BigCommerce is a modern and flexible e-commerce platform designed to help businesses create, manage, and grow online stores. It provides a complete set of tools for store design, product management, marketing, and sales. The platform is built to support both small businesses and large enterprises, making it suitable for companies at any growth stage.
Quick Snapshot
- Cloud-Based (SaaS): No need to manage servers or perform manual updates. Everything is hosted and maintained by the platform.
- Comprehensive Feature Set: Offers ready-to-use store themes, search engine optimization tools, application programming interfaces (APIs), marketing automation, multi-channel selling capabilities, and dedicated features for B2B commerce.
- Scalable Design: Built to handle increased traffic, large product catalogs, and complex sales requirements without compromising performance.
History & Evolution
BigCommerce was founded in 2009 by Eddie Machaalani and Mitchell Harper in Sydney, Australia. The founders initially connected in 2003 through an online chatroom and later collaborated to create the platform. Over the years, the company expanded operations to Austin, Texas, secured investment funding, acquired complementary startups, and went public on the NASDAQ in 2020.
In October 2024, leadership transitioned to Travis Hess as Chief Executive Officer. Shortly after, the company rebranded as Commerce, combining BigCommerce with Feedonomics and Makeswift into a single unified brand. The rebranding also included changing its NASDAQ ticker symbol to CMRC.
How It Works
BigCommerce operates as a SaaS (Software as a Service) platform, meaning it is hosted, secure, and updated by the provider without requiring user-managed infrastructure.
The platform supports two main approaches to building an online store:
- Traditional Storefronts: Pre-built, customizable themes with integrated tools for managing products, orders, and marketing.
- Headless Commerce: A flexible setup where the front-end and back-end are separated, enabling integration with modern frameworks such as WordPress, React, and Next.js. This approach also includes the Catalyst visual builder for faster, code-optional store design.
Core Strengths
Customization and Design
BigCommerce offers a variety of pre-built, responsive themes that work seamlessly on all devices. Users have full control over HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for advanced customization. The drag-and-drop page editor allows quick layout changes without coding, and the One-click Catalyst launch option simplifies store setup for headless commerce.
Product and Inventory Management
The platform provides a centralized catalog to manage all products in one place. Real-time inventory tracking helps maintain accurate stock levels, while low-stock alerts and automated reordering prevent product shortages. These features streamline operations and ensure a smooth buying experience for customers.
Marketing and SEO
Built-in tools support SEO-friendly URLs, metadata management, and rich snippets for better search visibility. Marketing capabilities include coupons, gift cards, customer segmentation, abandoned cart recovery, email marketing, and integration with social commerce channels. Advanced analytics provide insights into performance and help optimize campaigns.
Omnichannel Selling
BigCommerce enables selling across multiple storefronts from a single dashboard. It supports integration with major marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, and Google, as well as social platforms and point-of-sale (POS) systems. This allows businesses to reach customers across various channels without managing separate systems.
B2B Support
For business-to-business operations, the platform includes customer grouping, custom pricing, bulk pricing options, quote requests, purchase order functionality, and advanced APIs for integration with enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems.
Plans and Pricing
Standard Plan
Price: Approximately $29–$39/month
Best For: New or small stores
Key Features: Unlimited products, essential store tools, basic marketing features.
Plus Plan
Price: Approximately $79–$105/month
Best For: Growing businesses
Key Features: Abandoned cart saver, customer segmentation, stored credit cards, enhanced reporting.
Pro Plan
Price: $299–$399/month
Best For: High-volume sellers with annual sales between $180K and $400K
Key Features: Advanced product filtering, Google Customer Reviews integration, detailed analytics.
Enterprise Plan
Price: Custom pricing
Best For: Large businesses with over $400K/year in sales
Key Features: Priority support, multi-currency functionality, B2B edition features. The B2B add-on starts around $500/month.
Security, Performance & Support
Security and Reliability
BigCommerce implements advanced security measures to protect online stores and customer data. It is PCI DSS Level 1 certified, ensuring compliance with strict payment security standards. The platform includes SSL certificates for secure transactions, two-factor authentication for account protection, and certifications that meet ISO standards. With 99.99% uptime, a global content delivery network (CDN), and regular backups, it provides a stable and secure environment for e-commerce operations.
Performance
The platform is hosted on Google Cloud infrastructure and uses Cloudflare for content delivery and optimization. This setup ensures fast loading times across global markets and supports high volumes of concurrent traffic, making it suitable for large-scale online stores with significant visitor numbers.
