BigCommerce vs. SuiteCommerce: Choosing the Right Platform for Modern Commerce
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Enterprise commerce today demands more than just software. It requires speed, flexibility, low total cost of ownership (TCO), and the ability to scale without friction. While NetSuite’s SuiteCommerce promotes an integrated “all-in-one” approach, it often falls short. BigCommerce, by contrast, delivers where it matters most: speed to market, ease of use, adaptability, and long-term value.
If you’re considering SuiteCommerce, take note: forward-looking brands are choosing BigCommerce for a reason. From faster implementation to greater customization and stronger ROI, companies like Orangetheory Fitness and Lindemann Chimney Supply are finding success by making the switch.
BigCommerce enables brands to launch new storefronts quickly, often in weeks, and pivot rapidly as business needs change. Whether you're adding a new product line, rebranding, or onboarding an acquisition, BigCommerce’s SaaS architecture and open APIs let you adapt in real time.
SuiteCommerce, by contrast, is embedded within NetSuite’s ERP. While that might seem like a benefit, the tight coupling actually slows things down. Launches often take months, and updating your storefront typically requires NetSuite-certified developers. For brands trying to move fast, SuiteCommerce becomes a bottleneck.
Case in point: After struggling with SuiteCommerce’s limitations, Lindemann Chimney Supply migrated to BigCommerce and saw immediate gains. They launched a fully redesigned site with enhanced performance, easier content management, and streamlined integration using Celigo.
With BigCommerce, brands benefit from a transparent and predictable SaaS pricing model that includes hosting, PCI compliance, security, and automatic updates. There’s no need to budget separately for infrastructure or hire specialists just to keep your site running.
In contrast, SuiteCommerce can appear cost-effective at first, especially for existing NetSuite ERP customers, but hidden costs add up fast. Customization, upgrades, and technical support often require SuiteScript developers. Updates aren’t automatic, and gaining access to new features typically demands additional implementation work.
Real ROI: A Forrester Total Economic Impact™ (TEI) study found that merchants on BigCommerce achieved a 211% ROI and recouped their investment in less than eight months, driven by lower operational overhead, faster time to value, and reduced development dependencies.
Built for composability, BigCommerce is a MACH Alliance-certified platform — Microservices-based, API-first, Cloud-native, and Headless. It empowers merchants to integrate with any ERP, CMS, PIM, OMS, or POS using best-in-class solutions. You're never locked into a single ecosystem.
SuiteCommerce, on the other hand, ties you to the NetSuite stack. Swapping out a search engine or adding a new CMS? That typically requires custom development. Scaling internationally? Be prepared for hurdles with storefront management and performance optimization.
BigCommerce integrates easily with:
NetSuite (via partners like Celigo, Patchworks, Tavano, and through SI partnerships)
Hubspot
Salesforce
Searchspring, Algolia, Hawksearch
And many more
BigCommerce is built for everyone, not just developers. Merchandisers, marketers, and business users can easily launch promotions, update content, and manage customer data without relying on IT. The admin interface is both intuitive and robust, offering tools like:
Drag-and-drop Page Builder
Multi-storefront management
Granular user permissions
Real-time preview and publishing tools
In contrast, SuiteCommerce often demands specialized training, particularly for updates involving NetSuite’s data structures. If a merchandiser wants to spin up a landing page or test a promotion, they may still need developer support, slowing execution and stalling innovation.
Case in point: Orangetheory Fitness, a rapidly growing franchise, switched to BigCommerce to gain more flexibility and agility. Their team now manages ecommerce operations faster and engages members more effectively, without being held back by platform limitations.
SuiteCommerce positions itself as a tightly integrated ERP + commerce solution. On paper, one vendor and one system may sound efficient, but in practice, it often leads to more limitations than advantages.
Here’s why:
You lose the flexibility to use best-in-class tools for CMS, CRM, marketing, and more
You’re locked into NetSuite's release cycle and pricing
ERP performance requirements slow down ecommerce experimentation
Frontend changes become ERP projects
BigCommerce flips this model. We integrate deeply with NetSuite ERP (or any other ERP), while keeping ecommerce operations fast, flexible, and decoupled. Your finance team gets the ERP they need. Your commerce team gets the freedom to innovate without unnecessary bottlenecks.
Connector | Estimated starting cost | Functionality highlights | Best for |
---|---|---|---|
BigSynapps by Tavano Team | Custom pricing with a $3,500 setup fee and $2,880 yearly license | Full B2B support (invoice portals, pricing, quoting, multi-location inventory) | B2B and B2C brands needing flexibility |
Celigo (Integrator.io) | Contact for pricing | Prebuilt ERP flows, scalable integrations, robust multi-app support | Mid-market to enterprise businesses |
Patchworks | Contact for pricing | Modular integrations, fast setup, user-friendly interface | Agile teams needing speed and simplicity |
SyncUp by Snapshot | Custom pricing starting with a $5,000 setup fee and a $499/month recurring fee | Custom data syncs between BigCommerce and NetSuite | Teams with unique workflow requirements |
Oracle NetSuite Connector | $2,000 upfront fee and $83.23/month recurring fee | Basic native integration, minimal flexibility, limited to ERP-aligned workflows | NetSuite-first organizations |
These integration options give brands control and adaptability, unlike SuiteCommerce, which locks merchants into a rigid architecture. Whether you're scaling globally, launching new channels, or evolving your tech stack, BigCommerce gives you the freedom to choose the right connector based on your needs, budget, and business model.
Feature | BigCommerce | SuiteCommerce |
---|---|---|
Time to launch | Weeks | Months |
Architecture | SaaS, API-first, MACH-certified | Monolithic, tightly coupled with ERP |
ERP integration | Integrates with any ERP (NetSuite included) | Requires NetSuite ERP |
Customization | Low-code tools, open APIs | Custom scripting (SuiteScript) required |
User experience | Business-friendly admin, Page Builder | Developer-oriented; requires training |
TCO | Predictable, low overhead | High cost of ownership over time |
Upgrade process | Seamless, continuous delivery | Manual, often disruptive |
Partner ecosystem | Open and extensive | Mostly NetSuite-centric |
Customer portal / “My Account” | Flexible: can integrate external portals, support for Netsuite invoice and payment workflows via partner integrations | Built-in with NetSuite ERP; commonly used for invoice access and reconciliation |
Best for | Growth-focused brands needing agility | NetSuite ERP customers with simple commerce needs |
SuiteCommerce is a solid choice if your ecommerce requirements are basic and your business is 100% committed to the NetSuite ecosystem. But if ecommerce is strategic, if flexibility and performance matter, and if your teams need to move fast, BigCommerce is built for what’s next.
Want to break free from the ERP-shaped box? Let’s talk about how BigCommerce can help your business scale smarter, faster, and further.
As the VP of Business to Business at BigCommerce, Lance leads the global strategy for the success of the program, which encompasses go-to-market, sales, customer success, and product direction.
He is passionate about collaborating with innovative companies and sharing insights to help them achieve their goals and drive sustainable growth. Outside of work, Lance is a keen runner and triathlete and loves to cook and eat good food.