Bigcommerce

What is BigCommerce

BigCommerce is a hosted ecommerce platform that provides the software and infrastructure needed to run online storefronts. The platform includes storefront templates, a catalog and product management system, payment and shipping integrations, order management, and tools for promotions and conversions. BigCommerce is delivered as software-as-a-service (SaaS), so merchants do not manage servers or underlying infrastructure.

The product targets a wide range of merchants: small businesses launching a first store, established retailers moving from hosted marketplaces to independent commerce, and mid-market to enterprise brands that require extensible APIs and advanced integrations. BigCommerce offers built-in compliance features such as PCI DSS scope reduction and accepts many payment gateways, which reduces operational overhead for merchants handling card payments.

BigCommerce positions itself around flexibility and extensibility: it provides both a no-code admin experience for merchants and developer-facing tools (APIs, SDKs, webhooks, and theming frameworks) for customization. The platform supports multi-storefront architectures, headless commerce patterns, and integrations with ERP, CRM, and marketing systems, enabling teams to adapt the store to specific business workflows.

BigCommerce features

BigCommerce bundles a broad set of commerce features intended to support the full lifecycle of online retail. Core components include catalog management with variants and bulk import, a page and theme system for storefront presentation, built-in SEO tools, faceted search, promotions and coupon engines, and native support for multiple shipping carriers and tax calculation integrations. These features address the most common commerce needs without requiring third-party plugins.

The platform also provides merchant-facing tools for analytics, customer segmentation, abandoned cart recovery, and conversion optimization. The control panel lets non-technical users manage inventory, process orders, set channel feeds (Amazon, eBay, Facebook, Google), and configure checkout settings. For payments, BigCommerce integrates with major processors and offers an optimized checkout workflow to reduce friction and improve conversion rates.

For customization and developers, BigCommerce exposes a comprehensive API surface, a Stencil theming framework, SDKs, webhooks, and support for headless implementations using the BigCommerce Storefront API. Developers can extend the admin, create custom apps, or consume data in a separate front-end application (React, Next.js, Vue) to deliver tailored shopping experiences.

Operational and enterprise features include role-based access control, store-level settings for multi-currency and multi-language, tax and compliance integrations, and available enterprise-grade SLAs, onboarding, and account management. BigCommerce also publishes developer documentation and a partner ecosystem for agencies and third-party app integrations.

What does BigCommerce do?

BigCommerce provides the software tools to create, operate, and scale an online store. It handles product catalogs, storefront rendering, checkout, payment capture, and order fulfilment workflows so merchants can sell physical and digital products online without building backend systems from scratch. The admin UI centralizes product, customer, and order data for day-to-day operations.

The platform supports multi-channel selling through built-in integrations and feeds to marketplaces and social platforms. Merchants can list products on channels such as Amazon and Google Shopping, manage inventory centrally, and consolidate orders and reporting in the BigCommerce control panel. This reduces the complexity of maintaining separate listings across channels.

For businesses requiring custom storefronts, BigCommerce can be used headlessly: the Storefront API and webhooks deliver product, cart, and checkout data to custom frontends or native mobile apps. This approach separates presentation from commerce logic and enables advanced UX patterns, progressive web apps, or single-page applications that rely on BigCommerce as the commerce backend.

BigCommerce pricing

BigCommerce offers these pricing plans:

• Standard: $29.95/month (billed monthly) — baseline store features, single staff account tiers, and sales thresholds
• Plus: $79.95/month (billed monthly) — adds customer groups, abandoned cart saver, more staff accounts and marketing tools
• Pro: $299.95/month (billed monthly) — higher sales thresholds, advanced product filtering, and conversion optimization tools
• Enterprise: custom pricing — tailored SLAs, account management, and enterprise-grade features and support

Annual billing typically reduces the effective price; for merchants who choose annual contracts BigCommerce commonly provides equivalent yearly figures that reflect a 12-month commitment. Check BigCommerce's current pricing for the latest rates and enterprise options.

Pricing tiers are commonly tied to annual online sales thresholds: when a store exceeds the revenue limit for its plan, BigCommerce may recommend upgrading to the next tier. Merchants should evaluate expected gross merchandise volume (GMV) and feature needs (for example, the requirement for persistent cart or advanced segmentation) when choosing a plan.

