Should you keep full control of your store on open-source software, or hand the infrastructure to a hosted platform and move faster with a smaller team? That is the real question behind Magento versus BigCommerce, and it is rarely about features alone. It is about who owns the code, who carries the maintenance burden, and which trade-off your business can live with for the next five years.

Magento (Adobe Commerce) is open-source and self-hosted (or runs on Adobe’s PaaS), built for merchants who need to control every part of the experience. BigCommerce is a fully hosted SaaS platform that handles servers, scaling, and security for you. Both are credible enterprise choices. The right answer depends on your catalog complexity, your B2B requirements, and how much engineering capacity you want to own.

This comparison covers hosting model, total cost of ownership, customization and B2B depth, ease of use and time-to-market, security, SEO, and support, then closes with a decisive “choose this one if” verdict. scandiweb has built and migrated stores on both platforms since 2003, so our take here is partner-neutral.

Magento vs BigCommerce: the key differences

The single biggest difference is the operating model. Magento is open-source software you (or your agency) host and maintain, which means total control and total responsibility. BigCommerce is SaaS, so the platform owns uptime, patching, and scaling, and you work inside its guardrails.

Everything else, cost structure, customization ceiling, B2B depth, ease of use, flows from that one architectural choice. The table below frames the comparison before we go angle by angle.

Hosting model: open-source control vs SaaS simplicity

Magento Open Source is free to download and runs on the infrastructure you choose, from a single server to a multi-node cloud setup. Adobe Commerce adds a licensed feature set and an optional managed PaaS (Adobe Commerce Cloud). Either way, the architecture is yours to shape, which is exactly why it appeals to teams with unusual requirements.

BigCommerce removes that decision entirely. Hosting, scaling, CDN, and PCI infrastructure are part of the subscription, and the platform handles traffic spikes without you provisioning anything. The trade is real: you gain operational calm and lose the ability to alter how the platform runs underneath you.

If the words “we will manage our own servers” make your CTO nervous, that anxiety is telling you something. Magento rewards teams that want control. BigCommerce rewards teams that want the control question to disappear.

Total cost of ownership

Which platform costs more over three years?

Magento typically carries a 3-5x higher total cost of ownership than BigCommerce for comparable mid-market stores, because the free or licensed core is only the starting line.

With Magento, the real budget lives in hosting, development, third-party extensions, and ongoing upgrades. Adobe Commerce licensing is revenue-based and can run into five or six figures annually before a single line of custom code is written. The upside is that, at a very large scale, owning the software can flatten the per-order cost curve imposed by fixed SaaS fees.

BigCommerce bundles hosting, security, and updates into predictable monthly tiers, roughly $39 to $399+, with enterprise pricing quoted above that. There are no surprise infrastructure bills and far less developer time. The ceiling is that you pay for the convenience, and high-GMV merchants can hit revenue-based pricing thresholds that change the math.

A 2023 Forrester Total Economic Impact study commissioned by BigCommerce found a composite enterprise merchant achieved 211% ROI over three years with an eight-month payback, driven in part by developer time savings of 50% to 90% from the platform’s managed model and open APIs. Those numbers come from BigCommerce-sponsored research, so read them as directional rather than universal, but the direction is consistent with what merchants report: SaaS lowers the people cost of running a store.

Customization and B2B depth

This is Magento’s home turf. With full access to the codebase, you can build multi-store networks, intricate catalog logic, custom pricing engines, and headless frontends without asking permission from a platform roadmap. For merchants running hundreds of thousands of SKUs or unusual fulfillment rules, that freedom is the entire reason to choose it.

B2B is the clearest dividing line. Adobe Commerce ships native B2B features, company accounts, shared catalogs, custom pricing, quoting, and approval workflows that are deeply configurable down to individual buyer behavior. BigCommerce offers a capable B2B Edition that delivers price lists, customer groups, quoting, and buyer portals out of the box, which covers most mid-market needs without development.

BigCommerce gets most B2B teams live faster, while Magento lets you model B2B relationships that a SaaS platform simply cannot express. If your B2B logic is standard, BigCommerce saves you months. If it is genuinely complex, Magento is the only one of the two that bends to fit.

Both platforms support headless and API-first builds, so neither locks you out of a modern composable frontend. The difference is depth: Magento exposes the full domain model to your developers, while BigCommerce exposes a well-documented but bounded API surface. For a broader composable comparison, our look at commercetools vs Adobe Commerce covers where pure headless platforms fit.

Ease of use and time-to-market

Which platform is faster to launch?

BigCommerce is meaningfully faster to launch and easier for non-technical teams to run day-to-day, because setup, hosting, and core features work out of the box.

Marketers and merchandisers can manage catalogs, content, promotions, and checkout in BigCommerce without a developer on call for routine work. A straightforward store can go live in weeks. Magento, by contrast, expects technical hands for setup and most meaningful changes, and a serious build usually takes months.

That gap is the cost of flexibility. The platform assumes you have a development partner. BigCommerce assumes you would rather not. Be honest about your internal capacity here, because choosing Magento without engineering support is the most common way these projects stall. If a hosted model appeals but you are weighing other SaaS options, our BigCommerce vs Shopify breakdown is a useful companion read.

Security and maintenance

On BigCommerce, security is the platform’s job. PCI DSS Level 1 compliance, patches, and infrastructure hardening are handled centrally, and updates roll out without merchant action. For lean teams, removing that burden is a genuine advantage and a quiet risk reducer.

On Magento, security ownership rests with you. You apply patches, monitor for vulnerabilities, manage PCI scope, and schedule upgrades. Done well, with a competent partner and a maintenance plan, Magento stores are highly secure. Done poorly, an unpatched Magento store is a known target.

This is why a Magento decision is really a decision about your operating model. The platform is only as safe and current as the team behind it, which is the same reason a structured Magento Migration matters as much as the build itself.

SEO and performance

Both platforms can rank. BigCommerce includes solid built-in SEO controls, customizable URLs, meta data, redirects, and a content delivery network tuned for Core Web Vitals, with little setup required. For most merchants, that is enough to compete.

Magento offers deeper, more granular SEO control, the kind that matters for large multi-language, multi-store catalogs where URL architecture and faceted navigation get complicated. The catch is that Magento performance depends on how well it is hosted, configured, and optimized.

BigCommerce gives you good SEO with almost no effort, while Magento gives you maximum SEO control if you invest in doing it right. Neither has an inherent ranking advantage at the same level of care.

Support: managed vs. partner-led care

BigCommerce provides 24/7 support across all plans through live chat, phone, and email, which suits teams without an agency on retainer. Help is a ticket away, and the SaaS model means most issues are the platform’s to resolve.

Magento support depends on your edition and partners. Magento Open Source leans on a large global community, while Adobe Commerce adds Adobe’s enterprise support. In practice, most serious Magento merchants work with a solution partner who owns development, monitoring, and incident response, which is closer to having an embedded team than a help desk.

Is Magento dying, and should that worry you?

Short answer: no. Magento powers well over 100,000 live stores in 2025, according to BuiltWith tracking, and remains a leading platform for complex and enterprise commerce, even as its store count trends gently downward year over year. BigCommerce, by the same trackers, runs roughly 37,000 to 42,000 live stores, concentrated in mid-market and B2B.

The “Magento is dying” worry usually stems from migration headlines and Adobe’s pricing, not from the platform losing capability. It is very much alive and actively developed. We dug into the numbers in detail in our analysis of whether Magento is dying, and the data does not support the obituary.

