Shopify Plus vs BigCommerce Enterprise: The Ultimate Comparison (2025 Update)

These days, the online market moves fast. Really fast. Picking an enterprise ecommerce platform isn’t just about features on a spec sheet, it’s about finding the right partner to help your business grow. The wrong choice can leave you stuck with tech headaches and slow progress. The right one? It can make scaling feel effortless.

When it comes to the big leagues, two names keep coming up: Shopify Plus and BigCommerce Enterprise. Both are heavy hitters. Both can power serious online stores. But they’re not built the same, and they don’t serve every business in the same way.

If you’re already pulling in millions, selling around the globe, or running a mix of B2B, wholesale, and subscription sales, this decision matters a lot. The platform you choose could mean smooth global expansion or expensive roadblocks down the line.

Let’s break down both platforms in detail, their strengths, ideal use cases, and why this decision matters more than ever in 2025.

What is Shopify Plus?

Shopify Plus, on the other hand, is the high-performance version of Shopify built for brands that are scaling fast and don’t want tech headaches getting in the way. Picture this: you’re doing millions in sales, you’ve got Black Friday-level traffic hitting your site, you’re expanding into new markets, and you want advanced automation running in the background. Shopify Plus handles it all without forcing you to build a massive in-house tech team.

It’s the go-to for direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands like Gymshark, Allbirds, and Brooklinen because it keeps things simple. You get:

• One-click scalability (no server crashes during big sales)
• A massive app store (think Klaviyo for email, Recharge for subscriptions)
• Built-in tools for global selling (multi-currency, local payment methods)

But it’s not perfect. You’ll pay extra for apps to do things like B2B or wholesale, and if you want to heavily customize your checkout, you’re a bit limited. It’s like driving a Tesla, sleek, powerful, and easy to use, but you can’t modify the engine as much as you might want.

What is BigCommerce Enterprise?

BigCommerce Enterprise is the underdog powerhouse for brands that need flexibility without the chaos of building from scratch. If Shopify Plus is a Tesla, BigCommerce is a fully loaded pickup truck that can handle heavy lifting (B2B, multi-store setups, deep customizations) right out of the gate.

Brands like Ben & Jerry’s, Skullcandy, and Solo Stove use it because:

• No transaction fees (unlike Shopify)
• Built-in B2B features (quotes, bulk pricing no apps needed)
• More control over your tech stack (better APIs for headless commerce)

The trade-off? It’s not as “plug-and-play” as Shopify. You’ll need some tech know-how (or a developer) to unlock its full potential. But if you’re running a complex business, say, selling both to consumers and wholesalers, or managing multiple brands under one roof BigCommerce gives you the tools without forcing you into a cookie-cutter mold.

Shopify Plus vs. BigCommerce Enterprise: The Real Talk for Growing Businesses

Let’s cut through the marketing fluff and talk about what these platforms actually do for real businesses. I’ve worked with both, and here’s the straight truth about who they’re for and why you might pick one over the other.

Shopify Plus: The Scalability Dream for Modern Brands

Shopify Plus emerged in 2014 when Shopify realized their successful merchants were outgrowing the regular platform. It was their answer to, “We need enterprise power without enterprise complexity.”

Who Actually Uses This:

• Digital-native brands that blew up fast (think: that cool DTC mattress company or the viral skincare line)
• Businesses doing $1M-$500M who just want to focus on growth, not tech
• Teams where the marketing folks don’t want to beg IT for every little change

Why People Swear By It:

• You can launch stupid fast – We’re talking weeks, not months
• It handles traffic spikes like a champ – Your Black Friday sale won’t crash the site
• The app store is ridiculous – Need subscriptions? There’s an app. Loyalty program? There’s an app.

The Catch:

• That app addiction gets expensive fast
• You’ll hit walls if you need to customize beyond their template
• The transaction fees add up if you’re not using Shopify Payments

Best For: Founders who want to sleep at night knowing their store won’t break when sales explode.

BigCommerce Enterprise: The Underdog That Packs a Punch

BigCommerce started in 2009 as the scrappy alternative to Shopify, and their enterprise version evolved for businesses that needed more muscle under the hood.

