Shopify vs WooCommerce vs BigCommerce (2026)
Shopify raised prices: Basic now $39/mo (was $29), "Shopify" plan renamed to "Grow" at $105/mo (was $79), Advanced now $399/mo (was $299). BigCommerce renaming plans and adding an Open Payment Provider fee from June 2026. WooCommerce stays free-to-install.
Shopify raised prices: Basic $39/mo (was $29), "Shopify" plan renamed "Grow" at $105/mo (was $79), Advanced $399/mo (was $299). BigCommerce June 2026: Standard → Core, Plus → Growth, Pro → Scale. New Open Payment Provider fee added on self-service plans for orders through non-preferred gateways. Revenue caps also updated — Standard cap is $50K/year (not $400K — that's the Pro/Scale cap). Shopify + BigCommerce now both start at $39/month.
- Shopify — Best for fast launch, DTC brands, and omnichannel retail. Basic now $39/mo. Grow $105/mo, Advanced $399/mo. Transaction fees apply unless using Shopify Payments. 8,000+ apps. Best POS for in-person selling.
- WooCommerce — Best for maximum flexibility and WordPress users. Free plugin + hosting costs (~$15–30/mo). Best SEO. Requires technical management. Zero platform transaction fees.
- BigCommerce — Best for B2B, zero transaction fees, and strong built-in features. Standard $39/mo (→ Core from June 2026). Revenue caps force upgrades: Standard hits at $50K GMV/year. Plans renaming June 2026.
| Your Situation | Best Fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You want to launch an online store in days with no tech skills | Shopify Basic $39 | Fastest launch, hosting included, 24/7 support, 8,000+ apps |
| You already run a WordPress website | WooCommerce (free) | Installs on your existing site, shares your content and SEO |
| You sell B2B/wholesale alongside DTC | BigCommerce Standard $39 | Best native B2B features (price lists, customer groups, purchase orders) |
| You saw Shopify Basic listed at $29/month | Verify pricing | Basic is now $39/month — Shopify raised prices, plans renamed |
| You need the best SEO platform | WooCommerce + WordPress | Full WordPress SEO power including Yoast/RankMath, full content control |
| You sell in-person AND online | Shopify | Best POS system, unified inventory, seamless omnichannel |
| You want zero transaction fees without BigCommerce GMV caps | WooCommerce | No platform fees, no caps — just hosting + extensions cost |
True Cost Calculator
Slide to set your monthly GMV to see which BigCommerce tier you'd qualify for, then compare platform costs. WooCommerce cost includes estimated hosting only — extensions and developer time are additional.
Shopify: annual billing saves 25%. Basic now $39/mo (was $29). Transaction fees 2%/1%/0.5% if not using Shopify Payments. BigCommerce: Standard = $50K GMV/yr cap; Plus = $180K; Pro = $400K. Plans rename June 2026 (Core/Growth/Scale). WooCommerce: free plugin, hosting shown only — add extensions + dev time. Prices verified May 2026.
Key Stats (May 2026)
At a Glance
Fastest launch, largest app ecosystem, best POS. Basic raised from $29 to $39/mo. "Shopify" plan renamed to "Grow" at $105/mo.
- Fastest launch — no hosting, security, or technical setup required
- 8,000+ apps in Shopify App Store — largest ecosystem in ecommerce
- Shopify Payments: zero transaction fees (US, UK, and supported countries)
- Best POS system for omnichannel retail (online + in-person unified)
- 24/7 support on all plans including chat and phone
- Annual billing saves 25% on Basic, Grow, and Advanced plans
- Basic raised from $29 to $39/month — any guide showing $29 is outdated
- Transaction fees: 2% (Basic), 1% (Grow), 0.5% (Advanced) on third-party gateways
- Apps can double or triple your monthly bill — essential apps often cost $50–200/mo extra
- Less flexible customization than WooCommerce — limited code access
Free open-source plugin for WordPress. Maximum flexibility and control. Best SEO. Requires technical management.
- Free core plugin — no monthly platform subscription fee
- Maximum customization — full code access, any theme, any plugin
- Best SEO — full WordPress content management, Yoast/RankMath, complete URL control
- No revenue caps and no platform transaction fees
- Huge extension ecosystem — free and paid, covering every use case
- Best for content-heavy stores (blog + shop deeply integrated)
- Requires WordPress hosting ($10–30/month) — hosting cost is your responsibility
- You manage security updates, backups, and performance optimization
- Total cost at scale with multiple premium plugins can exceed Shopify
- Steeper learning curve — WordPress + WooCommerce both require familiarity
Best B2B features, strongest built-in tools, historically zero transaction fees. Plans renaming June 2026. Standard cap is $50K/year GMV.
