BigCommerce Limitations
BigCommerce is a feature-rich e-commerce platform known for its scalability, built-in tools, and ease of use. Designed to cater to businesses of all sizes, it supports both physical and digital product sales while offering robust integrations and customizations. However, despite its strengths, BigCommerce has certain limitations that sellers must be aware of before committing to the platform. This extensive overview highlights these constraints, addressing aspects such as pricing, customization, integrations, and operational restrictions.
1. Cost and Pricing Constraints
Subscription Tiers
BigCommerce offers multiple pricing plans: Standard, Plus, Pro, and Enterprise. While the features increase with each tier, the plans are notably more expensive than some competitors like Shopify or WooCommerce.
Pricing tiers are based on annual sales volume, which means sellers are automatically upgraded to higher-priced plans as their revenue grows:
Standard Plan: $50,000/year cap
Plus Plan: $180,000/year cap
Pro Plan: $400,000/year cap (with an additional fee for every $200K over the limit)
Hidden Costs
While BigCommerce advertises no transaction fees, sellers still face costs associated with payment gateway processing fees (e.g., PayPal, Stripe).
Add-ons for advanced features or integrations can further inflate monthly expenses.
Impact on Sellers
Smaller businesses with limited budgets may find the platform too costly, especially as their revenue grows.
The pricing model can feel restrictive for fast-scaling businesses forced into higher tiers.
Tips for Sellers
Monitor sales volume carefully to budget for plan upgrades as your store scales.
Explore whether the included features justify the higher costs compared to alternatives.
2. Limited Design Customization
Theme Flexibility
BigCommerce offers pre-designed themes, but the free themes are limited in number and functionality compared to platforms like Shopify.
Customization of themes often requires knowledge of HTML, CSS, and the proprietary Stencil framework.
Limited Creative Control
Sellers may find design flexibility restrictive, as deeper customization options require hiring developers or purchasing premium themes.
The lack of full access to the backend code limits sellers looking for a highly customized user experience.
Impact on Sellers
Sellers desiring unique branding may feel constrained by the platform’s design capabilities.
Customizations can become costly if developers are needed for advanced design modifications.
Tips for Sellers
Start with a premium theme that aligns closely with your brand’s vision to minimize the need for extensive customization.
Partner with a BigCommerce developer for complex design projects.
3. Complexity of Multi-Currency and Multi-Language Features
Multi-Currency Support
BigCommerce supports multi-currency transactions, but the feature is not fully customizable. For example:
It requires third-party integrations for complete flexibility in currency conversions and display.
Pricing rules for different currencies are limited, affecting international sellers.
Multi-Language Support
BigCommerce does not natively support multiple languages for storefronts. Sellers must rely on third-party apps or workarounds to create a multilingual store.
The lack of built-in language-switching features increases costs and complexity.
Impact on Sellers
International sellers face challenges creating seamless shopping experiences for customers in different regions.
Limited localization options can deter international customers.
Tips for Sellers
Use third-party apps like Weglot for multilingual functionality and multi-currency tools to enhance global selling.
Consider whether BigCommerce aligns with your international expansion goals.
4. App Ecosystem Limitations
Smaller App Marketplace
BigCommerce’s app marketplace is smaller compared to competitors like Shopify, limiting the range of third-party tools and extensions.
Many advanced features, such as loyalty programs, advanced analytics, or custom shipping rules, require external apps, some of which may not be fully compatible.
Reliance on Third-Party Tools
Even basic functionalities, like advanced reporting or inventory management, may require third-party integrations.
Impact on Sellers
Sellers may struggle to find apps that meet their specific needs.
The cost of third-party apps can add up quickly, increasing overall operational expenses.
Tips for Sellers
Before committing, evaluate whether the available apps fulfill your business’s requirements.
Use BigCommerce’s built-in features wherever possible to minimize reliance on paid extensions.
5. Payment Gateway Limitations
Gateway Restrictions
BigCommerce supports popular payment gateways like PayPal, Stripe, and Authorize.net, but not all are available globally.
Some sellers may face higher transaction fees depending on their chosen gateway and location.
Preferred Payment Partners
BigCommerce has partnered with PayPal for lower transaction fees, but sellers using non-preferred gateways miss out on these benefits.
Impact on Sellers
Limited gateway options in certain regions can hinder sellers looking to expand internationally.
Non-preferred gateways may incur higher costs, reducing profitability.
Tips for Sellers
Research payment gateways supported in your target regions before launching.
Consider using PayPal for lower transaction fees if it aligns with customer preferences.
6. Advanced SEO Constraints
SEO Limitations
BigCommerce offers basic SEO tools like customizable meta descriptions, page titles, and URL structures. However, sellers may encounter:
Lack of control over some technical SEO elements, such as advanced redirects or canonical tags.
Duplicate content issues due to default URL structures for categories and products.
Impact on Sellers
Advanced SEO limitations can hinder organic growth, especially for sellers in competitive niches.
Resolving duplicate content issues may require additional plugins or developer intervention.
Tips for Sellers
Use SEO tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush to audit your store’s SEO performance regularly.
Invest in plugins or custom development to address technical SEO challenges.
7. Limited Customization for Checkout
Checkout Restrictions
BigCommerce’s native checkout experience is streamlined but lacks flexibility. Sellers cannot fully customize the checkout page without using third-party tools or coding.
Limited checkout options may not align with every business’s unique needs, such as custom upsells or dynamic field inputs.
Impact on Sellers
A rigid checkout process can reduce conversions, especially for businesses requiring specialized features.
Tips for Sellers
Use the BigCommerce Checkout SDK or apps to customize the checkout process.
A/B test your checkout experience to optimize for conversions.
8. Lack of Full Control Over Store Data
Data Ownership Concerns
While BigCommerce allows sellers to export data, it is not as flexible as self-hosted platforms like WooCommerce, where sellers have complete ownership.
Sellers reliant on BigCommerce’s ecosystem may find it challenging to migrate to other platforms without losing some functionality.
Impact on Sellers
Sellers may feel locked into the BigCommerce ecosystem over time.
Data migrations can become cumbersome and expensive.
Tips for Sellers
Regularly back up store data and maintain records of critical information.
Consider whether BigCommerce’s long-term ecosystem aligns with your growth plans.
9. No Native Blogging Platform
Blogging Challenges
Unlike Shopify or WordPress, BigCommerce’s blogging capabilities are limited and lack the advanced features required for effective content marketing.
Sellers must use third-party platforms or apps for a better blogging experience.
Impact on Sellers
Sellers relying on content marketing may find it harder to execute campaigns directly within BigCommerce.
Tips for Sellers
Integrate your store with WordPress for advanced blogging and SEO capabilities.
Use third-party tools to link your blog and store seamlessly.
10. Limited B2B Features on Lower Tiers
B2B Constraints
BigCommerce offers robust B2B features, such as customer-specific pricing, bulk ordering, and quote generation. However, these features are limited to the higher-tier Enterprise plans.
Impact on Sellers
Small or mid-sized B2B sellers may struggle to afford the higher plans required to unlock these features.
Tips for Sellers
Assess whether the available B2B tools in lower tiers meet your requirements before upgrading.
BigCommerce is an excellent platform for sellers looking for a scalable and feature-rich solution, but it has limitations that could impact certain business models. Its cost structure, design constraints, reliance on third-party tools, and limitations in international and B2B selling may be challenging for some sellers. However, with proper planning and third-party integrations, many of these challenges can be mitigated, allowing sellers to leverage BigCommerce’s strengths effectively.
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