Shopify, WordPress, or BigCommerce – What’s Best for Startups?

Starting your online store is exciting, but picking the platform? That part can trip you up fast. There’s no shortage of options, but if you’re like most founders, three names keep popping up—Shopify, WordPress with WooCommerce, and BigCommerce.

At first glance, they all seem solid. You’ve probably heard someone swear by one of them. But what works for one business doesn’t always fit another. And if you’re a startup trying to launch fast without messing things up down the line, the right pick matters a lot more than you think.

Whether you’re planning to build it yourself or hire a Shopify development company to get things moving, this post isn’t here to hype anything up. It’s here to help you make a clean, no-nonsense decision—based on where you are, not where someone else thinks you should be.

What Is the Best eCommerce Platform for Startups?

Let’s get one thing straight: there’s no single “best” platform for every startup. It depends on what kind of store you’re running, how technical you are, and how fast you need to get going.

That said, most startups end up looking at the same three names:

• Shopify is for people who want to get their store up and running with as little setup as possible. You pay a monthly fee, and most of the technical stuff is handled for you.
• WordPress with WooCommerce gives you more freedom. You build the store on your hosting, tweak things the way you want, and have full control over content, layout, and features.
• BigCommerce sits somewhere in the middle. It’s hosted like Shopify but comes with more features built in—especially useful if you plan to grow quickly.

Each platform has its strengths, but none of them is perfect. Some are easier out of the box. Some give you more control but take longer to set up.

What matters most is picking the one that fits the way you work—and the kind of business you’re trying to build.

Shopify for Startups: What Works and What Doesn’t

A lot of startup founders turn to Shopify first. And honestly, it’s easy to see why. You don’t have to mess with hosting or updates.

It’s more like signing into a ready-made system, picking a theme, adding your products, and you’re already halfway there.

Why Shopify tends to win early on:

• It’s fast to get going. You could have a live store in just a few hours, even without any tech experience.
• Everything’s under one roof. Your site, payments, inventory, and shipping tools come baked in.
• Apps fill the gaps. Need a loyalty program? Subscription setup? Some upsell feature? You’ll find something in their app store.
• Help is always around. Their support team is available anytime—chat, email, phone—you’re covered.

But it’s not all smooth sailing.

Where things get tricky:

• The price creeps up. The base plan looks okay, but once you start adding apps or buying premium themes, the monthly cost starts to climb.
• You hit walls. You can tweak a lot of things, but deeper customizations—especially backend changes—are out of reach unless you hire a developer.
• Fees add up if you’re not using their payment system. Every sale comes with a little extra charge, and it stings more as you grow.

If you’re starting fresh and want something that just works, Shopify is hard to beat. But if your store needs custom logic or your business doesn’t fit the mold, it might start feeling a bit boxed in.

Is WordPress with WooCommerce a Good Choice for Startups?

If you’re already familiar with WordPress, WooCommerce might feel like a natural extension. It’s not a separate platform—it’s a plugin that turns your WordPress site into a full online store.

Why startups pick WooCommerce:

• Full control: You get access to the code, so you can shape the store however you want.
• Content-friendly: WordPress is great for blogs, landing pages, and SEO content. If you plan to grow through content, this matters.
• Plugin flexibility: From SEO to email forms, there’s a plugin for nearly everything.
• One-time theme and plugin costs: Many features come as one-time purchases instead of monthly fees.

But there’s more responsibility.

What can be tricky:

• You handle hosting: You’ll need to buy a domain, a hosting plan, and manage performance and security.
• Setup takes longer: Unlike Shopify, you’re building the store yourself. That includes finding and installing plugins.
• Support is decentralized: There’s no single place to ask for help. You rely on plugin forums, hosting providers, or developers.

WooCommerce makes sense if you’re comfortable managing a website or have someone on your team who is. It also works well if content plays a big role in your growth strategy.

BigCommerce for Startups: What You Should Know

BigCommerce sits somewhere between Shopify and WooCommerce. Like Shopify, it’s a hosted solution. But it also gives you more control over customization, without needing to run your server.

Why startups choose BigCommerce:

• Built-in features: Many tools that require apps in Shopify come built into BigCommerce, like real-time shipping quotes, advanced SEO settings, and multi-currency support.
• No extra transaction fees: You can use third-party payment gateways without paying extra.
• Better for scaling: If you plan to expand quickly, BigCommerce includes features made for growth like large product catalogs and complex shipping setups.
• Good support: You get email, chat, and phone support, along with access to help articles and training.

Still, it’s not perfect.

Where it might fall short:

• Learning curve: While it’s beginner-friendly, it has more features to understand upfront compared to Shopify.
• Fewer themes: The design options aren’t as wide as Shopify’s, and some feel outdated.
• Apps cost more: The app marketplace is smaller, and some key features come with higher monthly fees.

BigCommerce is a solid option if you want something easy to set up but still need advanced features out of the box. It’s especially useful for stores with complex product needs or international plans from day one.

Shopify vs WordPress vs BigCommerce: Pricing Comparison for Startups

When you’re starting, budget matters. But pricing isn’t just about the monthly fee—it’s also about what you get for that cost, and what extras you might end up paying for. If you’re working with a startup website development company, understanding the true cost of each platform can help you avoid surprises later on.

Here’s a side-by-side look at what startups usually spend on each platform.

Platform	Starting Monthly Cost	Extra Costs to Consider	Hosting Included?
Shopify	$39 (Basic Plan)	Paid themes ($140–$350), third-party apps, transaction fees (if not using Shopify Payments)	Yes
WooCommerce	Free plugin	Hosting ($10–$30/month), premium themes, paid plugins, developer support	No
BigCommerce	$39 (Standard Plan)	Paid apps, premium themes, higher-tier plans as you grow	Yes

Quick notes:

• Shopify is predictable, but it can get expensive as you add apps.
• WooCommerce seems free at first, but requires setup, hosting, and ongoing plugin updates.
• BigCommerce includes more out of the box, but pricing climbs fast with business growth.

If you’re launching a small store and want everything ready, Shopify’s flat pricing is simple.

If you’re budget-conscious and don’t mind setting things up yourself, WooCommerce can cost less. BigCommerce lands in the middle—more features upfront, but you might outgrow the starter plan quickly.

Conclusion

There’s no single best platform for every startup. The right choice depends on what you’re building, how technical your team is, and how fast you want to move.

• If you want to launch quickly with built-in tools and don’t want to worry about hosting, Shopify is hard to beat.
• If you need full control and plan to grow through content and SEO, WooCommerce with WordPress is a strong pick.
• If you’re somewhere in between—want powerful features without managing servers—BigCommerce is worth considering.

You don’t have to pick the flashiest tool. Just pick the one that works for where you are right now. Start lean, test your ideas, and upgrade when your store—and your confidence—grows.