BigCommerce vs. SuiteCommerce: Choosing the Right Platform for Modern Commerce

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.

Speed to launch and agility to adapt

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.

Total cost of ownership (TCO)

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.

Flexibility and integrations

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

Usability and maintenance

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.

All-in-one ERP + commerce: More limitation than advantage

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.

BigCommerce NetSuite connectors.

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.

BigCommerce vs. SuiteCommerce comparison

The final word

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.