What is BigCommerce?
BigCommerce is a leading software-as-a-service (SaaS) e-commerce platform that empowers businesses to build, launch, and scale online stores. It offers a comprehensive suite of tools and features to create customized, user-friendly storefronts, manage inventory and orders, accept secure payments, and optimize marketing efforts. With robust built-in functionality, including SEO optimization, abandoned cart recovery, and product filtering, BigCommerce equips merchants with everything they need to deliver exceptional online shopping experiences. The platform seamlessly integrates with popular marketing, accounting, and business applications, providing a centralized solution for managing and growing an e-commerce business. Whether a startup or an established enterprise, BigCommerce's scalable and flexible architecture ensures businesses can adapt and thrive in the ever-evolving digital landscape.
Key Features of BigCommerce
Here are the powerful features that make BigCommerce stand out from the competition. Packed with innovative tools and advanced functionalities, this software offers a range of benefits.
- Page Builder Visual Editor
- Theme Customization
- Checkout Customization
- Mobile Optimization
- WordPress Integration
- Site Speed
- SEO
- Digital Wallets
- Headless Commerce
- Cross-Channel Ecommerce
- Customer Groups
- Reporting & Analytics
- Staging Environment
BigCommerce Specifications
Get a closer look at the technical specifications and system requirements for BigCommerce. Find out if it's compatible with your operating system and other software.
- cloud based
- web app
- windows
- macos
- ios
- android
- macos
- freelancers
- startups
- smes
- agencies
- enterprises
- phone
- live support
- training
BigCommerce Videos
Overall BigCommerce Reviews
Here's our unbiased review of BigCommerce. Discover how our team of experts rates its features, ease of use, customer support, and other aspects that contribute to its overall appeal.
BigCommerce Pros and Cons
BigCommerce FAQs
No, selling on BigCommerce is not free. BigCommerce operates on a paid subscription model, where merchants pay a monthly or annual fee to use the platform’s tools and services for their online store.
BigCommerce offers four main pricing plans:
- Standard Plan: $29.95/month
- Ideal for small or new businesses
- 0% revenue share up to $50k/year in online sales
- Plus Plan: $79.95/month
- For growing businesses
- 0% revenue share up to $180k/year in online sales
- Pro Plan: $299.95/month
- For large businesses
- 0% revenue share up to $400k/year in online sales
- Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing
- For high-volume or complex businesses
- Negotiated pricing based on requirements
Across all plans, once a merchant’s online sales exceed the revenue share limit for their plan, BigCommerce charges a revenue share fee of around 0.5% – 0.9% on any additional sales made through the store.
BigCommerce does offer a 15-day free trial to test out the platform before committing to a paid subscription. However, there is no permanently free plan for building and operating a fully-functional online store on BigCommerce.
The platform’s paid model covers hosting, security, PCI compliance, technical support, and access to BigCommerce’s suite of e-commerce tools and features for managing an online business.
BigCommerce is used by businesses of various sizes across different industries to power their online stores. Here are some notable examples of companies that use BigCommerce:
- Large Enterprises:
- Toyota
- Ben & Jerry’s
- Skullcandy
- Zumba Fitness
- Retail Brands:
- Camelbak
- Skullcandy
- Payless ShoeSource
- Paul Mitchell
- Consumer Brands:
- Sesame Street
- Martha Stewart
- Hospitality HQ
- B2B Companies:
- Husky Liners
- KetoWorks
- American Trash Bags
- Small and Medium Businesses:
- Tiny Prints
- Smarthome
- Aluminum Trailer Company
- Soap.com
BigCommerce serves a diverse range of clients, from small startups and mom-and-pop shops to large, multinational corporations and well-known consumer brands. Its scalable platform and advanced feature set make it suitable for businesses of all sizes and across various verticals, including retail, consumer goods, B2B, and more.
Some key factors that attract merchants to BigCommerce include its robust out-of-the-box capabilities, flexibility and customization options, seamless integration with major business tools, and its ability to handle high traffic and sales volumes efficiently.
There are a few potential reasons why a merchant might choose not to use BigCommerce for their online store:
- Pricing Structure: BigCommerce’s pricing is based on a percentage of sales revenue, which can become expensive for high-volume merchants. The revenue share fee, though competitive, maybe less appealing than Shopify’s flat-rate pricing for larger businesses.
- Learning Curve: While powerful, BigCommerce has a steeper learning curve compared to more user-friendly platforms like Shopify or Wix. This could be a barrier for small businesses or those with limited technical expertise.
- Limited Free Themes: BigCommerce offers fewer free theme options out-of-the-box compared to Shopify, which provides a wider range of free and paid themes.
- App Ecosystem: While BigCommerce integrates with many third-party apps, Shopify has a larger app ecosystem with more options for adding functionality to an online store.
- Ease of Use: Platforms like Shopify, Squarespace, or Wix are often considered more beginner-friendly and easier to use for setting up and managing a basic online store.
- Specific Feature Needs: Depending on the merchant’s requirements, another e-commerce platform may offer specific features or capabilities that better align with their business needs.
- Existing Platform Investment: Merchants already invested in another e-commerce platform or content management system (CMS) may find it more convenient to continue using their current solution.
- Industry Specialization: For merchants in certain niche industries, more specialized e-commerce solutions may be better tailored to their specific needs than BigCommerce.
Ultimately, while BigCommerce is a powerful and feature-rich platform, it may not be the ideal choice for every business, particularly those prioritizing simplicity, cost-effectiveness for high sales volumes, or specific industry-focused requirements.
Here are some potential drawbacks and limitations of using BigCommerce as an e-commerce platform:
- Pricing Structure: BigCommerce’s pricing based on a percentage of sales revenue can become expensive for high-volume merchants or those with large average order values. The revenue share fees can add up quickly as sales grow.
- Limited Free Themes: Compared to platforms like Shopify, BigCommerce offers relatively fewer free theme options out-of-the-box. Most of the premium themes come at an additional cost.
- Steep Learning Curve: BigCommerce has a steeper learning curve than some other e-commerce platforms, making it less beginner-friendly, especially for non-technical users.
- Limited App Ecosystem: While BigCommerce integrates with many third-party apps, its app ecosystem is not as extensive as Shopify’s, which could limit customization and functionality options.
- Less Intuitive Interface: Some users find BigCommerce’s interface and dashboard less intuitive and user-friendly than more modern and streamlined platforms.
- Limited Built-in Marketing Tools: BigCommerce’s built-in marketing and SEO tools are not as robust or comprehensive as some competitors, requiring additional third-party tools or apps.
- Fewer Payment Gateways: Compared to some other platforms, BigCommerce has fewer native payment gateway integrations, potentially limiting merchants’ payment options.
- Limited Blogging Capabilities: BigCommerce’s blogging and content management capabilities are relatively basic, making it less suitable for merchants relying heavily on content marketing.
- Customization Limitations: While BigCommerce offers more advanced customization options than some platforms, the level of customization possible without significant technical expertise or development resources is still limited.
- Limited Multi-Currency Support: BigCommerce’s multi-currency support is not as robust as some merchants may require, especially for those operating in multiple countries or currencies.
It’s important to note that these drawbacks may or may not be significant depending on the specific needs and requirements of a merchant’s online business. Many merchants find that BigCommerce’s benefits outweigh these potential limitations, but it’s crucial to evaluate them in the context of your own e-commerce goals and priorities.