In the dynamic world of e-commerce, choosing the right platform is one of the most critical decisions you'll make as a business owner. Enter BigCommerce, a versatile and feature-rich e-commerce platform that has been a trusted choice for online retailers of all sizes. But with a range of options and plans to consider, understanding the BigCommerce pricing structure is essential in aligning your business needs with the right plan.
Welcome to our "BigCommerce Pricing & Plans: 2024 Guide." Whether you're just launching your online store, considering a platform switch, or seeking to scale your existing e-commerce operations, this comprehensive guide is your compass to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of BigCommerce pricing and plans.
In this article, we'll break down BigCommerce's pricing structure, explore the features and benefits that each plan offers, and provide valuable insights to help you make an informed decision. Your e-commerce journey begins with the right platform, and understanding BigCommerce's pricing is the first step towards achieving your online retail goals in 2024 and beyond.
Pricing plans overview.
In short, BigCommerce offers three pricing plans and a 15-day free trial. A fourth plan, the Enterprise plan, does not come with a set pricing structure.
The price starts at $29.95 per month for the Standard plan. The Plus plan is $79.95 per month, and the Pro will cost you $249.95 per month. BigCommerce also has an Enterprise plan for large concerns. The pricing for this plan is not generally available. Store owners contact BigCommerce directly to negotiate the monthly payments.
Note to merchants:
BigCommerce puts a cap on the sales revenue you can make on each plan, and the moment you exceed that cap, you are automatically upgraded to the next plan, which many people are unhappy about if you go by comments online.
BigCommerce pricing plans
BigCommerce Plans | Standard Plan | Plus Plan | Pro Plan |
Monthly price | $29.95 | $79.95 | 3$299.95 |
Annual Revenue Limit | $0-$50k | $50k-$180k | $180-$400k |
Products | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Each pricing model includes:
- A responsive, SEO-optimized website that works equally well on desktop and mobile.
- Unlimited products. BigCommerce has no limits on file storage and bandwidth.
- A single-page checkout optimized to ensure a seamless paying experience for customers is a crucial aspect for all e-commerce stores.
- Real-time shipping quotes, including access to the lowest possible shipping prices.
- No transaction fees – you keep all the money you make on the platform
- 24/7 priority support. BigCommerce stands out from other platforms in this respect. Priority support is available even on the Standard Plan.
So, how do these plans differ, and which one should you choose? Let's look at each plan in more detail to help you choose.
Standard Plan: $29.95 per month
The Standard Plan is suitable for beginners and serves businesses earning up to $50k.
BigCommerce's Standard Plan is unique as far as this level of e-commerce plans goes. It offers much more than other standard plans, comparable to what other platforms offer with their higher-level plans.
This plan gives you everything you need to get started with an e-commerce store. Even with this basic plan, you can sell as many products as you like, and you have no storage, bandwidth, or staff account limitations.
This plan also includes a channel manager that allows merchants to sell on other channels like eBay, Amazon, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.
This plan allows you to offer discount codes and gift vouchers to your customers as well as real-time shipping quotes to your customers, which means your customers are not hit with unexpected costs.
While you can accept credit cards or payments from PayPal, you'll be responsible for a 1.5% transaction fee as well as credit card processing fees, which can add up, so be aware of this.
However, this plan comes with a maximum annual sales limit of $50k. If you exceed this limit, you have to upgrade to the next plan, which incurs additional fees. This is an unusual aspect of BigCommerce, as other competing e-commerce platforms don't have such limits.
The Standard Plan is ideal for businesses that don't have a big budget but want a fully functioning online store.
Plus Plan: $79.95 per month
The Plus plan includes everything from the Standard plan, plus additional features and tools to help businesses increase sales and grow. These include:
- Customer groups – customer groups allow merchants to reward frequent shoppers through loyalty programs. The segmentation tool lets you organize your customers into different categories, so you can target different groups with different promotions, etc.
- Abandoned cart saver – this feature use automatically sends emails to customers who abandoned their carts at checkout.
- Persistent cart – this feature saves customers’ shopping carts to their account so that they return them if they get interrupted or switch devices.
- Stored credit cards – this feature allows you to store customers' credit card details to speed up the checkout.
This plan comes with a maximum annual sales limit of 180k annually.
Pro Plan: $299.95 per month
This plan, which is for big businesses with big budgets that handle a high volume of sales, has everything from the Standard and Plus plans plus a host of advanced features to help businesses expand and grow.
