BigCommerce vs NetSuite SuiteCommerce: Choosing the Best eCommerce Platform

BigCommerce and NetSuite SuiteCommerce are both powerful ecommerce platforms but serve different needs. BigCommerce is a standalone SaaS platform known for quick setup, rich out-of-the-box features, and a wide app ecosystem. NetSuite SuiteCommerce is an integrated platform that connects directly with NetSuite’s ERP, offering unified data and seamless omnichannel management. If you want ease of use and flexibility to integrate with various systems, BigCommerce is attractive. 

Choosing an ecommerce platform is a pivotal decision, especially in the U.S. market where customer expectations are sky-high. In the introduction below, we’ll break down the core differences between BigCommerce and NetSuite SuiteCommerce, two platforms often considered by growing businesses. We’ll touch on ease of use, integration, scalability, B2B capabilities, and total cost of ownership – all crucial factors. 

BigCommerce vs SuiteCommerce isn’t about which is universally better, but which is better for your business model. This introduction will set the stage by highlighting each platform’s strengths and the scenarios they’re best suited for, helping you approach the detailed comparison that follows with the right context.

Platform Overview: BigCommerce and SuiteCommerce

BigCommerce is a leading cloud-based ecommerce platform (SaaS) that allows businesses to create online stores without hosting their own software. It’s feature-rich for retail ecommerce – providing an easy-to-use store builder, responsive themes, a robust product management system, and built-in tools for SEO, marketing, and analytics. One hallmark of BigCommerce is its openness: it’s an API-driven platform that integrates with a variety of third-party apps and can support headless implementations (using BigCommerce purely as backend via APIs). BigCommerce serves small startups to large enterprises, and offers tiers like Standard, Plus, Pro, and Enterprise to scale up functionality as a business grows.

NetSuite SuiteCommerce is an ecommerce solution within the Oracle NetSuite ecosystem. Unlike standalone platforms, SuiteCommerce is natively integrated with NetSuite’s ERP and CRM. There are two main versions: SuiteCommerce Standard (often just called SuiteCommerce) for simpler needs with automatic updates, and SuiteCommerce Advanced (SCA) for full code customization and more complex use cases. SuiteCommerce is not a plug-and-play SaaS in the same way BigCommerce is; it generally requires a NetSuite implementation and configuration. Its strength lies in unifying ecommerce with operational data – your online orders, inventory, product info, customer accounts, etc., are all stored in the single NetSuite database. For businesses already on NetSuite ERP, SuiteCommerce offers a tightly integrated online channel.

In short, BigCommerce is a turnkey ecommerce platform great for quick launches and independent web operations, whereas SuiteCommerce is an integrated commerce module ideal for companies who want one system for both online sales and back-end management. This fundamental difference influences many of the points of comparison. A telling comment from BigCommerce’s own VP of B2B, Lance Owide, frames it: “SuiteCommerce promotes an all-in-one approach, but often falls short for speed and flexibility; BigCommerce delivers where it matters: faster time to market and adaptability”. We’ll examine such claims in detail, but it encapsulates how the two platforms position themselves.

Now, let’s dive deeper into key comparison areas: ease of use and setup, features and customization, integration and ecosystem, B2B capabilities, cost, and scalability.

Ease of Use and Setup

When it comes to getting your store up and running, BigCommerce has the edge in simplicity and speed. As a SaaS platform, BigCommerce provides a user-friendly control panel where non-technical users can:

• Choose and customize themes using a drag-and-drop page builder,
• Add products and categories with straightforward forms,
• Set up payment gateways and shipping rules via built-in options or one-click app installs.

Many merchants can build a functional BigCommerce store in a matter of days or weeks, without needing developers. There’s also no software to install or servers to maintain – BigCommerce handles hosting, security (PCI compliance is built-in), and updates automatically. This low technical overhead means your team can focus on store content and marketing.

SuiteCommerce, by contrast, requires more upfront work. Implementing SuiteCommerce often involves:

• Provisioning a NetSuite environment (if you don’t have one already).
• Configuring the SuiteCommerce site through NetSuite’s backend (creating website records, domains, etc.).
• Customizing the front-end via SuiteCommerce’s themes or custom development. Even small tweaks might require some knowledge of NetSuite’s theme/template structure.
• Potential involvement of a NetSuite Solution Provider or web developer to get it looking and working as desired.

