BigCommerce
BigCommerce is an enterprise-grade SaaS e-commerce platform that provides a robust foundation for online stores without the infrastructure overhead of self-hosted solutions.
Key Features
- Hosted solution: No server management or security patching
- Built-in features: SEO, multi-channel selling, abandoned cart recovery
- Headless commerce: Decouple frontend from commerce engine
- B2B capabilities: Price lists, quote management, company accounts
- Multi-storefront: Run multiple stores from one account
BigCommerce vs Shopify
| Aspect | BigCommerce | Shopify |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in features | More included | Requires apps |
| Transaction fees | None | Unless using Shopify Payments |
| Customisation | More flexible | App-dependent |
| B2B | Native support | Limited |
| Developer experience | REST + GraphQL | Liquid templates, APIs |
Headless Architecture
BigCommerce excels as a headless backend:
Frontend (Next.js, Nuxt, etc.) → BigCommerce APIs → Orders, Catalog, Cart
Benefits:
- Full control over frontend experience
- Use modern frameworks like Next.js or Nuxt
- Better performance with static generation
- Omnichannel content delivery
What We Like
- No transaction fees: Unlike Shopify, no extra fees on sales
- Feature-rich out of box: Less reliance on third-party apps
- Strong APIs: Well-documented REST and GraphQL APIs
- B2B features: Enterprise features without enterprise complexity
What We Don't Like
- Smaller ecosystem: Fewer themes and apps than Shopify
- Less brand recognition: Clients often default to asking for Shopify
- Pricing: Can be expensive for high-volume stores
- Learning curve: More features means more to learn
When to Choose BigCommerce
- High-volume stores wanting to avoid transaction fees
- Stores needing advanced built-in features without apps
- Multi-storefront requirements
- Headless commerce projects
- B2B e-commerce requirements