Shopify vs BigCommerce: PCI Compliance Comparison Guide

Introduction

When choosing between Shopify and BigCommerce for your e-commerce platform, understanding how each handles PCI compliance is crucial for protecting customer payment data and avoiding costly penalties. Both platforms offer robust e-commerce solutions, but their approaches to PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) compliance differ in significant ways that can impact your business operations, costs, and security responsibilities.

This comparison matters because non-compliance with PCI DSS can result in fines ranging from $5,000 to $100,000 per month, loss of payment processing privileges, and devastating damage to your brand reputation. Making the right platform choice can save you thousands of dollars and countless hours of compliance work.

Quick answer: Both Shopify and BigCommerce significantly reduce PCI compliance burden by handling most security requirements for you. Shopify generally requires less merchant involvement with PCI compliance, typically qualifying for SAQ A, while BigCommerce merchants may need SAQ A or SAQ A-EP depending on their checkout configuration.

Overview of Each Option

Shopify PCI Compliance

Shopify is a fully hosted e-commerce platform that maintains PCI DSS Level 1 certification—the highest level of compliance. As a closed ecosystem, Shopify controls the entire payment flow from checkout to processing, which minimizes the merchant’s PCI compliance responsibilities. The platform handles all server security, payment page hosting, and data transmission security automatically.

BigCommerce PCI compliance

BigCommerce is also a PCI DSS Level 1 certified platform that provides hosted e-commerce solutions. However, BigCommerce offers more flexibility in checkout customization and payment processing options, which can affect your PCI Compliance requirements. The platform supports both native checkout (Optimized One-Page Checkout) and custom checkout solutions, each with different compliance implications.

Key Differences at a Glance

Checkout flexibility: BigCommerce offers more customization options; Shopify is more restrictive
SAQ requirements: Shopify typically requires SAQ A; BigCommerce may require SAQ A or SAQ A-EP
Payment gateway options: BigCommerce supports more third-party gateways; Shopify favors Shopify Payments
Compliance effort: Shopify requires minimal merchant involvement; BigCommerce varies based on setup

Detailed Comparison

Requirements Comparison

Shopify Requirements:

Merchants typically complete SAQ A (the shortest questionnaire with 22 questions)
SSL certificate included automatically
No need for vulnerability scans in most cases
Quarterly network scans not required for standard setups
Annual validation simple and straightforward

BigCommerce Requirements:

SAQ A for merchants using hosted payment fields
SAQ A-EP (139 questions) for certain custom checkout implementations
SSL certificate included
May require quarterly scans for SAQ A-EP merchants
More complex validation for customized setups

Scope Comparison

Shopify PCI Scope:

Minimal scope as Shopify handles all payment data
No cardholder data touches merchant systems
Redirect or iframe payment methods only
Limited to ensuring secure account access

BigCommerce PCI Scope:

Varies based on checkout method
Native checkout keeps scope minimal
Custom checkouts may expand scope significantly
API integrations can affect scope

Effort/Cost Comparison

Shopify Compliance Costs:

No additional PCI compliance fees
Minimal time investment (2-4 hours annually)
No need for external security assessors in most cases
Reduced need for security tools and scans

BigCommerce Compliance Costs:

Platform fees don’t typically include compliance tools
Time investment varies (2-20 hours annually)
May need scanning tools for SAQ A-EP ($200-$500/year)
Possible consultant fees for complex setups

Use Case Fit

Shopify Works Best For:

Businesses wanting minimal PCI compliance burden
Standard e-commerce operations
Companies without dedicated IT security staff
Merchants prioritizing simplicity over customization

BigCommerce Works Best For:

Businesses needing checkout customization
B2B operations requiring complex pricing
Companies with existing payment relationships
Merchants with technical resources

When to Choose Each

Scenarios Favoring Shopify

1. New businesses without existing payment processor relationships benefit from Shopify’s integrated approach
2. Small teams lacking dedicated compliance personnel can leverage Shopify’s simplified process
3. International sellers appreciate Shopify’s unified global compliance approach
4. Risk-averse merchants prefer Shopify’s closed ecosystem that minimizes security exposure

Scenarios Favoring BigCommerce

1. Enterprise businesses needing custom checkout flows to match brand requirements
2. B2B companies requiring specialized payment terms, net billing, or purchase orders
3. Multi-channel retailers integrating with existing ERP/payment systems
4. Businesses with negotiated payment rates wanting to keep existing processor relationships

Hybrid Approaches

Some businesses use BigCommerce for their primary store while leveraging Shopify for specific markets or products. Others might start with Shopify for simplicity, then migrate to BigCommerce as customization needs grow. Consider your long-term growth trajectory when making this decision.