What is true is that some merchants outgrow the overhead and move to SaaS, while others move the other way for control.

Which should you choose: Magento or BigCommerce?

The verdict comes down to control versus convenience, and there is no universally right answer, only the right answer for your business.

Choose Magento (Adobe Commerce) if you run complex catalogs, need deep or custom B2B, want full ownership of the code and experience, plan to scale to high volume where owning the software pays off, and either have or will commit to engineering capacity (in-house or a partner). You are buying flexibility and control, and accepting a higher total cost of ownership and maintenance responsibility to get them.

Choose BigCommerce if you want predictable costs, a fast launch, managed hosting and security, and a platform your marketing and operations teams can run without a developer for everyday work. You are buying speed and simplicity, and accepting that highly unusual logic may require workarounds or third-party apps. For most mid-market brands with standard requirements, that trade is a good one.

If you find yourself listing many “we need it to work differently from the default” requirements, Magento is likely the fit. If your list is mostly “we need it to work well and launch soon,” BigCommerce probably is. For context on how Magento stacks up against the other dominant SaaS option, our Magento vs Shopify comparison is worth a look, and our honest BigCommerce review goes deeper on the SaaS side.

Also read: Magento vs Wix.

Frequently asked questions

Is Magento the same as Adobe Commerce?

Magento is the underlying software. Adobe Commerce is Adobe’s commercial edition, with added enterprise features, B2B tooling, and support, built on the same core. Magento Open Source is the free version. People still call both “Magento.”

Is BigCommerce cheaper than Magento?

For most mid-market stores, yes. BigCommerce bundles hosting, security, and updates into a predictable subscription, while Magento’s total cost of ownership is typically 3-5x higher once you add hosting, development, extensions, and upgrades. At very high volume, owning the Magento software can become more cost-efficient per order.

Which platform is better for B2B?

Both are strong. BigCommerce B2B Edition delivers price lists, quoting, and buyer portals out of the box and launches faster. Adobe Commerce offers a deeper, fully configurable native B2B that fits genuinely complex relationships and custom logic. Standard B2B favors BigCommerce; complex B2B favors Magento.

Can BigCommerce handle large, complex catalogs?

It handles substantial catalogs well and scales automatically, but very large SKU counts with intricate custom logic can hit SaaS limits that require apps or headless workarounds. Magento was designed for that level of catalog complexity natively.

How long does it take to launch on each platform?

A straightforward BigCommerce store can launch in weeks because hosting and core features are ready out of the box. A meaningful Magento build is usually measured in months, since it is custom by nature and assumes a development team.

Is Magento still a safe long-term choice in 2026?

Yes. Magento still powers well over 100,000 live stores and is actively developed by Adobe. It remains a leading platform for complex and enterprise commerce. The risk is choosing one that does not match your team and operating model.

Do I need a developer to run a store on either platform?

For BigCommerce, no, for everyday operations. Marketing and merchandising teams can manage most tasks themselves. For Magento, yes, a developer or solution partner is expected for setup and most meaningful changes. Plan for engineering capacity before choosing Magento.

This is the platform call you will live with for multiple years, so it is worth getting right. Talk to a team certified on both Magento and BigCommerce and pressure-test the decision against your real catalog, B2B, and growth requirements.

The post Magento vs BigCommerce: Complete eCommerce Platform Comparison appeared first on scandiweb.

If you’re evaluating platforms right now, you’re not alone. Only 14% of merchants say they are satisfied with their current eCommerce platform, and 77% feel real urgency to migrate within the next year. Gartner expects businesses on legacy infrastructure to spend up to 40% more on maintenance through 2026 than peers on modern platforms – and with Salesforce projecting that 90% of B2B purchases will be intermediated by AI agents by 2028, the platform underneath your operation is becoming more consequential by the year.

For CTOs, Heads of Digital, and commerce leads at upper mid-market brands, this guide breaks down how BigCommerce and Shopify actually compare in 2026 – pricing, features, enterprise readiness, and migration risk – with the trade-offs scandiweb sees on real builds.

BigCommerce vs Shopify: key differences at a glance

Shopify is generally the better choice for teams that want to launch quickly and scale with minimal technical overhead. BigCommerce is better for businesses that need more built-in features and greater control without relying heavily on third-party apps. In most cases, the decision comes down to speed and simplicity versus native functionality.

• Shopify is a fully managed SaaS platform; BigCommerce is also SaaS, with more built-in features and fewer app dependencies.
• Shopify relies heavily on apps to extend functionality; BigCommerce includes more features natively.
• Shopify is easier to use and faster to set up; BigCommerce has a steeper learning curve.
• Shopify has a larger partner and app ecosystem; BigCommerce offers more out-of-the-box control.
• The right choice between BigCommerce vs Shopify depends on scale, catalog scope, and internal technical resources.

BigCommerce vs Shopify comparison table

This BigCommerce vs Shopify comparison highlights the key differences in pricing, features, and scalability.

BigCommerce vs Shopify pricing

Shopify pricing is predictable, with plans ranging from $29 to $299 per month (billed annually) plus potential app costs. BigCommerce pricing is similar at the base level but includes more built-in features, which can reduce reliance on paid apps. Total cost depends on app usage, integrations, and how much your team relies on the platform versus custom work.

Shopify’s tiers in 2026 are Basic ($29 annually, $39 monthly), Grow ($79 annually, $105 monthly), Advanced ($299 annually, $399 monthly), and Plus (from approximately $2,300 per month). BigCommerce mirrors the structure: Standard ($29 annually, $39 monthly), Plus ($79 annually, $105 monthly), Pro ($299 annually, $399 monthly), and Enterprise (custom pricing). At the headline level, the two look almost identical. The real cost lives further down the page.

Transaction fees are the first divergence. Shopify charges 0.5% to 2% on third-party payment gateways, waived when stores use Shopify Payments. BigCommerce charges no platform-level transaction fees regardless of which gateway a merchant chooses, which can matter for stores routing high volume through Adyen or Authorize.net.

The second divergence is harder to see upfront: BigCommerce ties its plan tiers to annual online sales revenue. Standard caps at $50,000 in annual sales, Plus at $180,000, and Pro at $400,000 in trailing 12-month GMV, with an additional $150 per month for every $200,000 above that. A store growing past a tier ceiling is forced to upgrade, which can introduce cost surprises during a strong quarter. Shopify does not gate plans by revenue, which makes its pricing easier to forecast.

The third, and the one finance teams miss most often, is app cost. A typical mid-market Shopify store on the Advanced plan often layers $400 to $800 per month in essential apps (reviews, subscriptions, advanced search, customer groups) on top of the $299 base, pushing real monthly cost well past $700. The same business on BigCommerce Pro might run closer to $400 because more of those features ship in the platform.

When evaluating total cost of ownership, scandiweb usually finds Shopify cheaper at launch and BigCommerce competitive over a 24 to 36 month horizon for catalog-heavy or B2B stores. “Cheaper” depends on the feature set a business actually uses.

Features and customization

Shopify extends functionality through apps, while BigCommerce includes more features natively. Shopify offers a larger ecosystem, while BigCommerce provides built-in capabilities for areas like B2B pricing, faceted search, and multi-storefront. This is the single most important trade-off in the BigCommerce vs Shopify features comparison, and it shapes almost every downstream decision.

