Thinking about BigCommerce for your online store? It’s a solid platform, but like anything, understanding the costs upfront is key. We’re going to break down the BigCommerce pricing structure for 2025, looking at what you get with each plan, any extra costs you might run into, and how it stacks up against other options. This way, you can figure out if it’s the right fit for your business without any surprises.
Key Takeaways
- BigCommerce offers tiered pricing plans (Standard, Plus, Pro) with features that grow with your business, plus custom Enterprise solutions.
- A major plus is that BigCommerce doesn’t charge its own transaction fees, unlike some competitors, which can save you money.
- While the subscription covers a lot, remember to budget for credit card processing fees, and potentially premium themes or third-party apps if needed.
- Choosing an annual billing plan can offer significant savings compared to paying monthly.
- When comparing BigCommerce pricing to alternatives like Shopify or WooCommerce, consider the total cost of ownership, including hosting, apps, and potential development work.
Understanding BigCommerce Pricing Tiers
BigCommerce offers a few different plans, and picking the right one is pretty important for your business. They’ve got options for folks just starting out all the way up to big companies. It’s not just about the price tag; each tier comes with different features and limits, so you want to match it to what you actually need.
Exploring The Standard, Plus, And Pro Plans
These three plans are the most common choices for many online sellers. They’re designed to grow with your business.
- Standard Plan: This is the entry-level option, great for small businesses or those just dipping their toes into eCommerce. It gives you unlimited products, file storage, and bandwidth, which is pretty sweet. You also get unlimited customer accounts, so no worries there.
- Plus Plan: If your business is starting to pick up steam, the Plus plan is likely your next step. It includes everything in the Standard plan, plus some really helpful tools for growth. Think abandoned cart saver – that’s a big one for recovering lost sales – and customer groups for better marketing. It also has other tools aimed at helping you sell more.
- Pro Plan: This plan is for more established businesses that are seeing a good volume of sales. It adds features like Google customer reviews, custom SSL certificates, and faceted search, which makes it easier for customers to find what they’re looking for on your site. There’s an annual sales limit here, and if you go over it, you might need to pay extra or upgrade.
Here’s a quick look at how they stack up:
| Plan | Monthly Price | Annual Price (per month) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | $39 | $29 | Small businesses/Startups |
| Plus | $105 | $79.95 | Growing businesses |
| Pro | $399 | $299.95 | Mid-sized businesses |
Remember that the annual billing option usually saves you a good chunk of money compared to paying month-to-month. It’s worth doing the math to see if the upfront cost makes sense for your budget.
Enterprise Solutions For Large-Scale Operations
For businesses that are really big or have very specific needs, BigCommerce offers Enterprise solutions. This isn’t a one-size-fits-all plan; it’s custom-tailored. You’ll get dedicated support, advanced API access for custom integrations, and solutions built specifically for your complex operations. If you’re dealing with massive sales volumes or need a highly customized setup, this is the route to go, but you’ll need to talk to their sales team to get pricing.
Annual Versus Monthly Billing Savings
BigCommerce gives you a discount if you choose to pay for your subscription annually instead of monthly. This can add up to significant savings over the course of a year. For example, the Standard plan costs $39 per month, but if you pay annually, it works out to about $29 per month. That’s a 25% saving, which is pretty substantial. The Plus and Pro plans also offer similar percentage discounts when billed annually. It’s a good way to reduce your overall platform costs if you’re committed to using BigCommerce for the long haul and can manage the upfront payment.
Key Cost Components Of BigCommerce
Subscription Fees And What They Cover
When you sign up for BigCommerce, the first thing you’ll notice is the monthly subscription fee. These plans are structured to grow with your business, offering different feature sets at various price points. The Standard plan, for instance, is great for getting started, while the Pro plan includes more advanced tools for businesses with higher sales volumes. These fees are your ticket to using the platform’s core functionalities, including hosting, security, and access to the BigCommerce app store. They cover the infrastructure that keeps your online store running smoothly, so you don’t have to worry about server maintenance or software updates yourself.
Here’s a quick look at the typical plan structures:
- Standard Plan: Ideal for startups and small businesses. Offers core e-commerce features.
- Plus Plan: Suited for growing businesses. Includes features like abandoned cart saver and customer segmentation.
- Pro Plan: Designed for established businesses with higher sales. Comes with advanced features like faceted search and custom SSL.
