BigCommerce vs Magento (Adobe Commerce) in 2026: Which to Choose

Short answer: Choose Magento (Adobe Commerce) for full code control, complex B2B, and a choice of hosting. Choose BigCommerce for a hosted SaaS store with lower maintenance and open APIs. In July 2025, the BigCommerce parent company renamed itself Commerce.com, but the BigCommerce platform kept its name. Elogic Commerce builds stores on both platforms and helps merchants select the right solution.

Key takeaways

• Adobe Commerce gives developers access to the source code and offers on-premises, PaaS, and SaaS deployment options. BigCommerce is a SaaS platform with hosting included.
• Magento Open Source has no license fee. Adobe Commerce uses commercial licensing, while BigCommerce offers subscription plans and custom Enterprise pricing.
• Both platforms support B2B ecommerce. Adobe Commerce provides a native B2B module, while BigCommerce offers B2B Edition.
• BigCommerce generally requires less technical maintenance. Adobe Commerce provides more flexibility for custom business logic and integrations.
• On July 31, 2025, BigCommerce Holdings changed its corporate name to Commerce.com, Inc. The BigCommerce product name remained unchanged.
• Adobe Commerce 2.4.9 was released on May 12, 2026, with support expected through approximately May 2029.
• The right platform depends on your catalog, integrations, operational requirements, development resources, and total cost of ownership.

Choosing between BigCommerce and Magento is not simply a comparison of features. Both platforms support online selling, but their infrastructure, customization options, maintenance requirements, and pricing models differ.

BigCommerce provides a hosted ecommerce environment with built-in functionality and a marketplace of applications. Magento Open Source and Adobe Commerce offer greater control over the application and storefront, which can benefit businesses with complex requirements.

Elogic Commerce works with both platforms, helping merchants evaluate ecommerce architecture, build stores, and plan migrations. This comparison explains the differences and identifies situations where each platform is a better fit.

BigCommerce vs Magento 2: key differences

The central difference between BigCommerce and Magento is the way merchants manage and customize their ecommerce technology.

BigCommerce operates as a hosted SaaS platform. The vendor manages the infrastructure and platform updates. Merchants configure their stores through the administration interface, applications, APIs, and storefront customization tools.

Magento Open Source gives merchants access to the application source code. Adobe Commerce builds on this architecture and adds commercial features and deployment options. This approach offers more flexibility but also introduces development and maintenance responsibilities.

Area	Magento (Adobe Commerce)	BigCommerce
Platform model	Open-source foundation with commercial Adobe Commerce editions	Proprietary SaaS
Hosting	On-premises, PaaS, or SaaS	SaaS hosting included
Pricing basis	Magento Open Source is free; Adobe Commerce licensing depends on GMV bands	Subscription plans based on online sales; Enterprise by quote
Customization	Full application code access	APIs, apps, and storefront customization
B2B	Adobe Commerce B2B module	BigCommerce B2B Edition
Extensions	Magento extension ecosystem	BigCommerce App Marketplace
Upgrades	Merchant or development team on self-managed deployments; Adobe on SaaS	Managed by BigCommerce
Technical resources	Specialist development resources are commonly required	Standard store operations require less technical expertise
Multilingual capabilities	Built-in store views and language configuration	Localization capabilities and integrations depend on store requirements
Best fit	Complex B2B, custom workflows, and integration-heavy commerce	Hosted ecommerce with lower infrastructure maintenance

Elogic Commerce builds on both platforms and provides Adobe Commerce development for businesses that require customized Magento solutions.

BigCommerce overview

BigCommerce is a Software-as-a-Service ecommerce platform designed to help merchants create and operate online stores without managing their own application infrastructure.

The platform provides store administration tools, product catalog management, payment integrations, marketing functionality, and storefront customization options.

Merchants can launch using existing themes and applications. More complex requirements can be implemented through APIs, integrations, and custom development.

BigCommerce advantages:

• Hosting and platform infrastructure are included.
• Store setup and routine administration require less technical knowledge.
• Built-in ecommerce functionality reduces the need for custom development in standard projects.
• Applications and APIs extend the platform.
• The vendor manages platform updates.

