BigCommerce Reviews: Is BigCommerce Right for You?

Written by

Darren DeMatas

Updated

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Written by

Darren DeMatas

Updated

Reviewed By Our team of writers and content creators are experts in ecommerce and we fact-check every claim in our work to ensure it’s accurate and up-to-date. (Learn about our editorial guidelines.).

In addition to receiving commissions generated through affiliate marketing, we are able to fund our independent research and reviews at no extra cost to our readers. Learn more.

BigCommerce is one of the most popular ecommerce platforms on the market today, and with good reason. They’ve processed more than $9 billion in online transactions, and power tens of thousands of stores.

Product
Summary
Ratings
Flexible and scalable.
Excels with multi-channel selling.
Strong SEO Performance.
Inconsistent loading speed.
High volume stores pay more.
No 1-Click Selling
Value 4.0
Features 3.9
Performance 4.5
Ease of Use 4.8
Design & Themes 3.8
Integrations 4.2
4.3
Overall Score
User Rating
4.7
27 reviews

There are a number of integrations and new features that make it an ideal choice for many ecommerce business models. It certainly has its pros, but it’s not the right choice for every store. My in-depth BigCommerce review will help you understand what you can expect from it, so you can decide if it’s right for your online store.

Bigcommerce Home Page

How Does BigCommerce Compare To Other Ecommerce SaaS Platforms?

I’ve given it the best overall rating, because it has several advantages over other platforms, such as an unlimited number of products, no transaction fees, a wide array of features, and a decent mobile speed store. It falls a bit flat in terms of load time, which can frustrate shoppers.

Overall
User Ratings
Best For
Pricing
Pricing Based On
Payment Gateways
Additional Transaction Fees
Value
Features
Performance
Ease of Use
Design & Themes
Integrations
BigCommerce
Overall : 4.3
User Ratings :
4.0 (27 votes)
Best For : Private label B2C businesses, larger inventories.
Pricing : $29 - $299
Pricing Based On : Features & Sales
Payment Gateways : 55+
Additional Transaction Fees : None
Value : 4.0
Features : 3.9
Performance : 4.5
Ease of Use : 4.8
Design & Themes : 3.8
Integrations : 4.2
Shopify
Overall : 4.2
User Ratings :
4.0 (28 votes)
Best For : Drop shipping, print on demand, small stores, boutiques, brick and mortar.
Pricing : $29 - $299
Pricing Based On : Features, User Accounts, Transaction Fees
Payment Gateways : 100+
Additional Transaction Fees : 0 - 2%
Value : 4.0
Features : 3.8
Performance : 3.9
Ease of Use : 4.9
Design & Themes : 4.0
Integrations : 4.6
Wix
Overall : 4.1
User Ratings :
3.0 (6 votes)
Best For : Print on demand, small stores, boutiques, brick and mortar.
Pricing : $23 - $49
Pricing Based On : Support, Storage & Features
Payment Gateways : 35+
Additional Transaction Fees : 0 - 3%
Value : 5
Features : 3.7
Performance : 3.9
Ease of Use : 4.2
Design & Themes : 4.7
Integrations : 3.5
  • Inconsistent speeds. When I tested BigCommerce some sites didn’t load or had really long load times, slowing down the otherwise fast average. I’m not the only one.
  • There’s strong SEO performance. Everything’s served from a content delivery network to speed up delivery. And, you have complete control over SEO data for each of your products, including the page title, meta keywords, meta description, and product URL all from within the product area.
  • Multi-channel selling is made easy. Manage your Amazon, Facebook, eBay, and Pinterest stores all from within BigCommerce. Your inventory will sync across all channels so you don’t oversell. Sell the last of something on Facebook? It’ll go out of stock everywhere until you update your inventory.
  • BigCommerce’s themes are stunning. The theme designs are of stellar quality, but there aren’t many free ones to choose from. At the time of this writing, there are only seven free themes in the BigCommerce theme store, across all industries.