- Enterprise Plan: For large-scale operations needing custom solutions and dedicated support.
The Absence Of BigCommerce Transaction Fees
One of the standout features of BigCommerce pricing is that they don’t charge their own transaction fees. This is a pretty big deal, especially if you’re expecting a lot of sales. Many other platforms take a percentage of each sale you make, which can really add up over time. With BigCommerce, what you see is what you get – the subscription fee is your main cost for using the platform itself. This predictability helps a lot with budgeting and understanding your profit margins.
This lack of platform-specific transaction fees means more of your hard-earned revenue stays with you, allowing for reinvestment in marketing, inventory, or other areas of your business. It simplifies financial planning and makes it easier to forecast profitability, especially as your sales volume increases.
Credit Card Processing And Payment Gateway Costs
While BigCommerce itself doesn’t take a cut of your sales, you still need to process payments. This is where credit card processing fees and payment gateway costs come into play. These are separate charges, usually handled by third-party providers like Stripe, PayPal, or Square. The rates can vary depending on the provider you choose and your sales volume. BigCommerce integrates with a wide range of payment gateways, giving you flexibility to pick one that fits your business needs and budget. It’s important to research these options to find the most cost-effective solution for your specific situation.
Optimizing Your BigCommerce Investment
So, you’ve picked BigCommerce, which is a solid choice. Now, how do you make sure you’re not overspending and actually getting the most bang for your buck? It’s not just about picking a plan and forgetting about it. There are definitely ways to be smarter with your money.
Leveraging Built-In Features To Reduce App Costs
BigCommerce comes with a lot of stuff built right in. Think about things like abandoned cart recovery emails or tools to segment your customers. These are features that you might otherwise pay extra for with third-party apps. By using what BigCommerce already gives you, you can cut down on those monthly subscription fees that add up fast. It’s like getting a free tool with your purchase – why buy another one if the one you have works? They also have built-in SEO tools and marketing features that can help your store get found online without needing a separate service.
- Abandoned Cart Recovery: Nudge customers to finish their purchases.
- Customer Segmentation: Group customers for targeted marketing.
- Built-in SEO Tools: Improve your search engine ranking without extra cost.
- Promotional Tools: Run sales and discounts easily.
Relying on native features means less integration hassle and often more reliable performance since they’re designed to work perfectly with the platform. Plus, it keeps your dashboard cleaner.
Strategic Plan Selection For Business Growth
Choosing the right plan is a big deal. If you pick one that’s too basic, you might hit limits quickly and have to upgrade sooner than you’d like, which can be disruptive. On the flip side, paying for a super high-end plan when you’re just starting out is just throwing money away. You need to look at where your business is now and where you expect it to be in, say, the next year or two. BigCommerce plans often have sales volume thresholds. Keep an eye on those. If you’re consistently hitting the upper limits of your current plan, it’s probably time to look at the next tier. This proactive approach helps avoid unexpected issues and ensures you have the features you need as you grow.
Automating Processes For Efficiency Gains
Manual tasks are time sinks, and time is money, right? BigCommerce has features that can automate a lot of the day-to-day stuff. Things like updating inventory across different channels or sending out automated customer service emails can be set up. This frees up your team to focus on more important things, like marketing or product development, instead of getting bogged down in repetitive work. The more you can automate, the more efficient your operation becomes, which directly impacts your bottom line. It’s about working smarter, not harder, and BigCommerce gives you the tools to do just that.
Beyond Base Pricing: Additional Considerations
So, you’ve looked at the main subscription costs for BigCommerce, and maybe you’re thinking, "Okay, I get it." But hold on a second, because there’s more to the financial picture than just the monthly fee. We need to talk about the stuff that can really add up, sometimes unexpectedly.
The Impact Of Premium Themes And Customization
While BigCommerce gives you a solid foundation, the default look and feel might not be exactly what you’re after. This is where themes come in. The free themes are decent, but if you want something that really pops or has specific functionality built-in, you’ll likely be looking at premium themes. These can range from a few hundred dollars as a one-time purchase. Then there’s customization. Maybe you need a specific checkout flow, a unique product display, or integration with a niche system. This is where development costs can start to climb. Hiring a developer to tweak things or build custom features can easily become one of the larger expenses, especially if you’re aiming for a highly unique online presence.
