BigCommerce review
7.8The Shopify alternative that makes most sense for B2B, multiple storefronts and growing stores that want more built in.
| Ease of use | 7.2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Design | 7.4 | |
| Flexibility | 8.6 | |
| Value | 7.6 | |
| Support | 8.2 |
What's good
- Plans include B2B, multi-storefront and headless features other platforms charge extra for
- No platform fee on orders through embedded payment providers
What's not
- Plans upgrade automatically as your annual sales grow
- Smaller app and theme ecosystem than Shopify
BigCommerce is the main hosted alternative to Shopify, and it has always pitched itself at the same merchant from a different angle: more built into the platform, fewer apps needed, stronger B2B and multi-storefront features. For a business selling to other businesses, or running several storefronts from one catalogue, it is often the better fit.
Its pricing works differently from almost everyone else's. Your plan is set by how much you sell, not just by which features you want, and it moves up automatically as sales grow. That is fair in principle, but it means you need to understand the thresholds before you choose.
Payment fees depend on your provider
BigCommerce charges no platform fee on orders processed through what it calls Embedded Payment Providers. Orders through other providers, which it calls Open Payment Providers, carry a monthly fee from BigCommerce calculated on the sales attributed to them, and the rate varies by plan. Card processing through PayPal Braintree starts at 2.89% + $0.29 for US-based businesses. If you already have a payment provider you want to keep, check which group it falls into before you migrate.
Where BigCommerce is stronger than Shopify
B2B is the clearest case: customer-specific price lists, quotes and purchase orders are core to the platform rather than bolted on. Multi-storefront selling, running several branded stores from one back end, is another. BigCommerce also leans into headless commerce, where the store's back end powers a front end built on something else, and it owns Feedonomics for product-feed management across marketplaces.
Where BigCommerce falls short
The app store is smaller than Shopify's, around 1,200 apps against Shopify's far larger marketplace, and the theme ecosystem is thinner. The automatic upgrades also mean that a good sales year raises your platform bill without you choosing it, which is predictable once you understand it and surprising if you do not.
Pricing
From US$29/mo · BigCommerce pricing
Who it's for
B2B sellers, merchants running several storefronts or complex catalogues, and stores that want more built in and fewer apps. The native B2B feature set is the strongest reason to choose it.
Who it isn't for
A first store that values ecosystem and available help. Shopify has more apps, more themes and far more people who know it.
Limits worth knowing
- Plan tiers are capped by annual sales volume
- Smaller app and theme ecosystem than Shopify
- Fewer agencies and freelancers with deep experience
- Admin is less polished than Shopify's
Questions people ask
Does BigCommerce charge transaction fees?
Not on orders through its Embedded Payment Providers. Orders through Open Payment Providers carry a monthly BigCommerce fee based on the sales attributed to them, at a rate that varies by plan. Card processing through PayPal Braintree starts at 2.89% + $0.29 for US businesses.
What happens if I exceed my plan's sales limit?
You move up automatically: Core covers $30,000 a year and Growth $100,000, measured over the trailing twelve months. Scale covers $33,333 a month and then charges 0.9% on sales above that, and above $2 million a year the account moves to Performance.
BigCommerce or Shopify for B2B?
BigCommerce, generally. Customer groups, price lists and quoting are native, with no apps needed, and multi-storefront selling is built in.
Is it harder to find developers?
Yes. The talent pool is smaller than Shopify's, rates can be higher, and fewer agencies list it as a specialism. Factor that into total cost if you will need outside help.
The bottom line
BigCommerce makes the most sense for B2B sellers, for businesses running several storefronts, and for growing stores that want more built in and fewer apps. Start on Core if you are new, and expect the plan to follow your sales upwards.
For a straightforward direct-to-consumer store, Shopify's larger ecosystem is usually the easier choice.
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