Additional costs to budget for include the cost of premium themes, third-party apps or integrations, custom development for headless setups, and payment gateway fees. For large or complex implementations, professional services (design, migration, or integration) and an Enterprise contract can change the total cost of ownership significantly.

How much is BigCommerce per month

BigCommerce starts at $29.95/month for the Standard plan when billed on a monthly basis. The Plus tier is $79.95/month, and the Pro tier is $299.95/month on monthly billing. Enterprise pricing is available on request and varies based on requirements.

Monthly billing provides flexibility for smaller merchants or those testing the platform, while annual contracts often provide financial predictability and may include onboarding credits or discounts for longer commitments. Be aware of plan-based revenue thresholds that can trigger the need to upgrade as sales grow.

When assessing monthly cost, include payment processing fees, optional apps, and potential developer hours for customizations to get a realistic operating monthly expense.

How much is BigCommerce per year

BigCommerce costs $359.40/year for the Standard plan when billed annually at the equivalent of $29.95/month. The Plus plan equates to approximately $959.40/year at $79.95/month, and the Pro plan equates to $3,599.40/year at $299.95/month. Enterprise annual costs are negotiated and depend on store scale and service level.

Annual billing is often chosen by merchants who want a predictable yearly expense and are ready to commit to longer-term operations on the platform. Annual plans may also simplify budgeting for agency partners or when forecasting total cost of ownership.

Merchants with seasonal sales should model revenue against plan thresholds to avoid unintended upgrades; the platform enforces upgrade recommendations based on gross sales windows specified in plan terms.

How much is BigCommerce in general

BigCommerce pricing ranges from $29.95/month to $299.95+/month. Small merchants typically begin with the Standard plan, while growing businesses or those that need advanced segmentation, abandoned cart recovery, and higher thresholds often select Plus or Pro. Enterprise customers receive customized contracts with higher levels of support and SLAs.

Total cost of ownership depends on store complexity: headless architectures, custom app development, third-party integrations, premium themes, and migration services will increase upfront and ongoing costs. Payment gateway transaction fees and app subscription costs should be included in overall budgeting.

For precise comparisons and up-to-date promotional rates, review BigCommerce's current pricing and speak to sales for Enterprise terms.

What is BigCommerce used for

BigCommerce is used to build and operate online stores where merchants sell goods and services to consumers and businesses. Typical uses include single-brand direct-to-consumer (DTC) sites, B2B stores with custom pricing and purchasing flows, multi-language and multi-currency storefronts, and multi-channel retail that pushes products to marketplaces and social platforms.

Teams use BigCommerce to manage catalogs with thousands of SKUs, configure shipping and tax rules, and orchestrate order fulfilment across warehouses or third-party logistics (3PL) providers. The platform provides reporting and analytics that help merchants understand sales performance, product trends, and customer behavior.

Agencies and developers use BigCommerce as a commerce engine for custom storefronts and headless implementations. The Storefront API allows developers to decouple presentation, enabling progressive web apps, native mobile experiences, or bespoke frontends while retaining BigCommerce for checkout and catalog management.

Pros and cons of BigCommerce

BigCommerce offers a robust set of built-in commerce features and extensible APIs, which reduce reliance on third-party plugins for core commerce functions. Its hosted SaaS model means merchants do not run servers or manage infrastructure, and the platform includes PCI-related controls that simplify compliance for card payments. The multi-channel selling capabilities let merchants expand reach without maintaining multiple inventories.

On the developer side, BigCommerce supports both traditional theming and headless workflows with APIs and SDKs, enabling significant customization and integration flexibility. The partner ecosystem includes agencies and apps for payments, shipping, ERP, and marketing, which accelerates common integrations.

Limitations include plan-based revenue thresholds that can force upgrades as stores scale, and non-trivial costs for heavily customized or enterprise-grade implementations. Some advanced B2B features may require the Pro or Enterprise tiers or custom development. For merchants wanting full control over hosting, an open-source platform may be preferable.

Operationally, merchants should plan for the costs of apps, premium themes, and development. While the platform reduces infrastructure work, technical resources are still needed for complex integrations, custom checkout logic, or headless frontends.

BigCommerce free trial

BigCommerce typically offers a free trial period that lets merchants test essential features, design storefronts, and evaluate the admin workflow without a long-term commitment. During the trial, users can upload products, configure shipping, and test checkout flows to validate the platform against business requirements.

