Shopify vs Bigcommerce for Dropshipping Comparison

Overview

The comparison “shopify vs bigcommerce for dropshipping” examines two leading hosted ecommerce platforms with distinct approaches to dropshipping merchants. This article compares Shopify and BigCommerce across integrations, app ecosystems, payment handling, checkout control, shipping and fulfillment, pricing, and scale. Key decision criteria for dropship sellers include: native dropshipping app availability and automation; transaction and payment fees; theme and checkout flexibility; stock and variant management; and long-term scalability.

Quick summary: Shopify is best for fast setup, a massive app ecosystem, and beginner-friendly dropshipping workflows - ideal for merchants who want many third-party integrations and templates. BigCommerce is best for sellers who prioritize built-in features (SEO, multi-currency, checkout control), want to avoid platform transaction fees, and plan to scale or sell B2B alongside dropshipping.

Shopify vs Bigcommerce for Dropshipping

This section highlights head-to-head differences that matter most for dropshipping: app availability, automation, fees, and checkout flexibility. Shopify offers a larger dropshipping app ecosystem (DSers, Spocket, Modalyst, Printful, CJdropshipping), quicker onboarding, and many consumer-ready themes. BigCommerce offers more out-of-the-box capabilities (no platform transaction fees, richer native SEO controls, stronger product options), making it attractive when you want fewer third-party apps and more native functionality.

For dropshipping specifically, Shopify tends to reduce time-to-first-sale; BigCommerce reduces ongoing app fees and gives more control as operations grow.

Shopify

Overview and Positioning

Shopify is a popular hosted ecommerce platform focused on ease of use, rapid store setup, and a large third-party app market. For dropshipping, Shopify is widely adopted because of its streamlined onboarding, many dropshipping partner apps, and a vibrant community of guides and templates. Shopify positions itself as a full-stack solution for merchants who want to get to market quickly with minimal technical overhead.

Key Features and Strengths

• App ecosystem: Large app store with numerous dropshipping apps (DSers, Spocket, Modalyst, Printful, CJdropshipping, Syncee). Many apps provide automated order routing, product import, price rules, and supplier syncing.
• Ease of use: Intuitive store builder, a large set of free and paid themes, and guided onboarding flows designed for non-technical founders.
• Checkout and payments: Shopify Payments simplifies card acceptance and reduces transaction fees when used. Built-in fraud analysis and simple payouts.
• Community and support: Extensive docs, third-party tutorials, and a huge freelancer/developer ecosystem to help with custom work.
• Headless options: Hydrogen and robust APIs for merchants who want a headless architecture later.

Limitations and Tradeoffs

• Transaction fees: Shopify charges extra transaction fees if you use third-party payment gateways (0.5% to 2% depending on plan). This can affect margins for low-ticket dropshipping products.
• Checkout customization: Full checkout customization is limited to Shopify Plus; smaller plans offer limited checkout modifications which can constrain conversion optimization.
• App dependency: Many capabilities useful for dropshipping (bundling, advanced pricing, multi-currency in some cases) often come via paid apps, increasing monthly costs.
• Shipping label and fulfillment: Shopify’s own fulfillment network is limited; you’ll rely on third-party apps or suppliers for dropship order routing.

Pricing and Value

Standard monthly list prices (US) as of mid-2024 (verify current rates on vendor sites):

• Basic Shopify: $39/month - good for new stores; online card rates via Shopify Payments: 2.9% + 30c (Basic), and lower card rates on higher tiers.
• Shopify: $105/month - lower card fees (2.6% + 30c) and more features.
• Advanced Shopify: $399/month - lowest card fees (2.4% + 30c) and advanced reporting.

Additional costs common for dropshipping:

• Dropshipping apps: DSers (free tier, paid tiers $19-$49+/mo), Spocket ($24+/mo), Modalyst ($35+/mo), Printful (no monthly fee for POD but per-order costs).
• Themes: free themes available; premium themes $100-$350 one-time.
• Apps for inventory automation, email, and reviews: $5-$50+/mo each.

Example monthly starting budget (Basic store):

• Shopify Basic: $39
• DSers or Spocket: $19
• Email marketing app: $10

Total approximate: $68/mo (excluding ad spend and payment processing)

Best For

• Entrepreneurs who want rapid setup and a vast marketplace of dropshipping integrations.
• Merchants comfortable adding paid apps to extend functionality.
• Sellers prioritizing theme variety, launch speed, and broad developer support.

Bigcommerce

Overview and Positioning

BigCommerce is a hosted ecommerce platform that emphasizes built-in features, scalability, and flexible commerce capabilities. It targets merchants who want a platform with richer native functionality and less reliance on third-party apps. For dropshipping, BigCommerce appeals to merchants who want greater out-of-the-box control over catalogs, SEO, and checkout without platform transaction fees.

