Does BigCommerce offer a free trial or free tier?

BigCommerce provides a 15-day free trial with full platform access, allowing you to test all features before committing to a paid plan. However, there is no ongoing free tier after the trial expiresΓÇöyou must subscribe to a paid plan starting at $39/month (Starter tier) to keep your store live. This differs from WooCommerce, which offers a free open-source option, or Shopify, which has no free trial but charges from $5/month.

How does BigCommerce pricing compare to Shopify, WooCommerce, and other competitors?

BigCommerce's Starter plan ($39/month) undercuts Shopify's Basic plan ($39/month) on headline price, but Shopify charges 2.9% + 30┬ó per transaction while BigCommerce charges 0% platform feesΓÇöa significant advantage for high-volume stores. WooCommerce starts free but requires hosting ($10ΓÇô50+/month) and developer setup, making true cost-of-ownership higher for non-technical users. Squarespace ($12/month entry) and Webflow ($14/month) are cheaper but lack BigCommerce's omnichannel and B2B depth. BigCommerce's Pro tier ($399/month) is substantially more expensive than Shopify's equivalent ($299/month), but includes 8 inventory locations and advanced filtering natively, whereas Shopify requires paid apps. For merchants processing $200K+ annually, BigCommerce's zero transaction fees typically offset the higher platform cost.

What are the main limitations users report with BigCommerce?

Users consistently cite three core limitations. First, customization requires developer expertiseΓÇötheme modifications and feature tweaks demand HTML/CSS knowledge or paid developer time, making it difficult for non-technical merchants to create truly unique storefronts. Second, essential B2B features (custom pricing, tiered catalogs) are restricted to Enterprise or a separate B2B Edition product, forcing mid-market sellers to either overpay or use workarounds. Third, the pricing structure has a steep jump from $105/month (Growth) to $399/month (Pro), with advanced analytics and product filtering only unlocking at Pro tier, creating a significant cost barrier for scaling merchants.

How long does it take to set up and launch a store on BigCommerce?

Basic store setup takes 1ΓÇô2 hours for merchants with product data ready. The platform guides you through domain connection, theme selection, and initial product uploads without coding. However, full launch timelines depend on complexity: simple stores (under 100 products, standard checkout) launch in days; multi-channel integrations with Amazon, eBay, and Walmart add 3ΓÇô5 business days for inventory sync configuration; custom theme modifications or B2B catalog setup require developer resources and extend timelines to 2ΓÇô4 weeks. BigCommerce's 24/7 support team can accelerate onboarding, but expect longer timelines if you need significant customization beyond the platform's native capabilities.

What integrations does BigCommerce support?

BigCommerce supports 800+ apps through its native marketplace and offers REST API access with unlimited API calls on Enterprise plans. Native integrations include Amazon, eBay, Walmart, Facebook, and Instagram for omnichannel selling with automatic inventory sync. Payment processing connects to 65+ gateways including Stripe, PayPal, and Square. For POS, shipping, and subscriptions, third-party apps like Recharge, ShipperHQ, and Square handle specialized functions. Headless commerce is available via Catalyst and Storefront API for custom frontend development.

Disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you click and purchase, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This does not influence our scores or editorial opinions. How we evaluate tools →

BigCommerce Review 2026: Pros, Cons & Verdict

Reviewed by the SaaS Compare editorial team · Last updated: May 21, 2026 · Data verified April 2026

Quick answer: BigCommerce scores 78/100 in our review. It's best for growing multi-channel retailers because it bundles omnichannel inventory sync, zero transaction fees, and 65+ payment gateways into a single platform without requiring custom development for basic scaling.

BigCommerce — Editorial Score

86 /100

Editorial score

User Rating 21/25

Review Volume 15/15

Value for Money 20/20

Accessibility 0/10

Features 16/20

Data Quality 5/10

Score calculated from G2 ratings, review volume, pricing transparency, free tier, feature depth, and data freshness. How we score tools →

Is BigCommerce Right for You?

