Shopify vs Magento vs BigCommerce: which to choose?

In short: Shopify suits most growing DTC and B2B brands that want a hosted platform and predictable costs. Magento (Adobe Commerce) suits deep, unusual customization backed by a technical team and budget. BigCommerce suits hosted, B2B-heavy setups that match its built-in features.

We are Shopify specialists, so take our bias into account. But most of our build work is moving established brands onto Shopify from Magento, WooCommerce and BigCommerce, so we see the trade-offs up close.

Here is how the three platforms compare for a brand that is already selling and wants to grow.

The short version

Shopify if you want to spend your time selling, not maintaining a platform. The default choice for most DTC brands, and increasingly for B2B too.
Magento (Adobe Commerce) if you need deep, unusual customization and have the budget and developers to run it.
BigCommerce if you want a hosted platform and its built-in B2B features match how you sell.

Side by side

	Shopify	Magento / Adobe Commerce	BigCommerce
Hosting	Fully hosted by Shopify	Self-hosted (Open Source) or hosted through Adobe (Adobe Commerce)	Fully hosted by BigCommerce
Updates and security	Handled by Shopify	Your responsibility, or your agency’s	Handled by BigCommerce
Customization	Themes, apps and Shopify Functions. Checkout customization is more controlled	Almost anything, if you can build and maintain it	Themes, apps and APIs
B2B	Native B2B on all plans, with extras on Plus	Extensive, especially in Adobe Commerce	Built-in B2B features
Developer pool	Largest	Specialized, and usually more expensive	Smaller
Running cost	Predictable subscription plus apps	Hosting, licence (for Adobe Commerce), and ongoing development	Predictable subscription plus apps
Best for	DTC and B2B brands that want speed and simplicity	Complex catalogs and processes with in-house technical teams	Hosted B2B-heavy setups

Shopify

Shopify runs the platform for you: hosting, security, uptime and checkout. Your team works on the store, not the servers.

That is the main reason brands move. The time and money that used to go into keeping a platform alive goes into conversion, content and growth instead.

The trade-off is control. You work within Shopify’s structure, and some deep customizations, especially in checkout, are more restricted than on a self-hosted platform. For most brands, that structure is a feature, not a limitation.

Watch for: app sprawl. It is easy to solve every problem with another app, and that is how Shopify stores get slow.

Magento (Adobe Commerce)

Magento can do almost anything. That flexibility is real, and some complex catalogs and business rules genuinely need it.

The cost is everything around it: hosting, security patches, version upgrades and a specialized developer team. Upgrades in particular can turn into projects of their own.

If you are still on Magento 1, which reached end of life in 2020, you are running an unsupported platform and should be planning a move now, whichever platform you choose.

Watch for: total cost. Compare the full cost of running the platform, not just the licence.

BigCommerce

BigCommerce is a hosted platform like Shopify, with strong built-in B2B features and a flexible API.

It can be a good fit for B2B-heavy businesses whose processes line up with what it offers out of the box.

The trade-off is ecosystem size. There are fewer apps, themes and specialized developers to choose from than on Shopify.

Your checkout needs logic that Shopify does not allow, and you cannot change the process.
You have a large in-house Magento team and a platform that is working well for you.
Your business rules are so specific that you would be fighting the platform every week.

These cases are rarer than most people think, but they exist.

Thinking about moving?

Start by listing what your current platform does that you cannot lose: integrations, B2B rules, custom features, SEO equity. That list decides the platform and the migration plan.

Our strategic consulting covers exactly this decision, and our development team handles the migration when it is time.

Frequently asked questions

Is Shopify better than Magento?

For most growing brands, yes, because Shopify handles hosting, security and updates for you. Magento wins when you need deep customization and have the developers and budget to maintain it.

Is Shopify or BigCommerce better for B2B?

Both have native B2B features: Shopify on all plans, with extras on Plus, and BigCommerce built in. Map your wholesale rules first, such as pricing, terms and approvals, and see which platform covers them with the least custom work.

Is Magento 1 still supported?

No. Magento 1 reached end of life in 2020. If you are still on it, plan a move now, whichever platform you choose.

What should I check before replatforming?

List everything your current platform does that you cannot lose: integrations, B2B rules, custom features and SEO equity. That list decides both the platform and the migration plan.

Sources

Spotted something wrong or out of date? Email hello@kirkbyconsulting.com with the details and we will correct it.

Shopify vs Magento vs BigCommerce: which platform should you choose?