Shopify Plus vs BigCommerce B2B: Enterprise Comparison 2026

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• Title: Shopify Plus vs BigCommerce B2B: Enterprise Comparison 2026
• Meta Description: Which enterprise platform to choose in 2026? We compare Shopify Plus vs BigCommerce B2B: pricing, ERP integrations, headless, and 3-year TCO.
• URL Slug: /en/blog/shopify-plus-vs-bigcommerce-b2b-comparativa-enterprise
• Primary Keyword: Shopify Plus vs BigCommerce B2B
• Secondary Keywords: enterprise ecommerce comparison, B2B platform 2026, Shopify Plus pricing, BigCommerce enterprise
• Date: January 2026
• Author: Kiwop Team
• Category: Ecommerce / Development

Introduction

The enterprise ecommerce market will reach $8.1 trillion by 2026, making platform selection a strategic decision that directly impacts scalability, operational costs, and innovation capacity for any digital business.

Two giants dominate the enterprise segment: Shopify Plus and BigCommerce B2B Edition. Both promise performance, flexibility, and corporate-level support, but their philosophies, architectures, and pricing models differ significantly.

At Kiwop, we have over a decade of experience implementing ecommerce solutions for companies with annual revenues ranging from 500K to 50M€. This comparison is not theoretical: it stems from real projects, complex migrations, and lessons learned with B2B, B2C, and hybrid clients.

Which is the best enterprise platform for your business in 2026? The answer depends on factors we will analyze in depth: business model, customization needs, existing tech stack, and growth projection.

What Are the Key Differences Between Shopify Plus and BigCommerce B2B in 2026?

The fundamental difference lies in the product philosophy. Shopify Plus opts for a closed but extremely polished ecosystem, where most functionalities are resolved through marketplace apps. BigCommerce B2B Edition offers more native out-of-the-box functionalities, especially for complex B2B operations.

Architecture and Business Model

Shopify Plus operates as a pure SaaS with fully managed infrastructure. You don't have access to the server, database, or backend code. Customization is limited to the frontend (Liquid/Hydrogen) and available APIs.

BigCommerce is also SaaS, but historically offers more openness. Its "Open SaaS" architecture allows deeper integrations without relying solely on the app marketplace.

Comparative Table: Shopify Plus vs BigCommerce B2B 2026

Differences in B2B Approach

Shopify Plus's B2B has matured significantly since 2023, but it remains an added layer over a platform originally designed for B2C. Features like quotes, multi-level order approvals, and credit management require additional apps.

BigCommerce B2B Edition was specifically created for this segment. It natively includes:

• Company and user management with hierarchical roles
• Unlimited price lists per customer group
• Configurable order approval workflows
• Self-service portal with full history
• Credit and purchase limit management
• Quotes and price negotiation

How Much Does Shopify Plus vs BigCommerce Really Cost Over 3 Years?

The published pricing is just the tip of the iceberg. The TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) includes license, transactions, apps, custom development, integrations, and maintenance.

Cost Breakdown: Shopify Plus

Base License: $2,300/month (can scale based on GMV up to $40,000/month for high-volume merchants)

Payment Fees:

• With Shopify Payments: 0%
• With third-party gateways: 0.2% - 0.4% per transaction

Typical Apps for Advanced B2B:

• ERP connector (Celigo, etc.): $500-2,000/month
• Advanced B2B features: $300-1,000/month
• Subscriptions: $200-500/month
• Custom pricing/quotes: $200-800/month

Custom Development:

• Certified Shopify Partner: €80-150/hour
• Hydrogen development: €100-180/hour

Cost Breakdown: BigCommerce B2B Edition

Base License: From $1,500/month (negotiable based on GMV)

Payment Fees: 0% on all gateways

Typical Additional Apps:

• Lower dependency on apps for core B2B
• Marketing automation: $200-500/month
• Reviews/UGC: $100-300/month

Custom Development:

• BigCommerce Partner: €70-130/hour
• Headless development: €90-160/hour

TCO Comparison Over 3 Years (Typical Scenario)

Scenario: B2B company with €2M annual revenue, 5,000 orders/year, ERP integration needs, and advanced B2B functionalities.

Assuming third-party gateway use in Shopify Plus

Important Note: This calculation is indicative. The real TCO varies depending on integration complexity, customization volume, and business evolution. At Kiwop, we conduct personalized TCO audits for each project.

