BigCommerce vs Substack
A side-by-side look at BigCommerce and Substack. On our scoring, BigCommerce comes out ahead — but the right pick depends on your priorities.
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| SellingScene score | 4.4/5 | 4.0/5 |
| User rating | 4.3 | 4.2 |
| Reviews | 1,675 | 1,320 |
| Pricing | ||
| Starting price | $39/mo | Free |
| Pricing model | per month, billed annually | no monthly fee, revenue share |
| Transaction fees | 0% on all plans | 10% of subscription revenue (plus processing) |
| Hosting & setup | ||
| Hosting type | Fully hosted (SaaS) | Fully hosted (SaaS) |
| Free trial | 15 days | Free to start |
| Staff accounts | Unlimited | Multiple authors |
| Product limit | Unlimited | N/A (subscriptions) |
| Payments & security | ||
| Payment gateways | 65+ gateways, no added fees | Stripe |
| SSL included | Yes | Yes |
| PCI compliant | Yes | Yes |
| Gift cards | Yes | Yes |
| Catalog & content | ||
| Themes / templates | 12 free, 200+ paid | Publication styling |
| App marketplace | 850+ apps | Limited integrations |
| Multi-currency | Yes | No |
| Multi-language | Yes | No |
| POS included | No | No |
| Abandoned cart recovery | Yes | No |
| Built-in blog | Yes | Yes |
| Tools & flexibility | ||
| Drag-and-drop editor | Yes | No |
| API access | Yes | No |
| Mobile app | Yes | Yes |
| Support channels | 24/7 phone, live chat, email | Email & help center |
| Actions | Read review | Read review |
Why pick BigCommerce?
BigCommerce packs an unusually generous native feature set and charges no transaction fees, making it a strong pick for mid-market stores. Just watch the annual sales thresholds that quietly push you onto pricier plans.
Best for: Mid-market stores with complex catalogs
Read the full BigCommerce reviewWhy pick Substack?
Substack makes launching a paid newsletter effortless, bundling publishing, email, payments, and a discovery network at no upfront cost. The flat 10% revenue cut is significant once you scale, and you build on their network, not your own.
Best for: Writers monetizing newsletters and subscriptions
Read the full Substack review