BigCommerce pricing: what will it cost to build your online store with BigCommerce? BigCommerce can offer a great return on investment to scaling ecommerce businesses thanks to its top-notch sales features and support, but Is it worth it for your business? Written by Henry Williams Updated on 24 January 2023 Our Research When recommending the best ecommerce platforms, our expert team of writers and researchers focus on the features that matter most to small businesses. We rate platforms on their value for money – including setup costs and ongoing transaction fees – design features, including store templates; inventory management; payment processing options; help and support, plus customer feedback. Written and reviewed by: Henry Williams Content Manager Startups.co.uk is reader supported – we may earn a commission from our recommendations, at no extra cost to you and without impacting our editorial impartiality. Swipe right to see more 0 out of 0 backward forward Best plan for small businesses Standard Plan Plus Plan Pro Plan Enterprise Plan Price $29 per month (around £23) Price $79 per month (around £64) Price $299 per month (around £240) Price Custom Features Coupons and discountsReporting toolsMulti-channel selling Features Customer groups and segmentationAbandoned cart recoveryStores credit card details Features Google customer reviewsProduct filteringCustom product filtering Features Express routing, priority support, and customer success managementAPI (application programming interface) supportCustom sales limit One of the most advanced ecommerce platforms around, BigCommerce is also one of the pricier ways to create an online store.Its plans range in price from around £23 to £244 per month. That’s a lot when you compare it to something like Wix, whose most expensive ecommerce plan is £27 per month, but it’s roughly comparable to Shopify (19 to £259 per month), which is, unlike Wix, an ecommerce-specific platform.However, it justifies those prices with best in class sales features and support, scoring an impressive 4.6/5 for its sales features in our most recent round of in-depth research and product analysis. This makes it a great investment for scaling ecommerce businesses that shift a lot of stock.We’re going to look at exactly what features you’re getting for your money, break down its monthly costs, and see how its prices stack up against its nearest rivals to see if BigCommerce is worth the price for small businesses. This article will cover: BigCommerce pricing overview BigCommerce pricing plans Can I use BigCommerce for free? Billing cycles, ongoing, and fees How do BigCommerce's prices compare to other ecommerce platforms? Summary FAQs 4.2 out of 5 Website features 3.5 Sales features 4.6 Design flexibility 4.0 Value for money 3.0 Help and support 3.9 Ease of use 3.3 Try BigCommerce BigCommerce pricing overviewBigCommerce offers three pricing plans in its Essentials range, as well as custom pricing for enterprise customers. As this is really only suitable for very large ecommerce businesses, we’re going to focus on the three main plans.There’s no denying that BigCommerce does appear expensive when compared to other leading ecommerce platforms on the market (more on this below). But if you’re a business that’s serious about online selling, you can rest assured you’ll get what you pay for with BigCommerce.Of all the online stores we tested, BigCommerce came out on top when it came to sales features, with our research team scoring it a solid 4.6 out of 5 (0.1 higher than Shopify).These features include support for selling across multiple sales channels including Amazon, eBay, Facebook and more. As well as an industry-leading best inventory management system, and the ability to send transactional emails. That’s why we named it our best ecommerce platform for multi-channel selling.You can find a full review of the BigCommerce platform here. BigCommerce pricing plansIncluded in all plansStandardPlusProEnterprise No additional transaction fees0%0%0%0%Products, file storage, and bandwidthUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimitedStaff accountsUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimitedSales channelsOnline storefront ✓✓✓✓Point of sale✓✓✓✓Amazon/eBay✓✓✓✓Facebook/Instagram✓✓✓✓Google Shopping ✓✓✓✓FeaturesMobile responsive website ✓✓✓✓BigCommerce mobile app✓✓✓✓Page builder ✓✓✓✓Single-page checkout✓✓✓✓Apple Pay, Google Pay, Amazon Pay✓✓✓✓Coupons, discounts, and gift cards✓✓✓✓Multi-currency✓✓✓✓Real time shipping✓✓✓✓Professional reporting tools ✓✓✓✓Built-in blog✓✓✓✓Product ratings and reviews✓✓✓✓Free sitewide HTTPs and Dedicated SSL✓✓✓✓ShipperHQ shipping rules engine AvailableAvailableAvailableAvailableCustomer groups and segmentation ✗✓✓✓Abandoned cart saver✗✓✓✓Persistent Cart✗✓✓✓Stored credit cards✗✓✓✓Google customer reviews✗✗✓✓Product filtering ✗✗✓✓Custom product filtering✗✗✓✓Price lists✗✗✗✓Unlimited API calls✗✗✗✓Online sales per year (calculated on a trailing 12-month basis)Up to $50k (around £40k)Up to $180k (around £140k)Up to $400k (around £325k)CustomService and support24/7 tech support (phone, chat, and ticket)✓✓✓✓Express routing, priority