Beyond Open Source: How BigCommerce's Hybrid Approach Revolutionizes Ecommerce Scalability

Ecommerce has evolved through distinct waves, driven by advancements in technology and the growing interconnectivity of consumers and businesses. As high-speed internet became more accessible, the online marketplace opened, allowing businesses of all sizes to sell goods and services globally.

However, building an online store with advanced features and integrations used to be both costly and time-consuming. This is where open-source software transformed the landscape. The collaborative development model, which gained momentum with projects like Linux, soon influenced the world of ecommerce.

One of the most significant contributions to open-source ecommerce was the creation of Magento, an open-source platform that empowered businesses to build customizable and scalable online stores. Platforms like Magento, alongside community-driven projects such as WordPress, democratized access to powerful ecommerce tools.

Here we’ll explore the benefits and challenges of open-source ecommerce to help businesses determine if it's the right fit for their needs.

What is open-source ecommerce?

Open-source ecommerce refers to platforms where the underlying code is freely available and can be modified by anyone, which allows extensive customization of the platform's design and functionality. This flexibility empowers businesses to tailor their online stores to their business needs, offering control over every aspect of the ecommerce experience. 

Benefits of open-source ecommerce platforms

Companies publishing open-source software enable others to adapt and build on your project. When people are invested in your success, adoption rates can skyrocket. This reinforced ecosystem can accelerate a go-to-market strategy, as WordPress did — open-source ecommerce benefits from this transparent ethos, as outlined below.

Flexibility and customization.

The biggest pro to open-source software is its flexibility, considering you can control the source code. The ability to customize the platform gives businesses complete control over their online presence and allows them to adapt to evolving market trends. If your online store is very niche, open source may be the nimble partner you need. You're only limited by your dev team's imagination, creativity and expertise.

Widespread community support.

Open-source platforms are built and monitored by the community that forms around them. Active participants in the platform's ongoing development improve its stability. As part of the community, you learn about new features and can take advantage of the wisdom of the hive.

Large and active communities can fuel business growth with extensive documentation, tutorials and support forums, making resolving issues and finding solutions more accessible.

Avoid vendor lock-in.

White proprietary software, known as vendor lock-in, still dominates the software market, and open source use is soaring. Companies choosing open source software find it allows rapid roll-out and adoption of innovative applications. 

According to a 2023 analysis by McKinsey & Company, top-performing companies in their industries are adopting open-source software at a rate that triples the impact on innovation compared to lower-performing counterparts.

Research from consulting firm BCG found that "as many as 80% of IT departments plan to increase their use of open-source software over the next 12 months, with 95% of IT specialists agreeing that open source has become strategically important."

As long as your business has the IT and development experience to handle the source code, open source software may be the right solution to scale your business on your terms.

Open source vs. SaaS ecommerce

Open source represents a global, community-based approach to software development. The community attracts a distributed group of volunteers who collaborate on providing free code for many platforms, including free open source ecommerce solutions, that anyone can modify. GitHub, which Microsoft acquired in 2018, is the largest open source development platform.

The core functionality of open source ecommerce powers thousands of sites worldwide. It facilitates integration with third-party services, such as payment gateways, shipping providers, and marketing tools. Open-source ecommerce platforms can also be tailored to meet the requirements of any business model — B2B ecommerce, B2C or direct-to-consumer.

SaaS-based providers offer cloud-hosted solutions with built-in hosting and maintenance, but they typically rely on proprietary software and may have more limited customization options than open-source ecommerce platforms. While they do not provide open-source solutions, many offer flexibility through APIs, plugins, and integrations.

Cost-effectiveness.

Open source platforms often come with lower initial costs than proprietary solutions, e.g., SaaS. The tradeoff is in developer resources. Free access to the developer community experienced in your open-source ecommerce platform may save you time by reducing the learning curve associated with the software. While open source is free to download and use, ongoing maintenance and hosting expenses can add up.

SaaS vendors typically charge a monthly or yearly (discounted) recurring fee. Their starter plans often present an affordable option for small businesses. The plan usually includes product updates, security, web hosting and compliance. 

Depending on the size of your product catalog, individuals and small businesses may outgrow the low-priced starter package and find themselves priced out of your budget. If you need to change where you host your site and start over on another platform, it can increase your costs.

Security.

Setting up an open source infrastructure includes allocating resources for regular security updates, maintenance tasks and disaster recovery. Your open-source ecommerce platform does not come with these features. It is your responsibility to meet PCI compliance standards and maintain the security of your site.