Trials are useful for testing integrations with payment gateways, third-party apps, and theme customizations. They also give teams the opportunity to run basic performance and SEO checks on sample content and product catalogs.

To start a trial and confirm current trial length or any promotional offers, visit the signup and trial information on BigCommerce's pricing and trial page. Trials may have limitations on transactions or sales processing depending on the promotional terms.

Is BigCommerce free

No, BigCommerce is not free for production stores. While the platform provides a free trial for evaluation, ongoing use for live commerce requires a paid plan such as Standard, Plus, or Pro, or a custom Enterprise contract. There is no permanent free tier intended for production usage.

Smaller merchants can test features during the trial period or develop on sandboxed developer stores provided to partners, but a subscription is required to accept live payments and operate a public store without trial restrictions.

BigCommerce API

BigCommerce exposes a full set of RESTful and GraphQL APIs designed for catalog, cart, checkout, customer, and order management. The Storefront API supports headless frontends and provides the endpoints needed to render product lists, handle carts, and complete checkouts. The Catalog API and Orders API let developers synchronize inventory and process orders programmatically.

APIs are complemented by webhooks for event-driven integrations (for example, reacting to new orders or product updates), and server-side SDKs in common languages to accelerate development. The developer documentation includes authentication patterns, rate limits, example workflows, and guidance for app submission to the BigCommerce marketplace.

For enterprise integrations, BigCommerce supports custom apps (private apps) that can access the store API with scoped credentials. This enables secure connections to ERPs, CRM systems, headless CDNs, and custom back-office tools. For current developer guides and API references, consult the BigCommerce developer documentation.

10 BigCommerce alternatives

When evaluating BigCommerce, consider the following alternatives based on budget, customization needs, and hosting preferences:

• Shopify — Fully hosted SaaS ecommerce platform with a large app ecosystem and easy onboarding for small merchants. Strong for rapid store launches and multi-channel selling.
• Magento / Adobe Commerce — Open-source and enterprise commerce platform with deep customization and self-hosting or managed-cloud options; suited for large, complex catalogs and custom workflows.
• WooCommerce — WordPress plugin that converts WordPress sites into ecommerce stores; highly customizable and cost-effective for teams comfortable managing WordPress hosting.
• Salesforce Commerce Cloud — Enterprise-grade commerce solution focused on large retailers with global needs, personalization, and deep CRM integration.
• Wix eCommerce — Simpler hosted option for small merchants and creators who want integrated site-building and ecommerce in one product.
• Big Cartel — Lightweight platform aimed at individual creators and artists with small catalogs and simple selling needs.
• Squarespace Commerce — Design-focused hosted solution that integrates website building with ecommerce for small to mid-sized stores.
• PrestaShop — Open-source ecommerce platform with a modular architecture and extensive localization capabilities; self-hosted.
• Ecwid — Headless-friendly widget-based commerce that can be embedded in existing sites and social channels, good for omnichannel selling.
• SAP Commerce Cloud — Large-scale enterprise commerce platform for complex B2B and B2C implementations with heavy integration needs.

Paid alternatives to BigCommerce

• Shopify: Hosted plans from entry-level to enterprise with a large third-party app marketplace and POS integrations. Good for fast launches and large app availability.
• Salesforce Commerce Cloud: Enterprise pricing with deep CRM and personalization features; suited to large global retailers with heavy integration needs.
• Adobe Commerce (Magento Commerce): License and hosting costs for the enterprise edition; offers maximum customization and control for complex commerce operations.
• SAP Commerce Cloud: Enterprise-level pricing and services for very large organizations with multi-country, multi-language catalogs.
• Squarespace Commerce: Simpler paid plans targeted at small to mid-market merchants who prioritize design and ease of use.

Open source alternatives to BigCommerce

• Magento Open Source: Flexible and powerful architecture for merchants who want full control and self-hosting, but requires development and operations resources.
• PrestaShop: Modular open-source platform with a marketplace of modules; suitable for localized stores and merchants who can manage hosting.
• WooCommerce: WordPress-based ecommerce that is open-source and extensible with a wide plugin ecosystem; best when combined with managed WordPress hosting.
• Saleor: GraphQL-first open-source headless commerce platform built with modern stacks; suitable for teams building custom frontends and microservices.
• Reaction Commerce: Node.js-based open-source commerce with real-time capabilities; aimed at teams building modern, API-driven storefronts.

