3 min 
BigCommerce is a leading eCommerce platform designed to help businesses of all sizes sell online effectively. With strong multi-channel support, advanced sales tools, and SEO capabilities, it caters to both startups and large-scale enterprises.
As of 2026, over 40,000 live online stores run on BigCommerce, and historically, the platform has powered 130,000+ merchants across 150+ countries, which highlights its strong presence in the ecommerce ecosystem.
But the real question every business owner eventually asks. Is BigCommerce the right fit for your store?
But like any platform, it’s not perfect. Depending on your budget, size, and priorities, it may or may not be the right fit.
In this blog, we’ll explore what makes BigCommerce stand out and how it compares with other e-commerce platforms to help you decide if it’s the right choice for your business.
Quick highlight
BigCommerce is known for scalability, multi-channel selling, and strong SEO features.
Here’s a quick overview:
| Aspect | Summary/Key highlight |
|---|---|
| What it is | A cloud-hosted e-commerce designed for online stores, including multi-store, B2B, and international capabilities. |
| Best Suited for | New, ambitious, and well-established stores looking to scale and sell across multiple channels (social, marketplaces). |
| Key Limitation | It can take some time to learn to get used to, and designing your store is not as flexible as other platforms. |
| Key Advantage | Strong sales features, multi-channel selling capabilities, and advanced SEO tools. |
| Key Disadvantage | Setup and design customization can be less intuitive compared to competitors. |
Key features
BigCommerce provides a wide range of tools to help businesses grow from start to global scale. Its main strength is that it has built-in advanced features, minimizing the need for other third-party apps.
Store setup & Product management
The platform uses a “Control Panel” dashboard with a checklist for structured setup. While comprehensive, new users may find some features challenging to locate initially.
- Unlimited products: All plans allow for the sale of an unlimited number of products.
- SEO Integration: Easy-to-use fields for optimizing listings, including image alt text and custom meta details.
- AI Copywriter: A free marketplace app that uses AI to generate product descriptions.
- Design Limitations: The theme editor restricts the placement of content to specific widget areas, limiting creative drag-and-drop freedom.
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Checkout, Payments & Fees
Financial transparency is a major selling point for BigCommerce.
- Zero Transaction Fees: BigCommerce does not charge any sales fees on top of your subscription cost, regardless of the payment gateway used.
- Payment Gateway Costs: Standard credit card processing fees (typically 2-3% + fixed rate) apply, charged by the third-party payment provider (PayPal, Stripe).
- Real-Time Shipping: Real-time shipping quotes are included on the standard plan and higher.
Marketing, SEO & Multichannel selling
The platform is designed to maximize reach through organic growth and multiple sales channels.
- Native SEO: Strong built-in tools for customizable URLs and advanced on-page optimization.
- Multichannel Selling: Seamless integration with major marketplaces and social channels like eBay, Amazon, Facebook, and Google Shopping.
- Conversion Optimization: The Plus plan introduces essential Abandonment Cart Recovery emails, crucial for recapturing lost revenue.
Multi-Store, International & B2B capabilities
Big Commerce is particularly strong for complex, high-end commerce tools.
- International: Supports global shipping and management of various currencies.
- B2B Tools: Enterprise plans offer advanced B2B features such as API support, custom price lists, and advanced product filtering.
Security, Reliability & Support
The platform is built for stability and secure operation under high load.
- Security: Pro plan and above includes Custom SSL for enhanced security.
- Support: Enterprise clients benefit from priority support and dedicated API assistance.
Pros and cons of BigCommerce
BigCommerce’s strength lies in its flexibility for growth and its cost-saving on transaction fees, while its main drawbacks relate to the complexity of the platform and user experience during the initial setup and design phase.
Pros of BigCommerce
- Zero Transaction Fees: Reduces the main cost linked to high sales.
- High Scalability: Guaranteed to support growth up to the highest enterprise level.
- Native Feature Depth: Excellent built-in tools for SEO, multichannel, and B2B functionality, reducing dependence on external apps.
- Revenue-Based Plans: Pricing tiers ensure features match the size and revenue of your business.
Cons of BigCommerce
- Challenging Backend: Setup can be less intuitive than competitors, requiring more time to learn the system.
- Limited Design Control: The editor is restrictive, lack of full drag-and-drop capability limits layout customization.
- Mandatory Plan Upgrades: Automatic upgrades occur when sales exceed the threshold of the current plan.
- Additional Costs: High-quality themes ($0 – $300) and specialized apps ($0 – $ 350 per month) are optional but may be necessary.
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Collect reviews, manage every response, and display them where they matter most.Pricing & Plans
BigCommerce’s pricing is directly linked to your previous 12 months of annual sales volume.
Overview of Standard, Plus, Pro, and Enterprise
| Plan | Annual Sales Volume (Previous 12 months) | Price Billed (Annually) |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Upto $50,000 | $29/month |
| Plus | Upto $1,80,000 | $79/month |
| Pro | Upto $4,00,000 | $299/month |
| Enterprise | Over $4,00,000 | Custom Pricing (Starts at approx $1,000/month |
Hidden or additional costs to watch
The main hidden costs are associated with standard e-commerce operations and additional enhancements.
- Payment Gateway Fees: Standard processing fees (e.g., 2.9% + fixed rate on PayPal) are charged by the payment provider, not BigCommerce.
- Premium Themes and Apps: Budget for optional, one-off theme costs and recurring subscription fees for advanced third-party apps.
