If you’re searching for an ecommerce platform equipped to support business growth and multi-channel expansion, BigCommerce deserves your attention. Known for its advanced built-in tools, flexible sales integrations, and robust SEO capabilities, it offers a comprehensive solution for scaling online stores. But how well does it actually perform across the board—from pricing to usability and beyond?
Based on thorough in-house testing and real-world trials, this BigCommerce review for 2025 dissects everything from user experience to design flexibility, sales features, inventory tools, and support. Whether you’re starting fresh or switching platforms, this guide will help determine if BigCommerce aligns with your ecommerce ambitions.
Quick Overview: Is BigCommerce the Right Choice for You?
Pros:
- Zero transaction fees on any plan—saving you money compared to platforms like Shopify.
- Scalable sales capabilities, ideal for growing or enterprise-level businesses.
- Seamless multi-channel selling, including integrations with Amazon, eBay, Instagram, and more.
- Advanced SEO tools, like custom URLs, meta fields, and alt text for better organic visibility.
Cons:
- Steeper learning curve: Some users reported difficulty navigating the interface during onboarding.
- Design constraints: Limited flexibility in content placement within themes.
- Basic AI tools: Less mature compared to competitors, though improvements are ongoing.
Ideal For:
- Ambitious startups aiming for long-term scalability.
- Multi-platform sellers leveraging third-party marketplaces.
- Established stores transitioning from less robust platforms.
Not Ideal For:
- Micro-sellers who only offer a handful of products.
- Those needing instant setup or a simpler onboarding experience (Shopify or Wix may suit you better).
1. BigCommerce Pricing Plans: Transparent Tiers for Every Business Stage
BigCommerce offers four primary pricing tiers, each structured around your store’s annual revenue—an uncommon but strategic model that automatically upgrades your plan as your business scales.
| Plan | Monthly Cost (Annual Billing) | Sales Threshold (Past 12 Months) |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | $29 | Up to $50K |
| Plus | $79 | $50K–$180K |
| Pro | $299 | $180K–$400K |
| Enterprise | Custom Quote | $400K+ |
While plan upgrades are based on annual sales, you can proactively opt into a higher-tier plan to unlock premium features.
Breakdown of Key Features by Plan
Standard
- Unlimited product listings and staff accounts
- Integration with Amazon, eBay, Google Shopping, and Facebook
- Real-time shipping quotes
- Coupons, gift cards, and discounts
- Missing: abandoned cart recovery
Verdict: Affordable entry point, but limited for scaling.
Plus (Recommended for Most Users)
- All Standard features, plus:
- Abandoned cart saver
- Customer segmentation
- Store credit issuance
Verdict: Best value—offers critical marketing and customer retention tools even for lower-revenue stores.
Pro
- Adds:
- Google Customer Reviews
- Product filtering and faceted search
- Custom SSL certificates
Verdict: Suitable for stores with large inventories and high-traffic needs.
Enterprise
- Adds:
- API support
- Advanced product filtering
- Priority customer support
- Custom pricing lists
Verdict: Designed for large-scale businesses requiring top-tier customization and support.
BigCommerce vs. Shopify: Which Offers Better Value?
Unlike Shopify, BigCommerce does not charge transaction fees, which can significantly lower your operating costs.
| Annual Revenue | Shopify Fees* | BigCommerce Fees | Cost Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $800 | $0 | Save $800 |
| $100,000 | $1,000 | $0 | Save $1,000 |
| $200,000 | $1,000 | $0 | Save $1,000 |
*Shopify’s fees can be avoided using Shopify Payments, but that may limit payment flexibility.
2. Hands-On Experience: Using BigCommerce’s Website Builder
The platform offers a 15-day free trial—no credit card required—which is more generous than Shopify’s 3-day trial.
Upon sign-up, you’re greeted with a step-by-step checklist to guide you through essentials like product listings, payment setup, and tax configuration. While intuitive overall, some advanced settings were harder to locate, especially compared to Shopify’s more streamlined interface.
