About BigCommerce

BigCommerce is a leading Software as a Service (SaaS) e-commerce platform that provides online store owners with a powerful set of tools to create, manage, and scale their online businesses. It is an open SaaS solution, offering the flexibility and API access of an open-source platform combined with the security, scalability, and ease of use of a SaaS model. It is designed for both B2C and B2B merchants, ranging from startups to large enterprise-level companies.

Disclaimer
Affiliate program terms can change frequently. The figures below are based on general information and may vary based on specific campaigns or affiliate tiers.

BigCommerce Affiliate Program Overview

The BigCommerce Affiliate Program is designed for marketers who want to earn commissions by referring new merchants to the BigCommerce e-commerce platform. It is known for offering some of the highest payouts in the e-commerce platform niche, especially for enterprise referrals.

AttributeDetails
IndustryE-commerce / SaaS (Software as a Service)
Product TypeE-commerce Platform Subscription (Digital Product)
Affiliate Program TypeCost Per Acquisition (CPA) / Revenue Share (One-time Payout)

BigCommerce Affiliate Program Offers

The program provides affiliates with the resources and incentives needed to effectively promote the platform. Since the program focuses on referring a software service, the promotional materials typically consist of digital assets.

Offer DetailDescription
Promotional MaterialsBanners, Text Links, Dedicated Tracking Dashboard, and Real-time Reporting.
Affiliate Cookie DurationTypically ranges from 30 to 90 days (Specific duration may be subject to program updates or the network used).
Accepted Traffic SourceGenerally accepts SEO/Search affiliates, BloggersInfluencers, Review Sites, and Content Creators. (Specific restrictions on paid search bidding usually apply).
Accepted CountriesThe program is generally global, though commission rates may vary by the customer’s market (e.g., US, UK, Canada, Australia referrals often yield higher commissions than other regions).
Explicit ContentNot explicitly detailed, but as a professional B2B platform, content involving explicit, offensive, or unsafe materials is typically prohibited.
Religious or Political ContentNot explicitly detailed, but affiliates are usually required to adhere to standard professional conduct, which often restricts the promotion of the platform alongside content that is overly polarizing, hateful, or discriminatory.

BigCommerce Affiliate Commissions & Payments

The BigCommerce Affiliate Program is renowned for its high one-time commission rates, offering a substantial reward for high-value referrals, particularly those signing up for Enterprise plans.

Commission & Payment DetailDescription
MLMNo (The program is a standard one-tier affiliate structure, not an MLM scheme).
Commission Rate200% of the customer’s first monthly payment (for standard plans) OR up to a fixed $1,500 for each Enterprise customer referral.
Commission StructureOne-time CPA (Cost Per Acquisition). Commissions are not recurring monthly payments.
Payout FrequencyMonthly or Quarterly (Sources vary; it is often processed 60 days after the earning month for verification).
Payout MethodsPayPal and Direct Deposit (Bank Transfer).
Minimum PayoutVaries by payment method, but typically no minimum threshold for withdrawal is needed, or a low threshold (e.g., $50 or less) compared to the commission size.

Suitable Affiliates for BigCommerce Affiliate

The program is best suited for individuals or companies who have an audience interested in e-commerce, web development, online business, and scaling an online store.

Affiliate TypeSuitabilityRationale
BloggersHighExcellent for creating detailed reviews, tutorials, and comparison articles on e-commerce platforms and business advice, which drives high-converting organic traffic.
YouTubersHighIdeal for video reviews, platform demos, and “how-to” guides, as video is highly effective for explaining complex software like BigCommerce.
Influencers (KOL/KOC)MediumSuitable if the focus is on B2B, tech, or entrepreneurship. Less effective for general lifestyle or beauty influencers.
TikTokers/LivestreamersLow to MediumCan work for short-form B2B advice or rapid tutorials, but the technical nature of the product often requires longer-form content for high-quality conversions.
Video editorsLowNot the primary focus; they would only be suitable if they have a large audience of e-commerce business owners.

BigCommerce Affiliate Software

BigCommerce, as a core e-commerce platform, leverages various popular third-party affiliate marketing software integrations to manage its program, rather than relying solely on a proprietary in-house system for affiliate tracking and payments.

  • Affiliate Management Software: BigCommerce merchants frequently use popular affiliate management software that integrates directly with the platform, such as Impact.comRefersionGoAffPro, and LeadDyno, to run their own programs.
  • BigCommerce’s Official Program: For the core BigCommerce Partner Program (referring the platform itself), they often use a large, specialized affiliate network or dedicated partner platform for tracking, payouts, and managing large-scale, high-value B2B referrals.

3 Alternatives for BigCommerce Affiliate Program

Here is a comparison of the BigCommerce Affiliate Program with three major competitors in the e-commerce platform space: ShopifyWooCommerce, and Elfsight (a common BigCommerce alternative mentioned in comparison).

Comparison FactorBigCommerce Affiliate ProgramShopify Affiliate ProgramElfsight Referral ProgramWooCommerce Affiliate Programs
Average BillHigh (High-value monthly/Enterprise plans)Medium to High (Monthly plans)Low to Medium (Widget subscriptions)Varies (Platform is free, but hosting/plugins are paid)
Entry Fees$0 (Free to join)$0 (Free to join)$0 (Free to join)$0 (Free to join)
Withdrawal ThresholdLow or None (e.g., <$100)Low (e.g., $25)Low (e.g., $10)Varies by specific program/network
Payment FrequencyMonthly or QuarterlyMonthlyMonthlyVaries by specific program/network
Commission200% of first month or up to $1,500 (One-time)200% of monthly plan fee (One-time, up to $2,000)30% Recurring (Lifetime commission)Varies, e.g., 20% on certain plugins (Recurring or One-time)
ConversionFocus on B2B/High-Growth merchantsFocus on New/SMB (Small to Medium Business) merchantsFocus on Tools/Utility usersFocus on WordPress users
Marketing MaterialsLinks, Banners, Dedicated DashboardLinks, Banners, Branding GuidelinesLinks, Banners, Templates, Promo GuidesVaries by program, often links/creatives