support, and customer success management available ✗✗✗✓API Support ✗✗✗✓Payment processingNo transaction fees to use leading payment gateways✓✓✓✓(Optional) Special credit card rates from PayPal 1.20% + £0.30 per transactionContact PayPal for personalised offerContact PayPal for personalised offerContact PayPal for personalised offerMultiple payment methods✓✓✓✓Check out BigCommerce’s pricing plans here.Which BigCommerce plan is right for my business?BigCommerce automatically upgrades you when you reach the threshold trailing 12-month sales volume (see explanation below) for your plan. For example, if you’re on the Standard plan, and your online store surpasses £40,000 in yearly sales, you’ll automatically move on to the Plus plan.You just need to choose which plan to start with based on your current sales volume.Standard – $29 per monthThe Standard plan is the simple, affordable option for anyone who wants to just set up an online store and get started. With a £40,000 limit on yearly sales, it’s only suitable for small online businesses with a relatively low monthly sales volume.Plus – $79 per monthThe main difference between the Standard and Plus plans is that the latter offers more marketing support to help ambitious online businesses scale and increase conversions. With a yearly sales limit of £140,000, it’s great for growing businesses.Pro – $299 per monthThe Pro plan has everything you need to grow a large ecommerce business with a very generous annual sales limit of £325,000. It also offers advanced features like Google customer reviews, product filtering, and custom product filtering, which make it easier for customers to find what they’re looking for on your site.Enterprise plan – custom pricingIncludes price lists, unlimited API calls, and a custom sales limit depending on your needs. Only really suitable for large, global, online retailers who want a VIP package. How is the trailing twelve month sales volume calculated? BigCommerce calculates your sales volume as “your total sales, including tax, from eligible orders processed over the last 12 months”.The trailing total is updated on the first day of each month, which helps to eliminate seasonal spikes, so you won’t be penalised for having a busy December but a poor January.You can keep track of your sales volume and order count in the Account Summary section of your settings under Plan Summary > Store History. Can I use BigCommerce for free?BigCommerce doesn’t have a free plan, but it does offer a 15-day free trial. You can get started building your ecommerce website without supplying credit card details. At the end of the trial period, you either choose a plan and start paying or lose access to your site. BigCommerce costs: billing cycles, ongoing costs, and additional feesBilling cyclesBigCommerce is unusual amongst website builders and ecommerce platforms in that it displays its pay monthly prices. And, while it offers an annual subscription option on its Plus and Pro plans, you have to pay month by month on the Standard plan, and unlike most of its rivals, there’s no option for a two or even three year subscription.The table below shows the breakdown of how much you’ll be paying on each plan and billing cycle.PlanStandardPlusProMonthly $39 per month (around £31)$105 per month (around £84)$399 per month (around £319)Annual $29 per month (around £23)$79 per month (around £64)$299 per month (around £240)If you do opt for an annual subscription, you’ll have to pay the full amount up front. So, if you’re on the Plus plan, you’ll pay: £64 x 12 = £768. This doesn’t include VAT.BigCommerce credit card rates and transaction feesBigCommerce allows you to choose from 65 global payment providers that you can use without incurring any additional transaction fees. Compare this to Shopify pricing, which does charge extra for using a third-party payment provider, and has more expensive card rates on every comparable plan.All BigCommerce plans come with pre-negotiated special credit and debit card processing rates in partnership with PayPal powered by Braintree.However, if you qualify, you can choose Barclaycard Smartpay to take advantage of the lowest card rates on any plan.BigCommerce’s rates per plan are as follows:StandardPlusProWith PayPal powered by Braintree2.59% + £0.40 per transaction 2.59% + £0.40 per transaction 2.59% + £0.40 per transaction With Barclaycard Smartpay 1% + £0.15 per transaction 1% + £0.15 per transaction 1% + £0.15 per transaction Additional costsThe only other ongoing cost with BigCommerce is likely to be subscriptions to paid for apps and extensions from its Ecommerce Apps Marketplace.There are hundreds to choose from – everything you need to support marketing, shipping, and customer support as your online store grows. Some are free, but the more advanced ones can cost anything from a few pounds to hundred of pounds a month depending on your requirements.However, unlike Shopify, nearly everything you need to grow your online store is included as an in-built feature, so you won’t have to rely on costly third-party apps. How do BigCommerce’s prices compare to other ecommerce platforms? Swipe right to see more 0 out of 0 