Who this guide is for
If you’re evaluating a platform for a new store, a replatform, or an international rollout, this guide distills what actually matters: total cost of ownership (TCO), speed to market, scale, B2B/B2C capabilities, and long‑term flexibility.
- Shopify: best overall speed to launch and strong built‑ins, especially for D2C.
- BigCommerce: powerful catalog, multi‑storefront, no additional transaction fees, strong B2B.
- WooCommerce: maximum ownership and flexibility; costs vary by stack and partners.
Pricing and plan details referenced are current as of September 2025 and may change. Sources: Shopify Pricing, BigCommerce Pricing, WooCommerce Pricing.
At a glance: Core differences
Shopify
- SaaS, fully hosted with POS, channels, and extensive app ecosystem.
- Card rates (Shopify Payments) typically from 2.9% + $0.30 online; in‑person rates available.
- Additional fee when using third‑party payment gateways (e.g., 2% on Basic, per Shopify pricing page).
- Strengths: very fast launch, best‑in‑class checkout optimizations, robust apps.
BigCommerce
- Open SaaS with strong native features and multi‑storefront.
- No additional platform transaction fee (0%), per BigCommerce pricing.
- Enterprise‑ready: headless, unlimited API calls, advanced B2B tooling.
- Strengths: complex catalogs, B2B, lower app dependency vs. some stacks.
WooCommerce
- Open source on WordPress; you own hosting, stack, and data.
- Hosting from ~$250/year for quality managed options; scales with traffic and needs (Woo guidance).
- Payment fees depend on your gateway (e.g., 2.9% + $0.30 baseline in U.S. via common providers).
- Strengths: complete control, extensibility, and enterprise‑grade options with the right partners.
Costs and TCO (2025 reality check)
“Platform cost” is only one slice of TCO. Consider payments, apps/extensions, implementation, hosting (if applicable), and ongoing optimization. Representative patterns:
Shopify
- PlatformTiered monthly plans (e.g., Basic listed at $29/month when billed annually).
- PaymentsShopify Payments card rates (e.g., 2.9% + $0.30 online, per pricing page).
- 3rd‑party gatewaysAdditional fee applies on some plans when not using Shopify Payments.
- AppsBudget for add‑ons (subscriptions, bundles, analytics, etc.).
BigCommerce
- PlatformTiered plans incl. Essentials and Enterprise.
- Transaction feesNo additional platform fee (0%).
- Apps/servicesOften fewer paid add‑ons for B2B compared to others.
- PaymentsNegotiated per gateway; choose best‑fit providers.
WooCommerce
- HostingQuality managed plans often start around $250/year and scale with needs.
- ExtensionsMany free; premium add‑ons commonly $49–$279/year each.
- ImplementationVaries by agency/complexity; enterprise builds can be significant.
- PaymentsTypical 2.9% + $0.30 baseline; negotiable at volume.
Note: Numbers above are representative and subject to change. Validate with each provider and your finance team.
Key capabilities
Checkout & Conversion
Shopify emphasizes an optimized checkout used across millions of stores. BigCommerce offers a fully customizable checkout with strong API support. WooCommerce provides full control over the checkout experience with the right theme/plugins and can match enterprise expectations with expert implementation.
B2B & Complex Catalogs
BigCommerce stands out with native price lists, customer groups, and multi‑storefront. WooCommerce can deliver robust B2B with extensions and customizations. Shopify supports B2B via Plus and app ecosystem.
Headless & APIs
Shopify, BigCommerce, and WooCommerce all support headless builds. BigCommerce markets Open SaaS with unlimited API calls. WooCommerce’s open source model enables full ownership of the content and commerce stack.
Omnichannel & POS
Shopify provides a tightly integrated POS. BigCommerce connects to multiple sales channels and POS via partners. WooCommerce integrates with providers like Square for unified online/offline operations.
Recommendations by scenario
- Launching fast with lean ops: Choose Shopify for speed to value, strong checkout, and rich app marketplace.
- B2B, complex pricing, multi‑storefront: Consider BigCommerce for native features, 0% platform transaction fees, and enterprise‑readiness.
- Full ownership and custom stack: Choose WooCommerce when you want control over infrastructure, data, and UX, and have partner capacity to implement.
Not sure which platform fits? We’ll map it for you.
Get a free platform fit assessment with TCO assumptions, integration plan, and 90‑day roadmap.
This article cites provider pages as of Sept 2025. Always confirm latest pricing/terms directly.