BigCommerce vs Shopify for Apparel Brands

Both platforms can run an apparel brand, so the better choice depends on your team and your growth plan. Shopify is a strong fit for brands that want a simple start and a wide choice of fashion apps, while BigCommerce is worth a look if its plan structure and fees suit your sales better.

This comparison uses each company's own public pricing pages, checked November 2026. Whichever you choose, you can add try-on and sizing through a script tag or API, as explained in our guide to virtual try-on for WooCommerce and other platforms.

How do the plans and prices compare?

Both companies list four main tiers plus an enterprise option. These are the prices shown on their pricing pages in November 2026, in US dollars.

Tier	Shopify (monthly / yearly billing)	BigCommerce (monthly / yearly billing)
Entry	Basic: $39 / $29 a month	Core: $39 / $29 a month
Middle	Grow: $105 / $79 a month	Growth: $105 / $79 a month
Upper	Advanced: $399 / $299 a month	Scale: $399 / $299 a month
Top	Plus: starts at $2,300 a month	Performance: from $1,499 a month, billed annually

Sources: Shopify pricing and BigCommerce pricing. Confirm current prices on both sites before you decide.

The headline prices are close. The differences are in what each tier includes.

What limits does each plan have?

BigCommerce ties its tiers to sales. Its pricing page lists annual sales limits of up to $30K trailing-twelve-month gross merchandise value (GMV) on Core and up to $100K on Growth. It says Scale allows up to $33,333 a month, with a 0.9% overage above that.

BigCommerce also says Scale upgrades automatically to Performance once trailing-twelve-month GMV reaches $2 million. Plan for that if you expect fast growth.

Shopify's pricing page lists plan prices and a trial offer. We did not find matching sales caps there, so read the current terms for your plan.

How do payment fees compare?

Fees change your margin as much as the monthly price does.

BigCommerce states that card processing through its embedded payment providers begins at 2.89% plus $0.29 per transaction on all plans, with no extra platform fee for orders processed through those providers. It lists a separate Open Payment Provider fee of 2.0%, 1.0% and 0.6% of eligible order GMV on Core, Growth and Scale, for orders through other providers.

Shopify's fees depend on whether you use Shopify Payments and which plan you hold. Read the fee tables on its pricing page and compare them against your expected sales mix.

Which trial is better for testing?

Both offer a trial. Shopify's pricing page says, "Try 3 days free, then $1/month for 3 months."

BigCommerce describes a "fully functional 15-day free trial" with no credit card required, and says data is kept for 90 days if you do not upgrade.

A longer trial is useful if you need time to import a large catalog. A shorter one is enough if you only want to look around.

Which is better for apparel features?

Apparel brands rely on variants, size charts, fit tools, returns and good product photos. Both platforms support variants and many sales channels.

The deciding factors are often outside the platform's core:

• Apps for fit and returns. Check which fit, size and returns tools each platform supports, and whether they come as apps or need a script tag.
• Built-in features. List what each plan includes, so you know which gaps need an extra tool.
• Your developer's skills. Choose the platform your team knows.

Check the exact features on both sites against your own list. A short list of must-haves beats a long list of nice-to-haves.

How do fit and sizing tools work on each?

ZeDaq.ai is available as a Shopify app, and as a script-tag widget for BigCommerce and other platforms. On Shopify, you install the app and switch on its app embed in the Theme Editor.

On BigCommerce, you paste a script tag into the product template, with a key locked to your store's domain. The widget adds "Try it on" and "Find my size". Setup details are in the widget documentation.

The shopper uploads one photo and sees your real garment on their body. For sizing, the scan takes one photo plus height and matches it to your own size chart. If you are weighing other platforms, we also compare Shopify vs Squarespace for clothing brands and Shopify vs WooCommerce for clothing stores.

Developers who want deeper control can use the REST API. Our guide to the try-on API explains the options.

What does a worked cost example look like?

Here is a hypothetical brand, to show how to run the numbers. It is not a forecast.

The brand expects to sell about $90,000 of clothing in its first year and pays on yearly billing. On BigCommerce, the pricing page lists Core with a limit of up to $30K trailing-twelve-month GMV, so this brand would need Growth, which lists up to $100K, at $79 a month on yearly billing. On Shopify, the pricing page lists Grow at $79 a month on yearly billing.

On those listed prices, the monthly plan cost is the same. The difference then comes from payment fees, apps and the time your team spends. BigCommerce's pricing page defines GMV as "gross order value minus 10%", so check how your own numbers convert.

Repeat this exercise with your real forecast. Add the apps you need, such as fit tools, reviews and returns, and the payment fees on your expected order value.

What should you do in your first month on either platform?

Whichever you choose, the first month decides how smooth the next year feels. Work through this list:

1. Import a small set of products. Include one item with many colors and sizes, since variants are where apparel stores get messy.
2. Check the variant display. Make sure shoppers pick color and size without confusion.
3. Add your size chart to every garment page.
4. Write fit notes for each product, such as "runs small" or "relaxed fit".
5. Set up your returns page and link it in the footer.
6. Test checkout on a phone with a real card.

Fashion shoppers return items when sizes or colors surprise them. Clear photos, clear sizes and a clear policy do more for your margin than a small difference in platform price.

How do returns and exchanges fit into the choice?

Returns are a major cost for apparel, so ask how each platform handles them before you commit.

Check three things on a trial store. First, can a customer start a return from their order page? Second, can you issue a partial refund or store credit? Third, can you connect a returns tool if you outgrow manual handling?

Fit problems drive many exchanges, so reduce them at the source with clear size charts and a size recommendation. Our guide to fit-related returns explains where they come from.

Write down the answers for both platforms and compare them side by side. A simple table in a spreadsheet makes the decision less emotional.

What questions should you ask each platform's support?

Before you pay, send the same short list to both companies and compare the replies.

• Which plan do you recommend for my expected yearly sales?
• What fees apply to my payment provider and my countries?
• How do I connect a size or try-on tool to my product pages?
• What happens to my data if I leave?

Clear, fast answers are a good sign of how support will feel later.

When should an apparel brand choose each?

Use this as a starting checklist:

• Choose Shopify if you want a large app ecosystem and a quick start, and your team prefers fewer technical decisions.
• Choose BigCommerce if its built-in features and plan structure match your needs, and your developers like its approach.
• Try both with a free trial and import ten products into each. The platform that feels easier on day two is usually the better fit.

Do not move platforms just for a small price difference. Migration costs time, and rankings and links can suffer if redirects are missed.

FAQs

Is BigCommerce cheaper than Shopify?

On the entry, middle and upper tiers, both companies list the same headline prices in November 2026. The differences are in limits, fees and included features, so compare those too.

Can I add virtual try-on to a BigCommerce store?

Yes. ZeDaq.ai's widget works with BigCommerce through a script tag in the product template. Test it on a product page before going live.

Which platform is better for a large catalog?

It depends on your team and your tools. Test an import of your real catalog on a trial before you choose.

Can I switch platforms later?

Yes, but it takes work. You must move products, customers and redirects, so plan the move carefully.