Who Really Benefits:

• Companies selling both to consumers AND other businesses
• Brands managing multiple product lines or regions
• Teams with some technical chops (or budget to hire them)

What Makes It Special:

• No nickel-and-diming – Unlike Shopify, what you see is what you pay
• B2B features built right in – No need to duct-tape apps together
• You own your destiny – More freedom to customize how things work

The Tradeoff:

• There’s a learning curve – it’s not quite as plug-and-play
• You’ll need to invest more in the setup
• Some marketing tools you love might not integrate as smoothly

Best For: Businesses that are done with workarounds and want a platform that grows with them.

Shopify Plus vs BigCommerce Enterprise: A 2025 Head-to-Head Comparison

If you’re growing fast in 2025 and selling online, you’ve probably heard the names Shopify Plus and BigCommerce Enterprise more than once. They’re the heavyweights in the enterprise ecommerce ring. Both will give you speed, scalability, and all the high-powered tools you’d expect but the way they deliver them? That’s where things start to differ.

Think of it as comparing two luxury cars: they’ll both get you to your destination in style, but the driving experience is unique.

Shopify Plus vs BigCommerce Enterprise: Pricing Comparison

When you’re weighing Shopify Plus against BigCommerce Enterprise, you can’t just look at the monthly subscription fee. That’s only part of the bill. The real cost includes payment processing, the apps you’ll end up paying for, and whatever custom development you need to get your store exactly how you want it.

Shopify Plus Subscription Costs & Pricing Model

Shopify Plus starts at about $2,300 a month. That’s the baseline. The actual number changes depending on how much you sell, so if your store is pulling in serious revenue, expect that price to climb.

One thing to note: Shopify Plus follows a revenue-based pricing model. If your store does extremely well (a good problem to have!)Your monthly fee may reflect that success.

BigCommerce Enterprise Subscription Costs & Pricing Model

BigCommerce Enterprise comes in lower, usually between $1,000 and $1,500 a month and it also scales with your revenue. But here’s the thing: a lot of the “extra” features you’d pay for on Shopify are already built in. So you might skip some of the add-on costs entirely.

Both platforms work on custom quotes, so your final price depends on what you’re running—how many products, how much traffic, how much support you want. For a store with a huge catalog or a B2B setup, BigCommerce’s all-in pricing can feel like a better deal right out of the gate.

Transaction Fees and Payment Gateway Options

Here’s where the two platforms start to feel different in day-to-day use. Shopify Plus charges no additional transaction fees if you use Shopify Payments. But if you choose a different gateway (Stripe, PayPal Pro, Authorize.net, etc.), you’ll face an extra 0.15% to 0.30% fee on each sale. This can add up quickly for high-volume stores. 

BigCommerce Enterprise, on the other hand, charges zero platform transaction fees, no matter which payment provider you use. That gives merchants a bit more freedom to negotiate rates with their preferred processors without worrying about penalty fees.

Additional Costs (Apps, Development, Hosting, etc.)

While both platforms are technically “hosted” and don’t require separate server costs, there are still additional expenses to plan for.

• Shopify Plus: Massive app store, but many of the features you’ll want: advanced search, B2B tools, extra currencies are going to cost extra every month. And if you need heavy customization, Shopify’s Liquid framework means you’ll probably be hiring developers.
  
• BigCommerce Enterprise: BigCommerce Enterprise bundles more of that stuff in. Native multi-currency, faceted search, B2B pricing groups they’re all there from the start. But deep design work or tricky integrations? You’ll still need a developer for that.

Shopify Plus vs BigCommerce Enterprise: Design & Customization

Design isn’t just about making your store look pretty, it’s about creating a brand experience that feels right for your customers and converts visitors into buyers. When you’re investing in an enterprise platform, you want to know exactly what design tools, flexibility, and creative control you’re getting. Here’s how Shopify Plus and BigCommerce Enterprise stack up.

Themes Availability (Free & Premium)

Both Shopify Plus and BigCommerce Enterprise offer a selection of free and premium themes but Shopify’s marketplace is undeniably bigger.