Which plan suits which business size?
BigCommerce is specifically designed to grow with the merchant, with clear revenue brackets guiding the necessity of upgrading.
- Standard Plan: Best for new or small stores with initial low sales volume (under $50k).
- Plus Plan (Highly Recommended): Ideal for growing small-to-medium businesses ($50k to $180k) due to the essential abandonment cart recovery feature.
- Pro Plan: Suited for established businesses ($180k to $400k) with large inventories requiring search filters.
- Enterprise Plan: Designed for major corporations with complex B2B or high-volume custom requirements ($400 or above).
Use-Cases & Best fit
BigCommerce is not a one-size-fits-all solution, but it excels in specific business environments where high volume, sophisticated sales, and the need for zero transaction fees are paramount.
Ideal business types for BigCommerce
The platform’s feature set makes it suitable for businesses focused on aggressive growth and complex inventory management.
- Scaling and High-Volume Stores: Businesses with strong growth projections or already high revenues.
- Multichannel Sellers: Merchants with existing presence on eBay, Amazon, or Social Media.
- B2B and Wholesale: Companies requiring price lists and specialized enterprise features.
- SEO-Driven Stores: Those focused on maximizing organic traffic.
When you might choose a different platform
BigCommerce’s complexity and design limitations make it less ideal for merchants with specific priorities.
- Small-Scale/Hobby Sellers: The platform is too complex and feature-heavy for minimal needs.
- Beginners: If a quick, simple setup is the main priority, Shopify or Wix offers an easier interface.
- Design-First Merchants: If you need complete creative control over every page layout, the editor may be too restrictive.
Comparison with alternatives
BigCommerce’s primary competition comes from Shopify in the SaaS space and WooCommerce/Wix in the self-hosted/simpler builder markets. The most significant point of the difference remains the transaction fees policy.
BigCommerce vs Shopify
Both Platforms offer a similar pricing structure for their core plan, but they differ in their approach to operational fees and user-friendliness.
- Cost: BigCommerce offers significantly lower long-term costs for high-volume sales due to 0% transaction fees (Shopify charges up to 2% unless using Shopify payments).
- Usability: Shopify is generally recognized as having a better, more intuitive user interface and setup experience.
- Features: BigCommerce offers more advanced B2B, international, and multichannel features natively, Shopify relies heavily on its vast App Store.
BigCommerce vs Wix / WooCommerce
When comparing BigCommerce to simpler builders like Wix or self-hosted solutions like WooCommerce, the differences revolve around control, complexity, and scalability.
- BigCommerce vs Wix: Wix is excellent for simple, visually creative stores and beginners. BigCommerce is superior for serious, high-volume operations requiring advanced inventory and shipping tools.
- BigCommerce vs WooCommerce: BigCommerce is a powerful, managed, all-in-one hosted solution. WooCommerce is a free, open-source plugin requiring self-hosting, maintenance, and technical expertise but offering unlimited customization.
Key decision factors when choosing an ecommerce platform
Choosing the right platform is important and should be based on a clear assessment of your business goals, current size, and long-term budget.
- Annual Cost: Calculate fees beyond the subscription, specifically transaction fees and app costs.
- Future Scalability: Ensure the platform can handle 5x your current volume without a force migration.
- Feature Reliability: Prioritize platforms with strong native features over those that rely solely on third-party apps for core functions.
All your reviews in one place
Collect reviews, manage every response, and display them where they matter most.Setup & Migration tips
The BigCommerce setup process is manageable, and the platform has tools to assist with switching from other providers.
How to set up your BigCommerce store
- Start the 15-day trial to explore the platform without commitment.
- Follow the initial checklist in the Control Panel (Dashboard).
- Add your products first to form the foundation of your store before focusing on design.
- Utilize the built-in SEO tools (metadata, alt text) during product listing.
Migrating from another platform
- The BigCommerce platform provides helpful tools and guides designed for smooth migration, especially from platforms you may have outgrown.
- Leverage API support (Enterprise) if necessary for complex data transfer.
Optimising for success
- Abandonment Cart Recovery: Ensure you are on the Plus plan or higher to activate the conversion tool, which can help you recover a lot of lost revenue.
- Prioritize SEO: Take full advantage of the platform’s superior SEO foundation by optimizing all product pages and categories for search.
- Minimize App Overload: Since BigCommerce has many features built in, avoid unnecessary app subscriptions to keep costs down and maintain site stability.
Final verdict
If you’re looking for a platform that can support your business now and in the future, BigCommerce is a great choice. It packs powerful features, strong security, and helpful tools for scaling your store. Yes, there is a bit of a learning curve, but once you get the hang of it, managing your shop becomes much easier.
It’s perfect for brands that want to sell across many channels and grow fast. For those who want something very simple, other platforms might feel easier. But overall, BigCommerce delivers value, stability, and room for growth.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, beginners can use it, but it might feel a bit advanced at first. Once you understand the basics, it becomes easier to manage and offers more features than simple platforms.
BigCommerce is an ecommerce platform that helps you create and run your own online store. It comes with tools to manage products, accept payments, handle shipping, and grow your business.
Yes, BigCommerce provides tools and guides to help you move products, orders, and customers from other platforms.
The main cost to watch is the annual sales limit. If your store crosses it, you’ll be automatically moved to a higher plan. Some apps and themes may also cost extra.
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