BigCommerce is a solid SaaS platform with strong built-in features and an enterprise-friendly reputation. Many brands choose it for its native B2B capabilities, multi-storefront options, and flexible API-first approach.
But in recent years, more and more merchants — including established mid-sized and enterprise brands — are moving from BigCommerce to Shopify. Not because BigCommerce is “bad”, but because Shopify offers a more unified, conversion-focused, and ecosystem-driven approach to modern commerce.
This guide breaks down the real challenges, the migration process, and how Shopify addresses these needs — respectfully and without exaggeration.
1. Why Merchants Consider Migrating from BigCommerce
• Higher total cost of ownership over time
BigCommerce charges for:
- subscription plans
- additional fees for certain advanced features
- potential revenue-based pricing changes
- developer time for customizations
Over time, total costs can climb faster than expected.
• Limited theme flexibility
BigCommerce themes are improving, but often feel more rigid compared to Shopify Online Store 2.0:
- fewer sections and layout options
- less intuitive theme editor
- fewer high-quality premium themes
Visual changes frequently require developer involvement.
• Smaller app & integration ecosystem
BigCommerce has an app marketplace, but it’s significantly smaller and slower-moving than Shopify’s ecosystem. This limits:
- personalization tools
- upsell & funnel builders
- loyalty programs
- subscriptions
- automation workflows
• Checkout extensibility isn’t as strong
Shopify Checkout is widely recognized as one of the highest-converting in the market — especially with:
- Shop Pay
- checkout extensibility tools
- Functions & Scripts (on Shopify Plus)
BigCommerce’s checkout is functional, but not as optimized or flexible.
• Slower innovation velocity
BigCommerce updates its platform, but Shopify’s pace is hard to match:
- Shopify Editions (2x per year)
- continuous global infrastructure improvements
- new APIs, B2B tools, POS enhancements, and more
Many merchants feel Shopify is simply pulling ahead.
• Scaling internationally feels more fragmented
BigCommerce offers multi-storefront, but managing currencies, languages, and regional logic is often easier in Shopify using Markets & Markets Pro.
These combined factors often push brands to explore Shopify as their next platform.
2. Challenges When Migrating from BigCommerce to Shopify
Migrating from one SaaS platform to another is easier than leaving open-source, but still involves structural differences.
• Product data structure differences
BigCommerce handles SKUs & variants well, but fields don’t always map 1:1 into Shopify. You may need to:
- rethink variant organization
- use metafields for custom data
- adjust option limits
• Category vs collection logic
BigCommerce uses a classic category-based taxonomy, while Shopify uses collections (manual or automated). Reorganizing navigation and product grouping requires planning.
• CMS differences
Any BigCommerce page templates, landing pages, or custom content layouts must be recreated on Shopify using:
- Online Store 2.0 sections & templates
- the built-in blog & pages
- or page builder apps
• URL structure & SEO
BigCommerce URL patterns differ from Shopify. Proper SEO migration requires:
- precise 301 redirects
- careful mapping of key pages
- metadata transfers
• Checkout customizations
Brands with heavily modified BigCommerce checkouts must recreate logic within:
- Shopify’s Checkout Extensibility
- Shopify Plus features (for advanced B2B or custom flows)
• Data export limitations
BigCommerce doesn’t always export:
- full order history details in a single ready-to-import format
- customer passwords (cannot be migrated)
- certain app-specific or module-specific metadata
Even with these challenges, BigCommerce → Shopify migrations are considered far smoother than Magento → Shopify or custom stack → Shopify moves.
3. How Shopify Solves BigCommerce’s Biggest Pain Points
✔ 1. A more intuitive, modern storefront editor
Shopify’s Online Store 2.0 offers:
- drag-and-drop sections
- a powerful theme editor
- global sections & templates
- app blocks
- rich metafields for dynamic content
- hundreds of high-quality premium themes
Merchants love how quickly they can iterate without developers.
✔ 2. Industry-leading checkout
Shopify Checkout + Shop Pay provide:
- higher conversion rates
- faster load times
- one-click authentication
- mobile-first UX
- advanced extensibility on Shopify Plus
For many brands, this is the #1 reason to migrate.
✔ 3. Larger, more innovative app ecosystem
Shopify’s app store is the largest in e-commerce, with tools for:
- AI-driven personalization
- subscriptions
- loyalty & VIP programs
- upsell funnels
- advanced search & merchandising
- automation & workflows
This ecosystem is where BigCommerce struggles to keep up.
✔ 4. Lower maintenance & faster development
Products, content, and storefront features can be updated without:
- developer ticket queues
- heavy staging workflows
- long QA cycles
Your team can move much faster — critical in modern commerce.
✔ 5. Superior global commerce capabilities
Shopify simplifies:
- multi-language stores
- multi-currency
- international shipping
- tax handling
- regional storefronts with Shopify Markets
BigCommerce supports these too, but usually with more friction and complexity.
✔ 6. B2B improvements on Shopify Plus
Shopify has rapidly expanded its B2B toolkit:
- company profiles
- personalized catalogs
- payment terms
- B2B checkout
- location-based pricing
- volume discounts
- purchase order flows
Closing much of the gap with BigCommerce’s traditional B2B strengths.
4. BigCommerce vs Shopify — A Balanced Comparison