Adding Products
Product pages are detailed and SEO-ready. You can enter:
- Product names, SKUs, prices, and variants
- Meta titles and descriptions
- Alt text for images
- Physical/digital product classification
The AI Copywriter tool (powered by Google Cloud) can generate product descriptions automatically. Just choose your tone and word count, and the tool will draft an SEO-friendly version—though manual editing is still essential for quality control and uniqueness.
Customizing Your Theme
The drag-and-drop editor allows for layout edits, but only within pre-defined zones. You can’t freely move elements around, which can be restrictive for creative designs.
Notable customizations include:
- Style, fonts, and button settings
- Header and footer layouts
- Homepage visuals and banners
To edit certain content (like shipping policies), you’ll need to exit the editor and use the backend—a cumbersome process for small changes.
3. Exploring BigCommerce Themes
The BigCommerce marketplace offers 100+ themes, but only 12 are free. Premium themes cost between $100–$400 (one-time fee).
Features vary by category. For example, “Fashion & Jewelry” themes often include image zoom and enhanced filtering, whereas others may not.
All themes are mobile responsive, ensuring a strong mobile UX—but mobile layouts aren’t editable directly. This may disappoint users seeking granular control over smartphone design.
4. Sales Features Built for Growth
Abandoned Cart Recovery
Automated cart recovery emails are included from the Plus plan onward. These emails can boost conversions by 12–15%, and personalized versions are far more effective.
Integrated Payments
Over 65 payment gateways are supported, with coverage in 230+ countries:
- Stripe, PayPal, Square
- Apple Pay, Google Pay
- Klarna and Clearpay for installments
Point-of-Sale (POS) Sync
BigCommerce supports more POS integrations than competitors, including:
- Clover
- Vend
- iZettle
- Square
- Epos Now
Shipping Options
With BigCommerce Shipping, you can manage:
- Real-time rate calculations
- Free shipping settings
- Local pickup options
- App integrations like ShipStation and ShipperHQ for advanced logistics
App Store
Boasting 600+ apps and handling 400 API calls/second, BigCommerce reduces reliance on third-party tools thanks to its rich native features.
5. Inventory Management & Product Types
BigCommerce enables you to sell:
- Physical and digital goods
- Services
- Subscription products (via apps like PayWhirl)
Product listings support:
- Multiple variants (size, color, material)
- Individual SKUs and pricing per variant
- Custom attributes (weight, dimensions)
Multi-channel tools allow centralized inventory management across:
- Amazon, Walmart, eBay
- Instagram, TikTok
- Google Ads and affiliate platforms
6. Customer Support Options
Support level depends on your plan. Key offerings include:
- 24/7 live chat and phone support (Standard and above)
- Priority onboarding and support (Enterprise only)
- Automated chatbot with option to escalate to a live agent
- Email ticketing with attachments for product or billing queries
Testing Methodology: How We Evaluated BigCommerce
Our testing involved both technical analysis and usability studies with real users following a structured ecommerce build task.
User Feedback Highlights:
- “Powerful, but definitely not beginner-friendly.”
- “Tons of features, but a bit buried under layers of settings.”
- “Customization felt restrictive without learning the ins and outs first.”
Recommendation Rate: 56%
(Compared to 88% for Shopify and 72% for Wix)
Final Verdict: Is BigCommerce Worth It in 2025?
BigCommerce stands out as a robust platform for mid-to-large-scale businesses, particularly those with multi-channel sales strategies and advanced inventory needs. While the learning curve is steeper and some design limitations exist, its lack of transaction fees, powerful sales features, and global scalability make it a solid investment for long-term ecommerce success.
Choose BigCommerce if you’re building a growth-oriented store that demands flexibility, reach, and reliable performance.
Look elsewhere if you need a plug-and-play interface with simpler setup and design control.
