Shopify vs BigCommerce Fees — Which Is Cheaper?
BigCommerce's main advantage: zero transaction fees on all plans. Shopify charges 0.5–2% unless you use Shopify Payments. But BigCommerce has revenue caps per plan tier and fewer apps. Here's the fee comparison.
💡 BigCommerce charges $0 transaction fees but has revenue limits: Standard plan capped at $50K/year revenue. Compare against Shopify's transaction fee savings.
Shopify Fee Rate by Plan
| Plan | Monthly | Transaction Fee | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $39 | 2% (0% with SP) | 2.9% + 30¢ |
| Shopify | $105 | 1% (0% with SP) | 2.6% + 30¢ |
| Advanced | $399 | 0.5% (0% with SP) | 2.4% + 30¢ |
| Plus | $2,300+ | 0.15% (0% with SP) | 2.15% + 30¢ |
SP = Shopify Payments. Enabling Shopify Payments waives the transaction fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does BigCommerce charge transaction fees?
No. BigCommerce charges zero transaction fees on all plans, regardless of which payment gateway you use. This is a key advantage over Shopify, where you pay 0.5–2% unless you use Shopify Payments (which isn't available in all countries).
Is BigCommerce or Shopify cheaper?
If Shopify Payments is available in your country: Shopify is often cheaper because the transaction fee is waived. If Shopify Payments isn't available: BigCommerce's zero transaction fees can save 1–2% per sale. BigCommerce Standard is $39/month (same as Shopify Basic), but has a $50K/year revenue cap.
What are BigCommerce's revenue caps?
BigCommerce enforces annual sales limits per plan: Standard ($39/month) up to $50K/year, Plus ($105/month) up to $180K/year, Pro ($399/month) up to $400K/year. Exceeding the cap triggers an automatic upgrade. Shopify has no such revenue caps on any plan.
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