- Historically zero transaction fees (OPP fee being added June 2026 on self-serve plans)
- Best native B2B features: customer groups, price lists, quote management, purchase orders
- Strongest built-in features — reviews, real-time shipping, reporting included without apps
- Strong built-in SEO tools out of the box
- 15-day free trial — most generous trial in the category
- No limits on staff accounts, products, bandwidth, or file storage on any plan
- Revenue caps force upgrades: $50K/year on Standard, $180K on Plus, $400K on Pro
- Plans renaming June 2026: Standard→Core, Plus→Growth, Pro→Scale
- Open Payment Provider (OPP) fee being added June 2026 for non-preferred gateways
- Smaller app marketplace: ~900 apps vs Shopify’s 8,000+
- Less beginner-friendly than Shopify
At-a-Glance Scorecard
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Shopify | WooCommerce | BigCommerce |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry price | Basic $39/mo (raised from $29) | ✓ Free plugin + ~$15/mo hosting | Standard $39/mo (→ Core June 2026) |
| Transaction fees | ⚡ 0.5–2% on 3rd-party gateways, 0% on Shopify Payments | ✓ None from platform | ⚡ OPP fee being added June 2026 |
| Hosting included | ✓ Fully managed | ✗ You provide and manage hosting | ✓ Fully managed |
| Revenue caps | ✓ None | ✓ None | $50K (Standard) · $180K (Plus) · $400K (Pro) |
| App marketplace | ✓ 8,000+ apps | Thousands of WP plugins | ~900 apps |
| B2B / wholesale | ⚡ Plus plan and above | Via plugins | ✓ Best native B2B on all plans |
| SEO | Good | ✓ Best — full WordPress SEO | Strong built-in SEO |
| POS / in-person | ✓ Best POS system | ⚡ Via WooCommerce POS plugin | ⚡ Basic POS available |
Verified Pricing (May 2026)
Three important 2026 pricing updates: (1) Shopify raised prices — Basic is now $39/month (was $29), the "Shopify" plan was renamed "Grow" at $105/month (was $79), and Advanced is now $399/month (was $299). (2) BigCommerce is renaming plans and adding an Open Payment Provider fee from June 1, 2026. (3) BigCommerce’s Standard plan revenue cap is $50K/year — many guides incorrectly show $400K (that’s the Pro plan cap).
| Plan | Shopify | WooCommerce | BigCommerce |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | Basic $39/mo (was $29) · 2 staff accounts · 2% 3rd-party transaction fee | Free plugin · Hosting ~$10–15/mo · Domain ~$12/yr | Standard $39/mo (→ Core June 2026) · $50K GMV/yr cap |
| Mid tier | Grow $105/mo (was "Shopify" $79) · 5 staff · 1% 3rd-party fee · professional reports | $30–60/mo with managed hosting + 2–3 paid extensions | Plus $105/mo (→ Growth) · $180K GMV/yr · abandoned cart recovery · customer groups |
| Advanced | Advanced $399/mo (was $299) · 15 staff · 0.5% 3rd-party fee · advanced reports + automations | $60–150/mo with multiple premium plugins at scale | Pro $399/mo (→ Scale) · $400K GMV/yr · Google Customer Reviews · faceted search |
| Enterprise | Shopify Plus $2,300/mo (3-yr) or $2,500/mo (1-yr) · B2B · multi-storefront · custom checkout | Custom hosting + developer costs · scales with your needs | Enterprise/Performance · custom pricing from ~$1,499/mo · unlimited GMV |
| Watch out for | Basic raised from $29→$39 (25% increase). Apps are essential and add $50–200+/month. Transaction fees at 2% on Basic with third-party gateways compound fast at scale. Annual billing saves 25% but commits you for 12 months. | Hosting, security, and backup is your responsibility. Premium plugin costs creep up: $29–$299/year each. At scale ($500K+ GMV), total WooCommerce cost often exceeds Shopify. Budget for occasional developer time ($50–150/hour). | Standard plan $50K/year GMV cap (not $400K — that's Pro). Forced upgrades can happen fast: 33 orders at $1,500 AOV = $50K. June 2026: plans renaming (Standard→Core, Plus→Growth, Pro→Scale) and Open Payment Provider fee added on self-serve plans. |
The Full Picture
Shopify — Fastest Launch, Largest Ecosystem, Higher Prices
Shopify is the default choice for most new ecommerce stores — and for good reason. You can launch a professional, fully-hosted store in hours without any technical knowledge. Shopify handles hosting, SSL, security, PCI compliance, and CDN automatically. The 8,000+ Shopify App Store gives you plugins for subscriptions, loyalty programs, reviews, upsells, email marketing, and virtually any other capability you need. Shopify Payments eliminates transaction fees entirely for merchants in supported countries, including the US and UK.