Read more about BigCommerce’s Competitors

BigCommerce Transaction Fees

One of the major advantages to BigCommerce compared to other ecommerce platforms is the lack of transaction fees. When you consider that the some of the competition has transaction fees in addition to the monthly service subscription fee, this makes BigCommerce one of the more affordable options.

Remember though, if you have fees from accepting credit cards through your payment processors, like PayPal, Stripe, and Square, you’ll still be responsible for those.

BigCommerce Overview

BigCommerce Pricing

Many brands you know and love are using BigCommerce to power their websites, including:

  • NFL’s Carolina Panthers
  • PayPal Here
  • Toyota
  • Ford UK
  • Ben & Jerry’s
  • Gibson Guitars

When major brands like these trust their stores to a platform, you know they’ve got good reason.

BigCommerce offers a fully functional online store, with the ability to sell an unlimited number of products. You’ll have unlimited bandwidth and file storage, gift cards, a rating and reviews functionality, and professional reporting, even in the basic plan. Shopify and Volusion offer cheaper starter plans, but require you to opt into a more expensive plan to get the similar feature set.

BigCommerce Plans And Pricing

BigCommerce has three pricing plans to choose from, ranging from $29 to $299 a month. All plans include basic SEO tools, product search, coupons, Amazon (FBA) integration, drop shipping, and real-time shipping/tracking. You’ll also get a 10% discount if you opt for the annual plan instead of paying monthly.

BigCommerce Features and Plans

1-Click Upsells
Landing Page Builder
Abandoned Cart Email
Digital Products
Personalized Products
Product Export/Import
Product Search
Ratings & Reviews
Real Time Shipping Rates/Tracking
Reward Points
SEO Tools
Subscription/Recurring
Zoomable Product Images
Upselling & Cross Selling
Standard $29/month.
1-Click Upsells :
Landing Page Builder :
Abandoned Cart Email :
Digital Products :
Personalized Products :
Product Export/Import :
Product Search :
Ratings & Reviews :
Real Time Shipping Rates/Tracking :
Reward Points :
SEO Tools :
Subscription/Recurring :
Zoomable Product Images :
Upselling & Cross Selling :
Plus $79/month.
1-Click Upsells :
Landing Page Builder :
Abandoned Cart Email :
Digital Products :
Personalized Products :
Product Export/Import :
Product Search :
Ratings & Reviews :
Real Time Shipping Rates/Tracking :
Reward Points :
SEO Tools :
Subscription/Recurring :
Zoomable Product Images :
Upselling & Cross Selling :
Pro $299/month.
1-Click Upsells :
Landing Page Builder :
Abandoned Cart Email :
Digital Products :
Personalized Products :
Product Export/Import :
Product Search :
Ratings & Reviews :
Real Time Shipping Rates/Tracking :
Reward Points :
SEO Tools :
Subscription/Recurring :
Zoomable Product Images :
Upselling & Cross Selling :

If you want to be able to send your customers abandoned cart emails, you’ll need to be on the standard or pro plan. If you want to be a Google Trusted Store, you’ll have to subscribe to the pro plan.

It’s worth noting, if you plan on selling more than $50,000 a year, you’ll have to upgrade to bypass that limit on the basic plan. If you sell more than $150,000 a year, you’ll need to upgrade to the pro plan. The pro plan starts at $299.95 a month if your store brings in up to $450,000 a month. If you surpass that threshold, you’ll pay at least another $150 per month for each additional $200,000 in sales. Those expenses will add up for BigCommerce Merchants.

And, if you need any kind of subscription or recurring billing services, you’ll have to pay for an add-on. Want to reward your customers with a loyalty program? You’ll have to pay more for an add-on. Want to make up-selling and cross-selling easier? Yep. You guessed it, another paid add-on.

If these are features you must have in your ecommerce SaaS platform, you may find one of the BigCommerce alternatives more cost-effective.