BigCommerce limitations:

• Merchants cannot modify the underlying platform source code.
• Paid applications can increase operating costs.
• Subscription plans can change as online sales grow.
• Highly customized workflows may require additional integrations or workarounds.

Magento and Adobe Commerce overview

Magento is an ecommerce platform with an open-source foundation. Magento Open Source is available without a license fee, while Adobe Commerce provides additional commercial functionality and support.

Adobe acquired Magento in 2018. The platform continues to support ecommerce businesses that require extensive customization, sophisticated catalogs, and integration with external systems.

Magento Open Source and Adobe Commerce allow developers to customize storefronts, business logic, and integrations. Adobe Commerce also provides additional capabilities for enterprise and B2B commerce.

Magento and Adobe Commerce advantages:

• Access to application source code.
• Extensive customization possibilities.
• Support for complex catalogs and business workflows.
• Integration with external business systems through APIs and custom development.
• Multiple infrastructure and deployment options.

Magento and Adobe Commerce limitations:

• Development and maintenance can require specialist resources.
• Custom functionality needs testing and ongoing support.
• Self-managed installations require hosting and upgrade planning.
• Commercial Adobe Commerce editions add licensing costs.

What each platform costs

BigCommerce and Magento use different pricing models. Comparing subscription or license fees alone does not show the full cost of operating an ecommerce store.

BigCommerce pricing

BigCommerce operates on a subscription model. Its plans are linked to online sales, and Enterprise pricing is provided through a custom quote.

Hosting is included, which reduces the need to purchase and administer separate ecommerce infrastructure.

However, merchants should also consider expenses associated with:

• Premium storefront themes.
• Paid applications and extensions.
• Custom storefront development.
• Third-party integrations.
• Implementation and ongoing partner support.
• Changes to subscription requirements as sales increase.

A store with relatively standard requirements may need limited customization. A business with complex integrations or purchasing workflows may require additional development even on a hosted platform.

Magento and Adobe Commerce pricing

Magento Open Source has no license fee. Merchants are responsible for hosting, development, extensions, security updates, and ongoing maintenance.

Adobe Commerce uses commercial licensing. Industry estimates cited in the updated research start at approximately $22,000 per year for on-premises Adobe Commerce and $40,000 per year for Adobe Commerce on Cloud.

These are industry estimates, not a guaranteed Adobe quotation. Actual costs depend on the commercial agreement and project requirements.

Additional expenses may include hosting, implementation, integrations, custom extensions, and support.

For a detailed explanation of licensing and implementation expenses, read Magento pricing 2026.

A Hyvä Theme front end and planned Magento support can help manage storefront performance and ongoing maintenance requirements.

Total cost of ownership

The total cost of ownership includes more than the initial cost of the platform. Both BigCommerce and Magento can require additional investment as a business grows.

When comparing costs, evaluate:

• Platform subscription or license fees.
• Hosting and infrastructure.
• Initial development and implementation.
• Storefront themes and design customization.
• Apps, extensions, and custom functionality.
• Payment and external system integrations.
• Security, maintenance, and platform upgrades.
• Technical support and development resources.

Compare the expected total cost over three years instead of focusing only on the platform fee.

Features and ecommerce functionality

Both BigCommerce and Adobe Commerce offer core ecommerce functionality. The difference lies in how merchants configure, extend, and maintain these capabilities.

BigCommerce features

BigCommerce provides built-in functionality for creating and managing an online store.

Its features include:

• Storefront and website building tools.
• Product and catalog management.
• Inventory management.
• Checkout and payment integrations.
• Marketing and promotional tools.
• Search and merchandising functionality.
• Multi-currency capabilities.
• Product options and configurable fields.
• Mobile-responsive storefronts.
• Analytics and reporting.
• Social and cross-channel selling integrations.

These capabilities allow merchants to operate a standard ecommerce business without building every function from scratch.

Adobe Commerce features

Magento and Adobe Commerce offer a broad set of ecommerce capabilities, with the additional flexibility of application-level customization.

Core capabilities include:

• Catalog and product management.
• Product and category browsing.
• Checkout, payments, and shipping.
• Order management.
• Customer accounts.
• Marketing, promotions, and conversion tools.
• Search engine optimization settings.
• Multiple store views.
• International commerce capabilities.
• Analytics and reporting.
• Mobile commerce.