In terms of timeline, launching a SuiteCommerce site is typically measured in weeks to a few months, depending on complexity. For instance, BigCommerce touts that brands can launch new storefronts in weeks (or even faster for additional storefronts), whereas SuiteCommerce launches have historically taken longer due to the tight coupling with ERP processes and the need for NetSuite-specific expertise.

Admin User Experience

BigCommerce’s admin is geared towards ease – it’s generally praised for an intuitive interface where business users (like a marketing manager) can create promotions or edit content quickly. SuiteCommerce’s admin experience is basically the NetSuite interface. This is powerful (you get all the ERP data at your fingertips) but can be less intuitive for purely ecommerce-focused staff and often requires training. For example, setting up a promotion in SuiteCommerce might mean creating a NetSuite promotion record and configuring its scope, which is more complex than using a visual coupon builder.

Content Management

BigCommerce has a built-in CMS for pages and a blogging feature, enabling quick content additions. SuiteCommerce relies on NetSuite’s Site Management Tools and potentially the CMS-like capabilities in NetSuite (which are improving but not as sleek as typical CMS platforms). Without SuiteCommerce’s Extension framework or additional customization, making significant layout changes could involve developer input.

To summarize ease of use:

• BigCommerce is generally plug-and-play, good for teams without deep technical skills or dedicated IT support. You can launch quickly and make many changes on your own. 
• SuiteCommerce has a steeper learning curve and setup cost. It shines when properly configured, but getting there is more of a project. It’s usually best for organizations that have an IT team or a partner to manage the initial implementation and any complex changes. 

Features and Customization

Both platforms are feature-rich, but there are differences in what’s native vs what requires customization or apps:

Out-of-the-Box Features

• BigCommerce: Provides a lot out-of-the-box – unlimited product variants, gift cards, customer reviews (via a built-in integration), SEO-friendly URLs, faceted search, one-page checkout, and even some B2B features on higher plans (customer groups with special pricing, for example). It also supports multi-currency pricing natively and recently multi-storefront management (one account, multiple storefronts) which is great for managing several brands. Many features can be toggled on in settings without extra cost. 
• SuiteCommerce: Covers core ecommerce needs – product catalog, search, shopping cart & checkout, promotions, customer account portal, etc. For advanced things like wish lists, SuiteCommerce has an extension or you might custom-build it. Since SuiteCommerce ties into NetSuite, it naturally handles complex pricing (like volume discounts, customer-specific pricing) very well using ERP data. Features like omnichannel “save the sale” (order in-store for home delivery) can be done elegantly with SuiteCommerce + NetSuite, which is more involved if you tried that with BigCommerce (you’d need separate systems talking). However, SuiteCommerce’s out-of-the-box front-end might not have as many bells and whistles as a platform like BigCommerce or Shopify, which have been competing in feature checklists for pure ecommerce operations for years.

Customization

• BigCommerce: You can customize via themes (using HTML/CSS), and it has a modular front-end framework called Stencil for deeper customization. It allows adding scripts, customizing checkout (on Enterprise plan or using their Checkout SDK), etc. If something isn’t built-in, often there’s an app in their marketplace. Because BigCommerce is API-first, you can integrate or build custom functionality externally if needed. There’s a large ecosystem of apps for things like product recommendations, advanced reviews, loyalty programs, etc., which you can plug in without heavy development. 
• SuiteCommerce: Being part of NetSuite, serious customization often involves developers (SuiteScript for backend logic, and SuiteCommerce’s frontend uses a Backbone.js framework in SCA). SuiteCommerce Advanced is highly customizable – you can change almost anything given coding resources. You can also install extensions (NetSuite introduced an Extension Manager to add pre-built enhancements). However, customizing SuiteCommerce generally requires NetSuite-specific knowledge and testing to ensure updates don’t break your custom code. BigCommerce’s Lance Owide argued that SuiteCommerce’s tight coupling means “frontend changes become ERP projects” – implying less agility. There’s truth that deploying changes in SuiteCommerce might need more careful coordination (since it can affect ERP processes), whereas BigCommerce is more decoupled. 

