24/7 priority support and one account manager dedicated to the business help avail the support at the time it is required.

Weaknesses of Shopify Plus

1. Expensive 

It starts at $2,000 per month and, on top of that, adds the cost of including other apps, premium themes, and transaction fees.

2. Limited Customization 

Actually, it encompasses only those customizations that will be within the Liquid coding language of Shopify that will require advanced developer expertise.

3. Dependency on Third-Party 

It is considered an application with the most advanced features, such as B2B selling, subscription models, etc., which are available only with so-called ‘paid’ applications, which means extra cost.

4. Transaction fees 

Every sale incurs a 0.15% transaction cost on each transaction unless you go for the Shopify Payments subscription, which does not charge directly but adds to the total cost.

Strengths of BigCommerce Enterprise

1. No Transaction Fees 

Unlike Shopify, BigCommerce does not charge transaction fees, even if third-party payment gateways are used.

2. Advanced SEO Features 

Advanced SEO features have been attuned to various foreign search engines. They offer more advanced SEO tools to gain a higher rank, along with a custom URL structure, built-in schema markup, and fast-loading pages.

3. Built-in features 

Multi-storefronts, B2B tools, and advanced reporting are part of the built-in BigCommerce functions that greatly reduce paid apps.

4. Highly Customizable

It offers more flexibility to developers by using the open SaaS architecture and full API access.

5. Lower Entry Price

Pricing is more or less custom, but the range for big-commerce generally is anywhere between $1,000 to $1,500 per month, which is lower compared to Shopify Plus.

Weaknesses of BigCommerce Enterprise

1. Steeper Learning Curve

The platform is technical and requires a lot more work to set up and manage than Shopify does.

2. Fewer Apps Compared to Shopify

It comes loaded with built-in features, but a smaller app marketplace means fewer third-party integrations might be available.

3. Less Intuitive Design Customization

It can be more difficult than Shopify’s drag-and-drop builder to edit themes and make layout changes.

4. Customer Support Can Be Inconsistent

Many users say that even though support is 24/7, response time for serious technical issues has been rather slow.

Which One Should You Choose?

• Use Shopify Plus: If you want a very easy-to-use, automation-friendly platform with a healthy app ecosystem.
• Use BigCommerce Enterprise: Cost savings and built-in features, along with robust SEO tools, are worth your consideration.

This choice is very dependent upon the goals of your business, your technical abilities, and the budget you have set.

Integrations & App Ecosystem: Powering Your eCommerce Growth 

There are several inbuilt facilities in the eCommerce platform and the choice shouldn’t be limited to these platforms; it should also include how well they can integrate with third-party applications, tools of business, and even custom solutions. 

Shopify Plus and BigCommerce Enterprise are the last two names in terms of existing players with highly integrated offerings. Still, the main characteristic factor is that both of them stand out in terms of flexibility and ecosystem size. Let us find out more about these features.

Shopify App Store vs. BigCommerce App Marketplace

Feature	Shopify App Store	BigCommerce App Marketplace
App Volume	8,000+ apps available	1,000+ apps available
Ease of Use	Plug-and-play with simple setup	Some apps require technical setup
Paid vs. Free Apps	Many premium (paid) apps needed for advanced features	More built-in functionality, reducing reliance on paid apps
Best For	Businesses wanting a vast selection of add-ons	Companies preferring fewer external dependencies

Thus Shopify Plus will have a larger app ecosystem for future businesses to add capabilities quickly. However, they have to actually pay for many of those great applications. BigCommerce Enterprise comes with quite a bit of it baked in the box, which reduces external support.

ERP, CRM, and Third-Party Software Integration

Both platforms integrate with the major ERP and CRM systems to let the operations run better:

Shopify Plus Integrations: Works with SAP, NetSuite, Salesforce, HubSpot, and Microsoft Dynamics; however, in some cases, these require middleware.

BigCommerce Enterprise Integrations: It comes with native connections to NetSuite, Brightpearl, and other enterprise solutions that make it seem more seamless to use for large enterprises.

As opposed to third-party applications, Shopify depends more on this for achieving similar functionalities. BigCommerce has the advantage of direct integrations to ERP and CRM systems.

API Capabilities for Custom Solutions

In-depth customization is required for those enterprises, and API access is provided on all these platforms: 

Shopify Plus API:

• API calls per second are limited (this can slow down high-volume integrations).
• Great for adding custom workflows but very application-dependent.

