BigCommerce positions itself a notch above the typical small-business store builder — strong built-in features, no forced app dependency for basics, and an architecture built to handle serious growth without needing a full platform migration later.

01  WHAT IT DOES

Where BigCommerce fits

BigCommerce is built by BigCommerce Inc. and is best known for mid-size to large stores planning to scale fast. Here's a closer look at what it actually does well, what it costs, and how to get started if you want to build your store on it.

02  WHERE IT SHINES

What it's genuinely good at

STRENGTHS

  • More core features included out of the box, reducing reliance on paid apps.
  • No transaction fees regardless of which payment gateway you use.
  • Built to handle high-volume, multi-channel selling across marketplaces and social.
  • Strong native B2B features for stores selling to other businesses.

WORTH KNOWING

  • Revenue-based plan thresholds mean successful stores can be pushed into higher tiers automatically.
  • Smaller app ecosystem than Shopify, though core features cover more by default.
  • Steeper learning curve for a first-time store owner than the simplest builders.
Fewer required apps up front usually means fewer surprises on the invoice later.
03  PRICING

What it costs

Pricing changes fairly often across this whole category, so treat these as a starting point rather than gospel — always check the official pricing page before committing.

Free tier
15-day free trial
Paid plans
Standard from $39/mo, Enterprise custom pricing
04  GETTING STARTED

How to actually try it

  1. Start the 15-day free trial at bigcommerce.com.
  2. Import products or connect an existing catalog if migrating from another platform.
  3. Set up your payment gateway — note there are no added transaction fees here.
  4. Review your plan tier against your actual revenue to avoid surprise upgrades.
GUIDE TIP

Map your must-haves before you compare pricing

It's tempting to pick the cheapest plan first and work backward, but the more reliable approach is to list what your store actually needs — payment methods, shipping rules, product count, design control — then see which platform covers that list with the least friction. BigCommerce is a strong fit for some of those lists and a poor one for others.

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Reviewed by Marco Bianchi
Marco Bianchi covers e-commerce platforms for STORESTACK, testing each one by actually building a small store before writing it up.