Updates and New Features

BigCommerce pushes new features regularly and automatically (SaaS model). SuiteCommerce updates come with NetSuite’s release cycle (twice a year major releases). BigCommerce’s updates appear for all users, e.g., when they release a new payment integration, it’s available to you immediately. SuiteCommerce updates you may need to apply (especially SCA version upgrades are manual). BigCommerce’s continuous delivery means you get improvements without effort, while SuiteCommerce gives you control but you must plan upgrades (and test your customizations against them).

Integration with Other Tools

BigCommerce has many one-click integrations (with email marketing tools, accounting software like QuickBooks, etc.). SuiteCommerce’s killer integration is with NetSuite itself (so ERP, CRM are internal). For other integrations, SuiteCommerce users might use integration platforms (Celigo, etc.) or SuiteTalk APIs to connect external services. BigCommerce listed integrations like HubSpot, Salesforce, search engines like Algolia readily, highlighting you’re not locked in – you can use “best-of-breed” solutions with BigCommerce easily. SuiteCommerce expects NetSuite to be the center, which is great if NetSuite covers that need (like using NetSuite CRM instead of Salesforce), but if you want an external tool, you integrate it.

In summary, BigCommerce offers lots of features and easier front-end tweaks through apps and themes, making it very marketer-friendly. SuiteCommerce offers deep customization aligned with your business logic and can do virtually anything with the right coding, making it very IT/developer-friendly and tailored. But that customization in SuiteCommerce can be a double-edged sword (more power, more complexity).

Integration and Ecosystem

Integration is a pivotal difference

• BigCommerce Integration Approach: It’s a standalone platform that integrates outward. BigCommerce must connect to your other systems (ERP, CRM, etc.) via integration middleware or apps. They highlight partnerships with integrators like Celigo, Patchworks, etc., to connect BigCommerce to systems like NetSuite. BigCommerce’s ecosystem includes many third-party apps for various functions (accounting sync, inventory sync, etc.). The positive is you can pick and choose components – for example, use BigCommerce for storefront, but use a specialized CRM or PIM of your choice and integrate it. The negative is, without integration, BigCommerce is just an island – companies serious about operations will have to invest in connecting it to back-end software. BigCommerce often touts that forward-looking brands prefer not to be tied into one ecosystem and instead integrate best-in-class tools, which resonates with some IT philosophies (composability). 
• SuiteCommerce Integration Approach: It is the integrated approach. SuiteCommerce + NetSuite ERP means no integration needed between your store and your business data – that’s a huge selling point. Your orders, inventory, financials, and customer records are unified. This can significantly simplify architecture and reduce errors (no syncing issues). However, you are then largely in the Oracle NetSuite ecosystem. You certainly can integrate NetSuite to other external systems (it has robust APIs), but SuiteCommerce itself isn’t usually integrated with a separate ERP – it is the ERP. So the integration question shifts to, do you need to integrate NetSuite with anything else? You have an all-in-one solution if you’re all-in on NetSuite (ERP, CRM, or maybe SuitePeople for HR). Some companies like that simplicity and one throat to choke for support (single vendor). Others fear being too dependent on one vendor’s stack.

Public Integrations & Connectors

• BigCommerce provides a NetSuite connector (via partners). They mention an Oracle NetSuite Connector in their comparison, priced ~$83/month, though noting it has limited flexibility. They list alternatives like Patchworks, Celigo, etc., each with pros/cons and costs. This highlights that if you go BigCommerce + NetSuite, you’ll be paying for an integration solution and perhaps dealing with mapping data between two systems. It works (many do it), but it adds another moving part. 
• SuiteCommerce doesn’t need a connector for NetSuite (it’s native). If you needed to integrate say, Salesforce CRM or a 3PL, you’d use NetSuite’s integration tools to connect those. So the integration effort is put toward those systems, not between your store and ERP.

Ecosystem

• BigCommerce has a large ecosystem of agencies, tech partners, and an app marketplace. You can often find a plug-in for new functionality or hire any number of frontend developers who know BigCommerce. They are also MACH alliance certified (they push modern architecture approach). 
• NetSuite SuiteCommerce’s ecosystem is more specialized. You’d likely work with certified NetSuite Solution Providers or SuiteCommerce developers. The SuiteApp marketplace has many add-ons for NetSuite (some of which enhance SuiteCommerce too). But it’s not as retail-focused as BigCommerce’s app store; it’s more ERP-focused add-ons. So for example, adding a livechat widget or heatmap tracker on BigCommerce might be an app install; on SuiteCommerce, it might be a manual code addition (possible, but not one-click).