ΓÇó You are a multi-brand retailer managing inventory across Amazon, eBay, and your own storefrontΓÇöBigCommerce's native channel integrations and unified inventory dashboard eliminate the need for third-party sync tools. ΓÇó You are a growing B2C merchant prioritizing payment flexibility and international expansionΓÇö0% transaction fees and native multi-currency checkout with 65+ payment gateways reduce operational overhead. ΓÇó You are a mid-market operator evaluating long-term platform costsΓÇöthe zero transaction fee model compounds savings as revenue scales, unlike Shopify's 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction baseline.

ΓÇó You are a designer or marketer seeking visual customization without developer involvementΓÇöWebflow offers drag-and-drop design freedom that BigCommerce's theme system cannot match, even with Makeswift add-ons. ΓÇó You are a B2B wholesaler needing customer-specific pricing and catalogs out of the boxΓÇöShopify Plus and WooCommerce B2B plugins provide native tiered pricing on standard plans, whereas BigCommerce reserves these features for Enterprise contracts.

BigCommerce Pros & Cons

Based on G2 user reviews — paraphrased and aggregated, not verbatim quotes.

Pros

BigCommerce is very easy to use with a simple setup and smooth overall experience

Top-notch customer support with responsive and dedicated service

Easy integration allowing seamless connection with multiple systems and tools

User-friendly interface enabling effortless online store building without coding skills

Cons

Limited customization options restricting ability to create unique and tailored online stores

Pricing is expensive and could be more affordable

Difficult customization when modifying themes and features to meet specific needs

Customization is challenging with limitations in modifying themes and features

BigCommerce Pricing

Plan	Monthly	Annual	Users Included	Highlights
FreeFree	Free	—	Unlimited	15-day free trial with full platform access; no ongoing free tier available.
Starter	$39/mo	$29/mo	Unlimited	Up to $50K annual online revenue, unlimited products/users, 0% platform transaction fee, up to 4 inventory locations, up to 3 additional storefronts (+$30/mo each), real-time shipping quotes, 24/7 support.
Growth	$105/mo	$79/mo	Unlimited	Up to $180K annual revenue, 0% platform transaction fee, up to 5 inventory locations, abandoned cart emails, customer groups, persistent cart, stored credit cards, up to 5 storefronts (+$50/mo each).
Pro	$399/mo	$299/mo	Unlimited	Up to $400K annual GMV ($150/mo per additional $200K up to $1M), 0% platform transaction fee, up to 8 inventory locations, product filtering, custom filtering, Google reviews, up to 8 storefronts (+$100/mo each).
Enterprise	Custom	—	Unlimited	Custom pricing for $1M+ GMV businesses; 0% platform transaction fee; includes Price Lists, B2B capabilities, unlimited API calls, ShipperHQ included, custom storefronts, priority support, and professional services.

Pricing verified April 2026.

BigCommerce Key Features

AI-Powered Features

App Ecosystem & Integrations

800+ apps in the BigCommerce App Marketplace; REST API and webhooks available; unlimited API calls on Enterprise only; headless commerce via Catalyst and Storefront API.

B2B & Wholesale

Customer groups and segmentation available on Plus+; Price Lists (customer-specific pricing) only on Enterprise; B2B Edition is a separate enterprise product.

Checkout & Payment Processing

Single-page checkout native on all plans; 0% added transaction fees on all tiers; Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Amazon Pay included; 65+ payment gateways supported.

Internationalization & Multi-Currency

Multi-currency display and checkout native on all plans; multi-storefront supported (add-on per plan); local tax handling configurable per region.

Omnichannel & Social Commerce

Native integrations for Amazon, eBay, Walmart, Facebook, and Instagram on all plans; inventory syncs across channels from one dashboard.

Order & Inventory Management

Multi-location inventory: up to 4 locations (Standard), 5 (Plus), 8 (Pro), custom (Enterprise); no published self-service returns portal confirmed natively.

