BigCommerce Review
Note: We receive a commission for purchases made through the links on this site. Our sponsors, however, do not influence our editorial content in any way.
- The Good
- Product review functionality
- No transaction fees
- Strong SEO features
- The Bad
- Limits on annual online sales
- No mobile apps
- Site downtime
BigCommerce has a simple design and boasts strong customer management capabilities. BigCommerce has the tools and functionality to get an online store up and running, from inventory management to maintaining a store’s look and brand. Lack of a multilingual function is a negative for some. While it is easy to use, the learning curve to get there can be arduous. Website downtime has been a recurring complaint among users.
- Prices and Packages
- Standard
- $29.95/month
- Plus
- $79.95/month
- Pro
- $249.95/month
- Enterprise
- Prices vary depending on needs
BigCommerce offers a 15-day free trial. BigCommerce aims its Standard, Plus and Pro plans at individual merchants and small businesses. The Enterprise plan is set up to accommodate large businesses and users requiring very high bandwidth and/or advanced functionality features. All plans but the Standard come with an abandoned cart saver function that allows you to contact registered customers who don’t complete their purchases.
- Storage
- Unlimited storage
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Unlimited number of products
BigCommerce differs from many of its competitors in that it offers unlimited storage, bandwidth and number of products a merchant can offer for sell. The unlimited feature is applicable to all BigCommerce’s plans. BigCommerce does impose a limit on the amount of product that can sell in a year’s time. Going over the yearly product quota for your plan may require you to upgrade to the next tier.
- Tools
- 7 free template themes
- SEO options
- Custom domain names
- Analytics
BigCommerce offers seven template themes for free and has 84 paid template themes available, with prices ranging from $145 to $235. There are several variants available with each theme. The search engine optimization (SEO) options included with BigCommerce make it easy to add appropriate keywords to your site pages and your products and descriptions. BigCommerce provides users with an array of reports that allow for analysis of the health of their online business. Reports can include customer reports, marketing reports, data on searches, abandoned cart reports and financial reports. As a BigCommerce user, you have the option of using BigCommerce’s subdomain or you can purchase your own domain name.
- Shopping Features
- One-page checkout
- Online and offline payment methods
- SSL encryption
- No mobile apps
BigCommerce offers a simple checkout process in a one-page format that’s easy to understand. Payments options are numerous because of integration with more than 60 payment gateways. Customers can check out using credit cards through your store’s gateway or using PayPal or Stripe. The platform also lets you collect offline payments and accept them in multiple currencies. Built-in security features keep payments secure and give the merchant the option of using a shared SSL certificate or purchasing one separately. Where BigCommerce falls short is the lack of an iOS or Android app to manage stores on the go.
- Support
- Phone, email and live chat
Regardless of the level of your plan, BigCommerce offers 24/7 personal support for tech or customer support issues. You can engage with support via live chat or phone. You can also have a discussion with support via email. There is a community forum where customers can find answers to common issues and discuss any difficulties encountered. Videos are also available to guide users through the basics of BigCommerce. In addition, you can contact the support teams of BigCommerce through social media profiles on Facebook or Twitter.
BigCommerce: User Reviews
BigCommerce: Comments
Most describe BigCommerce as one of the easiest admins to use, and it comes with features that fit the needs of most merchants. The theme templates offered are professional grade. BigCommerce packs a variety of powerful features into a single all-in-one platform. It comes with built-in tools for professional hosting. It also includes payment integration features, advanced marketing tools, and secure transactions for you and your customers.
BigCommerce offers a platform that gives merchants all the tools and functionality they need to set up an online store, manage store inventory, process orders, and maintain the store through updates and promotions. It offers a variety of templates right out of the box, with themes divided into categories ranging from trending fashion and craft stores to sports or gaming-themed stores. You can optimize your store through the customization features for a seamless shopping experience for your customers.
Payment gateways utilized by BigCommerce charge transaction fees for those using their credit cards for payment, but BigCommerce itself charges no transaction fees. Online or offline payments are possible. PayPal integration into BigCommerce means accepting online credit card payments. You can also utilize 2Checkout, Authorize.net and others.
How Does BigCommerce Work?
BigCommerce is one of the easiest-to-use online store builders. It is user-friendly with a very intuitive interface. It is easy to use for online store builders who are small-business owners, not website designers. It comes with a full set of reporting tools regardless of the plan you choose, unlike many of its competitors.
BigCommerce sends emails automatically to visitors who abandon their carts. The abandoned cart saver tool that BigCommerce offers is more comprehensive than similar features offered by its competitors. There is a wide range of discounting and coupon code generators offered in the initial setup. Coupon codes give options for fixed amount discounts, percentage adjustments and free shipping options. You can set an expiration date for each offer.
BigCommerce come with a built-in blog tool. This is an important feature because it allows merchants to use inbound marketing techniques directly from their stores without the need for a third-party tool such as WordPress. There’s no need to set up a subdomain for a blog.
What Makes BigCommerce Stand Out?
BigCommerce comes with product review functionality built-in. Its features for marketing are strong, and the platform’s approach to SEO is straightforward and strong. It is easy to use several leading e-newsletter services with BigCommerce.
Because BigCommerce has a preferential agreement with Braintree, you can use PayPal for card transactions. This allows you to take advantage of the cheaper-than-usual PayPal card transaction fees.
Common Reviews of BigCommerce
Most who use BigCommerce report they are happy with the results they get from the platform. They characterize BigCommerce as a solid tool for creating an online store. The volume of options is sometimes described as a bit overwhelming.
BigCommerce offers flexibility in product management, and you can handle and update inventory as needed. It allows for images and videos to showcase your products, but the display arrangement depends on the template you use. You can create variants, but doing so can be a bit complicated.
BigCommerce allows the selling of digital products. Store owners can limit the downloads and set an expiration date for the download link. This is a frequently listed positive for BigCommerce.
As a negative point, BigCommerce is often cited for the limits it places on annual online sales. If you exceed your set limit, you’ll need to upgrade your monthly plan. The starter plan is on the high side when compared to its competitors, but it offers more entry-level features than many other leading e-commerce providers.
Is BigCommerce For Me?
BigCommerce provides a nice selection of features with its startup plans and offers a good deal of flexibility for building an online store. It is suitable for just about any e-commerce project, from small businesses to large. There is a steep learning curve in using the platform, so take that into consideration when selecting your e-commerce solution.
If your business is growing fast and you want to operate at scale, BigCommerce may be the platform you’re looking for. Its features are good in terms of handling your orders, products and customers. It features above-average marketing tools and analytics. The platform holds hundreds or thousands of products in a database. The goal is to make your everyday work as hassle-free as possible, and it succeeds here.
If you’re just starting out and plan to sell a small selection of products, there are easier platforms and better alternatives out there. Before deciding, be sure to consider your future expectations and estimates of growth over a year’s time.
No comments yet.