BigCommerce plan caps: what a growing store pays as sales rise
BigCommerce moves a store to a higher plan as trailing sales cross a cap. This guide sets out the caps, what counts toward them and what each step costs.
The short answer
BigCommerce prices its self-service plans by trailing-12-month sales. Core covers up to $30K of annual sales and upgrades automatically to Growth above it. Growth covers up to $100K and upgrades to Scale. Scale has no cap: it covers up to $33,333 of sales a month and charges 0.9% on sales above that, until the account reaches $2 million over twelve months and moves to Performance.
So the plan is not a choice you make once. It moves with your sales, and each step up costs more whether or not you need a new feature. BigCommerce measures the cap in GMV, which is gross order value reduced by 10%, so the figure can differ from your own sales records.
The plans and their caps
| Plan | Per month, billed annually | Per month, billed monthly | Cap | Above the cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core | $29 | $39 | Up to $30K trailing-12-month GMV | Automatic upgrade to Growth |
| Growth | $79 | $105 | Up to $100K trailing-12-month GMV | Automatic upgrade to Scale |
| Scale | $299 | $399 | Up to $33,333 GMV a month | 0.9% on GMV above the cap; Performance at $2 million trailing-12-month GMV |
| Performance | Custom, from $1,499 billed annually | Not listed | Custom | Custom terms |
What counts toward the cap
BigCommerce's FAQ says eligible sales include the product price net of discounts, plus taxes and shipping. Sales through social commerce channels (Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter) and native eBay and Amazon integrations also count. The plan thresholds use GMV, which is gross order value after a 10% reduction. The page warns that the figure may differ from what you track in your own records and says the difference is expected.
Phone support is included on Growth, Scale and Performance. Chat and email support are available on all plans. Card processing begins at 2.89% + $0.29 per transaction on all plans, for US-based businesses; orders through open payment providers carry a monthly fee that varies by plan, and orders through embedded payment providers do not.
Our arithmetic: what each step costs
Assumptions, all ours: every order counts toward the cap, so the cap in gross order value is the GMV cap divided by 0.9 (GMV is 90% of gross order value). Subscriptions only: card processing, open-provider fees, apps, themes and tax are not included.
- Core to Growth adds $50 a month on annual billing or $66 a month on monthly billing, which is $600 or $792 a year.
- Growth to Scale adds $220 a month on annual billing or $294 a month on monthly billing, which is $2,640 or $3,528 a year.
- Scale overage example: in a month with $50,000 of gross order value, GMV is $45,000. That is $11,667 above the $33,333 cap, and 0.9% of it is about $105. On annual billing the month costs $299 plus about $105, so about $404.
| Trailing gross order value (ours) | Plan | Per month, annual billing | Per month, monthly billing | Per year, annual billing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Up to about $33,300 | Core | $29 | $39 | $348 |
| About $33,400 to $111,100 | Growth | $79 | $105 | $948 |
| Above $111,100, up to about $37,000 a month | Scale | $299 | $399 | $3,588 |
Before you choose BigCommerce
Our reading, not vendor advice:
- Read the cap as a growth bill. Because plans follow trailing sales, a strong season keeps counting for a whole year, and a store that crosses a cap is moved up automatically. Check the caps against your best year, not your average.
- Count your costs at the next step, not only today. The step from Growth to Scale is the largest in the table above.
- Decide annual or monthly billing on how sure you are. The pricing page lists both prices; the cheaper annual price commits you for the term, and the monthly price keeps the exit open.
- Compare on the same terms. See e-commerce platform fees, Shopify vs WooCommerce and Shopify alternatives for how other platforms charge as stores grow, and the BigCommerce product page for the catalogue's plan facts.
Editorial opinion
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a contract?
BigCommerce's pricing page says Core, Growth and Scale have no contract and can be cancelled at any time in the control panel, and that billing stops immediately if you cancel. Contracts are available for the Performance plan.
- What happens if I do not upgrade after the trial?
The page says BigCommerce keeps your data for 90 days. During that time customers cannot access the store and you can only log in to choose a plan. After 90 days the store is deleted and cannot be restored.
- How do I change my plan?
The FAQ says you can manage your plan from your account under Account, then Upgrade Plan, where your current plan and the options are shown.
- Which sales count toward the cap?
Product price net of discounts, plus taxes and shipping, including social commerce and native eBay and Amazon sales. The cap is evaluated on GMV, which is gross order value after a 10% reduction.
Sources
Nikita Latyshev is the founder of LATYNEX Labs, an independent publication about business software and infrastructure. LATYNEX Labs is published by Latynex Trade OÜ, Estonia. How the site checks facts, handles sponsorship and earns money is described on its methodology, editorial policy and affiliate disclosure pages.