• Shopify Plus: Over 140 themes in the official store, with about 12 free options. Premium themes range from $150 to $400 and are known for being modern, mobile-friendly, and conversion-focused. Plus, there’s a thriving third-party ecosystem (ThemeForest, Out of the Sandbox, Pixel Union) if you want something outside Shopify’s own collection.
  
• BigCommerce Enterprise: Offers 15 free themes (with multiple style variations) and more than 100 premium ones priced between $150 and $300. While the selection isn’t as huge as Shopify’s, BigCommerce has been catching up with more modern, niche-specific designs in recent years.

Customization Flexibility for Developers

This is where the “enterprise” label really matters.

• Shopify Plus: Developers work with Liquid, Shopify’s proprietary templating language. It’s powerful, but you’re working within Shopify’s framework, which means certain back-end changes are off-limits. The upside? Liquid is well-documented, and there’s a huge developer community for support.
  
• BigCommerce Enterprise: Uses Stencil, a more open development framework built on Handlebars.js. It gives front-end developers a lot of freedom, and because it’s less proprietary, it’s easier to work with for teams familiar with modern web development practices.

Access to HTML/CSS/JavaScript Code

Both platforms give enterprise merchants access to the front-end code but with a few differences in control.

• Shopify Plus: Full access to HTML and CSS, along with Liquid templating. You can also add custom JavaScript for interactive features, though checkout page customization is limited to what Shopify allows (unless you use Shopify Scripts).
  
• BigCommerce Enterprise: Full HTML/CSS/JavaScript access as well, plus more freedom to tweak checkout and cart templates directly. This makes it slightly more flexible for businesses with very specific user experience requirements.

Storefront Design Capabilities and Limitations

• Shopify Plus: The drag-and-drop theme editor makes it easy for non-developers to change layouts, colors, and content without touching code. However, some structural changes require a developer, and certain system-level components (like checkout flow) are intentionally restricted for security and compliance reasons.
  
• BigCommerce Enterprise: Also offers a visual editor for quick changes, but because of its more open architecture, developers can push customization further from altering product page logic to adjusting checkout steps without as many platform-imposed barriers.

Shopify Plus vs BigCommerce Enterprise: SEO Capabilities

When you’re running an enterprise-level eCommerce store, SEO isn’t just about rankings, it’s about getting qualified traffic that converts. A platform’s SEO capabilities can either give you an edge or quietly hold you back. Here’s how Shopify Plus and BigCommerce Enterprise perform across the key areas that matter.

URL Structure Flexibility

• Shopify Plus: Shopify’s URL structure is mostly fixed. For example, product pages will always live under /products/ and collections under /collections/. You can edit the text after these directories, but you can’t remove or restructure them entirely. While this setup works fine for most businesses, SEO perfectionists might find the lack of full control a little frustrating.
  
• BigCommerce Enterprise: Offers more flexibility. You can customize URLs for products, categories, and other pages without mandatory directory names. This cleaner, more tailored structure can be beneficial for keyword targeting and user-friendly navigation.

Control Over Meta Titles, Descriptions, and Alt Text

• Shopify Plus: Gives full control over meta titles, meta descriptions, and image alt text for all product, collection, and page types. The editor is straightforward, and bulk editing tools (or apps) make large-scale changes easier for big catalogs.
  
• BigCommerce Enterprise: Similar level of control, allowing custom meta titles, descriptions, and alt text across the site. BigCommerce also supports automatic SEO settings where meta fields can be dynamically generated based on product data – a real time-saver for stores with thousands of SKUs.

Schema Markup Support

• Shopify Plus: Includes some built-in schema for products, breadcrumbs, and articles, but adding advanced markup (like FAQs or how-to schema) typically requires editing Liquid templates or installing an app.
  
• BigCommerce Enterprise: Ships with solid default schema markup for products, ratings, and availability. Developers can also customize and extend schema directly in the templates without needing a plugin, which is a plus for more complex SEO strategies.

Page Speed Optimization

• Shopify Plus: Pages are served through Shopify’s global CDN, which keeps loading times fast worldwide. However, heavy apps or oversized images can slow things down, so some optimization work still falls on the store owner or developer.
  