Shopify’s app-heavy model gives merchants flexibility, since there is an app for almost any requirement. The flip side: each app adds a recurring cost, a third-party dependency, and another piece of the stack to monitor when something breaks. BigCommerce’s native features reduce that vendor dependency, at the cost of a smaller ecosystem when a need falls outside what is built in.

Both platforms support custom themes. BigCommerce gives merchants more control over URL structure, which advanced SEO teams sometimes prefer. Shopify’s Liquid templating language is widely supported across the developer community, with extensive documentation and a large pool of available agencies. BigCommerce’s Stencil framework is capable but has a steeper technical learning curve, which narrows the developer pool.

Shopify enforces a fixed /products/ URL path, requires Shopify Plus for full checkout customization, and routes all stores through its managed infrastructure. In practice, performance depends heavily on implementation, and proven Shopify performance optimization strategies can measurably improve Core Web Vitals and load times. Shopify also simplifies development, but there are real trade-offs around URL structure and checkout customization, areas where Shopify has limitations that brands should weigh before committing.

For multi-store operators, the platforms diverge more sharply. BigCommerce ships native multi-storefront on standard plans, useful for brands running multiple regional or category-specific sites with shared inventory. Shopify supports this through Markets and, at Plus, multiple stores under one organization, but full parity sits behind Plus-level pricing.

On AI tools, both platforms moved fast in 2025 to 2026. Shopify Magic is free for every merchant and now includes brand voice cloning trained on your past blog and social content, automated product tagging from images, and generative copy across product descriptions, emails, and blogs. Shopify Sidekick, launched in 2025 and expanded with Sidekick Pulse in 2026, surfaces proactive insights and can edit themes, run reports, and execute admin actions through natural language. BigCommerce offers BigAI Copywriter for generative content but with narrower output and less native tie-in with the rest of the admin. Neither replaces an editorial or analytics team. Shopify’s AI layer is currently the more deeply integrated of the two.

Shopify vs BigCommerce for different use cases

The right platform changes by business model. Below is a direct verdict for each common scenario, then the reasoning.

Small business

Shopify is the better choice for small businesses due to ease of use, faster setup, and a lower barrier to launch. BigCommerce may be more involved than needed at this stage, unless the business already has technical resources.

A non-technical founder can have a Shopify store live, accepting payments, and synced with social channels in a weekend. Honestly, the gap is that wide. The app store covers nearly every common SMB requirement out of the box: email, reviews, shipping, inventory. Onboarding flows guide first-time merchants through the steps a developer would otherwise handle. BigCommerce can serve the same merchant well, but the time-to-launch is typically longer.

B2B

BigCommerce is the stronger choice for B2B due to native features, including pricing rules, customer groups, an invoice portal, and custom catalogs available without additional apps. Shopify requires Shopify Plus for comparable B2B functionality.

BigCommerce ships native quote portals, tiered pricing, customer-group catalog visibility, and account hierarchies on its standard plans. For Shopify, the equivalent feature set lives on Shopify Plus through company accounts, net payment terms, and quantity rules. For brands already operating on Shopify at scale, Plus’s B2B module is a credible answer. For B2B-first businesses starting fresh, BigCommerce typically gets to a working setup with fewer integrations.

For upper mid-market brands running global B2B operations across ERP, PIM, and multiple regions, the platform is only one input. When scandiweb rebuilt a global B2B environment with a 10,000-product catalog, the work spanned architecture, data, and integration before any storefront change, producing +29.8% YoY revenue and a +132.5% conversion uplift.

Developers

BigCommerce offers more built-in flexibility for developers, with greater URL control and fewer constraints. Shopify works within a defined architecture and APIs, which speeds up builds but limits deeper customization.

Shopify’s Liquid templating, GraphQL Storefront API, and Hydrogen framework give development teams a mature, well-documented path, particularly for headless builds. For advanced builds, Shopify Hydrogen and headless commerce enable full frontend control while keeping Shopify’s backend. BigCommerce’s Stencil framework and broader API surface allow more out-of-the-box customization but require specialist developers to maintain.

Dropshipping

For dropshipping, Shopify is the stronger choice due to its large app ecosystem and native integrations. DSers, which replaced Oberlo, provides direct AliExpress sourcing and automated fulfillment. BigCommerce supports dropshipping but with a smaller app ecosystem.

Shopify’s ecosystem includes DSers, AutoDS, Spocket, and dozens of niche supplier integrations, which makes testing product-market fit fast and inexpensive. BigCommerce supports the model, but the supplier app catalog is narrower. BigCommerce does offer a 15-day free trial, which is useful for testing before committing.

Enterprise (Shopify Plus vs BigCommerce)

Shopify Plus, from approximately $2,300 per month, is purpose-built for high-volume merchants and includes custom checkout scripting, Shopify Flow no-code automation, B2B company accounts (buyer hierarchies, net payment terms), and a dedicated merchant success manager. BigCommerce offers strong enterprise flexibility and built-in features, particularly for B2B, but requires more custom development to match Shopify Plus’s managed reliability. The right choice depends on operational scope and technical requirements.

For DTC brands prioritizing managed infrastructure and fast scaling, Shopify Plus is the more direct path. The platform absorbs Black Friday-level traffic spikes automatically, and the dedicated success manager shortens the loop on incidents and feature requests. BigCommerce enterprise is the stronger fit for catalog-heavy B2B and teams that want full code ownership. Native B2B is included on all plans, URL structure is more flexible, and API access is broader. The trade-off is that performance under heavy load depends more on hosting and caching configuration that the merchant or agency owns.

A representative example: when a luxury jewelry brand managing 150,000 SKUs moved from Magento 1 to Shopify Plus, the deciding factor was Plus’s managed scaling combined with custom scripting to clean legacy data, something neither platform’s stock tools handled out of the box.

Read more: Magento 1 to Shopify Migration for a Luxury Jewelry Brand

Migration considerations

Businesses typically migrate from BigCommerce to Shopify when they want a simpler operational model, faster iteration, and access to a broader app ecosystem. A successful migration requires careful planning to maintain SEO performance and data integrity, including accurate URL mapping with 301 redirects, complete data transfer (products, customers, orders), and rebuilding the storefront in a new theme.

A clean migration follows four phases. First, data export: products, variants, customers, orders, and order history pulled out of BigCommerce in formats Shopify can ingest. Second, URL mapping with 301 redirects: this is the most common point of failure and the single largest SEO risk, since every indexed URL needs to map to its new equivalent before launch. Third, theme rebuild: BigCommerce themes do not port across, so the storefront is rebuilt in Liquid, ideally improving performance and conversion at the same time. Fourth, app and integration re-mapping: each BigCommerce native feature now in use needs a Shopify equivalent, whether through an app, a Plus capability, or custom development, including reconnecting ERP, PIM, and any operational data flows.

The risks worth budgeting for: SEO ranking loss when redirects are incomplete or built incorrectly, data loss when exports are not validated against source records, and downtime risk during the cutover window. DIY migrations using off-the-shelf tools cost less but carry more risk. Agency-managed migrations typically run 4 to 8 weeks for mid-size stores and trade higher upfront cost for lower SEO and data risk.

In one Magento 2 to Shopify migration scandiweb supported, an SEO-led approach with full metadata and redirect mapping helped the merchant grow organic revenue 107% post-launch, a useful illustration of why the SEO workstream cannot be an afterthought.