Which Platform Is Better for B2C, B2B, or Hybrid Models?

The choice fundamentally depends on the predominant business model and whether there is a real need to operate in multiple channels simultaneously.

Use Case: Pure B2C (Direct-to-Consumer Sales)

Recommendation: Shopify Plus

For pure B2C businesses, Shopify Plus offers clear advantages:

• App Ecosystem: +8,000 apps specialized in marketing, conversion, and B2C retention
• Optimized Checkout: Industry benchmark conversion rates
• Shop Pay: Wallet with 100M+ active users accelerating conversions
• Shopify Audiences: Advanced segmentation for paid media
• Native Integrations: Direct TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Google integrations

Real Example: DTC (Direct-to-Consumer) fashion, cosmetics, and lifestyle brands find in Shopify Plus a mature ecosystem to scale without technical frictions.

Use Case: Pure B2B (Business-to-Business Sales)

Recommendation: BigCommerce B2B Edition

For complex B2B operations, BigCommerce takes the lead:

• Native B2B Features: No dependency on apps for core features
• Corporate Account Management: User hierarchies, approvals, limits
• Complex Pricing: Price lists by customer, volume, contract
• Self-Service Portal: Reorders, history, invoices, credit
• Lower TCO: Significant savings on B2B apps

Real Example: Industrial distributors, wholesalers, and manufacturers with dealer networks manage complex operations without excessive customizations.

Use Case: Hybrid B2B + B2C Model

Recommendation: Depends on Balance and Priorities

Hybrid models are the most complex to evaluate:

Shopify Plus for B2C-first Hybrids:

• When B2C represents >60% of the business
• When consumer brand experience is a priority
• Shopify B2B covers basic-medium B2B needs

BigCommerce for B2B-first Hybrids:

• When B2B represents >50% of the business
• When complex B2B flows (quotes, approvals) are required
• When TCO is a decisive factor

Alternative Architecture: Headless for Complex Hybrids

Companies with equally weighted B2B and B2C operations can benefit from headless architectures where a single backend (Shopify or BigCommerce) feeds multiple frontends optimized for each audience.

How Do Shopify Plus and BigCommerce Integrate with Enterprise ERPs?

ERP integration is critical for enterprise operations. Real-time synchronization of inventory, orders, customers, and finances reduces errors and frees up operational resources.

Integrations with SAP

Shopify Plus + SAP:

• Celigo: Premium connector with preconfigured mappings
• Boomi: Enterprise iPaaS integration
• Custom Middleware: For complex scenarios
• Limitation: Requires data transformation due to data model differences

BigCommerce + SAP:

• Native Connectors: BigCommerce offers certified connectors
• Jitterbit: Popular alternative
• Advantage: More open APIs facilitate deep integrations

Integrations with Microsoft Dynamics (Navision/Business Central)

Shopify Plus + Dynamics:

• Connector365: Popular solution for Dynamics 365
• KingswaySoft: For Business Central
• Shopify Flow: Complementary automations

BigCommerce + Dynamics:

• Certified Connectors: Native bidirectional integration
• Power Automate: Complementary flows
• Lower Middleware Dependency: Direct REST APIs

Integrations with NetSuite

Shopify Plus + NetSuite:

• Celigo (SuiteApp): Market-leading connector
• Folio3: Economical alternative
• Consideration: NetSuite is Oracle; enterprise integrations have significant cost

BigCommerce + NetSuite:

• Native BigCommerce Connector: Certified integration
• Feedonomics: For complex catalogs
• Advantage: Less data transformation required

Recommended Integration Architecture

For any platform, we recommend an integration layer (iPaaS) acting as middleware:

ERP ←→ iPaaS (Celigo/Boomi/Make) ←→ Ecommerce Platform
              ↓
        Data Lake/BI

Benefits:

• Decoupling of systems
• Centralized logs and monitoring
• Flexible data transformation
• Scalability for future integrations

At Kiwop we develop ERP integrations with robust architectures that minimize dependencies and maximize maintainability.

What Checkout Customization Options Does Each Platform Offer?

Checkout is the critical conversion point. Customization capability directly impacts abandonment rates, brand experience, and compliance with specific requirements (B2B, subscriptions, taxation).

