E-Commerce SaaS: Shopify vs BigCommerce Fees Compared

Introduction: Decoding the Real Cost of E-Commerce SaaS

E-commerce is booming—with global online retail sales expected to surpass $7 trillion by 2025, more businesses are evaluating SaaS solutions to capitalize on this digital tide. For decision-makers, the question isn’t just which platform is most popular, but which delivers maximum financial value and sustainability.

If you’re weighing Shopify vs BigCommerce for your #Ecommerce ambitions, understanding their fee structures is essential. Transaction fees, feature inclusions, and add-on costs can shift the total cost of ownership significantly—especially for scaling businesses, high-volume merchants, or those wanting robust #SaaS features.

In this review, we’ll break down the vital differences between Shopify and BigCommerce, from base subscription fees to surprise expenses that may affect your bottom line. You’ll also discover which solution supports your business’s growth trajectory in terms of scalability, operational efficiency, and long-term ROI.

By the end of this guide, you’ll know how to make a fully informed platform choice—and find direct links to deeper insights on digital payments, e-commerce scalability, and SaaS subscription strategies across IndiaMoneyWise.com.

Shopify vs BigCommerce: Pricing Plan Structures

Both Shopify vs BigCommerce offer tiered pricing to suit different business sizes and needs, but key fee distinctions can have a sizable impact over time.

Shopify Pricing Overview

• Basic Shopify: $39/month (or $29/month paid annually)
• Shopify: $105/month (or $79/month paid annually)
• Advanced Shopify: $399/month (or $299/month paid annually)
• Shopify Plus: From $2,300/month (annual commitment required)

Shopify slashes about 25% off with annual payment. Notably, feature availability scales with price—for example, reports and shipping rate calculations are not included on the Basic plan.

BigCommerce Pricing Overview

• Standard: $39/month (or $29/month paid annually)
• Plus: $105/month (or $79/month paid annually)
• Pro: $399/month (or $299/month paid annually)
• Enterprise: Custom pricing

Just like Shopify, BigCommerce’s annual plans are about 25% cheaper. However, BigCommerce includes certain advanced features (like unlimited staff accounts) in lower-tier plans, making it potentially more cost-effective for growing teams.

Key takeaway: At face value, Shopify and BigCommerce have parallel base fees, but value depends on which features you need at each tier.

Understanding Transaction & Payment Fees

Transaction fees are a critical issue in the Shopify vs BigCommerce comparison—especially once you factor in real-world payment scenarios.

Shopify Fees: Transaction & Payment Gateways

• If you use Shopify’s own gateway (Shopify Payments), you pay no extra transaction fee—just standard credit card processing charges (2.4% to 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction in the US).
• If you opt for a third-party payment gateway (like PayPal, Stripe, or Razorpay), Shopify adds a fee:
  • Basic Shopify: 2% per transaction
  • Shopify: 1%
  • Advanced Shopify: 0.5%
• Shopify offers over 100 third-party integrations, but its own gateway isn’t available in every country.

BigCommerce Fees: Transparent Advantage

• No additional transaction fees—even if you use third-party payment processors.
• You only pay the standard fees set by your chosen payment gateway (for example, PayPal via Braintree: 2.05%-2.59% per transaction, location-dependent).
• BigCommerce supports about 45 payment integrations.

Comparison Table: Fee Structures

Bottom line: BigCommerce stands out for eliminating SaaS-level transaction fees across all plans, ideal for businesses using multiple payment gateways or having global ambitions.

What About Advanced Features and Hidden Fees?

Beyond up-front pricing and payment costs, long-term SaaS costs can creep up in the form of feature limitations, add-on apps, or support restrictions.

Shopify: Add-Ons, App Store, and Staff Limits

• Access to certain advanced features (like professional reporting, shipping discounts, or advanced workflow automations) requires higher-tier plans or paid apps from the Shopify App Store.
• Average app cost: $14.77/month, according to recent listings. Some essential integrations could cost $5–$250 each.
• Staff accounts are limited by tier (2 with Basic, up to 15 with Advanced).
• Abandoned cart recovery is available on all paid Shopify plans.

BigCommerce: More Built-In, Fewer Restrictions

• BigCommerce includes key features—like unlimited staff accounts, premium reporting, shipping quotes, product variants, and multi-channel selling—even on lower plans.
• There is no additional platform fee for exceeding a baseline revenue, but BigCommerce does encourage plan upgrades once you surpass annual sales thresholds (e.g., moving from Standard to Plus above $50K annually).
• Many functionalities come out-of-the-box, reducing reliance on pricey app add-ons.