backward forward BEST ALL ROUND BEST SALES FEATURES Wix Shopify Squarespace Square Online BigCommerce GoDaddy BEST FOR All-round ecommerce platform for small businesses BEST FOR Best range of apps and extensions BEST FOR Best for ease of use and great design BEST FOR Best value – start selling for free BEST FOR Best sales features BEST FOR Creating a simple online store Overall Score Based on our in-depth research and user testing 4.8 Overall Score Based on our in-depth research and user testing 4.6 Overall Score Based on our in-depth research and user testing 4.6 Overall Score Based on our in-depth research and user testing 4.3 Overall Score Based on our in-depth research and user testing 4.2 Overall Score Based on our in-depth research and user testing 3.9 Pricing £16-119 per month, billed annually£14.40-£107.10 with code “TAKE10” Pricing £19 – £259 per month, billed annually£1 for first month Pricing £17-£35 per month, billed annuallyUse code “SU10” to receive a 10% discount on all Squarespace plans Pricing £0-£64 per month Pricing $29-$299 (around £23-£240) per month Pricing £12.99 per month (first term savings available) BigCommerce is, along with Shopify, the most expensive ecommerce platform reviewed by our team of researchers.However, GoDaddy, Wix, Squarespace, and Square Online are all website builders with ecommerce capabilities rather than ecommerce platforms first and foremost. This means they can’t compete with the likes of BigCommerce and its nearest rival Shopify on the depth and quality of their sales features.BigCommerce’s plans might start in price from where Wix’s end in price, but if you want a platform that’s going to support a rapidly scaling ecommerce business, BigCommerce is the way to go.Even if you start small, if you know you’re eventually going to be growing your online store and having to fulfil a significant number of orders, we’d recommend starting with something like BigCommerce from the beginning. That way you don’t risk outgrowing the platform and having to migrate to a different one at a later stage. SummaryBigCommerce might be pricey, but it’s designed its ecommerce platform from the ground up to support growing online stores. It was our researchers’ top choice for multi-channel selling, scoring a reputable 4.6/5 for its sales features in our latest round of research.Multi-channel selling and excellent sales features are essential in this day and age, and it’s great that pretty much everything you need is included as an in-built feature, meaning you won’t have to pay for third party apps.It offers a number of plans, which automatically upgrade when you reach the online sales threshold. Whilst this makes pricing more predictable, some may find it frustrating that they can’t choose to stay on a cheaper plan.It also features very competitive credit card rates and a choice of dozens of payment providers, so you can find the most economical setup for your business.And while our researchers rated BigCommerce bottom for value for money, this was in comparison to the likes of Wix and Squarespace, which are very affordable, but don’t offer equivalent support for rapidly scaling ecommerce businesses.So, if you’re an ambitious online store that’s likely to achieve a high monthly sales volume of anything up to £325,000 (and beyond if you upgrade to custom Enterprise pricing) BigCommerce could be the platform for you.Why not visit BigCommerce to find out more about what is offers growing businesses and ecommerce stores? Frequently Asked Questions Does BigCommerce charge fees? Unlike many ecommerce platforms, BigCommerce doesn’t charge transaction fees when using most major payment providers. It does charge credit card rates of between 1% + 15p and 2.59% + 40p depending on your plan and payment provider, which is lower than Shopify. Is BigCommerce or Shopify better? Both BigCommerce and Shopify offer excellent sales features and support for growing ecommerce businesses. BigCommerce is marginally more expensive than Shopify, but it has a much better selection of in-built tools and it doesn’t impose additional transaction fees for using third-party payment providers. The cost you save from not paying transaction fees can add up to significant savings in the long run. Can you upgrade if you're not at the 12-month sales volume limit? Yes, you can upgrade at any time to take advantage of the more advanced sales features offered on the Plus and Pro plans. Startups.co.uk is reader-supported. If you make a purchase through the links on our site, we may earn a commission from the retailers of the products we have reviewed. This helps Startups.co.uk to provide free reviews for our readers. It has no additional cost to you, and never affects the editorial independence of our reviews. Share this post facebook twitter linkedin Written by: Henry Williams Content Manager Henry has been writing for Startups.co.uk since 2015, covering everything from business finance and web builders to tax and red tape. He’s also acted as project lead on many of our industry-renowned annual indexes, including Startups 100 and Business Ideas, and created a number of the site’s popular how to guides.