BigCommerce

Overview

BigCommerce was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in Austin, Texas, USA. It is a leading SaaS e-commerce platform focused on mid-market and enterprise businesses. Unlike Shopify, BigCommerce charges no transaction fees on any payment gateway — merchants can choose any payment processor without paying platform surcharges, a key differentiator. As of 2026, BigCommerce serves over 150,000 business clients, ranging from emerging brands to large multinational enterprises.

BigCommerce's core competitive strength lies in its open architecture and enterprise-grade native features. The platform includes built-in B2B functionality (company accounts, tiered pricing, purchase order approvals), multi-store management, and multi-channel selling capabilities (Amazon, eBay, Facebook, Instagram). Unlike Shopify's relatively closed ecosystem, BigCommerce's open API and headless commerce capabilities allow developers to build shopping experiences on any front-end framework, making it ideal for mid-to-large enterprises requiring deep customization.

Key Strengths

• Zero Transaction Fees: BigCommerce charges no additional transaction fees regardless of the payment gateway merchants choose. Whether using Stripe, PayPal, Square, or any of the 65+ supported gateways, the platform adds no surcharge. Compared to Shopify's 0.5%-2% surcharge on non-Shopify Payments transactions, BigCommerce's payment freedom offers substantial cost savings.
• Native B2B Features: BigCommerce's native B2B functionality is among the most comprehensive in the SaaS e-commerce space, including company account management, tiered pricing, purchase order approvals, quick ordering, configurable product catalogs, and volume discounts. Mid-to-large B2B enterprises can meet most B2B transaction needs without third-party plugins.
• Open API and Headless Commerce: BigCommerce offers REST and GraphQL APIs, allowing developers to build custom front-ends (React, Vue.js, Next.js, etc.) connected to BigCommerce's e-commerce engine via API. Headless architecture supports multi-channel selling scenarios including mobile apps, social media, and IoT devices.
• Multi-Channel Sales Integration: BigCommerce natively integrates with Amazon, eBay, Facebook, Instagram, and Google Shopping, allowing merchants to manage orders and inventory across all channels from a single platform. This unified multi-channel management reduces operational complexity.

Product Ecosystem

BigCommerce Store (Store Builder)

BigCommerce's core store builder offers a visual page builder, 100+ responsive themes, and multiple industry templates. Built-in SEO tools, blogging, coupon and discount systems, and complete product management. Compared to Shopify's drag-and-drop builder, BigCommerce's page customization relies more on code editing.

B2B Edition

BigCommerce B2B Edition is the enterprise-grade B2B feature suite, including company account management, tiered pricing, purchase orders and approval workflows, quick order functionality, and catalog permissions. Supports hybrid B2B/B2C operations — a single store can serve both wholesale and retail customers.

BigCommerce for WordPress

BigCommerce for WordPress is a free plugin that combines BigCommerce's e-commerce engine with WordPress content management. Merchants manage content via WordPress while BigCommerce handles products, cart, and payments. Ideal for content-driven e-commerce and existing WordPress site owners.

Headless Commerce

BigCommerce's headless commerce solution supports building custom shopping experiences with any front-end framework (React, Next.js, Vue, etc.) via API calls to BigCommerce's backend services. Suitable for large enterprises requiring unique brand experiences and complex interaction scenarios.

Limitations

• Limited App and Theme Ecosystem: Compared to Shopify (6,000+ apps) and WooCommerce (50,000+ plugins), BigCommerce's App Store is smaller, offering fewer extension choices. Specific use cases may require custom development or third-party solutions.
• Lower Page Builder Flexibility: BigCommerce's page builder offers less drag-and-drop flexibility than Shopify. Deep page customization requires direct HTML/CSS editing, creating a barrier for non-technical users.
• Entry-Level Pricing: The Standard plan at $39/month is comparable to Shopify Basic, but BigCommerce lacks the free core option that makes WooCommerce attractive for individual sellers.
• Multi-Language Relies on Third Parties: BigCommerce lacks native multi-language front-end support. Multi-language stores require third-party apps (LangShop, GTranslate) or custom development, adding complexity for cross-border merchants.

Use Cases

• Mid-to-Large B2B/B2C Hybrid E-commerce ★★★★★: BigCommerce's native B2B features and zero transaction fees make it ideal for hybrid merchants serving both wholesale and retail customers.
• Multi-Channel Brand E-commerce ★★★★★: Native Amazon, eBay, Facebook integration suits brands needing multi-platform product distribution.
• Headless Commerce Projects ★★★★★: Open API and comprehensive headless commerce capabilities make it a top SaaS choice for enterprises requiring custom front-end experiences.
• Small Startup E-commerce ★★★: Entry barrier is higher than WooCommerce. Small merchants should evaluate WooCommerce or Shopify's Basic plan.

Pricing

All plans carry zero transaction fees — merchants can freely choose any payment gateway.

FAQ

• How is BigCommerce different from Shopify? Key differences: BigCommerce charges zero transaction fees and offers stronger native B2B features; Shopify has a richer app ecosystem and more user-friendly page builder. BigCommerce's open API is better suited for headless commerce, while Shopify's all-in-one experience is better for beginners; see e-commerce platform comparison.

• Does BigCommerce really have zero transaction fees? Yes. BigCommerce charges no transaction fees on any payment gateway across all plans. Whether using Stripe, PayPal, Square, or 65+ other gateways, the platform adds no surcharge. This contrasts directly with Shopify's 0.5%-2% surcharge on non-Shopify Payments transactions; see payment gateway rate comparison.

• Is BigCommerce suitable for small businesses? The Standard plan ($39/mo) is comparable to Shopify Basic, but BigCommerce is primarily focused on mid-market and enterprise B2B scenarios. Small businesses should evaluate WooCommerce (free core) or Shopify Basic ($39/mo) first; see e-commerce platform comparison.

• Does BigCommerce support multi-language? The BigCommerce admin supports multiple languages, but front-end multi-language stores require third-party apps (LangShop, GTranslate) or custom development. For cross-border e-commerce, Shopify Markets' native multi-market features may be more convenient; see multi-language e-commerce website guide.

• How is BigCommerce's SEO performance? BigCommerce includes excellent built-in SEO features: customizable URL structures, auto-generated sitemaps, canonical tags, 301 redirects, and structured data support. Page loading speed benefits from Google Cloud infrastructure, positively impacting SEO rankings; see website SEO guide.