Key Features and Strengths

• Built-in features: Strong native SEO controls (custom URLs, structured data, advanced product filtering), robust product options, and multi-currency support on many plans.
• No platform transaction fees: BigCommerce does not charge additional transaction fees regardless of payment gateway; you only pay gateway processing fees.
• Product and catalog flexibility: Options, custom fields, and rules often require fewer apps than Shopify.
• Enterprise and B2B capabilities: Native features (customer groups, price lists, and quotes) that can matter if you mix dropshipping with wholesale or larger accounts.
• API and headless: Solid API support for custom integrations and headless storefronts.

Limitations and Tradeoffs

• Smaller app marketplace: Good dropshipping apps exist (Spocket, Printful, Modalyst, CJdropshipping), but fewer deep integrations compared with Shopify.
• Theme selection: Fewer themes and design partners; some merchants find customization requires more technical work.
• Learning curve: Slightly more complex admin for merchants used to Shopify simplicity.
• Sales thresholds: BigCommerce plans historically have revenue thresholds (e.g., move to next plan if annual sales exceed a limit) which can push merchants to higher-cost plans as they scale.

Pricing and Value

Standard monthly list prices (US) as of mid-2024 (verify current rates on vendor sites):

• Standard: $29.95/month - entry-level plan; essential features.
• Plus: $79.95/month - customer segmentation and abandoned cart saver.
• Pro: $299.95/month - includes Google Customer Reviews integration and SSL for subdomain; higher API limits and other advanced features.

BigCommerce does not charge platform transaction fees; you still pay credit card processor fees like Stripe/PayPal (typical rates 2.9% + 30c for standard merchants).

Additional costs common for dropshipping:

• Dropshipping apps: Spocket ($24+/mo), Modalyst ($35+/mo online marketplaces), Printful (per order fees), CJdropshipping (varied).
• Themes: free and premium themes available; premium themes $150-$300.
• Integrations and custom dev: variable.

Example monthly starting budget (Standard store):

• BigCommerce Standard: $29.95
• Spocket or other dropshipping app: $24
• Email marketing app: $10

Total approximate: $64/mo (excluding payment processing and advertising)

Best For

• Merchants who want richer built-in commerce features and fewer app dependencies.
• Sellers who prefer no platform transaction fees and stronger native SEO/checkout control.
• Mid-market merchants and those planning B2B or multi-currency operations alongside dropshipping.

How to Choose

Decision checklist (4-5 points):

1. Speed to market vs built-in capabilities: Choose Shopify if you want fastest setup and the largest marketplace of dropshipping suppliers. Choose BigCommerce if you want more native features and fewer ongoing app fees.
2. App dependence and monthly costs: Estimate monthly app spend. If you prefer minimal apps, BigCommerce’s built-in features may reduce costs; if you expect to rely on specialized dropshipping apps, Shopify’s ecosystem can be more efficient.
3. Payment and transaction fees: If you plan to use third-party gateways or expect many low-ticket orders, BigCommerce (no platform transaction fees) may preserve margins. If you will use Shopify Payments, Shopify’s integrated rates and simpler payouts can be attractive.
4. Checkout customization and branding: If you need advanced checkout customization and full control, consider long-term whether Shopify Plus is required (higher cost) or whether BigCommerce’s checkout flexibility meets your needs without extra fees.
5. Growth and multi-channel plans: For sellers who will scale quickly and add wholesale/B2B, BigCommerce’s native features may be valuable; Shopify scales well but may require more app spend or a move to Shopify Plus.

Follow this flow: If you prioritize simple setup and the largest supplier network -> Shopify. If you prioritize built-in tools, lower app dependency, and no platform transaction fees -> BigCommerce.

Quick Comparison

Feature | Shopify | BigCommerce — | —: | —: Pricing (entry list) | $39/mo (Basic Shopify) | $29.95/mo (Standard) Payment fees (using platform) | Shopify Payments: ~2.9% + 30c (Basic); extra transaction fee if using third-party gateways | No platform transaction fees; gateway fees apply (~2.9% + 30c typical) Dropshipping app ecosystem | Very large (DSers, Spocket, Modalyst, CJdropshipping, Printful, many others) | Good but smaller selection (Spocket, Modalyst, Printful, CJdropshipping) Checkout customization | Limited on non-Plus plans | More checkout control on standard plans Built-in SEO and catalog features | Solid but many advanced features via apps | Stronger native SEO & catalog features Themes & design | Many themes and design partners | Fewer themes; often needs more customization Best for | Fast setup, many integrations, marketing-focused stores | Merchants wanting built-in features, lower app fees, and scaling control