If you find yourself outgrowing the standard and pro plans, you always have the option to contact BigCommerce about an enterprise plan with custom pricing with additional features. However, you may find that it’s not the right choice for your company

BigCommerce Integrations and Plans

Amazon 2 Way Sync
Amazon Checkout
Amazon FBA Integration
Fulfillment Center Integration
Drop Shipping Integration
Ebay 2-Way Sync
Facebook Sync
Google Ecommerce Analytics
Google Product Data Feed
Review Snippet Structured Data
Email Marketing Automation
Paypal Checkout
Printing On Demand Integration
USPS Integration
WordPress Integration
User Generated Content Automation
Standard $29/month.
Amazon 2 Way Sync :
Amazon Checkout :
Amazon FBA Integration :
Fulfillment Center Integration :
Drop Shipping Integration :
Ebay 2-Way Sync :
Facebook Sync :
Google Ecommerce Analytics :
Google Product Data Feed :
Review Snippet Structured Data :
Email Marketing Automation :
Paypal Checkout :
Printing On Demand Integration :
USPS Integration :
WordPress Integration :
User Generated Content Automation :
Plus $79/month.
Amazon 2 Way Sync :
Amazon Checkout :
Amazon FBA Integration :
Fulfillment Center Integration :
Drop Shipping Integration :
Ebay 2-Way Sync :
Facebook Sync :
Google Ecommerce Analytics :
Google Product Data Feed :
Review Snippet Structured Data :
Email Marketing Automation :
Paypal Checkout :
Printing On Demand Integration :
USPS Integration :
WordPress Integration :
User Generated Content Automation :
Pro $299/month.
Amazon 2 Way Sync :
Amazon Checkout :
Amazon FBA Integration :
Fulfillment Center Integration :
Drop Shipping Integration :
Ebay 2-Way Sync :
Facebook Sync :
Google Ecommerce Analytics :
Google Product Data Feed :
Review Snippet Structured Data :
Email Marketing Automation :
Paypal Checkout :
Printing On Demand Integration :
USPS Integration :
WordPress Integration :
User Generated Content Automation :

Selling Online With BigCommerce

Selling online with BigCommerce is easy, but it doesn’t come without challenges and hiccups.

I love the fact that you can use BigCommerce to handle multiple sales channels. When you’re starting from scratch, you can leverage the popularity of Amazon, eBay, Google Shopping, and other platforms to get your products and services in front of customers. Having a central point to manage of that makes it easier to streamline operations, saving you time and money.

It also integrates with PayPal, Square, Stripe, AmazonPay, and a number of other popular payment gateways. It’s also possible to take your business global since it supports multiple currencies.

You’ll find it easy to market to new and existing customers since it integrates with many email marketing services, including Mailchimp, Infusionsoft, and Constant Contact.

On Your Own When It Comes To Cross Selling Apps

Advertisement
Shopify Free Trial

There’s a huge flaw when it comes to cross-selling and up-selling apps. It’s something you have to pay extra for no matter which plan you choose. There are a couple options in the BigCommerce app store – such as Unlimited Upsell – Buy X Get Y, with plans ranging from Free to $59.95 a month, or Boost Sales | Upsell & Cross-Sell Popups by Beeketing for $50/month after a 15-day free trial.

bigcommerce apps

BigCommerce Themes And Apps

The BigCommerce Theme Store lets you see what you could work with if you choose to use the platform. It’s a good store that gives you a selection of free and paid options. You’ll be able to find a stylish responsive theme that’s easy to work with. However, since most of the themes come from a single developer, there’s not much in terms of uniqueness from theme to theme. Expect to pay $150-$200 for a decent theme.

bigcommerce themes

BigCommerce has no shortage of apps in their marketplace, and many of them are free. But, don’t let the “free” price tag fool you, as many integrations may be free to install, but require paid subscriptions to the services you’re using.

Take for instance, the addition of a loyalty program. It’s free to add the integration to your BigCommerce store, but it won’t work unless you’re paying the app’s monthly service fee. That will set you back anywhere from $59 to $599/month, for 2,000 to 25,000 members.

That doesn’t sound like a bad deal, really, but when you consider you’ll have other needs that require paid subscriptions, you could find yourself spending thousands more a month to build a store with features you need.