Lock-in vs Flexibility

BigCommerce argues that SuiteCommerce locks you into NetSuite’s release cycle and ecosystem. For instance, if you wanted to use a different CMS for content marketing, BigCommerce could integrate whereas SuiteCommerce is less flexible there. On the other hand, NetSuite advocates would say being in one ecosystem lowers total complexity and you’re “locked-in” by choice because it works well together.

Ultimately, integration and ecosystem come down to your philosophy:

• If you prefer an all-in-one unified system, SuiteCommerce wins. 
• If you prefer a mix-and-match tech stack where you pick the best CMS, best ERP, etc., then BigCommerce provides a strong storefront that can glue to your other choices, and you might avoid SuiteCommerce to not double up on ERP.

B2B and Omnichannel Capabilities

For businesses selling B2B or running multiple channels (online, in-store, etc.), each platform offers something:

B2B Ecommerce

• BigCommerce: It has a dedicated B2B edition (especially after acquiring an ERP called Feedonomics and building out B2B features). BigCommerce supports customer groups with specific pricing, bulk pricing lists, the ability to offer credit terms (through apps or an integration), and quote request functionality (via an app or customization). The BigCommerce blog mentions hardware supplier examples and such, indicating it can serve B2B needs. BigCommerce’s approach to B2B often relies on apps for advanced features like punchout catalogs or complex quotes. 
• SuiteCommerce: NetSuite inherently handles B2B very well because it’s built on ERP. SuiteCommerce allows a logged-in experience where customers can see their negotiated prices, place orders from saved lists, view credit balance, etc., drawing on NetSuite’s sales order and AR data. It supports things like requiring PO numbers on checkout, and can integrate with NetSuite’s CRM for sales reps to assist in order entry. SuiteCommerce MyAccount is essentially a B2B portal out-of-the-box. If a company’s B2B sales involve heavy back-office processes (like custom quoting, contracts, etc.), SuiteCommerce tied to NetSuite can be streamlined whereas BigCommerce would have to integrate out to an ERP to replicate that. 

Omnichannel (Physical + Online)

• BigCommerce: Strictly an online platform, but it can integrate to POS systems (they have integrations with Square, etc.), and support buy online pick-up in store via third-party solutions. Multi-storefront is a new feature that helps manage multiple sites. But BigCommerce by itself doesn’t handle in-store transactions or inventory across stores – you’d rely on your ERP or a POS for that. 
• SuiteCommerce: Because it’s NetSuite, it offers SuiteCommerce InStore for POS, which uses the same database. This means truly unified omnichannel: a store associate can look up an order placed online yesterday, or fulfill an online order from store stock, etc., without any integration needed. This is a big advantage if you run brick-and-mortar and online together. RSM’s case study quotes about omnichannel synergy (like checking inventory and customer info via mobile in-store) illustrate what you can do with SuiteCommerce + ERP + POS together. Achieving that with BigCommerce would require more patchwork integration among separate systems (ERP, POS, and ecommerce).

International/B2B2C

NetSuite OneWorld is a boon for international multi-site management, consolidating subsidiaries and currencies. BigCommerce can run multiple international sites with different currencies and languages through Multi-Storefront, but you’d still need global operations tied together in an ERP (like NetSuite ironically). So a pattern could be BigCommerce as front-ends, NetSuite OneWorld as back-end. Or SuiteCommerce OneWorld doing everything in one.

In B2B, BigCommerce highlights companies switching from SuiteCommerce to them for flexibility (Orangetheory Fitness example, possibly not pure B2B but franchise B2B-ish model). They claim those companies needed more agility. But if a company’s main focus is a flawless integration between ecommerce and complex B2B operations, SuiteCommerce is often favored. Many B2B operations (like wholesale distributors) use SuiteCommerce to let their customers self-service because it ties to everything (inventory allocations, special pricing, credit limits). BigCommerce can approximate this but would need to continuously sync with an ERP for accurate data.