BigCommerce Enterprise API:

• API limits are higher (better suited for businesses that may conduct huge transfers of real-time data).
• Supports headless commerce (front-end separated from back-end for advanced customizations).

So, BigCommerce suits API-based businesses, whereas Shopify Plus is a great fit for those who want more plug-and-play integrations.

Which is Better for Integrations?

• Select Shopify Plus: If you’re looking for an easy-to-use app ecosystem with a huge library of third-party tools.
• Go for BigCommerce Enterprise: If you require straining built-in features and premium API flexibility while minimizing paid add-ons.

Both platforms have substantial integration capabilities, but BigCommerce is better suited for techy businesses, while Shopify Plus stands for those looking for ease of use. 

Which Platform Is Right for Your Business?

After all, the decision-making process has differences between Shopify Plus and BigCommerce Enterprise in terms of what business requirements you will find important. 

At that point, you are in search of a user-friendly, scalable e-commerce platform that offers, alongside many other amazing things, quite literally thousands of options for third-party applications to extend the functionality of your website. The reason why Shopify Plus would be the right choice. Most agents would find it convenient to use because of the ease of setting up and automating business processes. 

If you need a platform that comes with a lot of other features that you have to spend hours configuring and has more flexibility than most here, along with no transaction fees, BigCommerce Enterprise will suit you better. This is very useful for an enterprise that needs advanced SEO tools, B2B functionality, and good API access to custom solutions. 

Here’s a short summary of the two platforms’ strong suits that will help in shaping your choices:

Feature	Shopify Plus	BigCommerce Enterprise
Ease of Use	Very user-friendly, great for non-technical users	More technical, better for developers
Customization	Limited to Shopify’s Liquid code	Full API access for deep customization
Cost	Starts at ~$2,000/month + transaction fees	Starts around ~$1,000/month with no transaction fees
Built-In Features	Relies on third-party apps	Many advanced features included (B2B, multi-store)
Best For	Businesses needing a simple, scalable solution	Businesses looking for flexibility and built-in tools

It all depends on what you want. If you prefer things simple, go for Shopify Plus. But if you require a little more flexibility, customization, and built-in features, then BigCommerce Enterprise is perfect. Choosing the right one for your business considering business growth goals, technical resources, and budget.

Why Choose EmizenTech for Enterprise eCommerce Development?

EmizenTech is a very reliable and trustworthy app development company, and with the many years the company has worked with multiple businesses, it has slowly but surely come up with scaling and innovative ideas. The developers have years of experience and successfully use a customer-centric approach while developing a Shopify Plus and BigCommerce Enterprise. 

Below are some reasons for being part of EmizenTech for shopify development services requirements:

• Our developers have significant experience in building high-performance, large-scale, customizable eCommerce platforms. 
• Our professionals provide personalized solutions to address the specific requirements and goals of your enterprise. 
• With a proven track record, our skilled coders successfully delivered projects with major brands across various industry verticals. 
• Here, you will get the certified Shopify Plus & BigCommerce experts team who specialize in both platforms. 
• Our app developers have abilities to integrate ERPs, CRMs, and other third parties into the headless ecommerce platforms. 
• Our experts use the mobile-first approach, which is focused on giving a responsive, mobile-optimized shopping experience. 
• Our app programmers provide continuous technical support and maintenance to have the store running smoothly at all times. 
• We are also well-known for our affordable solutions; we believe in giving value for money on premium solutions. 

With EmizenTech’s expertise, get hold of a reliable, scalable, and feature-rich eCommerce answer tailor-made to suit your business’s unique requirements.

Final Words

Well, the determinant is a life-altering option because choosing between Shopify Plus and BigCommerce Enterprise can be the differentiator as per the eCommerce business. However, before selecting between the two powerful platforms to turn to for scalability, you have to consider your very own business, technical know-how, and budget. 

Both platforms even allow for free trial tests or demos, letting you try out the system’s features and interface before making a commitment to any of them. This firsthand experience becomes informative in deciding which platform best integrates without much objection into your business.

And in case you are still unable to make a decision, a free consultation with a skilled eCommerce or BigCommerce development company like EmizenTech. Here the professional team can analyze everything specific to you and recommend a solution that best suits your needs. 

No matter what platform you choose, the idea is to find a solution that favors your growth for a long time, bringing along all the tools necessary to thrive in close competition in eCommerce. An informed choice is sure to take your business toward success!

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