BigCommerce

BigCommerce is an open SaaS ecommerce platform built for mid-market and enterprise businesses. Unlike Shopify, it charges zero transaction fees on any payment gateway and offers stronger native B2B features, making it a strong choice for stores with complex catalogs, wholesale operations, or custom checkout requirements.

Category: Ecommerce (also: Cms)

Author: Atomic Glue Editorial Team

## Definition

BigCommerce is a SaaS ecommerce platform launched in 2009, designed for mid-market and enterprise merchants who need more flexibility than Shopify offers without the infrastructure headaches of self-hosted solutions like [WooCommerce](/glossary/woocommerce). BigCommerce calls itself an 'open SaaS' platform, meaning it provides the convenience of hosted software (security, updates, compliance) with more API access and customization freedom than typical SaaS platforms. Key differentiators include zero transaction fees on any payment gateway, native B2B features (customer groups, catalog permissions, quote management), and stronger support for [Headless Commerce](/glossary/headless-commerce) via its API-first architecture. BigCommerce powers a smaller overall market share than Shopify but has a concentrated presence in the mid-market and enterprise segments.

## Open SaaS: What Makes BigCommerce Different

BigCommerce's open SaaS model is their primary differentiator. Here's what it means in practice: - **Zero transaction fees.** Use any payment gateway (Stripe, PayPal, Square, Adyen) without paying BigCommerce a percentage. Shopify charges extra fees unless you use Shopify Payments. - **API-first architecture.** BigCommerce's APIs are designed for deep customization. You can build custom storefronts, headless experiences, and complex integrations without fighting platform constraints. - **Multi-storefront management.** One BigCommerce installation can power multiple storefronts from a single backend. Useful for B2B + B2C on the same inventory. - **No platform lock-in on themes.** BigCommerce themes use standard HTML, CSS, and JavaScript (Stencil framework). You're not locked into a proprietary template language like Shopify's Liquid. These features make BigCommerce a natural fit for businesses that outgrew Shopify's constraints but aren't ready for a fully custom enterprise stack.

## BigCommerce vs Shopify: Key Differences

The BigCommerce vs [Shopify](/glossary/shopify) decision often comes down to business model and scale: **Transaction fees:** BigCommerce charges zero on any gateway. Shopify charges 0.5%+ on non-Shopify Payments transactions. **B2B capabilities:** BigCommerce has native B2B features (catalogs, customer groups, pricing rules, quotes). Shopify requires apps or Shopify Plus. **Headless commerce:** BigCommerce has a more mature headless architecture with GraphQL storefront API and better catalog management for large product sets. **Ecosystem size:** Shopify's app store (8,000+ apps) dwarfs BigCommerce's (1,000+). If you need a specific integration, it's more likely to exist on Shopify. **Total cost of ownership:** For most stores under $1M in revenue, Shopify is cheaper. For stores with high transaction volumes or B2B operations, BigCommerce's zero transaction fees often make it cheaper at scale. Atomic Glue recommends BigCommerce when clients need zero-fee payment flexibility, complex B2B workflows, or a more open API surface for custom integrations.

## Headless Commerce with BigCommerce

BigCommerce has invested heavily in headless capabilities. The platform offers: - **GraphQL Storefront API:** Query products, categories, customers, and cart data with a modern GraphQL API. - **Channel Management:** Manage sales across multiple channels (web, mobile, social, marketplaces) from one backend. - **BigCommerce + Next.js / React:** Starter kits and reference architectures for building custom storefronts. - **Catalyst:** BigCommerce's opinionated frontend framework for rapid headless storefront development. This makes BigCommerce a strong choice for brands that want the backend convenience of SaaS with a fully custom frontend experience. [Composable Commerce](/glossary/composable-commerce) architects often pair BigCommerce with [Contentful](/glossary/contentful) or [Sanity](/glossary/sanity) for content management, and Algolia for search.

## Common questions

Q: Is BigCommerce better than Shopify?

A: For B2B, multi-storefront, or high-volume stores where transaction fees matter, yes. For smaller stores, the app ecosystem and ease of use favor Shopify.

Q: Does BigCommerce have transaction fees?

A: No. BigCommerce charges zero transaction fees on any payment gateway. This is their biggest differentiator from Shopify.

Q: Is BigCommerce good for B2B?

A: Yes. Native B2B features including customer groups, catalog restrictions, and quote management are built into the platform.

## Key takeaways

• BigCommerce offers open SaaS ecommerce with zero transaction fees on any payment gateway.
• Native B2B features and multi-storefront management differentiate it from Shopify.
• API-first architecture makes BigCommerce a strong headless commerce platform.
• Choose BigCommerce for complex catalogs, B2B workflows, or when avoiding platform transaction fees.

## Related entries

• [Shopify](atomicglue.co/glossary/shopify)
• [Headless Commerce](atomicglue.co/glossary/headless-commerce)
• [Composable Commerce](atomicglue.co/glossary/composable-commerce)
• [WooCommerce](atomicglue.co/glossary/woocommerce)

Last updated July 2025. Permalink: atomicglue.co/glossary/bigcommerce