These include:
- Google customer reviews– a tool that lets you collect customer feedback and view product ratings. By letting your visitors see what other users think of your products and services, you create trust in your brand.
- Advanced product filtering – this feature helps customers refine their product searches on your store via search terms related to the brand, price, color, and size, vastly improving the shopping experience.
- All BigCommerce plans provide a secure browser protocol (SSL) that encrypts the link between a web server and a browser. On the Pro plan, merchants can install an SSL certificate from a third-party SSL supplier.
- Enhanced analytics - the Pro plan gives BigCommerce merchants access to advanced analytics through integration with Google BigQuery and Google Data Studio.
This plan allows for sales of up to $400,000 over 12 months. Stores that exceed this amount, must pay an additional fee of $150 per month for every $200k in sales.
Enterprise Plan: Pricing is negotiable
BigCommerce doesn’t typically publish pricing information for this plan; merchants negotiate pricing and requirements with BigCommerce. There is no limit on annual sales with this plan.
The Enterprise plan has several powerful advanced features, including:
- Multi-storefront feature – this amazing feature lets you manage multiple online stores — each with its own domain, template, content, currency, and more — all from a single control panel.
- Custom price lists – this feature allows merchants to provide tailored pricing for different customer groups.
- Unlimited API calls - An API (Application Programming Interface) enables apps to work on your store. An API call is made every time an activity takes place in your store. BigCommerce limits the number of these calls on cheaper plans.
- Priority customer support – faster access to live chat and phone support.
The Enterprise plan is custom-made for large enterprises with large sales volumes generating more than $400k per year.
What's the best BigCommerce pricing plan?
The best pricing plan depends on your needs. The Standard plan is best for people new to selling online.
The Plus plan is highly recommended because it comes with abandoned cart recovery and persistent cart, as well as the ability to store card information.
The Pro plan is a great choice for large, established stores that need advanced features to scale further, while the Enterprise plan is reserved for large businesses with very high volumes of online sales.
How much does it cost to make a website with BigCommerce?
The cost of making a website with BigCommerce depends on several factors, including the specific plan you choose, any add-on features or apps you require, and whether you plan to hire a web developer or designer. Here are the main cost components to consider:
- BigCommerce Subscription Plans: BigCommerce offers several subscription plans, including Standard, Plus, Pro, and Enterprise. As of my last knowledge update in January 2022, pricing starts at around $29.95 per month for the Standard plan and goes up from there. Prices may have changed, so it's essential to check the most current pricing on the BigCommerce website.
- Transaction Fees: Depending on your plan, you may be subject to transaction fees on each sale. These fees can vary and may be reduced as you move up to higher-tier plans.
- Domain Name: You'll need to purchase a domain name, which typically costs around $10 to $20 per year, depending on the domain registrar you choose.
- Website Design: The cost of website design can vary significantly. If you're using a pre-designed template, you might be able to do it yourself or hire a designer for a one-time fee. Custom design work can be more expensive and may involve ongoing costs for maintenance and updates.
- Apps and Add-Ons: BigCommerce has a marketplace of apps and add-ons that can enhance your website's functionality. Some of these are free, while others may have a monthly or one-time cost.
- SSL Certificate: While some BigCommerce plans include an SSL certificate, you may need to purchase one separately if it's not included.
- Marketing and Advertising Costs: Building a website is just the beginning. You'll likely need to budget for marketing and advertising costs to drive traffic to your site. These costs can vary widely based on your strategy.
- Maintenance and Support: Depending on your technical expertise, you may need to budget for ongoing maintenance and support costs. This can include updates, security, and troubleshooting.
BigCommerce Pricing Plans. FAQs
How much does BigCommerce actually cost?
BigCommerce offers a range of pricing plans to accommodate various business needs. However, it's important to note that pricing can change over time, and BigCommerce may have updated its pricing structure since then. So we recommend visiting the official BigCommerce website to get the most up-to-date information on their pricing and any special offers or promotions they may be running. Additionally, consider your unique needs and goals when choosing a plan and budgeting for your website development.
That said, here's a general overview of the types of plans BigCommerce offers:
- Standard Plan: This is the entry-level plan and typically starts at around $29.95 per month. It is suitable for small businesses or those just starting in e-commerce.
- Plus Plan: The Plus plan is designed for growing businesses and includes more features. Prices may vary but could start at around $79.95 per month.
- Pro Plan: The Pro plan is geared toward larger businesses and may start at approximately $299.95 per month. It offers advanced features for scaling your e-commerce operations.
