BigCommerce is a fully managed SaaS platform requiring no coding, while Magento is self-hosted open-source software requiring technical expertise and infrastructure management. BigCommerce suits non-technical merchants; Magento suits enterprises needing complete customization control.
BigCommerce vs Magento — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Enterprise-grade dedicated e-commerce platform for scaling online retail stores.
Enterprise-grade open-source e-commerce platform with advanced features and unlimited scalability
Hosting Model. Setup Time to Launch. Technical Expertise Required. Built-in Features. Monthly Cost (Small Business). Customization Flexibility. Enterprise Scalability
Choose BigCommerce if you want a quick launch (2-4 weeks), minimal technical overhead, predictable monthly costs, and 130+ built-in features without hiring developers. Choose Magento if you're an enterprise needing unlimited customization, have development resources, require complete control over infrastructure, or handle 1M+ SKUs with complex B2B workflows.
BigCommerce: $29.95/month (Standard) | Magento: N/A
BigCommerce: 2,100+ reviews | Magento: N/A
BigCommerce: Native B2B with wholesale pricing and bulk ordering | Magento: N/A
BigCommerce: Amazon, eBay, Shopify, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and more | Magento: N/A
BigCommerce: Advanced APIs with GraphQL, full headless commerce | Magento: N/A
BigCommerce: Multi-coupon stacking, promotion banners, bulk coupon management, automation workflows | Magento: N/A
BigCommerce: Extensive native features included | Magento: N/A
BigCommerce: Superior API access with full headless commerce | Magento: N/A
BigCommerce: $20M+ GMV (optimal fit) | Magento: N/A
BigCommerce: High; requires technical expertise | Magento: N/A
BigCommerce: $29.95-$299.95 | Magento: N/A
BigCommerce: Unlimited (100M+) | Magento: N/A
BigCommerce: 24/7 professional | Magento: N/A
BigCommerce: Generous/Unlimited | Magento: N/A
BigCommerce: Comprehensive (All plans) | Magento: N/A
BigCommerce: More technical, steeper curve | Magento: N/A
BigCommerce: Small to enterprise | Magento: N/A
BigCommerce: 2-4 weeks | Magento: 8-16 weeks
BigCommerce: 130+ pre-built | Magento: Core + 5,000+ extensions
BigCommerce: 500K+ (tested) | Magento: Unlimited (1M+ in production)
BigCommerce: Moderate (API-driven, template modifications) | Magento: Unlimited (full source code access)
BigCommerce: 8,000+ Certified Partners | Magento: 47,000+ Certified Developers
BigCommerce: Fully managed (99.99% SLA) | Magento: Self-managed or Adobe Commerce (managed)
BigCommerce: Minimal (non-technical users OK) | Magento: Expert (PHP/MySQL/Linux required)
BigCommerce: $5,000-$15,000 | Magento: N/A
BigCommerce: 250 calls/15sec | Magento: N/A
Monthly Transaction Processing Limit (Entry Plan)
BigCommerce: 135+ gateways | Magento: N/A
BigCommerce: Advanced (multi-location, variants, SKU tracking) | Magento: N/A
BigCommerce: Amazon, eBay, Walmart, Facebook native | Magento: N/A
BigCommerce: Requires CSS knowledge for advanced customization | Magento: N/A
BigCommerce: $29.95/month | Magento: N/A
BigCommerce: Yes (built-in) | Magento: N/A
BigCommerce: Yes (301 redirects, structured data, XML control) | Magento: N/A
BigCommerce: Amazon, eBay, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Shopify (4+ native) | Magento: N/A
BigCommerce: Full REST API with custom code | Magento: N/A
BigCommerce: 8-12 hours (technical setup) | Magento: N/A
BigCommerce: N/A | Magento: $15,000-$100,000
BigCommerce: N/A | Magento: $125-200 (required)
BigCommerce: N/A | Magento: Enterprise segment leader (~5-10%)
BigCommerce: N/A | Magento: $10-80 (hosting only)
BigCommerce: N/A | Magento: Custom quote (est. $833-4,166/mo)
BigCommerce: N/A | Magento: $20,000-50,000
BigCommerce: N/A | Magento: 100,000+ (tested)
BigCommerce: N/A | Magento: 1,000+ native
BigCommerce: N/A | Magento: 600+ (official marketplace)
Developer Resources (Stack Overflow Tags)
BigCommerce: N/A | Magento: 28,000+ questions
How to choose between BigCommerce and Magento
BigCommerce vs Magento — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for BigCommerce vs Magento. Contains 87 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
BigCommerce vs Magento — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for BigCommerce vs Magento.
Which is cheaper: BigCommerce or Magento?
BigCommerce is cheaper for most SMBs: $29.95-$299.95/month all-inclusive. Magento's open-source version is free, but total cost of ownership is $1,500-$3,000+/month when including hosting ($300-$500), developers ($4,000-$8,000/month), and security. For businesses under $5M revenue, BigCommerce costs 70-80% less.
Can I switch from Magento to BigCommerce?
Yes, but it requires data migration. BigCommerce offers migration services for product catalogs, customers, and orders. However, custom Magento extensions don't transfer—you'll need to use BigCommerce's equivalent features or hire developers to rebuild functionality. Plan 4-8 weeks for full migration.
Which platform is better for large catalogs?
Magento excels with 500K+ SKUs. BigCommerce handles up to 500K efficiently, but Magento (especially Adobe Commerce) is designed for enterprises with 1M+ products and complex product relationships. If you have under 100K SKUs, BigCommerce is adequate and faster to implement.
Do I need developers for BigCommerce or Magento?
BigCommerce: No developers required for basic setup; optional for advanced customization (API development). Magento: Requires experienced PHP developers for initial setup and ongoing customization. BigCommerce reduces time-to-market by 8-12 weeks compared to Magento for non-technical teams.
Which has better payment gateway options?
Magento integrates with 100+ payment gateways natively. BigCommerce supports 65+ payment options including Stripe, PayPal, Square, and Authorize.net. BigCommerce charges 0.5-1.5% transaction fees on some gateways; Magento has no transaction fees but requires configuration by developers.
How to Choose Between BigCommerce and Magento
Hosting Model: BigCommerce has Fully managed SaaS cloud hosting, while Magento has Self-hosted (open-source) or Adobe Commerce (managed).
Setup Time to Launch: BigCommerce has 2-4 weeks, while Magento has 8-16 weeks.
Technical Expertise Required: BigCommerce has Minimal to none, while Magento has Advanced PHP/MySQL knowledge required.
Built-in Features: BigCommerce has 130+ pre-built features included, while Magento has Core features with 5,000+ extensions available.
Monthly Cost (Small Business): BigCommerce has $29.95-$299.95/month, while Magento has $0-$2,000+/month (including hosting, developers).
Customization Flexibility: BigCommerce has Moderate (API-driven), while Magento has Unlimited (full source code access).
Enterprise Scalability: BigCommerce has Up to 500K+ SKUs, while Magento has Unlimited (Adobe Commerce for enterprise).