Typical use case: If your business expects frequent feature upgrades, team expansion, or complex catalog management, BigCommerce could provide superior value with fewer surprise costs.

Overall Value for Money: Total Cost of Ownership

Choosing between Shopify vs BigCommerce comes down to optimizing your total cost of ownership (TCO), not just initial spend.

• Shopify is often praised for ease of use, integrated payment system, and extensive marketplace of third-party apps that extend functionality.
• BigCommerce generally includes more advanced features in base plans, charges zero transaction fees, and doesn’t penalize third-party payment use.

For small startups: Shopify may be preferable for its intuitive setup and lower entry price, especially if you use Shopify Payments exclusively.

For scaling businesses: BigCommerce’s advantages amplify as your team, sales volume, or operational complexity grows, keeping fees more predictable.

What’s Trending Now: Relevant Current Development

Recent developments suggest that SaaS e-commerce platforms are rapidly evolving. Both Shopify and BigCommerce are expanding their global payment integrations, making multi-currency and local payment options more accessible for international markets. Industry experts indicate that the move towards composable commerce—where merchants build custom workflows by connecting best-in-class SaaS tools—is boosting demand for native integrations and reducing reliance on costly add-ons.

Merchants are also increasingly wary of hidden platform fees. Transparency in pricing and out-of-the-box feature richness are now top priorities in vendor selection. BigCommerce’s strategy of bundling advanced capabilities—such as unlimited staff accounts, multi-storefront management, and native B2B features—reflects this trend. Meanwhile, Shopify continues to focus on expanding its ecosystem through payment partnerships, fulfillment services, and exclusive tools like Shop Pay, enhancing customer retention but occasionally adding complexity to the fee structure.

For businesses prioritizing scalable growth and minimal variable costs, these trends favor platforms that deliver robust features with minimal nickel-and-diming.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the biggest difference in fees between Shopify and BigCommerce?
BigCommerce charges zero additional transaction fees, while Shopify adds 0.5%–2% for third-party payments, unless you use Shopify Payments.

2. Which is more cost-effective: Shopify or BigCommerce for small businesses?
Shopify can be cheaper upfront for very small businesses, especially if using Shopify Payments, but BigCommerce may be more affordable as you scale and require advanced features.

3. Does Shopify vs BigCommerce offer better features for the price?
BigCommerce tends to provide more built-in features per plan, like unlimited staff accounts and advanced reporting. Shopify’s add-ons can increase costs but allow tailored customization.

4. How do transaction fees work on Shopify?
Shopify only waives transaction fees if you use Shopify Payments; otherwise, there’s an additional per-transaction fee for third-party gateways.

5. Are there additional costs beyond subscription fees with either platform?
Yes. Shopify users often incur recurring app store charges and payment fees; BigCommerce users may need to pay for certain gateway transactions but have fewer add-on costs for core features.

6. Which platform scales better for fast-growing businesses?
BigCommerce’s unlimited staff, robust multi-storefront tools, and no transaction fees make it especially appealing for fast-growing or high-volume businesses.

7. Is there a difference in accepted payment methods?
Shopify supports more third-party gateways, but both offer coverage of all major payment processors.

8. Which solution offers a better total cost of ownership?
BigCommerce usually wins on long-term predictability, while Shopify can be ideal for those who want simplicity and are comfortable with its own integrated payment stack.

Conclusion: Shopify vs BigCommerce—Which is Right For Your Business?

The Shopify vs BigCommerce debate ultimately depends on your specific SaaS needs, future growth plans, and tolerance for hidden costs.
If you’re seeking a highly customizable, user-friendly platform with a lively app ecosystem, Shopify delivers. But if minimizing fees, accessing more built-in features, and supporting team expansion are priorities, BigCommerce offers compelling value—especially for scaling businesses or those selling across multiple channels.

Ready to optimize your e-commerce strategy? Explore our guides on digital payment ecosystems, SaaS cost optimization, and reviews of top e-commerce tools at IndiaMoneyWise.com. Take action today for a more profitable, future-proof online store—and make your next move with complete clarity on your total cost of ownership.

Next Step: Dive deeper into digital payments and SaaS innovation on our Ecommerce Insights and Fintech Tools sections!