Read more: SEO Program Secures Kouboo Migration and Drives Organic Growth

For the full step-by-step process, see our guide on migrating from BigCommerce to Shopify, covering data, redirects, and integrations without ranking risk.

Which is better: Shopify or BigCommerce?

Choose Shopify if you need to launch quickly, iterate without heavy technical overhead, and rely on a large ecosystem of apps and integrations to extend functionality. Choose BigCommerce if your business depends on built-in features, structured catalog management, or B2B workflows that would otherwise require multiple integrations.

Choose Shopify if…

• You’re a non-technical founder or small team that needs to launch quickly.
• You want access to a large app ecosystem for customization and growth.
• You need multichannel selling (TikTok, Amazon, Instagram) with native integrations.
• Predictable pricing and a managed platform matter more than built-in features.
• You’re scaling globally and want Shopify Markets or Shopify Plus infrastructure.

Choose BigCommerce if…

• You need native B2B features (pricing rules, customer groups, invoice portal) without paying for Shopify Plus.
• You manage a catalog with high SKU and variant counts.
• You want no platform-level transaction fees regardless of payment gateway.
• Your team has technical resources and wants more out-of-the-box flexibility.
• You’re migrating from a custom cart and want strong built-in tools.

Frequently asked questions

Which is better, Shopify or BigCommerce?

Shopify is better for most businesses due to ease of use, a larger app ecosystem, and managed scalability. BigCommerce is better for businesses with B2B requirements, large catalogs, or teams that want more built-in features without third-party app dependency. The right choice depends on your technical capacity and business model.

Should I use BigCommerce or Shopify for SEO?

Shopify is easier to manage for SEO because hosting, HTTPS, canonical tags, and sitemap generation are handled automatically. BigCommerce offers more flexibility in areas like URL structure and faceted navigation, which can benefit advanced SEO strategies. The better option depends on whether you prioritize simplicity or control.

BigCommerce vs Shopify pricing: which costs more?

Base plan pricing is similar, with both starting at $29 per month billed annually. Shopify’s total cost can rise with app subscriptions for features BigCommerce includes natively. BigCommerce pricing is tied to annual sales revenue, which can trigger forced plan upgrades for fast-growing stores. Total cost of ownership depends on your app usage, integrations, and growth rate.

What happened to BigCommerce?

BigCommerce has shifted its strategic focus toward enterprise and B2B merchants, scaling back from the SMB market where Shopify dominates. The platform continues to operate and serve over 130,000 merchants globally, but has seen slower merchant growth compared to Shopify. It remains a strong option for mid-market and B2B businesses with catalog-heavy requirements.

Shopify vs BigCommerce vs Volusion: which should I choose?

Shopify and BigCommerce are both modern, actively developed SaaS platforms with strong scalability and ecosystems. Volusion is an older platform with more limited development investment and a smaller ecosystem. For most businesses evaluating eCommerce platforms in 2026, Shopify or BigCommerce are the more viable long-term choices.

Shopify vs WooCommerce vs BigCommerce: how do they compare?

Shopify and BigCommerce are both fully hosted SaaS platforms: you pay a subscription and the platform manages hosting, security, and infrastructure. WooCommerce is a free self-hosted WordPress plugin that requires you to manage your own hosting, security, and updates. Shopify suits most growing businesses, BigCommerce suits B2B or catalog-heavy needs, and WooCommerce suits technically capable teams who need full code control or deep WordPress content integration. For a deeper view, see how Shopify compared to WooCommerce plays out across hosting, cost, and customization.

Planning a Shopify or BigCommerce build? scandiweb takes responsibility across the full commerce system: architecture, integrations, delivery, and performance. Get in touch and we’ll walk through the trade-offs against your catalog, team, and growth targets.

The post BigCommerce vs Shopify: Complete 2026 eCommerce Platform Comparison appeared first on scandiweb.

BigCommerce changed more in 2026 than in the previous three years combined. New pricing tiers landed in June 2026 (Core, Growth, Scale, Performance), a new transaction fee structure now penalises stores using outside payment gateways, and Catalyst (the Next.js + React reference storefront) gave the platform a headless option that Shopify only matches through Hydrogen.

This review is written by the scandiweb BigCommerce team as a certified partner. The goal is an honest read on where BigCommerce wins, where it frustrates, and which kinds of stores it is the right call for in 2026.

Overview

• BigCommerce is a hosted eCommerce platform best suited to mid-market and enterprise stores that want built-in B2B features and headless flexibility without the Shopify Plus price tag.
• The June 2026 pricing change is material: new plan names, new sales caps, and a new transaction fee that applies when using non-approved payment gateways.
• Catalyst is genuinely competitive as a headless storefront and gives BigCommerce a credible answer to Hydrogen.

Exploring BigCommerce: an overview

BigCommerce is a hosted eCommerce solution that helps businesses build, host, and maintain their online stores. It is used by well-known brands including:

Two of those (Digilent, Nature’s One) are scandiweb-supported BigCommerce stores. A 14-day free trial lets you test the platform before committing to a plan, and the BigCommerce admin’s onboarding tour walks new users through the core features in around 30 minutes.

The platform does not require coding to launch. The admin sidebar gives access to product management, order processing, marketing, and the channel manager, which together cover most operational needs out of the box.

What is new in BigCommerce for 2026?

Three changes landed in 2026 that materially affect the BigCommerce evaluation.

New pricing structure (June 2026)

Per BigCommerce’s official 2026 pricing update, plans were renamed and restructured:

• Standard → Core: $39/mo ($29/mo annually), up to $50k in trailing 12-month sales
• Plus → Growth: $105/mo ($79/mo annually), up to $180k in sales
• Pro → Scale: $399/mo ($299/mo annually), up to $400k in sales
• Enterprise → Performance: custom pricing, negotiable sales limits

New transaction fee on non-approved gateways

BigCommerce now charges a transaction fee on orders processed through payment gateways outside the approved Embedded Payment Providers list: 2% on Core, 1% on Growth, 0.6% on Scale, custom on Performance. Stores using BigPay or one of the approved gateways avoid the fee entirely.

Catalyst as a first-party headless option

Catalyst is BigCommerce’s MIT-licensed Next.js + React reference storefront, free to use. It is the closest analogue to Shopify’s Hydrogen, and for headless-curious teams on BigCommerce it removes the previous “you need a custom build” friction.

Advantages of choosing BigCommerce

BigCommerce stands out for ease of use, comprehensive built-in features, and strong SEO and marketing tools. The advantages worth weighing:

Ease of use

BigCommerce’s interface is intuitive, with a quality and feel comparable to Shopify and Squarespace. Beginners can launch a store without coding, and the admin’s drag-and-drop page builder makes design changes accessible.

Built-in features that reduce app dependency

BigCommerce includes product management, order processing, marketing tools, and abandoned cart recovery out of the box. Compared to Shopify, where the same feature set typically requires four or five paid apps, the built-in approach saves on the monthly app bill and reduces the third-party script weight on page loads.

SEO and marketing tools

BigCommerce ships with strong technical SEO defaults: SSL certificate and HTTPS, ISO/IEC 27001:2013 and Level 1 PCI DSS 3.1 certifications, high-availability infrastructure with 99.99% uptime, and a channel manager for tracking performance across sales channels.

