When you're shopping for an eCommerce platform, you'll run across two different types of information.
Professional tech reviewers from PCMag and TechRadar give you the technical specs and compare functionalities. User reviews on G2 and TrustRadius tell you what it's actually like to use the software day-to-day.
Unfortunately, you usually have to hunt around to piece together your own complete view from these different sources. This can take up too much valuable time that you need for running your business.
You need both perspectives to make a smart decision. Industry experts test features against benchmarks, while real users share the messy truth about challenges and unexpected wins.
Our expert ERP solution team at Stellar One knows BigCommerce’s strengths and pain points, based on our members’ experience as we help them with Acumatica’s native BigCommerce integration.
We have saved you time by combining on this page both professional reviews from tech publications and verified user feedback from major review platforms. By the end of this overview, you'll know whether BigCommerce is a good fit for your business.
- How BigCommerce Stacks Up According to Industry Experts
- BigCommerce User Experience
- BigCommerce Pricing: Value vs. Cost
- BigCommerce Technical Capabilities and Limitations
- Making the Right Choice for Your eCommerce Business
How BigCommerce Stacks Up According to Industry Experts
Strong Foundation for Growing Businesses
Professional reviewers consistently praise BigCommerce's scalability and robust capabilities. PCMag notes that the platform offers to online sellers "sophisticated enterprise-grade functionality, customization and performance with simplicity and ease-of-use." The review highlights that BigCommerce can serve both small businesses starting out and large enterprises with complex needs.
TechRadar emphasizes the platform's flexibility, stating that "BigCommerce enables you to create unique, seamless customer experiences that span multiple channels with its headless commerce feature."
Headless commerce allows businesses to customize their front-end experience while maintaining powerful backend eCommerce functions.
Real users echo these professional opinions.
Deepak K., a director in small business, shared on G2: "BigCommerce's scalability, with its ability to handle high-volume transactions without sacrificing speed or performance, has been a game-changer as our business has expanded."
"BigCommerce is suitable for most eCommerce sites as the base platform allows you to sell online and is very robust," stated Christopher Arnini, Director of Technology at Oak Meadow, in his TrustRadius review.
Built-in Features That Save Money
Industry reviews note that BigCommerce includes capabilities that its competitors charge extra for. PCMag mentions "no inventory limitations" and "zero fees from third-party payment gateways" as standout benefits. Geekflare's review notes that BigCommerce "provides 65+ payment gateways" without additional transaction fees.
TechRadar emphasizes the platform's "robust search options" and built-in SEO capabilities, features that often require third-party apps on other platforms.
Users appreciate the company’s approach to customer pricing options. Jana Campbell, Founder at Fenigo Inc., shared on TrustRadius: "Many features can be added without extra cost. BigCommerce allows me to have different pricing structures for various customer groups (direct-to-consumer and wholesale). It is easy to set up this option, and it doesn't require extra fees."
"BigCommerce doesn't charge transaction fees, unlike some other e-commerce platforms," observed James M., an eCommerce manager in retail on G2.
BigCommerce User Experience
BigCommerce has for a number of years won a TrustRadius award for excellent customer satisfaction ratings. That being said, there will always be pluses and minuses to any software choice.
Easy Setup With Some Learning Curve
Professional reviewers note that while BigCommerce offers powerful features, there's some complexity involved for users. PCMag mentions that "the dashboard has a mild learning curve" and "some features and customization options may require a certain level of technical knowledge."
TechRadar acknowledges this balance, stating the platform can seem complex but still is easy to use for basic functions.
Many users have a positive experience with ease-of-use for starting up eCommerce. "Very easy to work in and build a website for your company. It has a user-friendly backend," commented Tina F., a Marketing Manager, on G2.
Dev S., a QA analyst in small business, noted on G2 that " Minimalist and user-friendly UI makes it effortless to understand the functionality easily."
Customer Support Gets Mixed Reviews
Industry reviews note BigCommerce's wide range of customer support offerings. PCMag highlights "24/7 live agent support" and notes that "BigCommerce has the most extensive tutorial and support system among e-Commerce software services we've tested."