Adobe Commerce also offers functionality for more complex B2B requirements and enterprise operations.

The best choice depends on whether your business can use standard capabilities or needs to customize the underlying application.

Hosting and infrastructure

Hosting is one of the most significant differences between BigCommerce and Magento.

BigCommerce hosting

BigCommerce includes hosting as part of its SaaS offering. Merchants do not need to select a separate hosting provider or administer the platform’s underlying servers.

BigCommerce manages infrastructure and platform updates. Store owners can focus on catalog operations, merchandising, and business development.

However, merchants have less control over the hosting environment and cannot directly modify the platform’s core infrastructure.

Magento and Adobe Commerce hosting

Magento Open Source requires merchants to arrange and maintain their own hosting environment.

Adobe Commerce supports different deployment approaches, including on-premises, PaaS, and SaaS.

Self-managed environments allow more direct control over hosting, caching, performance settings, and infrastructure integrations. They also require technical maintenance and planning.

Adobe Commerce as a Cloud Service offers a vendor-managed alternative for businesses that want Adobe Commerce functionality with fewer infrastructure responsibilities.

Design flexibility and theme selection

The storefront affects how customers navigate the catalog, discover products, and complete purchases.

Both BigCommerce and Magento support responsive ecommerce design, but the approach to customization differs.

BigCommerce themes

BigCommerce provides ready-made storefront themes through its theme marketplace.

Merchants can use these themes as a starting point and customize the storefront to match their brand.

This approach helps businesses launch without developing a storefront from the ground up. Custom design and functionality may still require development work.

Magento themes and custom storefronts

Magento merchants can use marketplace themes, community-developed templates, or custom storefront implementations.

The platform’s code-level flexibility allows development teams to implement unique interfaces and workflows.

A custom storefront offers greater control but also introduces development, compatibility, and maintenance considerations.

The original comparison also discusses the use of custom themes developed by ecommerce agencies. The right approach depends on whether a standard template meets the business requirements.

SEO capabilities: BigCommerce vs Magento

Both platforms provide tools that support search engine optimization. Merchants can manage important SEO elements without developing every feature from scratch.

BigCommerce SEO

BigCommerce includes settings for page titles, meta descriptions, image alternative text, and URLs.

The platform also supports sitemap and robots.txt management, helping merchants configure how search engines discover and crawl their stores.

These features cover many common ecommerce SEO requirements.

Businesses with specialized technical SEO needs should assess whether the available platform controls and integrations are sufficient.

Magento and Adobe Commerce SEO

Magento provides configurable SEO settings for product and category pages, metadata, URLs, and search engine crawling.

The platform also supports product metadata templates and additional technical SEO customization.

Access to the application code allows development teams to make changes that may not be possible through the administration interface alone.

This flexibility can be useful for stores with complex catalogs, specialized URL structures, or custom SEO requirements.

For a deeper explanation, see the Elogic Commerce guide to Magento SEO settings.

Extensions and apps

Both platforms offer marketplaces that extend native ecommerce functionality.

BigCommerce App Marketplace

BigCommerce applications can add functionality for marketing, payments, inventory management, and other business processes.

Many apps can be configured through the store administration interface, which simplifies installation and management.

However, some applications require ongoing subscription payments. As the number of applications increases, total operating costs can grow.

Magento extensions

Magento has a large ecosystem of extensions covering checkout customization, marketing, payments, shipping, and enterprise integrations.

Extensions can also be developed specifically for a merchant’s requirements.

Installation and maintenance may require specialist developers, particularly when extensions affect checkout, payment processing, or other critical functionality.

Compatibility should be checked during platform upgrades.

When choosing between BigCommerce and Magento, prioritize the functionality your store needs rather than the total number of marketplace extensions.

Payment options and integrations

Payment functionality is an important consideration, especially for businesses operating in multiple markets.

BigCommerce payments

BigCommerce supports payment integrations with providers such as PayPal, Stripe, Amazon Pay, and Authorize.net.

The platform provides payment options for standard ecommerce requirements, while additional integrations may be available through its application ecosystem.