B2B and multi-storefront capabilities

Per BigCommerce’s own customer reviews, the platform’s B2B features (customer groups, tiered pricing, quote management) and multi-storefront capability are consistently rated above Shopify equivalents for mid-market merchants.

BigCommerce 2026 pricing plans explained

BigCommerce offers four pricing plans, each with different feature sets and sales caps. The 2026 names and ranges:

Core plan ($39/mo)

Entry-level option for small businesses. Sales cap of $50,000 per trailing 12 months. Includes unlimited products, unlimited storage, 24/7 customer support. Does not include abandoned cart recovery. 2% transaction fee on non-embedded gateways.

Growth plan ($105/mo)

Step-up for growing businesses. Sales cap of $180,000 per year. Adds abandoned cart recovery, customer segmentation, gift cards, and real-time shipping rates. 1% transaction fee on non-embedded gateways.

Scale plan ($399/mo)

For larger businesses. Sales cap of $400,000 per year. Adds custom SSL, Google Customer Reviews, advanced reporting, customer groups, and advanced SEO tools. 0.6% transaction fee on non-embedded gateways.

Performance plan (custom pricing)

For high-volume merchants. Negotiable sales caps, custom transaction fees, priority support, API access, multi-storefront support, and tailored integrations.

Customizing your BigCommerce store

BigCommerce offers around 180 paid themes and 12 free themes, each with several variations. Free themes are basic; premium themes carry more features, sharper design, and ongoing updates. The drag-and-drop page builder lets non-developers customize layouts without code.

For deeper customization or headless storefronts, Catalyst opens a development path that mirrors what Shopify offers through Hydrogen. The scandiweb BigCommerce team has shipped both traditional Stencil-themed builds and headless Catalyst builds, and the right choice depends on the operational complexity of the store rather than on the platform’s capability.

Integrations and add-ons

BigCommerce’s app marketplace lists around 1,290 integrations in 2026, fewer than Shopify’s roughly 8,000 but covering all the common use cases: email marketing (Mailchimp, Klaviyo), customer support (Zendesk), accounting (Xero), CRM (Salesforce). For mid-market stores, the more curated marketplace is usually a feature, not a limitation: fewer competing apps for the same problem, lower decision fatigue.

Payment processing and gateways

BigCommerce supports a wide range of payment gateways including PayPal, Stripe, Authorize.net, Square, and Braintree. The 2026 transaction fee structure changes the calculus: stores using BigPay or another approved Embedded Payment Provider avoid the fee, stores using outside gateways pay 0.6 to 2% per transaction depending on plan.

For most stores, integrating a payment gateway involves setting up a merchant account with the gateway provider and configuring it within BigCommerce. The integration is straightforward but adds 1 to 3 days of setup time per gateway. See our eCommerce payment methods guide for the wider gateway selection context.

Shipping and fulfillment

BigCommerce offers real-time shipping rates, integrations with major carriers, and partner apps for fulfillment: Shipstation, Shipper HQ, Brightpearl. The platform supports dropshipping and offers pickup, curbside, and delivery options for local sellers. For B2B stores, freight quoting and palletized shipping are built-in on the Scale and Performance plans.

Analytics and reporting

BigCommerce ships with reports covering customer behaviour, product performance, abandoned carts, and sales trends. The standard reporting suite is adequate for most stores; the optional eCommerce Insights add-on (extra fee) provides deeper customer-segment analysis and is typically only worth it for stores doing seven figures plus.

BigCommerce vs Shopify: which is better in 2026?

BigCommerce and Shopify are the two most common comparison points. The honest answer in 2026: pick BigCommerce if you need built-in B2B and headless flexibility without paying Shopify Plus rates; pick Shopify if you prioritise the larger app ecosystem and a simpler admin for non-technical teams. See our BigCommerce vs Shopify comparison for the full breakdown across pricing, features, and TCO.

WooCommerce is a viable option if you are already deep in the WordPress ecosystem, though it carries the same operational cost as managing a self-hosted store. Magento (Adobe Commerce) is the right call for enterprise B2B with deep ERP integration; for everyone else, BigCommerce or Shopify is the simpler answer.

scandiweb’s take as a BigCommerce partner

Across BigCommerce client work, the scandiweb BigCommerce team consistently sees the same pattern: stores doing $500k to $5M annually are the sweet spot for the Growth and Scale plans. Above that, the Performance plan’s negotiable terms become the more cost-effective option.

The platform’s strongest fit is mid-market B2C and B2B brands that need built-in features (multi-currency, customer groups, quote management) without paying for a Shopify Plus seat. The weakest fit: very small stores doing under $50k annually (a free Shopify or WooCommerce build is usually more cost-effective at that scale) and high-end enterprise that needs deep ERP integration on Magento.

scandiweb became a certified BigCommerce partner in 2020 and has shipped both traditional Stencil and Catalyst headless builds since.

When is BigCommerce the right call?

BigCommerce is the right platform when at least two of the following are true: you are doing $500k+ annually, you need built-in B2B features without a Shopify Plus contract, you want headless flexibility through Catalyst, or you process orders through an embedded payment gateway (avoiding the 2026 transaction fee).

It is the wrong call when: you are below $50k annual revenue (overkill), you are deeply integrated with an ERP that BigCommerce does not have a native connector for (Magento often wins here), or your team’s strength is heavy app-based customisation (Shopify’s app ecosystem is wider).

Frequently Asked Questions

Is BigCommerce worth it in 2026?

For mid-market stores ($500k to $5M annual revenue) needing built-in B2B features or headless flexibility, BigCommerce is consistently a strong value. For very small stores or enterprise with deep ERP integration needs, other platforms usually win.

How much does BigCommerce cost in 2026?

Core plan starts at $39/mo ($29/mo annually) up to $50k in sales. Growth is $105/mo, Scale is $399/mo, Performance is custom. New 2026 transaction fees apply when using non-approved payment gateways: 2% on Core, 1% on Growth, 0.6% on Scale.

What is the disadvantage of BigCommerce?

Three common ones: revenue-based plan limits force upgrades as sales grow, theme customization beyond the drag-and-drop builder typically needs developer help, and the app marketplace is smaller than Shopify’s.

Is BigCommerce better than Shopify?

Neither is universally better. BigCommerce wins on built-in B2B, multi-storefront, and headless via Catalyst at a lower price point than Shopify Plus. Shopify wins on app ecosystem size, admin simplicity for non-technical teams, and theme customization options.

What is Catalyst in BigCommerce?

Catalyst is BigCommerce’s MIT-licensed Next.js + React reference storefront, free to use. It is the platform’s official headless option and is BigCommerce’s closest answer to Shopify’s Hydrogen.

Does BigCommerce charge transaction fees?

As of June 2026, yes, but only when using payment gateways outside the approved Embedded Payment Providers list. Rates are 2% on Core, 1% on Growth, 0.6% on Scale, and custom on Performance. Stores using BigPay or an approved embedded gateway pay no transaction fee.

About this guide

Maintained by the scandiweb BigCommerce team. Reviewed by the scandiweb eCommerce strategy team. scandiweb is a certified BigCommerce partner with live client work on Digilent, Nature’s One, and other BigCommerce stores.

Thinking about BigCommerce for your store or evaluating it against Shopify and Magento? Get in touch with the scandiweb BigCommerce team for a partner-level read on platform fit, 2026 TCO modeling, and a Catalyst feasibility check.

The post BigCommerce Review 2026: Pros, Cons, Pricing, and an Honest Partner Take appeared first on scandiweb.