Point of Sale (POS)

POS channel available on all plans via third-party integrations (Square, Clover, etc.); no native BigCommerce POS hardware; inventory syncs through POS integrations.

Our Verdict on BigCommerce

BigCommerce earns 78/100 for merchants scaling across channels and geographies. Its primary strength is omnichannel operations: native Amazon, eBay, Walmart, and social integrations sync inventory from one dashboard, eliminating manual reconciliation. The zero transaction fee structure saves 2ΓÇô3% versus Shopify on high-volume stores. However, customization remains constrainedΓÇötheme modifications require developer intervention, and B2B features (custom pricing, catalogs) are locked behind the Enterprise tier or separate B2B Edition, limiting mid-market adoption. Pricing starts at $39/month but jumps to $399 for advanced features, creating a steep tier gap.

Ready to Try BigCommerce?

Visit BigCommerce → See alternatives →

BigCommerce — Frequently Asked Questions

Does BigCommerce offer a free trial or free tier?
BigCommerce provides a 15-day free trial with full platform access, allowing you to test all features before committing to a paid plan. However, there is no ongoing free tier after the trial expiresΓÇöyou must subscribe to a paid plan starting at $39/month (Starter tier) to keep your store live. This differs from WooCommerce, which offers a free open-source option, or Shopify, which has no free trial but charges from $5/month.
How does BigCommerce pricing compare to Shopify, WooCommerce, and other competitors?
BigCommerce's Starter plan ($39/month) undercuts Shopify's Basic plan ($39/month) on headline price, but Shopify charges 2.9% + 30┬ó per transaction while BigCommerce charges 0% platform feesΓÇöa significant advantage for high-volume stores. WooCommerce starts free but requires hosting ($10ΓÇô50+/month) and developer setup, making true cost-of-ownership higher for non-technical users. Squarespace ($12/month entry) and Webflow ($14/month) are cheaper but lack BigCommerce's omnichannel and B2B depth. BigCommerce's Pro tier ($399/month) is substantially more expensive than Shopify's equivalent ($299/month), but includes 8 inventory locations and advanced filtering natively, whereas Shopify requires paid apps. For merchants processing $200K+ annually, BigCommerce's zero transaction fees typically offset the higher platform cost.
What are the main limitations users report with BigCommerce?
Users consistently cite three core limitations. First, customization requires developer expertiseΓÇötheme modifications and feature tweaks demand HTML/CSS knowledge or paid developer time, making it difficult for non-technical merchants to create truly unique storefronts. Second, essential B2B features (custom pricing, tiered catalogs) are restricted to Enterprise or a separate B2B Edition product, forcing mid-market sellers to either overpay or use workarounds. Third, the pricing structure has a steep jump from $105/month (Growth) to $399/month (Pro), with advanced analytics and product filtering only unlocking at Pro tier, creating a significant cost barrier for scaling merchants.
How long does it take to set up and launch a store on BigCommerce?
Basic store setup takes 1ΓÇô2 hours for merchants with product data ready. The platform guides you through domain connection, theme selection, and initial product uploads without coding. However, full launch timelines depend on complexity: simple stores (under 100 products, standard checkout) launch in days; multi-channel integrations with Amazon, eBay, and Walmart add 3ΓÇô5 business days for inventory sync configuration; custom theme modifications or B2B catalog setup require developer resources and extend timelines to 2ΓÇô4 weeks. BigCommerce's 24/7 support team can accelerate onboarding, but expect longer timelines if you need significant customization beyond the platform's native capabilities.
What integrations does BigCommerce support?
BigCommerce supports 800+ apps through its native marketplace and offers REST API access with unlimited API calls on Enterprise plans. Native integrations include Amazon, eBay, Walmart, Facebook, and Instagram for omnichannel selling with automatic inventory sync. Payment processing connects to 65+ gateways including Stripe, PayPal, and Square. For POS, shipping, and subscriptions, third-party apps like Recharge, ShipperHQ, and Square handle specialized functions. Headless commerce is available via Catalyst and Storefront API for custom frontend development.