BigCommerce
Definition
A hosted e-commerce platform similar to Shopify, known for strong built-in features and no transaction fees on any plan.
What is BigCommerce?
BigCommerce is a hosted e-commerce platform that competes directly with Shopify. It handles hosting, security, and updates while you manage your products and customers. The key differentiator: no transaction fees beyond payment processing.
It's popular with growing businesses that need more built-in features than Shopify's basic plans offer.
Why Choose BigCommerce
No Transaction Fees
Unlike Shopify, BigCommerce doesn't charge percentage fees on top of payment processing. This saves significant money at higher volumes.
Strong Built-In Features
Features that require paid apps on Shopify are often included: product reviews, customer segmentation, multi-currency, faceted search.
Multi-Channel Selling
Native integrations with Amazon, eBay, Facebook, Instagram, and Google Shopping. Manage inventory across channels from one place.
Flexible APIs
BigCommerce is often chosen for headless commerce implementations, where developers want the backend power with custom frontends.
BigCommerce Pricing
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Revenue Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | GBP 25 | Up to GBP 42,000/year |
| Plus | GBP 79 | Up to GBP 135,000/year |
| Pro | GBP 299 | Up to GBP 340,000/year |
Revenue limits force upgrades as you grow, which is a common criticism.
BigCommerce vs Shopify
| BigCommerce | Shopify |
|---|---|
| No transaction fees | 0.5-2% transaction fees |
| More built-in features | More apps available |
| Revenue-based plan limits | No revenue limits |
| Fewer themes | Larger theme marketplace |
Who Should Use BigCommerce
BigCommerce suits businesses that:
- Want to avoid transaction fees
- Need robust features without apps
- Sell across multiple channels
- Plan to grow significantly
- Value flexibility for developers