Choosing the right BigCommerce Pricing platform is crucial for any business aiming to succeed online, and BigCommerce stands as one of the most popular options. However, pricing is often a major factor in the decision-making process. Whether you’re a small business owner or a large enterprise, knowing BigCommerce pricing in detail is key to determining if it’s the right fit for your needs. This guide will break down the BigCommerce pricing structure, plans, and other costs associated with running an online store on this platform.
Understanding BigCommerce Pricing Plans
BigCommerce offers a tiered pricing model designed to cater to businesses of all sizes. Each plan comes with its own set of features and benefits that scale according to your business’s needs. Let’s explore these plans in detail:
BigCommerce Standard Plan
The Standard Plan is the entry-level offering from BigCommerce Pricing, priced at $39 per month. It’s perfect for small businesses or startups looking to dip their toes into eCommerce without breaking the bank.
What’s included in the Standard Plan?
- Unlimited Products, File Storage, and Bandwidth: Unlike many other platforms that charge based on the number of products or usage, BigCommerce provides unlimited products and bandwidth, making it a cost-effective solution.
- Responsive Website: You get access to BigCommerce’s built-in themes, which are optimized for mobile and desktop, ensuring your customers have a seamless experience across all devices.
- Single-Page Checkout: Reducing cart abandonment is crucial for eCommerce success, and BigCommerce helps with a simplified, single-page checkout process.
- Shipping and Tax Calculations: Built-in real-time shipping quotes from major carriers like UPS and USPS, along with automatic tax calculations.
- Selling Channels: Standard Plan allows you to sell on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest, broadening your reach without added costs.
However, there are some limitations:
- Annual Sales Limit: The plan comes with an annual sales threshold of $50,000. If your store exceeds this revenue limit, you’ll need to upgrade to a higher plan.
BigCommerce Plus Plan
The Plus Plan is a mid-tier option, priced at $105 per month. This plan is aimed at businesses that are scaling up and need more advanced features to grow their eCommerce operations.
What’s included in the Plus Plan?
- Everything from the Standard Plan, plus:
- Abandoned Cart Saver: BigCommerce provides an automated system to send reminder emails to customers who leave items in their cart without completing the purchase.
- Customer Segmentation: With this feature, you can create customer groups based on purchase history and demographics, enabling more targeted marketing.
- Persistent Cart: Allows customers to log into their account from multiple devices and have their cart saved across sessions.
- Annual Sales Limit: The revenue limit is increased to $180,000, giving you room to grow your business without immediately moving to the higher-priced plans.
BigCommerce Pro Plan
The Pro Plan costs $399 per month and is geared toward larger businesses that need more advanced functionality and flexibility. This plan is suitable for businesses that are experiencing significant growth and need a platform that can handle high traffic and sales volume.
What’s included in the Pro Plan?
- All the features from the Plus Plan, along with:
- Google Customer Reviews: This allows you to collect and display Google reviews directly on your website, boosting your store’s credibility.
- Product Filtering: Advanced product filtering capabilities help customers find exactly what they’re looking for, improving their shopping experience.
- Custom SSL Certificates: While BigCommerce Pricing offers built-in SSL, the Pro Plan allows you to upload your own custom SSL for enhanced security and branding.
- Annual Sales Limit: The sales threshold is set at $400,000, and an additional fee of $150 per month is charged for every extra $200,000 in online sales beyond this limit.
BigCommerce Enterprise Plan
The Enterprise Plan is a custom pricing model designed for businesses that exceed the limitations of the Pro Plan or require specific, high-level features that are not included in the other packages. This is tailored to meet the needs of large-scale operations and businesses with complex requirements.
What’s included in the Enterprise Plan?
- Priority Support: 24/7 dedicated account management and priority technical support.
- API Calls: BigCommerce Enterprise offers more API calls per second, allowing your store to handle heavy traffic and complex operations more effectively.
- Custom Features: If your business requires features like advanced analytics, custom integrations, or higher-level security, the Enterprise Plan offers bespoke solutions.
- Custom Pricing: Pricing for this plan is highly flexible and depends on your business’s specific needs. It’s designed for businesses with annual sales over $1 million or those with highly complex requirements.
Hidden Costs to Consider in BigCommerce Pricing
When looking at BigCommerce pricing, it’s essential to understand that there may be additional costs beyond the monthly subscription fees. Some of these include:
- Payment Processing Fees
- BigCommerce integrates with several payment gateways like PayPal, Stripe, and Square. However, there are transaction fees depending on the gateway you choose. For example, PayPal powered by Braintree offers a competitive rate of 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction on the Standard Plan.
- Theme and App Costs
- While BigCommerce offers free themes, premium themes can cost anywhere from $150 to $300. Additionally, certain apps and extensions in the BigCommerce Pricing App Store may require one-time payments or monthly fees, depending on their complexity and usage.
- Custom Development and Design
- If you want to create a highly customized store, you may need to hire developers or designers. Custom development can range from $1,000 to $20,000 or more, depending on the scope of the project.
- Advanced SEO Tools
- Although BigCommerce comes with built-in SEO tools, businesses that want more advanced capabilities may need to invest in third-party SEO tools or hire SEO professionals, which can add to the overall cost.
BigCommerce Pricing vs. Competitors
When comparing BigCommerce pricing to other platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, or Magento, it’s essential to consider both the upfront costs and long-term value. BigCommerce’s pricing structure, while comparable to Shopify’s, offers more features in its lower-tier plans, such as no transaction fees and unlimited products. However, platforms like WooCommerce can be more cost-effective if you already have web hosting and are comfortable managing a WordPress site.
Is BigCommerce Worth the Price?
Ultimately, BigCommerce offers a robust platform with a wide array of features that justify its pricing, particularly for businesses that require scalability. The built-in functionality, including multi-channel selling, integrated payment gateways, and advanced SEO, makes it a powerful solution for growing businesses. However, it’s important to assess whether your business needs all these features or if you can make do with a more budget-friendly platform.
Pros:
- Scalability: BigCommerce pricing scales with your business, meaning you’re only paying for what you need.
- No Transaction Fees: Unlike Shopify, BigCommerce does not charge additional transaction fees.
- Advanced Features: From multi-channel selling to built-in SEO tools, BigCommerce has a comprehensive suite of tools that cater to large and small businesses alike.
Cons:
- Sales Limits: Each plan comes with an annual sales limit, which may require upgrading to a higher plan as your business grows.
- Additional Costs: While the pricing plans are transparent, extra costs like payment processing fees, premium themes, and custom development can add up.
Conclusion
Choosing BigCommerce as your eCommerce platform means opting for a scalable solution that grows with your business. The tiered pricing plans ensure that there’s a plan for everyone, from small startups to large enterprises. By understanding the nuances of BigCommerce pricing, including additional costs, sales limits, and competitor comparisons, you can make an informed decision about whether this platform is the best fit for your business needs.
If you’re looking for an eCommerce solution with robust features, flexibility, and minimal transaction fees, BigCommerce could be an excellent choice for your growing business. However, it’s important to carefully consider your budget, current needs, and future growth to ensure that you’re selecting the right plan for your business model.