There are plenty of marketing apps to include to help you with everything from email marketing to conversion rate optimization and even creating your own affiliate program. If you plan on using dropshipping, you’ll have to use a third-party app for this. There are six to choose from, and they will cost you anywhere from $10 to $50 a month to use.

Ease Of Use

After pricing, the ease of use is the most important factor for many startups. BigCommerce comes with a website builder that allows you to build responsive designs with relative ease. There are tutorials to help you get through the process, as well.

BigCommerce now uses the Stencil framework, which is friendly for advanced developers – making it a good choice for companies that can afford to hire a developer. In recent years BigCommerce introduced their new page builder which makes it easy for startups and non-technical entrepreneurs to edit their site design.

PlatformEase of UsePhone Support24/7 SupportChat SupportCommunity Rating# of Apps/ Plugins
Shopify4.9YesYesYes55,000
Sellfy3.5NoYesNo44
Zyro3.7NoYesYes4.730
Nexcess StoreBuilder4.5YesYesYes3.650,000+
ShopWired4.5NoNoYes4.972
Pixpa3.7YesNoYes4.7103
Freewebstore3.4NoNoYesNone25+
Ecwid3.65.01.05.04.7100+
Square Online4.05.01.05.04.225+
BigCommerce4.8YesYesYes4.01000
Woocommerce3.3NoNoYes4.0250+
Shift4Shop4.3YesYesYes3.0~250
Volusion4.1YesYesYes2~20
Adobe Commerce2.2NoNoNo43000+
Prestashop2.9YesNoNo33000+
SquareSpace3.8NoYesYes3.010+
Wix4.2YesYesNo4.5700
Weebly3.6YesNoYes2~350

BigCommerce Support

When it comes to other platforms like Shopify and Volusion, BigCommerce definitely has them beat in terms of customer service. On the customer support page you’ll find tons of resources to help you – from online forums to a knowledge base. You’ll get videos and tutorials, too. When you need help, you can reach them by phone, live chat, email, and the forum. However, some readers have said the live chat and phone options aren’t as helpful as you might expect. Though the live chat team is available 24/7, they can get backed up, leading to long wait times.

If you’re totally new to selling products online, definitely take the time to check out BigCommerce University. There you’ll find a series of informative videos to help your site earn more money.

It’s easy for you to setup product options and rules. You can sell both physical and digital products. Manage and process your orders, and keep an eye on your entire inventory at a glance. Even those who don’t have a strong tech background can make BigCommerce work with little effort.

BigCommerce Alternatives

In terms of hosted solutions, the main competitor for BigCommerce is Shopify. It’s in a similar price range, and offers similar features. Here’s our Shopify review.

Other than Shopify, Zyro offers much of what you’ll find with BigCommerce. You’ll get a similar pricing structure and features, without transaction fees, and a fast load time.

Final Thoughts On My BigCommerce Review

Overall, BigCommerce does a great job of addressing what people need in online store software. No company is perfect, so while there is definite room for improvement in some areas, BigCommerce sets the bar in many others.

It’s a good choice for people who want to start an ecommerce store, or who have a brick and mortar store and want to expand their operations to include online orders. The available tools make it possible for any niche or industry to be successful.

Since there’s a store builder and all the technical aspects of server management and security are handled for you, you can focus your time and effort on other areas of your business such as customer relationship management, marketing, and product development.

If you’re interested in seeing if it could work for your business, there is a 15-day free trial available for new accounts.