Evaluating Third-Party App Expenses
BigCommerce has a pretty extensive app marketplace. It’s great because you can add all sorts of features – think advanced SEO tools, loyalty programs, or specialized shipping calculators. However, each app often comes with its own monthly fee. It’s easy to get carried away and add a bunch of apps, thinking they’re all necessary. Before you know it, you’ve got $50, $100, or even more added to your monthly bill just for these add-ons. It’s important to really assess if an app is a must-have or just a nice-to-have. Sometimes, a feature you think you need can be achieved with a bit of clever use of existing tools or a less expensive app.
Implementation And Ongoing Development Costs
Getting your store set up and running isn’t always as simple as clicking a few buttons. Implementation can involve migrating data, setting up integrations, and configuring settings. For simpler stores, this might be something you can handle yourself. But for more complex businesses, you might need to hire an agency or a freelancer. This initial setup cost can be significant. Beyond that, think about ongoing development. As your business grows and your needs change, you’ll likely need to make updates, add new features, or integrate with new systems. This means you’ll need to budget for continued development work over time. It’s not a one-and-done kind of deal.
It’s easy to get caught up in the monthly subscription price and forget about all the other bits and pieces that contribute to the total cost of running an online store. Things like custom design work, specialized apps, and even the initial setup can add a surprising amount to your budget. Always look beyond the sticker price to get a true sense of what you’ll be spending.
Comparing BigCommerce Pricing To Alternatives
When you’re looking at different ways to set up your online store, it’s easy to get caught up in just the monthly price tag. But the real cost of an e-commerce platform is more than just the subscription fee. You’ve got to think about what you actually get for your money and what extras you might need down the line.
BigCommerce Versus Shopify Cost Structures
BigCommerce and Shopify are often compared, and for good reason. BigCommerce tends to have a more straightforward pricing model. Their plans, like the Standard plan at $39 per month, come with a set of features, and importantly, they don’t charge their own transaction fees. This means if you use a third-party payment processor, you’re just paying their rates. Shopify, on the other hand, is known for being user-friendly, but they do charge transaction fees if you don’t use Shopify Payments. If you do use Shopify Payments, their fees are competitive, but it’s an extra layer to consider. For businesses that want predictable costs without worrying about extra platform fees on top of payment processing, BigCommerce often looks appealing.
BigCommerce Versus WooCommerce Total Cost
WooCommerce is a bit of a different beast. It’s technically a free plugin for WordPress, which sounds great initially. However,
Wrapping It Up
So, we’ve gone through what BigCommerce costs, from the basic plans to the fancy enterprise stuff. It’s not just about the monthly fee, though. Remember to think about themes, apps, and any extra help you might need. BigCommerce has a lot built-in, which is pretty cool and can save you cash compared to platforms where you have to buy everything separately. Picking the right plan really depends on where your business is at and where you want it to go. Keep an eye on your sales numbers and what features you actually use, and you can probably avoid paying for more than you need. It’s all about finding that sweet spot so your online store can grow without breaking the bank.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the different price plans for BigCommerce?
BigCommerce offers several plans to fit different business needs. There’s the Standard plan for small businesses, the Plus plan for growing businesses, and the Pro plan for those with higher sales. For really big companies with special needs, they have an Enterprise plan with custom pricing.
Does BigCommerce have any hidden fees?
BigCommerce is pretty clear about its costs. The main cost is the monthly or yearly subscription fee. They don’t charge extra fees for processing sales, which is a big plus. Just be aware that you’ll still have standard fees for using credit card companies.
Does BigCommerce charge a fee for each sale I make?
No, BigCommerce does not charge its own transaction fees. This means you keep more of the money from each sale. However, the companies that handle your credit card payments will still charge their own small fees.
How much does it cost to get a special design for my BigCommerce store?
You can use free designs that come with BigCommerce, which is great for saving money. If you want something more unique, custom designs can cost more, depending on how complicated you want it to be. Sometimes, you can find good deals on pre-made designs too.
What things can make my BigCommerce costs go up?
The main costs are the plan you choose and any extra apps you add to give your store more features. Fancy designs and hiring someone to help build or update your store can also add to the total cost.
Is it cheaper to pay for BigCommerce each year instead of each month?
Yes, usually! BigCommerce often gives you a discount if you choose to pay for a full year upfront instead of paying month by month. This can save you a good amount of money over the year.