How do you tell a BigCommerce agency that will still be standing with you a year after launch from one that disappears once the invoice clears? Most “top BigCommerce companies” lists will not help you answer that. They rank agencies by who paid for placement or who has the slickest homepage, not by whether any of them fits the build you actually need.

This guide takes the other approach. Instead of a ranked list, it gives you the criteria a list cannot: what a BigCommerce partner should be able to do, how to match one to your project, what the work costs in 2026, and the questions that separate a real partner from a vendor.

Overview

• The right BigCommerce partner depends on your project type: an ERP-heavy build, a headless storefront, and a replatforming migration each need a different specialist.
• Judge partners on platform depth, relevant case studies, integration experience, and how they run a project, not on a directory ranking.
• A mid-market BigCommerce build typically runs $50,000 to $150,000, and enterprise projects can pass $250,000, so fit and process matter more than the lowest quote.

What does a BigCommerce development company do?

A BigCommerce development company designs, builds, and maintains stores on the BigCommerce platform. That covers theme and storefront development, custom app and API work, data migration from another platform, integrations with ERP, PIM, and CRM systems, and ongoing support after launch. The strongest partners also advise on strategy: whether BigCommerce is the right platform for you, whether to go headless, and how to structure the build so it scales.

What BigCommerce is good at in 2026

Choosing a partner is easier once you know what the platform is for. BigCommerce sits in the mid-market and lower enterprise tier, with more than 130,000 active merchants including brands like PUMA and Skullcandy. Its strengths are native B2B, multi-storefront, and headless commerce, all included rather than sold as add-ons, plus support for up to 600 variants per product.

The headless angle matters more every year. The headless commerce market was recently valued at roughly $1.7 billion and is projected to pass $7 billion by 2032, and roughly two-thirds of enterprise organizations now run some kind of headless setup. BigCommerce’s Catalyst framework is built for exactly that, which is why so many BigCommerce projects now involve a headless storefront rather than a themed one. If your shortlist of agencies has never shipped a headless build, that tells you something.

How to choose a BigCommerce development company

Six things tell you more than any ranking.

• Platform depth. Real BigCommerce experience means knowing the codebase, the templating system, the data model, and how the storefront, checkout, and admin interact. Ask how many BigCommerce builds they have shipped, not how many platforms they list.
• Relevant case studies. A portfolio in your industry and at your scale beats a longer portfolio in unrelated categories. Ask for results, not just screenshots.
• Integration experience. Most mid-market builds live or die on the ERP, PIM, and CRM connections. Confirm the partner has done your specific integrations before.
• Process and communication. Ask how they run a project: team structure, how they scope, how often you will hear from them, and how they handle change. A good partnership feels collaborative and transparent from the first call.
• Cost and ROI. Get a detailed proposal with scope, timeline, and payment terms. The cheapest quote rarely is, and the most expensive is not automatically the best.
• Support after launch. A store is never finished. Confirm there is a real support and optimization model after go-live, not just a handoff.

Match the partner to your project type

The best partner for one build is the wrong one for another. Match the specialist to the job:

If an agency pitches the same approach for all of these, treat it as a warning. The work is different, and so is the team that does it well.

What a BigCommerce build costs in 2026

Cost depends on scope, but rough ranges help you sanity-check a quote. A mid-market BigCommerce implementation usually runs $50,000 to $150,000, and a complex enterprise build, with headless, heavy integrations, or B2B, can exceed $250,000. BigCommerce’s own enterprise pricing averages around $45,000 a year per account. Set your budget against the return: a store that converts better and scales without rebuilds pays back a higher build cost quickly, while a cheap build that needs replacing in two years rarely does.

Do you need a BigCommerce agency or a freelancer?

For a simple store on a tight budget, a skilled freelancer can be enough. For anything with integrations, B2B logic, a migration, or a headless front end, an agency is the safer choice, because those builds need more than one discipline: backend, frontend, integration, QA, and project management. A freelancer is a single point of failure on a project where downtime costs revenue. The rule of thumb: the more the store has to connect to, the more you need a team rather than a person.

How scandiweb works with BigCommerce

scandiweb is a certified BigCommerce partner and a full-service eCommerce agency, which means a BigCommerce build does not stop at development. The same team handles migration, integrations, headless storefronts, checkout and conversion work, and ongoing support, so the store is built as one system rather than handed between vendors. That matters most on the project types above, where the integration and the front end have to work together.

It is the same approach behind more than 2,100 eCommerce projects since 2003, across B2B, B2C, and multi-storefront builds. If you are weighing platforms before you weigh agencies, our guide to what BigCommerce is covers the platform itself, and our overview of the best eCommerce development companies widens the lens beyond a single platform.

Frequently asked questions

What does a BigCommerce developer do?

A BigCommerce developer builds and customizes stores on the platform, working on themes, storefront and checkout, custom apps, API and integration work, and data migrations. Many also publish apps on the BigCommerce App Marketplace.

Is BigCommerce a good platform?

Yes, especially for mid-market and lower-enterprise businesses that need native B2B, multi-storefront, or headless commerce without paying enterprise-platform prices. It includes those features rather than charging for them as add-ons.

How much does BigCommerce development cost?

A mid-market build typically runs $50,000 to $150,000, while a complex enterprise project with headless or heavy integrations can exceed $250,000. The final cost depends on scope, integrations, and whether the build is headless.

Should I hire a BigCommerce agency or a freelancer?

A freelancer can handle a simple store. For builds with integrations, B2B logic, migrations, or a headless front end, an agency is safer because the work needs several disciplines and cannot rest on one person.

How long does a BigCommerce build take?

A template-led store can launch in a few weeks. A custom or headless build with integrations usually takes a few months, depending on scope and how clean the data being migrated is.

What should I look for in a BigCommerce development company?

Platform depth, case studies at your scale and in your industry, proven integration experience, a clear project process, fair pricing, and a real post-launch support model. Match the partner’s specialty to your project type.

Building a shortlist of BigCommerce partners and not sure which one fits your project? Tell us what you are building and what it has to connect to. Get in touch and we will give you a straight read on scope, fit, and what to ask the others on your list.

About this guide

Maintained by the scandiweb BigCommerce team. Reviewed by the scandiweb Growth team. Last updated May 2026.

The post How to Choose a BigCommerce Development Company in 2026 appeared first on scandiweb.

When it comes to building and managing an online store, BigCommerce emerges as a leading player in the market. With its robust features and user-friendly interface, BigCommerce empowers businesses to create and customize their digital storefronts effortlessly. From seamless product management to secure payment integrations and advanced marketing tools, BigCommerce offers everything you need to establish a successful eCommerce presence. In this guide, we will walk you through the essential steps to start your eCommerce journey using BigCommerce, providing you with the knowledge and insights to unlock the full potential of online retail.

Why BigCommerce?

BigCommerce is a robust and versatile platform designed specifically for building and managing online stores. With its user-friendly interface and comprehensive set of features, BigCommerce empowers entrepreneurs to create a professional and visually appealing online presence. Its intuitive dashboard allows easy store management, inventory tracking, and order processing, making it ideal for both beginners and experienced business owners.

One of the key advantages of BigCommerce is its scalability. Whether you’re just starting out or experiencing rapid growth, BigCommerce can accommodate your business needs. It offers flexible pricing plans and supports unlimited product listings, ensuring that your online store can expand and evolve as your business grows. 