Detailed Side-by-Side Comparison Table

Aspect | Shopify | BigCommerce — | —: | —: App marketplace size | Largest third-party app market for ecommerce | Smaller, focused app market Dropshipping integrations | Extensive direct integrations and third-party connectors | Supports major dropshipping suppliers through apps and APIs Transaction fees | Platform fees if not using Shopify Payments; card rates vary by plan | No platform fees; only payment processor fees Multicurrency & multi-storefront | Available via apps or higher plans; Shopify Markets helps with localization | Strong multi-currency and localization features built-in Inventory & variant rules | Powerful but often extended via apps | Flexible native catalog options and rules SEO controls | Good, but some URL and canonical structures need workarounds | More native SEO controls, canonical URLs, and structured data Support & developer ecosystem | Extensive, many freelancers and agencies | Growing partner ecosystem, fewer agencies than Shopify Scalability | Highly scalable; Shopify Plus for enterprise | Scalable with native B2B tools; enterprise options available

Pricing Breakdowns:

realistic monthly budgets for a dropshipping starter store

Scenario A - Lean starter (lower costs)

• Platform: BigCommerce Standard $29.95/mo
• Dropshipping app: Spocket Starter $24/mo
• Email tool: MailerLite free or $10/mo
• Theme: free

Monthly total estimate: $64/mo

Scenario B - Mid-tier marketing-first store

• Platform: Shopify Basic $39/mo
• Dropshipping app: DSers Professional $19/mo
• Email & SMS marketing: $25/mo
• Paid theme: $150 one-time (amortized ~$12/mo if over 12 months)

Monthly total estimate: $95/mo

Scenario C - Scaling store (higher volume, more tools)

• Platform: Shopify $105/mo or BigCommerce Pro $299.95/mo (choose per needs)
• Multiple apps (inventory sync, repricing, reviews): $50-$150/mo
• Advertising & analytics tools: $50+/mo

Monthly total estimate: $250-$600+/mo

Notes: Payment processing fees (2.9% + 30c) apply on order values and are charged per transaction via your chosen gateway. Also account for ad spend and customer acquisition costs separately.

FAQ

Can I Use the Same Dropshipping Suppliers on Shopify and Bigcommerce?

Yes. Many suppliers and platforms (Spocket, Printful, CJdropshipping, Modalyst) integrate with both Shopify and BigCommerce, though the depth of integration can differ. For highest automation and native features, confirm the supplier app supports the exact platform workflows you need.

Which Platform Has Lower Ongoing Fees for a Dropshipping Store?

BigCommerce often yields lower ongoing platform fees because it does not charge additional platform transaction fees; Shopify may be lower cost if you use Shopify Payments and stay on lower plan tiers, but many dropship sellers rely on paid apps on Shopify which can raise monthly costs.

Is Checkout Customization Necessary for Dropshipping?

Not always. Basic checkout works for most dropshipping stores. Checkout customization becomes critical if you need multi-step upsells, custom terms, or unique payment flows; Shopify limits checkout customization on non-Plus plans, while BigCommerce provides more flexibility out of the box.

Are Dropshipping Apps Free to Start With?

Some dropshipping apps have free tiers with basic capabilities (product imports, manual order processing). Advanced features such as automated order routing, premium supplier access, and faster sync typically require paid plans ($19-$50+/mo).

Which Platform is Better for Scaling a High-Volume Dropshipping Business?

Both platforms can scale. Shopify has strong scaling infrastructure and a large ecosystem (Shopify Plus for enterprise). BigCommerce offers powerful native features and B2B functionality that may reduce third-party costs at scale; choose based on which features will lower friction and cost as you grow.

Do I Need Shopify Plus or Bigcommerce Pro for Dropshipping?

Most dropshipping merchants will not need Shopify Plus or BigCommerce Pro at launch. Advanced plans are useful when you need enterprise-level customization, higher API limits, faster checkout control, or specific compliance and performance requirements.

Decision Checklist

• Supplier integrations: List your top 2 suppliers and confirm deep integrations exist for your chosen platform.
• Monthly app costs: Add expected monthly app fees to your platform plan and compare total cost.
• Payment processing: Decide on using Shopify Payments (Shopify) or a third-party gateway and calculate transaction fees.
• Checkout needs: Identify if checkout customization is required (upsells, subscription flows, specific fields) and which platform supports it within your budget.
• Growth plan: Estimate annual revenue and check BigCommerce plan thresholds and Shopify plan upgrades to forecast long-term costs.

Final Considerations

Both Shopify and BigCommerce are strong choices for dropshipping. Shopify wins on ecosystem breadth, speed to market, and developer resources. BigCommerce wins on built-in commerce capabilities, no platform transaction fees, and native catalog and SEO controls.

Choose based on whether you prefer an app-first, rapid-launch approach (Shopify) or a feature-rich, lower app-dependency approach (BigCommerce).

Further Reading

• Shopify vs Alidropship Comparison
• Shopify vs Amazon Dropshipping Practical Comparison
• Shopify vs Teespring Platform Comparison
• Shopify vs Etsy for Print on Demand