• BigCommerce Enterprise: Also uses a global CDN and has a reputation for strong out-of-the-box performance. Because it’s a bit more open in code customization, developers have slightly more room to fine-tune performance metrics.

Blog and Content SEO Capabilities

• Shopify Plus: The built-in blogging tool is simple and easy to use, but not as feature-rich as a full CMS like WordPress. It’s great for basic content marketing, though power bloggers may find it limiting without third-party apps.
  
• BigCommerce Enterprise: Also includes a native blogging feature with similar capabilities. It integrates neatly into the store’s design, but like Shopify, it’s more for straightforward content publishing than complex editorial workflows.

Shopify Plus vs BigCommerce Enterprise: Pros and Cons

When you’re deciding between Shopify Plus and BigCommerce Enterprise, the best way to cut through the noise is to look at their strengths and weaknesses side by side. Both are heavyweights in the enterprise eCommerce space, but they approach the game differently. Shopify Plus shines with ease of use and its enormous app ecosystem, while BigCommerce Enterprise leans into flexibility, built-in features, and SEO control. Below, we break down the pros and cons of each so you can see exactly where each platform stands.

Shopify Plus – Pros

• Exceptionally user-friendly interface: Even for large teams, the dashboard is intuitive, so training time is minimal.
  
• Massive app ecosystem: Thousands of apps and integrations allow you to extend functionality without heavy custom coding.
  
• Reliable infrastructure: Shopify Plus is built to handle huge traffic spikes (think flash sales or influencer campaigns) without downtime.
  
• Global CDN for fast loading: Content is delivered quickly to customers no matter where they are in the world.
  
• 24/7 priority support: Enterprise merchants get access to dedicated account managers and faster response times.
  
• Multi-channel selling: Built-in integrations with marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, and social platforms streamline selling across channels.
  
• Consistent feature updates: Shopify regularly rolls out platform improvements without merchants needing to manage upgrades.

Shopify Plus – Cons

• Less flexibility in URL structure: You can’t fully customize certain parts of URLs, which can be limiting for advanced SEO.
  
• Higher reliance on apps: Many advanced features require third-party apps, which can increase costs and add complexity.
  
• Transaction fees if not using Shopify Payments – Additional fees apply when using external payment gateways.
  
• Limited blogging capabilities: The built-in blog is basic compared to dedicated content management systems.
  
• Less direct server access: Shopify is fully hosted, so deep-level server customizations are off the table.

BigCommerce Enterprise – Pros

• Greater customization freedom: Offers more flexibility in URL structure and coding, which is a big win for technical SEO.
  
• Strong native features: Many enterprise-level tools (like faceted search and product filtering) come built-in, reducing the need for add-ons.
  
• No additional transaction fees: You can use any payment gateway without paying extra platform charges.
  
• Robust API capabilities: Ideal for integrating with ERP, CRM, and other enterprise systems.
  
• Built-in multi-currency support: Makes it easier to manage international sales without third-party solutions.
  
• Solid SEO foundation: Good control over metadata, schema markup, and structured URLs right out of the box.
  
• Transparent pricing: Fewer hidden costs from relying on too many third-party apps.

BigCommerce Enterprise – Cons

• Smaller app marketplace: While it covers most essentials, it’s not as extensive as Shopify’s ecosystem.
  
• Learning curve for non-technical users: More customization options can feel overwhelming without a developer.
  
• Theme variety is more limited: Fewer free and premium themes compared to Shopify.
  
• Design flexibility still has boundaries: Although better than Shopify in some ways, it’s not 100% open-ended like a fully custom-built platform.
  
• Support can be inconsistent: While generally responsive, some users report variable quality depending on the issue.

Which One Should You Choose?

Picking between Shopify Plus and BigCommerce Enterprise isn’t a quick coin toss. It comes down to where your business is right now and where you want it to be in a few years. A young brand on the rise has very different needs from a large, established company juggling thousands of products. Think about your industry, how complex your catalog is, how comfortable your team is with tech, and how fast you’re planning to grow. Once you have that picture, the better fit usually becomes obvious.

