Conversion GemsConversion Gems
Submit a tool
E-Commerce · E-commerce Platforms

BigCommerce

Think big and grow bigger with our flexible, professional-grade ecommerce platform.

Our take: BigCommerce is a full-featured, hosted ecommerce platform positioned between Shopify and Magento — powerful enough for complex catalogs and B2B, yet managed SaaS.

Best forScaling businesses
ReviewedPricing: Free Trial
7.3 out of 105 criteria · see breakdown
Try BigCommerceFrom $29/mo (annual) or $39/mo (monthly)
The bottom line

A serious Shopify alternative for mid-market brands that need native B2B tools, multi-currency, and zero platform transaction fees.

Our score

Reviewed by the Conversion Gems editorial team. Hover a facet to focus it; click to pin.Tap a facet to focus it.

Community ratings

Shown for context only. Our score is independent.

G2
4.2 out of 5
580+ reviews
Capterra
4.4 out of 5
330+ reviews
Trustpilot
1.5 out of 5
440+ reviews

3.4 / 5 aggregate · across 3 sources

Third-party ratings shown verbatim; aggregate weighted by review volume.

What it is, and why we rate it

One line each. Open a row for detail.

What it really isBigCommerce — SaaS ecommerce platform for mid-market and enterprise retailers.
Our takeBigCommerce is a full-featured, hosted ecommerce platform positioned between Shopify and Magento — powerful enough for complex catalogs and B2B, yet managed SaaS.
There is no permanent free tier, only a 15-day free trial. Entry price is $39/mo (monthly) or $29/mo (annual) on the Core plan, with GMV-based upgrade thresholds that push growing merchants up-tier. Plans cap annual GMV, making cost predictability a key consideration as revenue scales.
Why we rate itBigCommerce punches above its price point for merchants that need robust B2B, multi-storefront, and headless capabilities without paying Salesforce Commerce Cloud prices.
The GMV-cap model is transparent, and no transaction fee on embedded payments is a genuine edge over Shopify.
The catchGMV thresholds force plan upgrades before you might feel ready — hitting $30K on Core bumps you to Growth even if features aren't needed.
Ecosystem app quality varies, and the admin UI, while capable, has a steeper learning curve than Shopify.

Best / not good for

Best for
  • Mid-market retailers needing native B2B, Price Lists, and multi-currency out of the box
  • High-SKU brands running multi-channel (Amazon, eBay, Google, social) from one backend
  • Merchants wanting zero platform transaction fees with embedded payment providers
Not good for
  • Solo entrepreneurs or hobby stores — entry GMV caps and pricing are overkill
  • Businesses needing highly customized checkout logic without developer resources
  • Teams seeking the simplest possible setup — Shopify's UX is notably more approachable
Trade-offs

Friction report

Trade-offs to know before signing up.

  1. Time to value
    Moderate: 15-day trial with no credit card needed lets you explore, but configuring themes, channels, and shipping rules takes days, not minutes.
  2. Scale breakpoint
    GMV caps trigger mandatory tier upgrades; Performance plan requires a contract negotiation, adding friction for fast-scaling merchants.
  3. Walled garden
    Moderate: data export and headless APIs are accessible, but migrating a live BigCommerce store to another platform is a significant engineering project.
Still a fit?
If none of these block you, try it on the official site.
Try BigCommerce

A look inside

BigCommerce product screenshot

Frequently Asked Questions

What is BigCommerce and what does it do?

BigCommerce is a cloud-based e-commerce platform that helps businesses create, manage, and scale online stores with tools for product management, payments, and marketing.

Who should use BigCommerce?

Small to medium business owners, retailers, and entrepreneurs can benefit. It’s ideal for anyone who wants a robust, scalable online store without complex technical setups.

How does BigCommerce simplify online store management?

Users can add products, manage inventory, process orders, set up payment gateways, and handle shipping, all from a single, user-friendly dashboard.

Can BigCommerce integrate with other marketing and business tools?

Yes. BigCommerce integrates with CRM systems, email marketing platforms, analytics tools, and social media, helping businesses streamline operations and grow sales.

Why choose BigCommerce over other e-commerce platforms?

BigCommerce offers flexible templates, strong SEO capabilities, multi-channel selling, and scalability, making it ideal for businesses planning to grow online efficiently.

Alternatives

  • Step up

    Salesforce Commerce Cloud or Adobe Commerce (Magento) for enterprise custom complexity at higher cost.

  • Lighter alternative

    Shopify Basic for simpler stores or early-stage merchants who prioritize ease of use over advanced B2B features.

Showing 1–2 of 2

Conversion Gems independently reviews every tool.

Tags

#E-commerce

Explore related categories

Compare E-commerce Platforms softwareE-commerce Platforms