- Enterprise Plan: BigCommerce offers custom Enterprise plans for high-volume businesses with unique needs. Pricing for Enterprise plans can vary widely and is determined on a case-by-case basis.
Please keep in mind that the prices mentioned are approximate starting points and can vary based on factors like the size of your business, the specific features you require, and any customizations. Additionally, BigCommerce may offer special promotions or discounts from time to time.
How much is Shopify vs BigCommerce?
The cost of Shopify vs. BigCommerce can vary depending on your specific business needs and the features you require. Both platforms offer a range of pricing plans, and the right choice for you will depend on factors such as the size of your business, your budget, and the specific features you need.Here is a general comparison of the pricing for Shopify and BigCommerce:
Shopify:
- Basic Shopify: Starting at $29 per month.
- Shopify: Starting at $79 per month.
- Advanced Shopify: Starting at $299 per month.
- Shopify Plus: Custom pricing for high-volume businesses.
BigCommerce:
- Standard Plan: Starting at around $29.95 per month.
- Plus Plan: Starting at approximately $79.95 per month.
- Pro Plan: Starting at around $299.95 per month.
- Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing for high-volume businesses.
When comparing Shopify and BigCommerce, it's recommended to review the specific features and limitations of each plan to determine which one best suits your business's unique requirements and budget. Both platforms offer free trials, so you can explore them to get a better understanding of how they work and which one aligns with your needs.
How much does BigCommerce hosting cost?
BigCommerce includes hosting as part of its subscription plans, which means that the cost of hosting is included in the overall plan pricing. BigCommerce provides hosting for your e-commerce website on their servers as part of the package. It's essential to consider the overall costs of your selected plan, which not only include hosting but also various e-commerce features and services, to determine the most suitable option for your business.
Which is better Shopify or BigCommerce?
Determining whether Shopify or BigCommerce is better for your specific needs depends on several factors, including your business size, budget, technical expertise, and feature requirements. Both platforms are reputable and offer robust e-commerce solutions, but they have differences that may make one a better fit for you over the other. Here are some key considerations to help you decide:
Shopify:
- Ease of Use: Shopify is known for its user-friendly interface, making it an excellent choice for beginners and those without technical expertise. It offers a simple setup process.
- App Ecosystem: Shopify has a vast app store with a wide range of third-party apps and integrations, allowing you to expand your store's functionality.
- Templates and Design: Shopify offers a variety of beautifully designed templates. The platform is highly customizable, and you can use the Shopify Theme Editor to make design changes.
- Payment Processing: Shopify has its payment gateway, Shopify Payments, but also supports a wide range of external payment gateways.
- Pricing: Shopify's pricing starts at $29 per month (Basic Shopify plan), making it accessible to businesses of various sizes. However, transaction fees apply unless you use Shopify Payments.
BigCommerce:
- Scalability: BigCommerce is known for its scalability, making it a good choice for growing and enterprise-level businesses. It can handle high traffic and complex catalogs.
- Built-In Features: BigCommerce offers a robust set of built-in e-commerce features, which can reduce the need for third-party apps and simplify your setup.
- Customization: BigCommerce provides more control over your website's HTML and CSS, making it a better choice for those with technical skills who want to create a highly customized site.
- SEO and Marketing Tools: BigCommerce has strong SEO and marketing features, including advanced product filtering and product options. It also includes built-in blog features.
- Pricing: BigCommerce's pricing starts at around $29.95 per month (Standard plan). It is competitive with Shopify but offers more features without transaction fees on most plans.
In summary, if you're looking for a straightforward, user-friendly platform with a wide variety of templates and third-party apps, Shopify may be the better choice. However, if you need a scalable platform with built-in features and have technical expertise, BigCommerce might be the more suitable option. Ultimately, your decision should be based on your specific business needs, budget, and long-term goals. Both platforms offer free trials, allowing you to explore and determine which one aligns better with your e-commerce vision.
Conclusion
If you’re on a limited budget and have a small product range, BigCommerce may not be the platform for you.
However, if you are serious about having a successful business selling online, any of the BigCommerce plans will support you in growing your business.
The name of the platform says it all: BigCommerce. It is really meant for large businesses that do high sales volumes or merchants who plan to get there eventually.
Are you planning to migrate your store? If you are planning a migration, consider the Cart2Cart Shopping Cart Migration tool for this purpose. Cart2Cart is an advanced automated migration tool that transfers all your data to another platform quickly, and securely.