The price increase matters for budget planning. Shopify raised prices in 2024, and any guide showing $29/month for Basic or $79/month for the mid-tier is outdated. Basic is now $39/month (a 34% increase). The "Shopify" plan was renamed "Grow" at $105/month (was $79 — a 33% increase). Advanced moved from $299 to $399/month. Annual billing saves 25%, but commits you to 12 months upfront. The true all-in monthly cost for a typical DTC store is $100–300/month once essential apps are added.
Shopify POS is the best in the category for merchants combining online and in-person retail — inventory, products, and payments all sync automatically across channels. For any business with a physical retail component, Shopify’s omnichannel capability is a decisive advantage. Shopify Plus ($2,300–$2,500/month) adds multi-storefront, customizable checkout, built-in B2B tools, and dedicated merchant success management for high-volume brands.
WooCommerce — Free, Unlimited, Requires WordPress
WooCommerce is free to install on any WordPress site, making it the most cost-effective starting point for businesses already running WordPress. The plugin integrates directly with your existing content, blog, and SEO setup. Customization is unmatched — you have full code access, thousands of WordPress themes, and a massive extension ecosystem with both free and paid options. For businesses with specific technical requirements, unusual product types, or content-heavy operations (like a cooking blog that also sells cookbooks), WooCommerce handles almost any configuration.
The SEO advantage is real. WooCommerce running on WordPress gives you the full power of WordPress’s content management, URL structure control, and plugins like Yoast SEO or RankMath. For businesses where organic traffic and content marketing are primary acquisition channels, this is a decisive advantage over Shopify or BigCommerce. You control every aspect of how your site is structured, indexed, and linked.
The hidden costs are what catch merchants off guard. Hosting runs $10–30/month, and managed WordPress hosting (for better performance and automatic updates) runs $30–80/month. Premium plugins cost $29–299/year each — a subscription plugin, an advanced shipping calculator, and a product builder can add $150–300/year before you’ve added anything else. At scale with multiple premium extensions, WooCommerce’s total cost often matches or exceeds Shopify. Budget for developer time ($50–150/hour) for anything beyond standard configuration.
BigCommerce — Best B2B, Strong Built-ins, June 2026 Changes
BigCommerce’s core proposition is enterprise-grade features at mid-market prices, with historically zero transaction fees. Product reviews, real-time shipping quotes, professional reporting, and gift certificates come built in rather than requiring paid add-ons — a meaningful cost advantage over Shopify at comparable price points. B2B capabilities are the strongest of the three: customer groups, price lists, quote management, purchase orders, and net payment terms are available natively rather than requiring a $2,300/month Shopify Plus upgrade.
The revenue cap is the most misunderstood part of BigCommerce pricing. Many comparisons show "$400K GMV" as the Standard plan cap — that’s wrong. The Standard plan at $39/month caps at $50,000 in annual GMV. The Plus plan ($105/month) caps at $180,000. Pro ($399/month) caps at $400,000. A store doing $55,000 in annual revenue cannot stay on Standard — it automatically upgrades to Plus at $105/month, a 170% price jump. For high-ticket stores or fast-growing brands, this forced upgrade timeline is worth modeling in advance.
June 2026: BigCommerce is changing its plan names and adding fees. Standard becomes Core, Plus becomes Growth, Pro becomes Scale, and Enterprise becomes Performance. Base pricing is unchanged. But BigCommerce is adding an Open Payment Provider fee for orders processed through non-preferred gateways on self-service plans — partially eroding the “zero transaction fees” advantage. If you currently use BigCommerce with a third-party gateway like Stripe, check the June 2026 announcement to understand your new fee structure before your next billing cycle.