Merchants targeting specific regional markets should confirm support for the local payment methods their customers expect.

Magento and Adobe Commerce payments

Magento and Adobe Commerce support payment providers through existing integrations and custom API development.

The original comparison highlights integrations with providers including PayPal, Braintree, Authorize.net, Stripe, and Amazon Payments.

Custom development can support payment workflows that require additional business logic or regional integrations.

Before selecting a platform, verify your payment providers, supported markets, checkout requirements, and integration costs.

B2B: Adobe Commerce B2B module vs BigCommerce B2B Edition

Both platforms support business-to-business ecommerce, but they provide different approaches to B2B operations.

Adobe Commerce B2B module

The Adobe Commerce B2B module includes functionality such as:

• Company accounts.
• Shared catalogs.
• Quotes and negotiated purchasing.
• Requisition lists.
• Approval rules.

Combined with application customization, these features support more complex purchasing processes.

Adobe Commerce can be a suitable option when pricing and approval workflows depend on ERP data or custom business rules.

BigCommerce B2B Edition

BigCommerce B2B Edition extends the platform with features designed for wholesale and business purchasing.

These include company accounts, quoting capabilities, and buyer portals.

It can be a practical solution for merchants that need standard wholesale functionality within a hosted ecommerce environment.

Which platform fits B2B better?

For complex ERP-driven pricing and custom approval processes, Adobe Commerce offers more direct control over the application.

BigCommerce B2B Edition can fit businesses whose requirements align with its available capabilities and integrations.

For additional context, read the B2B ecommerce platform comparison.

Elogic Commerce develops Adobe Commerce B2B solutions as a Magento B2B development agency.

Security and platform maintenance

Security is essential for ecommerce businesses that process payments and manage customer information.

Both platforms provide security capabilities, but responsibilities differ depending on the hosting model.

BigCommerce security

BigCommerce manages the underlying SaaS infrastructure and platform-level maintenance.

The platform provides security controls, SSL support, and a managed hosting environment.

Merchants remain responsible for their own operational security practices, access management, and the applications they connect to their stores.

Magento and Adobe Commerce security

Adobe Commerce and Magento support security updates, extensions, and configurable controls.

For self-managed installations, merchants and their development teams must plan security patches, application updates, and infrastructure maintenance.

Commercial and vendor-managed deployments have different support and maintenance responsibilities.

When evaluating security, consider both platform capabilities and the resources available to maintain the store.

Scalability and performance

Scalability depends on how well an ecommerce platform supports changes in catalog size, order volume, integrations, and traffic.

BigCommerce scalability

BigCommerce provides a managed infrastructure designed to support online stores without requiring merchants to operate their own servers.

Enterprise merchants can use its APIs and integration capabilities to connect ecommerce operations with external systems.

However, merchants cannot optimize the underlying platform code. Performance improvements must work within the available storefront, application, and API capabilities.

Magento and Adobe Commerce scalability

Magento and Adobe Commerce provide extensive customization options for large catalogs, specialized business logic, and complex integrations.

Development teams can configure infrastructure, caching, and application behavior according to the chosen deployment model.

The platform supports integrations with external systems and storefront architectures designed for demanding ecommerce operations.

However, scalability also depends on infrastructure quality, implementation decisions, extension compatibility, and ongoing optimization.

The original article includes numerical claims about API requests, catalog limits, hourly orders, and response times. These figures should be verified separately before being presented as current platform limits.

Ease of use and store administration

Daily administration is another important difference between BigCommerce and Magento.

BigCommerce ease of use

BigCommerce is designed to reduce the technical work required to launch and administer an online store.

Merchants can manage products, inventory, storefront settings, and other ecommerce operations through the administration interface.

Prebuilt themes and applications can reduce the amount of development required for standard functionality.

This can make BigCommerce a practical option for businesses without a dedicated ecommerce engineering team.

Magento ease of use

Magento provides administration tools for catalog management, orders, customer accounts, promotions, and SEO settings.

Store administrators can manage routine ecommerce operations through the backend.

However, implementing new features, modifying the storefront, and maintaining integrations can require specialist development resources.

The additional technical complexity is closely connected to the platform’s customization capabilities.

What happened to BigCommerce?