However, user experiences vary significantly. Some have praise for support. "The support team are really good, and can usually help me when I need them to quickly and politely," shared James M. on G2. Similarly, Jana Campbell emphasized on TrustRadius: "The best technical support department ever. Always there to help."
But not all users share this positive experience. Jo B., a Managing Member, warned on G2 about "poor customer support" and noted "the slow response from support adds to the difficulty." Kevin Nicusanti, Founding Partner, expressed frustration on TrustRadius: "Very inconsistent technical service at level 1, sometimes expert, sometimes just reading me website answers in FAQ style."
BigCommerce Pricing: Value vs. Cost
BigCommerce has Standard, Plus, and Pro pricing packages plus an Enterprise package. There are no limits on staff accounts, monthly data transfers, or the number of products you can sell. The packages also include an IP address and SSL certificate.
Revenue-Based Pricing Model Creates Tension
BigCommerce offers a unique pricing structure to business owners, but it does attract some criticism. Plans are tiered by sales volume, with the Standard plan allowing up to $50,000 worth of products per year and higher tiers supporting more revenue. TechRadar notes this structure "could be a drawback for businesses with high sales volumes." Geekflare’s reviewer points out that the BigCommerce pricing model could be good for online retailers who want to create multiple storefronts.
User feedback reveals significant frustration with this model. "We hate the revenue-based pricing model of BigCommerce. A concern for a rapidly growing organization like ours," stated an anonymous Program Manager in Product Management on TrustRadius.
A user working in sales for business equipment noted: "The product is presented in 3 levels, however it forces you to the next level depending on your sales revenue."
BigCommerce Technical Capabilities and Limitations
Strong API and Integration Options
Industry experts consistently praise BigCommerce's technical foundation. TechRadar highlights the platform's open API access and ability to integrate with third-party services. PCMag also notes the extensive app store with third-party add-ons, such as integration with MailChimp or SurveyMonkey.
Users confirm that these capabilities work well in practice. Dev S noted on G2 that the many options “[help] in integrating the site with the third party.” Shikher Goyal, an SEO Analyst, shared on TrustRadius: "It integrates seamlessly with popular marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, and social media."
Customization Challenges for Complex Needs
While industry reviews admire BigCommerce's flexibility, they also note limitations. TechRadar mentions "limited design options." PCMag points out that some customization "may require a certain level of technical knowledge."
Users with sophisticated requirements often struggle. "We rarely use it, as it requires a high level of coding knowledge. We need to work with an external agency to use the API integration," shared an anonymous Program Manager on TrustRadius. Kevin Nicusanti expressed similar frustration: "Most small changes require html developer which adds significant costs."
However, simpler customization needs are well-served. "The API allows us to customize our storefront to match our brand and enhance user experience," noted Shikher Goyal on TrustRadius.
Making the Right Choice for Your eCommerce Business
Understanding both professional assessments and real user experiences gives you a nuanced picture of BigCommerce's strengths and limitations.
Industry experts confirm it's a technically sound platform with enterprise-grade features at accessible price points. Users verify that it delivers on promises of scalability and built-in functionality, though they also reveal pain points around pricing increases and customization complexity.
Compare BigCommerce with other popular eCommerce options such as Shopify to see what will best serve your business needs.
Your eCommerce success doesn't stop at choosing the right storefront software. It also depends on how well that software connects with your back-office operations.
If you’re trying to find the right combination of an ERP platform to work with BigCommerce, look first for an ERP platform that contains a native integration for BigCommerce, such as Acumatica.
BigCommerce Native Integration from Acumatica
Acumatica's cloud ERP solution features built-in BigCommerce connectivity that creates back-and-forth data flow between your online store and your core business systems. You’ll get real-time inventory updates, automated order processing, and synchronized customer information across your entire operation.
The native integration handles everything from product catalogs and pricing to returns processing and financial reporting. You’ll have the advantage of complete visibility into online transactions without manual data entry.
As an Acumatica Gold-Certified Partner, Stellar One brings verified top-level expertise to implement these powerful connections and optimize your eCommerce operations.
Learn more about pricing for eCommerce software and ERP platforms.
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