BigCommerce provides seamless integrations with popular payment gateways, shipping providers, and third-party applications, allowing you to streamline your operations and provide a seamless shopping experience for your customers.

Furthermore, BigCommerce offers a range of built-in marketing tools and features to help you drive traffic and boost sales. From SEO optimization capabilities to social media integration and email marketing campaigns, BigCommerce provides the necessary tools so you can promote your products and engage with your target audience effectively. With BigCommerce, you can focus on growing your business while leveraging the platform’s powerful features to create a successful online store.

Step 1: Choosing a BigCommerce Pricing Plan

BigCommerce Enterprise and Essentials are two distinct offerings from BigCommerce that cater to different business needs and sizes.

BigCommerce Enterprise

BigCommerce Enterprise is designed for large and high-growth businesses that require advanced features, scalability, and dedicated support. 

• BigCommerce Enterprise provides extensive customization options, allowing businesses to tailor their online stores to specific branding and functionality requirements.
• It offers advanced features like custom price lists, advanced segmentation, and complex shipping and fulfillment capabilities.
• BigCommerce Enterprise can handle high volumes of traffic and transactions, making it suitable for businesses experiencing rapid growth.
• Enterprise customers receive dedicated account management and priority support to address their specific needs.

No pricing information about BigCommerce Enterprise is published on the platform’s website. However, you can request for a demo and a quotation specific to your business needs. Depending on several factors, monthly plans can range from $400 to 20,000.

BigCommerce Essentials

BigCommerce Essentials is geared towards small to mid-sized businesses that require a simplified yet robust eCommerce solution.

• BigCommerce Essentials offers a user-friendly interface and simplified setup process, making it accessible for users with less technical expertise.
• It provides essential eCommerce features such as product management, responsive themes, and basic marketing tools.
• BigCommerce Essentials offers competitive pricing plans tailored to smaller businesses with budget constraints.
• While Essentials users have access to community forums and basic support, they do not receive dedicated account management or priority support.

BigCommerce Essentials starts from $29, and you can start with a 15-day trial before you commit. 

Ultimately, the choice between BigCommerce Enterprise and BigCommerce Essentials depends on the specific needs, size, and growth trajectory of your business.

Step 2: Setting up your BigCommerce account

Setting up your BigCommerce account is the crucial first step in launching your online store with BigCommerce. With its user-friendly interface and simplified setup process, BigCommerce Essentials makes it easy for small to mid-sized businesses to establish a professional and functional online presence.

Starting through the free trial

If you opted for the free trial, you can start creating your store after registering.

Signing up as a new user

You can also set up your store directly, you simply need to provide a valid email and your website’s domain to get started. The next step will ask you for more information. Once you’ve provided all the requested details, you will be directed to your BigCommerce dashboard.

Step 3: Choosing a theme for your store

You are given a default theme—Cornerstone—for your store after you sign up. But since the BigCommerce theme you choose will determine the overall look and feel of your store, we recommend you browse the many available options from the BigCommerce Theme Marketplace and select one that resonates the most with your brand.

Step 4: Customizing your BigCommerce store design

All BigCommerce themes are based on the default theme Cornerstone, which allows for customization of store colors, fonts, layout, footer, header, and more. In addition, BigCommerce also supports other themes that have features and customization not available in the default theme. 

The BigCommerce theme marketplace provides free and premium professionally designed themes. The responsive themes are optimized for different product catalogs and industries, utilizing the latest technology, design, and SEO best practices. With BigCommerce’s Stencil theme platform, each theme includes multiple variations, allowing easy adjustments in any store’s appearance. The Page Builder can be used to switch between variations and customize colors.

Step 5: Adding products to your BigCommerce store

There are several ways to add products in your BigCommerce store, you can:

• Create products in the control panel
• Add products via CSV import (bulk processing)
• Make product creation API requests
• Migrate products from another BigCommerce store or a different platform

In the control panel

Creating products in the control panel is the easiest way to add products in your BigCommerce store. Navigate to Products > Add, then enter all the product attributes in the Add Product page.

This is the best method to use if you’re building individual products and want to familiarize yourself with all the attributes you can add to your products. If you want to create multiple products simultaneously, however, this is not the best route to take.

CSV import

Adding multiple products at the same is best done by importing items via a CSV spreadsheet.  This way, you can create and edit products in bulk. You can also edit whole catalogs very quickly and create a backup of all your product information.

Via API requests

This is an advanced method of quickly adding products to your catalog and requires some knowledge of the BigCommerce APIs. Creating products via API requests allows you to add information for all product fields and create categories with different attributes, among other things you can do.

From another store

If you already have an existing eCommerce store, another BigCommerce site or some other platform, you don’t have to recreate your products from scratch. You can transfer your products via a CSV import, API requests, or by using apps created for this purpose from the BigCommerce App Marketplace. 

Step 6: Configuring Payment and Shipping Options

After you’ve added your products in your BigCommerce store, it’s time to set up your payment and shipping options.

There are several payment methods you can add, including:

• Payment gateways such as PayPal, Adyen, AfterPay, and Klarna Payments, among others
• Alternative payment methods, including online banking, direct debit, mobile payments, and more
• Digital wallets in some cases—some payment gateways let shoppers use digital wallets like Google Pay and PayPal Pay Later

For shipping, you can set the following configurations:

• Flat rate shipping
• Shipping rate by weight
• Shipping rate by order total
• Free shipping

Step 7: Launching your BigCommerce store

Now that you’ve created your products, added payment methods, and configured the shipping options, you finally launch your online store. But as final steps, you need to set up your store profile, set the sales tax, and preview your store.

From the dashboard, navigate to Store Setup > Store Profile. Provide basic information about your store: store name, address, country, email, and contact numbers. This information will appear in the footer of your BigCommerce store.

Tips for successfully launching a BigCommerce store

Set your BigCommerce eCommerce store up for success with these essential tips for a seamless launch.

Plan and prepare

Start by creating a comprehensive launch plan that outlines your goals, target audience, marketing strategies, and timeline. Take the time to research and select the right BigCommerce theme and ensure that all necessary integrations and configurations are in place.

Optimize your store

Prioritize optimizing your store for a seamless user experience. This includes designing a visually appealing and mobile-friendly website, organizing your product categories and navigation, and optimizing page loading speed for optimal performance.

High-quality product descriptions and images

Craft compelling product descriptions that highlight the unique features, benefits, and value of each item. Use high-quality images that showcase your products from various angles and provide zoom functionality to help customers make informed purchasing decisions.

Smooth checkout process

Streamline the checkout process to minimize cart abandonment. Offer guest checkout options, provide multiple payment gateways, and ensure a secure and trusted payment environment. Implement trust badges and clear shipping and return policies to build customer confidence.

Test and QA

Thoroughly test your store before the launch to identify and fix any issues. Ensure that all links, forms, and payment gateways are working properly. Test your website’s responsiveness across different devices and browsers to ensure a consistent user experience.

Wrapping up

Get ready to launch your BigCommerce store and watch your business soar to new heights! By implementing these tips, you’re equipped with the knowledge and strategies to make a memorable impact in the digital landscape. Remember to continuously monitor, optimize, and adapt your store based on customer feedback and market trends. With a well-planned launch, optimized user experience, effective marketing efforts, and exceptional customer support, you’re on your way to creating a successful online business. Embrace the opportunities, stay committed to growth, and get ready to celebrate your eCommerce triumphs. Happy selling!