So, for pure ecommerce companies or those who want flexibility, BigCommerce can deliver B2B via its openness (with some assembly required). For companies where ecommerce is one part of a larger wholesale or omnichannel retail business, SuiteCommerce’s unified approach can be more robust.

Performance and Scalability

Performance

Both platforms can deliver fast sites, but the difference lies in who manages it:

• BigCommerce has a modern CDN-backed infrastructure and does automatic scaling behind the scenes (since it’s SaaS). It’s known for solid uptime and speed, and they handle optimization at the platform level. For example, if your traffic spikes, BigCommerce automatically allocates more resources. As a user, you have limited server-side control, but also you don’t need to worry about it – you focus on front-end optimizations (images, etc.). 
• SuiteCommerce performance relies partly on NetSuite’s cloud (which is robust, but you might have more to consider like ensuring your NetSuite integration scripts are efficient). Some have experienced SuiteCommerce pages can be a bit slower if not optimized, due to heavy lifting of data. However, recent versions and using CDN caching can mitigate that. It’s something you tune with your partner (like enabling SuiteCommerce’s content delivery capabilities, optimizing field sets, etc.). If everything is within NetSuite, one could argue it avoids latency between systems, but NetSuite pages can still be heavy if not tuned.

BigCommerce’s marketing claims SuiteCommerce’s tight coupling “slows things down” – e.g., needing NetSuite developers to update content which slows marketing down. Performance isn’t just load speed but also agility in updates. BigCommerce definitely lets you iterate faster on the site (in terms of adding a banner or landing page) vs SuiteCommerce which might require more process to do the same.

Scalability

• BigCommerce: Very scalable for traffic and expansion. Some large brands use it (e.g., Skullcandy, Ben & Jerry’s). You can scale to multiple stores, multi-currency, and large catalogs (it handles thousands of SKUs). If you outgrow BigCommerce’s built-in features, you integrate more apps or possibly consider an enterprise platform like Salesforce Commerce Cloud – but many mid-market companies find BigCommerce can scale well into tens or hundreds of millions in online revenue. 
• SuiteCommerce: Scales in the sense that enterprises use NetSuite ERP, so the data and transaction volume can grow. If you plan to triple sales, SuiteCommerce can handle it, though you might monitor that your NetSuite concurrency (the number of simultaneous processes) is sufficient and maybe upgrade your NetSuite service tier as needed. Functionally, scaling by adding new channels or business models means enabling those NetSuite modules as discussed – which is a planned scaling. So you scale in a controlled way. You won’t hit a “hard limit” in SuiteCommerce per se, but scaling could require more configuration or license adjustments (e.g., add more user licenses, more modules, etc.).

Continuous Improvement:

• BigCommerce, being SaaS, constantly improves performance (like integrating Google AMP or optimized image delivery) and everyone benefits. 
• SuiteCommerce improves with NetSuite releases, but you may have to actively implement those improvements (like migrating to a newer SCA version to get performance gains, which is a project).

In practice, both can be very fast and scalable if implemented right. There are stories on both sides: some SuiteCommerce sites are extremely fast (especially if heavily cached and using latest SCA) and some BigCommerce sites are blazing too. And vice versa – misconfigure either and it can be slow.

Cost and ROI

Finally, let’s talk dollars:

BigCommerce Cost

BigCommerce charges a monthly platform fee. For Enterprise, it’s negotiated (and often based on GMV). Mid-market might pay something like $1-5k per month for enterprise plans (smaller plans are cheaper but have sales thresholds). In addition, you budget for any apps (some free, some subscription), and possibly a connector to your ERP (e.g., Celigo charges might be a few hundred to thousands per month). Implementation costs can be moderate if you use a stock theme or higher if you do custom design and integration work. However, ongoing, BigCommerce is pretty predictable – SaaS fee + maybe app fees + credit card processing fees (like any platform).

SuiteCommerce Cost

SuiteCommerce is an add-on to NetSuite. NetSuite pricing is typically an annual license encompassing ERP + any modules + user count. SuiteCommerce will add to that license. Exact figures depend on your NetSuite contract; SuiteCommerce might be, say, an extra few thousand per month (ballpark) but often it’s bundled in SuiteCommerce editions of NetSuite. You’ll also have implementation costs – likely higher than a typical BigCommerce launch because you might engage a specialized partner and invest more time. There’s no separate hosting fee beyond your NetSuite subscription. Also consider NetSuite has a minimum spend (it’s generally more costly than just an ecommerce SaaS alone because it includes ERP). For companies that need NetSuite ERP anyway, adding SuiteCommerce could be cost-efficient compared to running an ERP + separate ecommerce + integration costs.

Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)

BigCommerce argues it has lower TCO, citing merchants who saw 211% ROI and payback in 8 months on BigCommerce due to lower operational costs and fast implementation. They point out SuiteCommerce’s hidden costs: needing SuiteScript developers for customizations, manual upgrades, etc., which can add up. SuiteCommerce does require specialized talent to maintain if heavily customized, which could mean a higher ongoing cost (either internal or consultant). BigCommerce tends to require less technical maintenance (they handle updates).

Conversely, if you consider the cost of integration and potential errors of a two-system setup, SuiteCommerce might save money by eliminating integration overhead and improving efficiency (employees not re-entering data, etc.). The ROI of SuiteCommerce often comes from that operational efficiency and better data visibility. If those things save you enough labor or increase sales through better customer experience, that offsets its cost.

For a smaller business, BigCommerce is usually cheaper because you can avoid the big NetSuite license entirely. For a mid-to-large company already budgeting for NetSuite ERP, SuiteCommerce might be incremental cost that delivers big benefits.

As one Reddit user summarized such debates: “NetSuite (SuiteCommerce) can do almost anything you want as long as you are willing to put in the effort (and cost) to configure or customize it. BigCommerce’s approach is more “what you see is what you get for a known price, and extend via apps.”

Many businesses do a detailed total cost analysis including license, implementation, integration, and ongoing support. It often boils down to how much you value integration and your internal capabilities. If you have a strong NetSuite admin/dev team, SuiteCommerce’s ongoing cost might be just part of their duties. If not, paying for that expertise is a factor.

Making the Decision: Which to Choose?

If you’ve read this far, you can see it’s not a one-size-fits-all answer. But here are some guidelines based on the comparison:

Choose BigCommerce if:

• You need to get an online store up quickly with minimal fuss. 
• You don’t use NetSuite (or any ERP yet) and want a solid eCommerce platform that can integrate later as needed. 
• You favor flexibility in picking various software for different functions (you might use X for CRM, Y for inventory, and BigCommerce for web). 
• Your team is small and non-technical, and you want an easy admin interface and lots of out-of-box features. 
• Cost is a big concern and you want predictable SaaS pricing without a large upfront investment. 
• You have strong marketing needs that require rapid changes, and you value the freedom to customize front-end and experience without depending on ERP release cycles. 
• You’re primarily a pure ecommerce player (direct-to-consumer brand or online retailer) without a complex wholesale or multi-channel component – BigCommerce excels in D2C retail. 

Choose NetSuite SuiteCommerce if:

• You are already running on NetSuite ERP (or plan to) and want your eCommerce tightly integrated with your back-end from day one. 
• You have complex pricing, product, or fulfillment processes that rely on ERP logic – e.g., custom pricing per client, advanced inventory allocations, etc., which SuiteCommerce will handle naturally via NetSuite data. 
• You operate both online and offline channels or B2B and want a single platform to unify them (SuiteCommerce for web, InStore for POS, NetSuite for everything). 
• Reducing manual processes and having real-time visibility are top priorities – you don’t want to deal with syncing or reconciliation between separate systems. 
• Your organization has (or can partner for) NetSuite technical expertise to implement and maintain SuiteCommerce, and you view that as a worthwhile investment. 
• Scalability for global operations is important – if you foresee managing multiple country sites, multiple currencies, etc., and want financial consolidation, NetSuite OneWorld + SuiteCommerce is a very strong combo. 
• In essence, you’re a more complex business operation where an all-in-one integrated system would simplify operations and provide strategic visibility, even if the initial setup is more involved. 

Some businesses actually use both in a way: there are cases where companies run BigCommerce storefronts integrated to NetSuite behind the scenes. This is viable if you decide BigCommerce’s front-end suits your needs better but you still want NetSuite as your ERP. However, you’ll incur the integration overhead as discussed.