On July 31, 2025, BigCommerce Holdings changed its corporate name to Commerce.com, Inc.

The new parent brand, Commerce, groups BigCommerce, Feedonomics, and Makeswift.

The stock ticker changed from BIGC to CMRC from approximately August 1, 2025.

The BigCommerce ecommerce platform and its product name did not change for merchants.

This was a corporate rebranding rather than the discontinuation of the BigCommerce ecommerce platform.

Downsides of each platform

Neither platform is the right choice for every ecommerce business. Each has limitations that should be considered before implementation.

Area	BigCommerce limitations	Magento (Adobe Commerce) limitations
Customization	Less control over underlying platform code	Custom development can be complex
Costs	App subscriptions and sales-based plan changes	Hosting, development, maintenance, and commercial licensing
Maintenance	Dependence on vendor-managed platform updates	Self-managed installations require upgrade planning
Technical expertise	Custom functionality can still require developers	Specialist developers are commonly needed
Infrastructure	Limited control over SaaS infrastructure	Greater operational responsibility on self-managed deployments

BigCommerce can be restrictive when a business needs to change the platform’s underlying behavior. Magento can require more technical resources than a standard store needs.

These trade-offs should be evaluated against business requirements rather than treated as universal disadvantages.

The Elogic Commerce fit test

Use the following comparison to identify which platform better matches your ecommerce requirements.

Your situation	Better fit
Complex B2B rules and ERP-driven prices	Adobe Commerce
Small team, standard catalog, fast launch	BigCommerce
You need full control of code and hosting	Adobe Commerce
You want no upgrade projects	BigCommerce, or Adobe Commerce as a Cloud Service
Many stores with custom logic on one backend	Adobe Commerce

Choose BigCommerce if

• You want a hosted ecommerce store with lower infrastructure maintenance.
• You have a small internal technical team.
• You need a relatively fast launch using existing platform functionality.
• Your store relies on standard ecommerce workflows.
• You prefer vendor-managed platform updates.

Choose Magento or Adobe Commerce if

• Your business requires extensive customization.
• You need to control application code and infrastructure.
• You manage complex catalogs and purchasing processes.
• Your ecommerce operations rely on specialized integrations.
• You need custom B2B workflows and ERP-driven business rules.
• You have the technical resources to develop and maintain the platform.

Test Adobe Commerce and BigCommerce against your catalog, B2B rules, and integrations before making a decision.

COMPARE PLATFORMS FOR YOUR STORE

Moving between BigCommerce and Magento

Businesses may decide to change platforms when their requirements no longer match the capabilities or operating model of the current solution.

A merchant using BigCommerce may need greater customization, more complex B2B workflows, or direct control of application code.

A Magento merchant may prefer a hosted platform that reduces infrastructure and maintenance responsibilities.

Migration in either direction requires careful planning.

What to consider before migration

• Product and category data.
• Customer accounts and customer information.
• Order history.
• Existing URLs and redirects.
• SEO metadata and search visibility.
• Payment and shipping integrations.
• ERP, CRM, and other external systems.
• Custom storefront functionality.
• Testing and launch procedures.

Plan data, URLs, redirects, and integrations before moving between platforms.

Elogic Commerce provides Magento migration services for businesses planning a Magento upgrade or platform transition.

For another ecommerce platform comparison, see Magento vs Shopify Plus.

BigCommerce vs Magento: final verdict

BigCommerce and Magento serve different technical and business requirements.

BigCommerce is a strong option when a merchant wants a hosted ecommerce platform with standard functionality, lower infrastructure maintenance, and access to apps and APIs.

Magento Open Source and Adobe Commerce offer greater control and flexibility. They are particularly relevant for businesses with complex B2B requirements, custom integrations, and specialized ecommerce workflows.

Neither platform is universally better. The right decision depends on your requirements, available development resources, expected growth, and total cost of ownership.

For complex projects, evaluating the catalog, integrations, customization needs, and operational responsibilities before implementation can help avoid unnecessary migration and redevelopment costs.

Sources

• Commerce.com, Inc.: introducing Commerce, the new parent brand of BigCommerce (SEC exhibit)
• Commerce FAQ
• Adobe Commerce lifecycle policy