In the fast-paced world of eCommerce, launching your BigCommerce store successfully requires careful planning and strategic execution. From meticulous planning and optimization to crafting compelling product descriptions and ensuring a smooth checkout process, every aspect of your store should be fine-tuned for a seamless user experience. Don’t forget to thoroughly test and QA your website before the big launch to guarantee a flawless performance.

If you want to know more about launching a BigCommerce store, don’t hesitate to reach out to one of our BigCommerce experts. We can help you not only set up your store but also make your main BigCommerce store pages ace page performance—achieving 90 – 100 Page Speed scores.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT BIGCOMMERCE

How do I set up a store on BigCommerce?

Setting up a store on BigCommerce is a straightforward process. To get started, you need to sign up for a BigCommerce account and follow a few simple steps. First, provide the necessary information during the signup process, such as your email address and desired store name. Next, customize your store’s design by selecting from BigCommerce’s range of themes and templates, or you can even create a custom design. After that, configure essential settings, including shipping options, payment gateways, and tax settings to ensure smooth operations. Lastly, add products to your store by creating categories, uploading product images, and providing detailed descriptions. With these steps completed, your store on BigCommerce is ready to go live and start selling products to customers.

Is BigCommerce good for eCommerce?

Yes, BigCommerce is an excellent platform for eCommerce. It offers a comprehensive set of features, user-friendly interface, and scalability that make it a top choice for businesses of all sizes. From customizable storefronts to secure payment options and robust marketing tools, BigCommerce provides everything you need to create and manage a successful online store. Its reputation for reliability, exceptional customer support, and integration capabilities further solidify BigCommerce as a trusted and effective solution for eCommerce businesses.

How long does it take to build an online store?

The time it takes to build an online store can vary depending on various factors, such as the complexity of your store’s design, the number of products you have, and your familiarity with the platform you are using. With BigCommerce, you can set up a basic online store relatively quickly by following the step-by-step setup process. This typically involves tasks such as choosing a theme, customizing the design, adding product information, and configuring essential settings. For a simple store, this process can be completed in a matter of hours or a few days. However, if you have a larger inventory, require more extensive customization, or need additional integrations, it may take a bit longer. It’s important to consider factors such as planning, content creation, and testing to ensure a well-optimized and functional online store.

The post 7 Easy Steps to Start Your Online Store on BigCommerce appeared first on scandiweb.

Our client is an engineering company creating hardware and software for engineers, scientists, and researchers around the world. While they are experts in what they do, their technology being used in hundreds of universities throughout the globe, they needed help with the issues they were facing with their eCommerce store. As their developers focused on other priorities, unresolved issues accumulated in the backlog. They also had trouble finding the right service provider that matched their needs—until they found scandiweb.

The company’s eCommerce store is on the BigCommerce platform. We resolved performance issues on the frontend and backend by fixing the underlying causes. Here are the challenges the client faced and our approach to solving them.

Challenges and solutions

Outdated custom theme

The client was running on a customized version of the BigCommerce Cornerstone theme that had become outdated as frequent updates to the theme were pushed out. Compatibility issues started to be a problem. We updated the theme twice (from 5.3.3 to 6.4.1 and from 6.4.1 to 6.7.0) until the issues were resolved, considering all the customizations the client had made so that the theme wouldn’t break. We updated and adjusted all customizations as necessary.

Cluttered backend 

There were several unused third-party integrations and scripts in the backend that affected the site’s performance. We cleaned up all the unnecessary clutter to unburden the system of additional load that only caused it to lag.

We also created a CI/CD pipeline on AzureDevOps for the client that integrated BigCommerce’s Stencil Engine and used it for bundling, uploading, and applying the store theme when new updates were merged to the client’s repository (staging and production). Before this, the client had to manually bundle, re-upload, and apply the theme on the sandbox store (staging) for testing and then repeat the same steps for production.

Broken ERP integration

Following a completed online purchase, customers often found that the product they bought was out of stock. After investigating the problem, we discovered that the ERP integration was broken. Product inventory was not getting updated properly because the script that triggered the update only ran every 24 hours. The script would check for available products in the ERP and then update BigCommerce. We had to decrease the run interval of the update script to ensure that the products displayed on the storefront reflected the stocks.

Poor PageSpeed scores

PageSpeed Insights only showed scores of 15-20 for the mobile site, which suggested very poor user experience on the store. To rectify this, we did the following:

• Reduce unused scripts
• Reduce unused rules from CSS
• Adjust injected scripts and their timings
• Compress images
• Reduce layout shifts 
• Adjust loading priorities and custom scripts

Cart pop-up

When we assessed the client’s website, we found a general lack of visual hierarchy when it came to CTAs. As adding items to the cart is one of the key steps in the user journey, where an intent to buy is strong, we redesigned the “added to cart” pop-up and improved the visual hierarchy of the CTAs there. This redesign facilitated upsells for the client and nudged the users to go further along the sales funnel. We also implemented a clear main CTA to direct users toward the checkout process.

Before the cart pop-up was updated, the client had no way of showing shipping and tax fees prior to checkout. Calculating shipping fees for destinations outside the USA before starting the checkout process was impossible, which was not communicated to non-US users. With the redesigned cart pop-up, this information is now readily available to users.

As we overhauled the cart pop-up’s design, we also made it fully responsive to different desktop and mobile screens. To do this, we implemented custom templates and components according to the BigCommerce theme flow. Following best practices and standards for BigCommerce, we integrated our own custom scripts and styles, too. 

We used the handlebars templating engine utilized by BigCommerce for the template customizations as well as for customer validation in the free shipping promo. For injecting product data into the handlebars engine context, and also for retrieving and rendering a full custom template with the desired data for the upsell products, we used the BigCommerce utility library API.

For recommended products on the pop-up, we implemented a custom solution for the upsells based on the related products generated by BigCommerce. 

Results

The solutions we implemented helped increase the performance score of the client’s eCommerce store by 10 points and reduce LCP time by up to 8 seconds on the PDPs.

The increase in the PageSpeed score of the mobile site was between 150% and 233%.

As for the add-to-cart pop-up, drop-off rate decreased by 2.5% within the first month of implementation. With the cross-sells added to the pop-up, overall revenue also increased by 4.12% YOY.

Need development support with your BigCommerce store? Get in touch with an expert today by sending us a message. Or read more about our services and other ways we can help you.

The post Case Study: What It Takes to Support a BigCommerce Store appeared first on scandiweb.

The listing highlights scandiweb’s range of services: from eCommerce strategy, business discovery and planning, and PIM implementation, to CRO and CX optimization, SEO services, and a digital marketing services.

BigCommerce is a fully hosted Software as a Service (SaaS) platform and a NASDAQ-listed eCommerce platform. They call themselves an open SaaS platform because they are SaaS (like Shopify) but open for heavy customizations as open source (like Magento). BigCommerce is also used as API’s first eCommerce engine, integrated with CMS systems like AEM or WP. They have been actively growing and recently increased focus around the Nordic region.

Get in touch

As an official BigCommerce partner, scandiweb is ready to take on the challenge of any B2C and B2B commerce project and leverage the platform to build top digital solutions and innovate together.

Get in touch with scandiweb’s executive team and project managers directly by sending a message in the orange chat bubble to your right or contact us at info@scandiweb.com.

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