Frequently asked questions about BigCommerce

What is BigCommerce used for?

BigCommerce is primarily used to build and operate online stores. Merchants use it to manage product catalogs, process orders, integrate with payment and shipping providers, and sell across channels like marketplaces and social platforms. It supports both traditional storefronts and headless architectures for custom frontends.

Does BigCommerce have a free trial?

Yes, BigCommerce typically offers a free trial that allows merchants to test the platform, upload products, and configure a storefront before selecting a paid plan. Trial length and terms can vary by promotion, so check the trial details on the pricing page.

How much does BigCommerce cost per month?

BigCommerce starts at $29.95/month for the Standard plan on monthly billing, with Plus at $79.95/month and Pro at $299.95/month. Enterprise pricing is quoted based on requirements.

Can I use my own payment gateway with BigCommerce?

Yes, BigCommerce supports multiple payment gateways. The platform integrates with major processors and local payment methods, allowing merchants to select the gateway that fits their market and pricing. Payment fees are set by the gateway provider.

Is BigCommerce suitable for B2B stores?

Yes, BigCommerce supports B2B commerce use cases. Features such as customer groups, custom pricing, bulk ordering, and integrations with ERPs enable B2B workflows; some advanced B2B capabilities may require the Pro or Enterprise tiers or custom development.

Does BigCommerce support headless commerce?

Yes, BigCommerce offers headless commerce capabilities. The Storefront API, GraphQL endpoints, and webhooks let developers build custom frontends while using BigCommerce as the backend for product, cart, and checkout services.

How secure is BigCommerce?

BigCommerce provides PCI-related controls and hosted infrastructure designed for ecommerce security. The platform reduces PCI scope for merchants, supports secure checkout, and offers role-based access controls and SSL for storefronts. Specific compliance certifications and security details are available in BigCommerce security documentation.

Can I migrate an existing store to BigCommerce?

Yes, BigCommerce supports migrations from many platforms. The platform includes import tools for products and orders, and partner agencies offer migration services from platforms like Shopify, Magento, and WooCommerce. Complex migrations may require custom scripts or professional services.

Does BigCommerce integrate with accounting and ERP systems?

Yes, BigCommerce integrates with accounting and ERP systems through apps and APIs. Common integrations include connectors for QuickBooks, NetSuite, and other ERPs; custom integrations can be built using the BigCommerce APIs or middleware.

What development resources are available for BigCommerce?

BigCommerce provides developer documentation, SDKs, and a partner ecosystem. The developer portal includes API references, sample apps, and theming guides; agencies and certified partners can assist with custom builds, migrations, and integrations.

bigcommerce careers

BigCommerce hires across product, engineering, sales, marketing, and support functions to support its global merchant base. Roles commonly include software engineers with experience in APIs and front-end frameworks, product managers focused on commerce features, and solutions architects who assist enterprise customers with migrations and integrations.

Career opportunities also include partner success managers, developer relations, and customer support specialists who help merchants configure stores and troubleshoot operational issues. The company often lists positions on its corporate careers site and via recruiting platforms.

For those interested in developer or partner roles, BigCommerce maintains partner programs and certification paths that can improve visibility to prospective employers and clients.

bigcommerce affiliate

BigCommerce runs partner and affiliate programs that let agencies, developers, and content creators earn referral fees for referring merchants. Affiliate and partner programs often provide marketing assets, tracking links, and partner portals to manage referrals and payouts.

Agencies that deliver design, migration, or integration services can join partner tiers for revenue sharing, co-marketing opportunities, and technical enablement. Prospective affiliates should review the current partner terms and commission structures on the BigCommerce partner pages for up-to-date program details.

Where to find bigcommerce reviews

You can find merchant and expert reviews of BigCommerce on ecommerce and software review sites, agency blogs, and industry publications. Common review sources include software comparison platforms, specialized ecommerce blogs, and case studies published by agencies that implement BigCommerce stores.

For balanced assessments, read user reviews for feedback on onboarding, performance, app ecosystem, and support, and consult technical write-ups for headless or enterprise use cases. Vendor-published case studies and the BigCommerce success stories page also highlight real implementations and ROI metrics.