Lance Owide of BigCommerce concluded in his comparison that SuiteCommerce is fine “if your eCommerce requirements are basic and you’re 100% NetSuite-focused, but if eCommerce is strategic and you need flexibility, BigCommerce is built for what’s next”. From a SuiteCommerce perspective, one could argue: if eCommerce is truly strategic, integrating it deeply with your whole business via NetSuite can yield unparalleled insights and efficiency (no data silos), which is a different kind of strategic advantage.

Ultimately, consider your company’s strategy, resources, and growth plans. If you lean towards agility, speed, and best-of-breed components, BigCommerce is a strong choice. If you lean towards cohesion, efficiency, and a single source of truth, SuiteCommerce is compelling, especially for existing NetSuite users.

Final Thought

Choosing between BigCommerce and NetSuite SuiteCommerce can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. As an experienced NetSuite development company, DeveloperStroop specializes in both e-commerce and ERP solutions, helping businesses make confident, informed choices. Our team will assess your needs, explain the pros and cons, and map out integration strategies that fit your goals.

With our Custom NetSuite Development Services, we ensure a seamless implementation tailored to your business for maximum ROI. Whether you want the flexibility of BigCommerce or the unified capabilities of SuiteCommerce, DeveloperStroop will guide you through every step, from decision to launch.

Ready to take the next step? Contact Developers Troop today for a personalized consultation and turn your platform choice into a strategic advantage.

FAQs

Question: Is BigCommerce the same as SuiteCommerce?

Answer: No, they are different e-commerce platforms. BigCommerce is a standalone cloud-based platform (SaaS) focused on providing an all-in-one store solution that you connect to your other systems. SuiteCommerce is part of Oracle NetSuite, integrated directly with NetSuite’s ERP. In short, BigCommerce runs independently and pulls data via integrations, while SuiteCommerce runs on NetSuite and shares the same database as your ERP. They have similar end goals (powering your online store) but very different approaches under the hood.

Question: Which platform is better for a mid-sized business – BigCommerce or SuiteCommerce?

Answer: It depends on your needs. A mid-sized pure online retailer might lean toward BigCommerce for its ease and rich features. But a mid-sized distributor or manufacturer already using NetSuite might prefer SuiteCommerce to tie online sales into their existing system. BigCommerce can be deployed quickly and has predictable costs, which mid-sized businesses appreciate. SuiteCommerce might require more upfront work, but can pay off in efficiency if you have a lot of complexity. Evaluate factors like: Are you already on NetSuite? Do you need advanced integration with inventory/financials? How much IT support do you have? Both platforms can and do serve mid-market companies well – it comes down to alignment with your business model.

Question: Can BigCommerce integrate with NetSuite ERP?

Answer: Yes. BigCommerce can integrate with NetSuite using connectors or integration platforms. There are apps and solutions (like Celigo’s integrator.io or BigCommerce’s own NetSuite Connector) designed to sync orders, inventory, customers, and products between BigCommerce and NetSuite. Many businesses use BigCommerce for the online store and NetSuite for back-office, successfully integrating the two. Keep in mind, you will need to set up and possibly pay for that integration separately, and maintain it as you update either system. It adds a layer of complexity, but it’s a common approach.

Question: Which platform is more customizable, BigCommerce or SuiteCommerce?

Answer: SuiteCommerce (particularly SuiteCommerce Advanced) is more customizable because you can change almost anything given enough development resources. You have full access to the code and NetSuite’s scripting, so you can implement very tailored business logic and unique user experiences. BigCommerce allows extensive customization of the storefront (with its Stencil framework and APIs), and you can build custom integrations, but you cannot modify BigCommerce’s core commerce engine – you work within the features it provides or via its APIs. That said, BigCommerce’s built-in features or apps suffice for most typical needs, and you might not need heavy customization. SuiteCommerce’s customizability is an advantage if you have very specific or complex requirements that a platform like BigCommerce can’t fulfill without a workaround.

Question: What about Magento (Adobe Commerce) or Shopify – how do they compare in this BigCommerce vs SuiteCommerce discussion?

Answer: Magento and Shopify are other popular platforms. Shopify is more similar to BigCommerce (SaaS model, ease of use), and Magento is an on-premise/hosted solution known for flexibility (more similar philosophically to SuiteCommerce in that regard).