Product
Summary
Ratings
Flexible and scalable.
Excels with multi-channel selling.
Strong SEO Performance.
Inconsistent loading speed.
High volume stores pay more.
No 1-Click Selling
Value 4.0
Features 3.9
Performance 4.5
Ease of Use 4.8
Design & Themes 3.8
Integrations 4.2
4.3
Overall Score
User Rating
4.7
27 reviews

About the author

Photo of author
Darren DeMatas
Darren has an MBA in Internet Marketing and 10+ years of experience marketing retail, manufacturing and Internet marketing corporations, 7-figure brands and startups online. Follow him on TwitterLinkedIn

User Reviews:

4.7/5 (27 votes)
Juan Ignacio
February 15, 2024

The Best e-commerce

I join BigCommerce 3 years ago, before long time ago ran my shop at Oscommerce, Prestahop, LightSpeed and finally find Bigcommerce. I was doubt between Shopify and BigCommerce but finally I chose BC because I hate transactions fees from a business that isn't yours. I'm happy to chose BC because I find very good backoffice, importing products, bulk editing products, nice SEO, good performance, nice storage, nice free template able for editing, app store, Stripe, Paypal etc... It's evident have a great work back for give alot, high value for the price! Great, congratulatios
Daniel
February 15, 2024

Easy to manage

I started as a beginner in Bigcommerce and it was very easy to manage, the support team are fast and professional. I recommend Bigcommerce to you.
Patrick Conard
September 26, 2023

Best I Ever Had

I think Bigcommerce is by far the easiest website option to navigate and design by yourself. I have a business that offers services. My experience with geting the help I need or a question answered is next to no other site I have ever been on. The customer service reps actually know the product in a way that make you think they built it. The plug-in abilities are better than most and cheaper then most. My Bigcommerce sites have never had any issues in the few years I have been useing them. I feel like they actually care about my business and abilities on the platform. Hands down best option out there. Prices and options are unbeatable for the value.
Elizabeth Donazal-Gilbert
January 12, 2023

User Friendly

Big Commerce is the most user friendly system. Returns are very simple. You can use it with any accounting software system.
Mihlali
December 22, 2022

Excellent service

BC is the best customer service in the industry. I am in love with this company.
Vivian Machado
October 18, 2022

Easy To Navigate!

For a small buisness like mine, I couldn't think of a better choice. I have trained employees to publish products, change prices, add options and the abilities of this system are huge. You can search products in various formats and updating is a breeze. With Big Commerce I am able to keep information up-to-date simply and easily. Thank You for providing such a great service!
DELLA N.
September 22, 2022

Excellence services!

We have been with BigCommerce for over 10 years. We are very pleased with their services. The customer support team is very helpful and always available to assist us when needed. The website is easy to use which makes our customers happy which means we are happy as sellers. And the price is reasonable. Bigcommerce's base is in the US which helps us more confidence. We strongly recommend it!
Connie Cooper
September 6, 2022

Best Choice I’ve Ever Made for my Business!

I've had quite a few websites over the past 20+ years. Big commerce has made the difference for me. When I was building my own from scratch, or trying to adapt out-dated tech, nothing EVER worked properly, maintenance was a nightmare, & god for I'd I have a question or needed help. BigCommerce is amazing. Super simple to set up & customize, integrates with every major e-commerce gateway, other than occasionally updating templates, they do all upgrades on their end, great security & the customer service is actually Customer Service. They are absolutely over the top with knowledgeable, friendly agents who will go well above & beyond to help get that occasional hiccup worked out. And? For someone with a tiny, home-based business like me, the cost is still so reasonable it doesn't hurt a bit. Yes I highly recommend BigCommerce to anyone looking for an affordable, efficient, user-friendly e-commerce solution.
Gina
August 9, 2022

Outstanding

The best customer service in the industry. You can actually speak with a real person 24/7 and they are knowledgeable, kind and courteous. I found it easy to build my store, templates are beautiful. I looked at WIX and Shopify and though they may be easier to build they just didn't look as professional and unique.
Peter Legg
July 27, 2022

Set up a fully functioning site in 7 hours, 2 years on we’re still happy with it

We were actually just experimenting with a simple stop gap solution and it was so easy we created a site, loaded our products and data all within 7 hours with no prior knowledge. We have over 2000 products generating revenue. We were less keen on the monthly plugins to improve certain aspects but they've all worked perfectly. Whenever we have had a problem the technical team have been so helpful and patient, they respond quickly and genuinely know their stuff and stay with you until you have a resolution or a way of proceeding elsewhere.
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