Checkout in Shopify Plus: Extensibility vs Checkout.liquid

Shopify deprecated checkout.liquid in favor of Checkout Extensibility, a component-based system:

Checkout UI Extensions:

• Add custom fields
• Display messages/banners
• Integrate post-purchase upsells
• Customize payment/shipping methods

Shopify Functions:

• Custom discount logic
• Order validations
• Shipping rate customization
• Payment method modification

Limitations:

• You cannot modify the base checkout flow
• Visual customization limited to CSS variables
• Checkout on Shopify domain (not fully whitelabel)

Advantages:

• Optimized performance (maintains speed)
• Guaranteed security (PCI compliance)
• Automatic updates without breaking customizations

Checkout in BigCommerce: SDK and Open Architecture

BigCommerce offers greater flexibility with its Checkout SDK:

Checkout SDK:

• Full control over checkout UI
• Custom flows (one-page, multi-step)
• Integration of custom elements
• Dynamic fields based on customer type

Checkout Scripting:

• JavaScript to modify behavior
• Custom validations
• Real-time integrations

Optimized One-Page Checkout:

• High-performance checkout out-of-the-box
• Integrated A/B testing

Advantages:

• Maximum visual and functional flexibility
• Full whitelabel possible
• Ideal for B2B with complex flows

Considerations:

• Greater maintenance responsibility
• Security testing recommended after customizations

When Does Checkout Customization Matter?

What Are the Differences Between Hydrogen (Shopify) and BigCommerce Headless?

Headless commerce separates frontend from backend, allowing personalized experiences without the limitations of traditional themes. Both platforms offer mature solutions, but with different approaches.

Hydrogen: Shopify's Headless Framework

Hydrogen is Shopify's React framework optimized for commerce:

Technical Stack:

• React 18+ with Server Components
• Remix as meta-framework
• Oxygen (Shopify's optimized hosting)
• Storefront API (GraphQL)

Advantages of Hydrogen:

• Extreme Performance: Optimized server-side rendering
• Integrated Hosting: Oxygen deployed on edge (300+ PoPs)
• Developer Experience: CLI, templates, commerce components
• Smart Cache: Automatic content invalidation
• Shopify Ecosystem: Integrated checkout, Shop Pay, Audiences

Limitations:

• Vendor Lock-in: Oxygen only works with Shopify
• Learning Curve: Requires React/Remix expertise
• Checkout: Still hosted (not headless checkout)

Development Cost:

• Typical headless project: €40,000 - €120,000
• Annual maintenance: €8,000 - €20,000
• Requires team with specialized React expertise

BigCommerce Headless

BigCommerce offers framework-agnostic headless:

Technical Stack:

• Storefront API (GraphQL + REST)
• Framework freedom: Next.js, Nuxt, Gatsby, etc.
• Flexible hosting: Vercel, Netlify, AWS, etc.
• Headless Checkout SDK (checkout also headless)

Advantages of BigCommerce Headless:

• Total Flexibility: Any framework, any hosting
• Headless Checkout: Fully customizable checkout
• No Lock-in: Frontend portability
• Mature APIs: Extensive documentation

Limitations:

• More Responsibility: DevOps, caching, performance
• Smaller Ecosystem: Fewer apps compatible with headless
• Manual Optimization: No integrated Oxygen-like

Development Cost:

• Typical headless project: €35,000 - €100,000
• Annual maintenance: €10,000 - €25,000
• Greater flexibility in technical profiles

Hydrogen vs BigCommerce Headless Comparison

When to Choose Headless?

Headless DOES make sense when:

• Ultra-differentiated brand experience is a priority
• Multiple touchpoints (web, app, kiosk, IoT)
• Technical team capable of maintaining complex architecture
• Initial budget >€50,000 and sustained maintenance
• Critical performance (competitive Core Web Vitals)

Headless DOES NOT make sense when:

• Limited budget
• Aggressive time-to-market
• Team without advanced frontend expertise
• Standard functionalities cover needs

At Kiwop, we evaluate each project to recommend traditional or headless architecture based on real ROI, not tech trends.

How to Decide Between Shopify Plus and BigCommerce B2B for My Company?

After analyzing architecture, pricing, functionalities, and technical options, the decision boils down to alignment with your specific business.

