Why Brands Compare BigCommerce and Shopify
BigCommerce and Shopify are two of the leading SaaS eCommerce platforms, often chosen by growing and mid-market brands. While BigCommerce offers flexibility, native features, and an open API structure, many businesses find themselves limited by its technical constraints, higher development overhead, and less intuitive UX. Shopify, on the other hand, provides a more streamlined merchant experience, faster development cycles, and a modern ecosystem designed for performance and scalability. As brands scale in the U.S. and Canada, the question often shifts from “Which is better?” to “When is it time to migrate?”
Where Shopify Outperforms BigCommerce
Shopify generally delivers a clearer advantage in several areas: speed, theme architecture, checkout experience, and ecosystem breadth. The admin interface is easier for non-technical teams, updates are automatic, and the platform is optimized for enterprise stability without requiring deep configuration. Shopify Plus also expands the platform with advanced automation, improved checkout customization, and a global infrastructure designed for high-volume merchants.
What You Keep When Migrating From BigCommerce to Shopify
A full migration preserves your essential store assets, including product data, variant structures, customers, orders, categories, SEO metadata, content pages, and blog posts. Custom product attributes and structured data can be mapped into Shopify’s metafields system. With proper redirect mapping, you also retain your organic rankings and existing SEO equity. Your visual identity can be replicated or improved through a Shopify 2.0 theme built specifically for conversion and performance.
What Changes When Moving From BigCommerce to Shopify
Shopify’s architecture differs from BigCommerce, which means certain features and templates need to be reimplemented. Theme code must be rebuilt using Liquid. Some BigCommerce functionality may require Shopify apps or custom development. Checkout behavior also differs — Shopify’s optimized checkout is more secure and conversion-friendly, while Shopify Plus enables advanced logic, B2B workflows, and extended customization. The shift generally results in a more stable and performance-driven storefront.
The BigCommerce to Shopify Migration Process
The migration begins with a full platform audit analyzing catalog structure, product options, custom scripts, integrations, and SEO dependencies. Data mapping follows to align products, variants, categories, customers, and orders with Shopify’s structure. The storefront is then rebuilt or redesigned using Shopify’s theme architecture. Shopify apps or custom features replace existing BigCommerce functionality. Integrations with ERP, CRM, WMS, and marketing tools are configured. Data is migrated and validated, redirects are mapped, and the store goes through comprehensive QA before launching with zero downtime. Ongoing support ensures stable post-migration performance.
BigCommerce to Shopify Migration Cost
Costs depend on catalog size, customization, integrations, and whether Shopify Plus is required. Smaller stores may fall between $10,000 and $25,000. Mid-market brands typically range from $25,000 to $60,000. Enterprise-level migrations with multiple integrations or custom logic may cost between $60,000 and $120,000+. Although Shopify places more emphasis on apps, its lower maintenance requirements often reduce long-term operational costs.
SEO Checklist for BigCommerce to Shopify Migration
Protecting SEO during migration is crucial. The first step is to replicate or redirect every URL to maintain ranking continuity. Metadata must be carried over accurately. Structured data and schema need to be implemented for products, breadcrumbs, and organizational data. Internal links should be updated to prevent broken paths. Blog content must retain its original slugs and hierarchy. After launch, new sitemaps are submitted and Search Console is monitored closely to catch any crawl issues.
Common Risks and How to Avoid Them
The main risks include losing URL integrity, mismatching product variants, or failing to replicate custom logic. These issues are mitigated by accurate data mapping, a clean Shopify theme architecture, and choosing the right app stack instead of over-installing unnecessary plugins. BigCommerce’s native features may require tailored replacements, but Shopify’s ecosystem offers more flexibility and long-term stability. Checkout differences can be solved through Shopify Plus enhancements and app-based extensions.
Final Recommendation
For brands seeking faster performance, fewer technical barriers, and a more scalable foundation, migrating from BigCommerce to Shopify is a strategic upgrade. Shopify’s modern infrastructure, intuitive admin experience, robust app ecosystem, and enterprise-ready tools make it the preferred choice for brands aiming to grow. With a structured migration process, the move is smooth, SEO-safe, and unlocks long-term operational advantages that BigCommerce often struggles to match.