Who Should Use Each Platform?
Choose Shopify if…
- You want to launch quickly without any technical setup
- You sell both online and in-person — POS is a priority
- You want the largest app ecosystem and 24/7 support
- You are a DTC or consumer brand focused on fast growth
- Shopify Payments is available in your country
Choose WooCommerce if…
- You already run a WordPress website and want to add a store
- SEO and content marketing are your primary acquisition channels
- You need maximum customization and have developer access
- You want full control of your hosting, code, and data
- You sell content-heavy products alongside physical goods
Choose BigCommerce if…
- You sell B2B or wholesale alongside DTC
- You want the strongest built-in features without app dependence
- You want the longest free trial (15 days vs Shopify’s 3 days)
- You are a mid-market brand that wants SEO tools built in
- Your annual GMV comfortably fits within a plan tier
Best Platform by Use Case
Hidden Costs & Gotchas
Shopify — Basic raised from $29 to $39, "Shopify" plan renamed to "Grow" at $105
Shopify raised prices significantly. Basic is now $39/month (was $29 — a 34% increase). The mid-tier plan was renamed from "Shopify" ($79/month) to "Grow" at $105/month (a 33% increase). Advanced moved from $299 to $399/month (a 33% increase). Any comparison, budget, or contract showing old Shopify prices should be updated. Annual billing saves 25% and requires paying 12 months upfront.
Shopify — Apps can double or triple your monthly bill
The $39/month Basic plan covers only core ecommerce functionality. Essential apps for a typical DTC store — subscription management, product reviews, email marketing, loyalty programs, advanced analytics, upsells — typically add $50–200+/month. The true all-in monthly cost for a growing Shopify store is commonly $100–300/month, not $39. Factor in your expected app stack before comparing Shopify’s base price to BigCommerce’s built-in features.
Shopify — Transaction fees at 2% on Basic compound fast
If you use a third-party payment processor on Basic ($39/month), Shopify charges 2% per transaction. At $10,000 monthly GMV, that’s $200/month in additional fees — more than 5× the base subscription. At $50,000 monthly GMV, that’s $1,000/month. Shopify Payments eliminates this entirely, but is only available in supported countries. If you’re outside a supported market, factor the 2% fee into your true cost calculation.
BigCommerce — Standard plan caps at $50K/year, not $400K
The BigCommerce Standard plan ($39/month) caps at $50,000 in annual gross merchandise volume — not $400,000 (that’s the Pro plan). At an average order value of $100, just 500 orders per year hits the $50K cap. A high-ticket store with $1,500 average order value reaches the cap with just 33 orders. Exceeding the threshold triggers an automatic upgrade to Plus at $105/month, a 170% price jump. Model your expected GMV trajectory before choosing a plan.
BigCommerce — June 2026: plan renames and OPP fee
Starting June 1, 2026: Standard becomes Core, Plus becomes Growth, Pro becomes Scale, Enterprise becomes Performance. Base pricing is unchanged. However, BigCommerce is adding an Open Payment Provider (OPP) fee for orders processed through non-preferred gateways on self-service plans. This partially erodes BigCommerce’s historically zero-transaction-fee advantage. Monthly plans update at the next billing cycle after June 1; annual plans update at renewal. Check the BigCommerce announcement for your specific fee rate by plan tier.
WooCommerce — "Free" doesn’t mean cheap at scale
WooCommerce is free to install, but a realistic budget includes: WordPress hosting ($10–30/month), a domain ($12/year), SSL certificate (often free via Let’s Encrypt on good hosts), security plugin ($50–100/year), backup plugin ($30–80/year), and premium extensions ($29–299/year each). A basic WooCommerce store realistically costs $30–80/month before any marketing spend. At scale with multiple premium plugins and managed hosting, total costs often reach $100–300/month — comparable to mid-tier Shopify.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Shopify’s current prices in 2026?
Does Shopify charge transaction fees?
What are BigCommerce revenue caps and the June 2026 changes?
Is WooCommerce really free?
Which ecommerce platform is best for SEO?
Ready to Build Your Online Store?
Shopify offers $1/month for 3 months. BigCommerce has a 15-day free trial. WooCommerce is free to install on any WordPress site.