Decision Framework

Questions to Ask Yourself

1. How important is checkout customization to your brand experience?
– Critical → Consider BigCommerce
– Standard is fine → Shopify may be simpler

2. Do you have dedicated IT/security resources?
– Yes → Either platform works
– No → Shopify reduces burden

3. What’s your transaction volume?
– High volume with negotiated rates → BigCommerce flexibility valuable
– Standard volume → Either platform works

4. How complex are your payment needs?
– Multiple currencies, payment types → BigCommerce offers more options
– Standard credit/debit → Both platforms sufficient

Evaluation Criteria

Decision Tree

“`
Start → Need custom checkout?
├─ No → Prioritize simplicity?
│ ├─ Yes → Shopify
│ └─ No → Evaluate payment needs
└─ Yes → Have IT resources?
├─ Yes → BigCommerce
└─ No → Reconsider requirements
“`

Common Misconceptions

Myths Debunked

Myth 1: “PCI compliance is automatic with any hosted platform”
Reality: While both platforms reduce compliance burden, merchants still have responsibilities including completing SAQs, maintaining secure passwords, and training staff.

Myth 2: “BigCommerce always requires more compliance work”
Reality: Using BigCommerce’s native checkout provides similar compliance simplicity to Shopify. Complexity only increases with customization.

Myth 3: “Shopify Payments is required for PCI compliance”
Reality: Shopify maintains PCI compliance regardless of payment processor, though using third-party processors may have different fee structures.

Clarifications

Both platforms maintain their PCI certification independently of merchant compliance
Merchants remain responsible for their own PCI compliance validation
Platform compliance doesn’t eliminate all merchant security responsibilities
Annual validation is required regardless of platform choice

FAQ

Q1: Can I achieve PCI compliance on both Shopify and BigCommerce without hiring a consultant?

Yes, most merchants can achieve PCI compliance on either platform without external help. Shopify makes this especially straightforward with SAQ A requirements. BigCommerce merchants using native checkout can also self-manage compliance, though custom implementations may benefit from expert guidance.

Q2: How long does PCI compliance validation take on each platform?

Shopify merchants typically complete validation in 1-2 hours annually using SAQ A. BigCommerce timing varies: 1-2 hours for SAQ A merchants, or 4-8 hours for SAQ A-EP requirements with custom checkouts.

Q3: What happens if I switch platforms mid-year?

Your PCI compliance follows your business, not the platform. You’ll need to re-validate compliance on the new platform, but previous compliance work provides a foundation. Document your transition carefully to maintain continuous compliance.

Q4: Do subscription businesses have different PCI requirements on these platforms?

Both platforms handle subscription billing PCI requirements similarly. The key is ensuring recurring payment tokens are properly secured, which both platforms manage automatically when using their native subscription features.

Q5: Can I use third-party payment gateways and maintain simple PCI compliance?

Yes, on both platforms. Shopify supports various gateways while maintaining SAQ A eligibility. BigCommerce offers even more gateway flexibility, though some configurations may require SAQ A-EP compliance.

Conclusion

Both Shopify and BigCommerce provide robust PCI compliance foundations that dramatically reduce merchant burden compared to self-hosted solutions. The key differences lie in flexibility versus simplicity.

Choose Shopify when:

Minimizing compliance effort is paramount
Standard checkout meets your needs
You lack dedicated IT security resources
Simplicity outweighs customization

Choose BigCommerce when:

Checkout customization is business-critical
You need specific payment processor relationships
You have resources to manage additional complexity
B2B features are required

Regardless of which platform you choose, maintaining PCI compliance requires ongoing attention to security best practices, annual validation, and staying informed about changing requirements.

Ready to determine your exact PCI compliance requirements? Use our free PCI SAQ Wizard tool at PCICompliance.com to identify which Self-Assessment Questionnaire applies to your business and start your compliance journey today. PCICompliance.com helps thousands of businesses achieve and maintain PCI DSS compliance with affordable tools, expert guidance, and ongoing support.