Decision-Making Guide Based on Business Size, Industry, and Growth Stage

• Small-to-Mid Growing Businesses: If you’re scaling quickly and need a platform that’s easy to manage without hiring a full in-house tech team, Shopify Plus will feel more intuitive.
  
• Established Enterprises: If you’re already operating at scale with complex product catalogs and deep integration needs, BigCommerce Enterprise often offers more flexibility without relying heavily on paid apps.
  
• Highly Regulated Industries: Businesses in sectors like healthcare or finance may prefer BigCommerce Enterprise’s greater control over technical configurations and security layers.
  
• Fast-Moving Retail & D2C Brands: Shopify Plus often wins here thanks to its smooth checkout, robust multichannel selling, and lightning-fast deployment.
  
• Global Expansion Plans: Both handle multi-currency, but BigCommerce offers more native internationalization tools without extra plugins, while Shopify Plus requires some add-ons.

When Shopify Plus is the Better Fit

1. You prioritize ease of use over deep customization: The admin dashboard is built for speed, letting your team focus on sales and marketing rather than coding.
   
2. You rely heavily on multi-channel selling: Seamless integration with Amazon, eBay, Facebook, Instagram, and more makes it easy to sell everywhere.
   
3. You expect frequent promotional spikes: Its infrastructure handles flash sales and high-traffic events with minimal hiccups.
   
4. You value a massive app ecosystem: Thousands of apps mean you can add features without building them from scratch.
   
5. You want predictable support: 24/7 enterprise-level assistance ensures you’re never left scrambling during peak sales.

When BigCommerce Enterprise is the Better Fit

1. You want more SEO control: Better URL structure flexibility, meta tag customization, and schema support are built in.
   
2. You have complex product catalogs: Its native features, like faceted search and advanced filtering make navigation easier for customers.
   
3. You want to avoid heavy reliance on apps: Many advanced features come included, reducing your overall tech stack and subscription costs.
   
4. You have in-house development resources: With deeper backend customization, your dev team can tweak the platform to match unique workflows.
   
5. You process sales globally at scale: BigCommerce’s built-in internationalization features help streamline multi-region store management.

How Can EncodeDots Help?

Choosing between Shopify Plus and BigCommerce Enterprise is only half the battle implementing the right platform the right way is where the real magic happens. That’s where EncodeDots steps in.

We don’t just set up an online store; we build a tailored eCommerce ecosystem that aligns perfectly with your business goals. Our team works with you to understand your brand, industry, and growth plans before recommending the platform that will give you the best long-term return.

Here’s how we make it happen:

1. Platform Selection & Consultation
   We’ll analyze your current setup, business size, and future plans to help you make a confident choice between Shopify Plus and BigCommerce Enterprise.
   
2. Custom Store Development
   Whether you choose Shopify Plus or BigCommerce Enterprise, you can hire Shopify developers from our team to create a storefront that blends stunning design with seamless functionality, fully optimized for conversions and brand storytelling.
   
3. Data Migration Without Downtime
   Switching platforms can be risky, but we handle product data, customer records, and order history migration with zero operational disruption.
   
4. Integration with Your Tech Stack
   From CRMs to ERPs, payment gateways to marketing tools, we integrate everything so your store runs like a well-oiled machine.
   
5. SEO & Performance Optimization
   We implement best practices for URL structure, schema markup, page speed, and on-page SEO so your store ranks well and loads fast.
   
6. Ongoing Support & Scaling
   Our relationship doesn’t end at launch. We stay on board to troubleshoot issues, roll out updates, and ensure your store is ready for every growth milestone.

Conclusion

Written by Ketan Barad

Ketan Barad is the Co-founder & CTO of EncodeDots, overseeing operations with a strategic mindset and a passion for innovation. With extensive experience in technology and business management, he plays a crucial role in optimizing processes, driving growth, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality solutions. His leadership fosters a culture of excellence, enabling EncodeDots to stay ahead in the ever-evolving digital landscape and deliver exceptional value to clients worldwide.