Decision Checklist

Choose Shopify Plus if:

• Your model is primarily B2C or B2C-first hybrid
• You value an extensive app ecosystem
• Shop Pay and Audiences are competitive advantages
• Your team is already familiar with Shopify
• You prefer a more "curated" and guided environment
• Hosted checkout is not a limitation
• Budget allows for higher TCO

Choose BigCommerce B2B Edition if:

• Your model is primarily B2B or B2B-first hybrid
• You require advanced native B2B functionalities
• Optimized TCO is a priority
• You need a fully customizable checkout
• You prefer a more open architecture
• Deep ERP integrations are critical
• You value vendor independence

Frequently Overlooked Factors

1. Available Talent Shopify has a larger pool of certified developers. BigCommerce partners are fewer but often more specialized in enterprise.

2. Product Roadmap Shopify invests aggressively in B2B. BigCommerce in headless and APIs. Which direction aligns with your future?

3. Future Migration Both platforms allow data export, but migrations always have a cost. Choose thinking 5+ years ahead.

4. Existing Integrations If your stack includes tools with native connectors for one platform, the integration TCO drops significantly.

Conclusion: The Best Platform Aligns with Your Business

There is no absolute winner between Shopify Plus and BigCommerce B2B Edition. Shopify Plus dominates in B2C experience, ecosystem, and adoption. BigCommerce B2B Edition leads in native B2B functionalities, technical flexibility, and optimized TCO.

The correct decision requires:

1. Honest audit of your current and future business model
2. TCO analysis with your specific volume and complexity
3. Evaluation of your tech stack and team
4. Proof of concept with both platforms if possible

At [Kiwop we are certified Shopify partners](/en/shopify) and experts in [BigCommerce development](/en/desarrollo-bigcommerce). We offer neutral consultancy to help you choose the right platform, not the one that generates more projects for us.

Contact our team for a personalized evaluation of your case. We analyze your business, project real TCO, and recommend the optimal architecture for your 2026 objectives and beyond.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which Is Cheaper, Shopify Plus or BigCommerce?

BigCommerce B2B Edition has a lower base price ($1,500 vs $2,300/month) and does not charge transaction fees with third-party gateways. However, the real TCO depends on necessary apps, integration complexity, and custom development volume. For complex B2B operations, BigCommerce typically results 20-40% cheaper over 3 years.

Can I Migrate from Shopify Plus to BigCommerce or Vice Versa?

Yes, both platforms allow exporting products, customers, and historical orders. However, enterprise migrations typically cost between €15,000-€50,000 including redesign, integrations, and testing. The initial decision is critical to avoid future migration costs.

Is Shopify Plus Enough for B2B or Do I Need BigCommerce?

Shopify B2B has matured significantly and covers basic-medium B2B needs: group pricing, segmented catalogs, company accounts. For advanced functionalities like multi-level approval flows, complex credit management, or sophisticated quotes, BigCommerce B2B Edition offers more native functionality without app dependency.

Which Platform Has Better Performance (Speed)?

Both offer excellent performance with 99.99% uptime SLA. Shopify Plus with Oxygen (headless) achieves slightly higher Core Web Vitals scores in benchmarks. BigCommerce depends more on the chosen implementation and hosting. For traditional themes, both are comparable.

Which Is Better for International Sales?

Both support multicurrency, multilanguage, and international tax configurations. Shopify Markets offers a more integrated experience for international expansion with localized domains and regional pricing. BigCommerce requires more manual configuration but offers equal flexibility.

Do I Need Headless Commerce for My Enterprise Ecommerce?

Not necessarily. Headless adds significant complexity and cost. It only makes sense when ultra-differentiated brand experience is a priority, you operate multiple touchpoints, or have a technical team capable of maintaining the architecture. 80% of enterprise projects work perfectly with optimized traditional architectures.

What Support Is Offered for ERP Integrations?

Shopify Plus offers access to certified marketplace apps and a Merchant Success Manager for guidance. BigCommerce provides native connectors for main ERPs and a dedicated Technical Account Manager. Both require implementation by a specialized partner for complex integrations.

How Long Does It Take to Implement Each Platform?

A typical enterprise project with integrations and customization takes 3-6 months on both platforms. Shopify Plus can be slightly faster for standard implementations due to a larger ecosystem of themes and apps. BigCommerce may require more custom development but offers greater flexibility from the start.

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Article Updated: January 2026

Author: Ecommerce Development Team - Kiwop

Technical Review: Certified Shopify Plus and BigCommerce Partners

Need help choosing the right platform? [Contact Kiwop](/en/contact) for a personalized, no-obligation consultation.