Ecommerce · 3-way · 2026
BigCommerce · Medusa · Shopify
Three credible picks in ecommerce. Here's the trade-off that actually decides it.
Reviewed by Switchpoint Editors ·
BigCommerce
Hosted commerce with no transaction fees.
- Mid-market stores leaving Shopify Plus.
- From $39/mo.
- No platform transaction fees
- Smaller theme ecosystem
Best for
Pricing
Top strength
Biggest trade-off
Medusa
Composable, open-source commerce engine.
- Engineering-led brands wanting headless commerce.
- Free, open source.
- Headless
- Requires devs
Best for
Pricing
Top strength
Biggest trade-off
Shopify
Hosted ecommerce platform powering millions of stores.
- DTC brands who want a hosted, app-rich storefront.
- Basic $39/mo + transaction fees.
- Massive app ecosystem
- App fees compound
Best for
Pricing
Top strength
Biggest trade-off
The matrix
Side-by-side-by-side
| BigCommerce | Medusa | Shopify | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Mid-market stores leaving Shopify Plus. | Engineering-led brands wanting headless commerce. | DTC brands who want a hosted, app-rich storefront. |
| Pricing | From $39/mo. | Free, open source. | Basic $39/mo + transaction fees. |
| Top strength | No platform transaction fees | Headless | Massive app ecosystem |
| Biggest trade-off | Smaller theme ecosystem | Requires devs | App fees compound |
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