Support
BigCommerce offers 24/7 customer support through live chat, phone, and email. Developers have access to robust resources, including APIs, software development kits (SDKs), and BigCommerce University for training and certification. These tools help both business owners and technical teams build, customize, and maintain their stores effectively.
Where It Shines
BigCommerce is designed for ambitious businesses that need scalability, flexibility, and enterprise-grade features. It performs exceptionally well in global commerce, B2B e-commerce, headless store setups, and multi-channel strategies. In 2025, it is recognized as one of the top e-commerce platforms for large businesses seeking reliable, high-performance solutions.
How It Compares
Shopify
Shopify offers a simpler setup process, making it a good choice for beginners. It has a large app marketplace that allows extensive customization through third-party integrations. However, it comes with higher transaction fees and relies more on external apps for features that BigCommerce includes by default.
WooCommerce
WooCommerce is a free, open-source plugin for WordPress that offers deep customization options. While it allows full control over design and functionality, it requires separate hosting, ongoing maintenance, and multiple plugins to match the capabilities of a fully managed platform. This adds complexity and can increase costs over time. BigCommerce provides more out-of-the-box functionality with less technical management.
Magento
Magento is a highly customizable, open-source platform suited for businesses with dedicated development resources. It provides extensive flexibility for complex e-commerce operations but has a steep learning curve. Managing and maintaining Magento requires more technical expertise, while BigCommerce delivers a more streamlined and easier-to-manage experience without sacrificing scalability.
Recent Highlights
BigCommerce has recently undergone a rebranding, now operating under the name Commerce. This change reflects the integration of its core platform with complementary solutions such as Feedonomics and Makeswift, creating a unified and more efficient commerce ecosystem. The company’s NASDAQ ticker symbol has also been updated to CMRC, marking a new phase in its strategic growth and focus on AI-driven commerce solutions.
Analysis Summary
- Enterprise Capabilities Without Complexity: BigCommerce delivers advanced features typically found in enterprise platforms while maintaining an accessible, user-friendly structure.
- Fully Managed SaaS Model: Hosting, security, performance optimization, and software updates are all handled by the platform, allowing businesses to concentrate on operations and growth instead of infrastructure management.
- Scalable Pricing: Plans are structured to grow with the business, enabling users to upgrade tiers only when sales volume justifies the move.
- Robust Native Features: A wide range of built-in tools for SEO, marketing, analytics, and integrations reduces the need for multiple third-party apps or plugins.
- Strategic Rebranding: The recent transition to the “Commerce” brand signals stronger product integration and an increased focus on AI-powered commerce solutions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is BigCommerce?
BigCommerce is a cloud-based e-commerce platform that provides everything needed to create, manage, and grow an online store. It offers built-in tools for design, marketing, SEO, and multi-channel selling.
Who should use BigCommerce?
It’s suitable for businesses of all sizes—from startups launching their first store to established brands managing high sales volumes. Its scalable design makes it a good choice for growing companies.
Do I need coding skills to use BigCommerce?
No. BigCommerce comes with ready-to-use templates and an intuitive interface, so you can launch and manage a store without technical knowledge. Developers can still customize the platform using its APIs.
How is BigCommerce different from Shopify or WooCommerce?
Compared to Shopify, BigCommerce offers more built-in features and lower reliance on apps. Unlike WooCommerce, it doesn’t require separate hosting or manual updates, making it easier to manage.
Does BigCommerce handle hosting and security?
Yes. As a SaaS platform, BigCommerce manages hosting, performance optimization, and security updates, so businesses can focus on selling instead of managing servers.
Can I sell on other platforms through BigCommerce?
Yes. BigCommerce supports multi-channel selling, allowing you to connect with marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, and social media platforms for wider reach.
Is BigCommerce good for B2B sales?
Yes. It includes dedicated B2B features such as customer group pricing, bulk ordering, and account management tools.
Does BigCommerce charge transaction fees?
No. BigCommerce does not charge additional transaction fees, which can help businesses save compared to some competitors. Standard credit card processing fees from payment gateways still apply.
Can I customize my store’s design?
Yes. BigCommerce offers a range of customizable themes and allows advanced design changes through HTML, CSS, and its Page Builder tool.
Does BigCommerce support international selling?
Yes. You can sell in multiple currencies, set region-specific pricing, and offer localized storefronts to reach global customers.
What payment methods does BigCommerce support?
BigCommerce integrates with a wide range of payment gateways, including PayPal, Stripe, and Authorize.net, enabling credit card, digital wallet, and alternative payment options.
Does BigCommerce have a free trial?
Yes. BigCommerce offers a trial period so you can explore its features and test the platform before committing to a paid plan.
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