As mentioned above, with SaaS software, your service provider manages your site security and compliance.

Installation.

Open-source and SaaS ecommerce platforms offer relatively straightforward installation processes, but there are key differences in setup and customization. Open-source ecommerce software often requires more technical expertise, as users have full control over the code and configurations. This flexibility allows for deep customization, but marketers and business owners may underestimate the time, resources, and development skills needed to create a fully functional and tailored store.

In contrast, SaaS platforms provide a more user-friendly experience with pre-built templates and drag-and-drop features, making them accessible to non-technical users. While customization options may be more limited than open source solutions, SaaS providers often include onboarding support and trial periods to help users test the platform before committing to a subscription.

Customization.

The most significant difference between open source and SaaS is the ability to customize your online store. Open source offers the most flexibility to achieve your vision if you have specific requirements beyond standard features. A strong and active community is crucial in getting help with customizations, so choose the best open-source ecommerce platform wisely.

On the other hand, SaaS platform customization can be more limited. Since the service provider controls the source code, your freedom to customize your site is limited. However, the number of themes, templates, plugins, modules and add-ons standard with SaaS software may provide all the customization you need to develop the store of your dreams.

Open SaaS software gives you the best of both worlds — create and modify unique ecommerce experiences when and how you want. (More on this below.)

Maintenance and support.

Similar to security, it's your responsibility to manage the technical aspects of your open source ecommerce platform, including maintenance and ongoing support. Much of your support will come from the online community, but the store owner needs to stay on top of updates and renew hosting. 

SaaS platforms are a better option for ecommerce store owners who don't want to devote time, money and energy to maintenance.

Challenges of open-source ecommerce solutions

Who doesn't like free? When it comes to open source ecommerce solutions, there are hidden costs. If time is money, you could spend more for a free product than you realize. Here are some drawbacks to open-source ecommerce.

Complex.

Many marketers mistake easy installation for easy setup. Open-source platforms often require more technical setup and configuration than they expect. If your team lacks the necessary skills, you might need to hire developers or consider managed hosting options.

Heavy maintenance.

Open-source platforms may require more time investment for ongoing maintenance and updates. You will likely need a developer, an in-house IT team and/or an agency to manage your website. This can hamper your ability to make quick changes to stay current with catalog updates and website messaging.

High cost.

Consider long-term scalability and cost. Choose a platform that can accommodate future growth and factor in the total cost of ownership over the platform's lifespan. Lacking in-house expertise to manage the technical aspects of the platform can lead to delays and cost overruns. The associated costs of development, hosting and ongoing maintenance may become cost-prohibitive.

Security vulnerabilities.

With an open-source ecommerce platform, the source code is open to anyone to download and modify. This can be both good and bad. The downside is when the code is not updated correctly or regularly, which rogue actors can hack. Like any software, open source platforms need security updates and patches; otherwise, your store is at risk.

Choosing the right hosting provider and server infrastructure is critical for performance and security. You want to allocate resources for regular security updates, maintenance tasks and disaster recovery planning. 

Examples of open-source ecommerce platforms

Many open-source ecommerce platforms are written in various coding languages. Open source, however, no longer necessarily equates to free. While the code may come at no cost to download, full commerce functionality often comes at a price.

Choosing the best open source ecommerce platform requires the same due diligence as handpicking a SaaS vendor. A platform's stability, scalability and overall performance are important considerations.

Adobe Commerce (Magento).

Magento (acquired by Adobe) is one of the most popular open-source ecommerce platforms. It is available in Adobe Commerce Pro (Magento Commerce and Magento Open Source) and Adobe Experience Cloud (Magento Commerce Cloud). The former Magento's Open-Source version is free to download and use. However, the fine print on pricing reads: Pricing based on annual Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) and Average Order Value (AOV) and requires a form fill to get pricing.

Reviews on G2 say that their pricing is cost-prohibitive for small businesses and has a steep learning curve.

WooCommerce.

WooCommerce is a free, open source PHP plugin that can be added to a WordPress site to give it back-end ecommerce functionality. WooCommerce may be a good choice if you're looking to monetize an existing WordPress site quickly; however, it may be challenging to scale as adding additional payment, catalog inventory management and marketing features becomes costly and time-consuming on WooCommerce.

PrestaShop.

PrestaShop is another free open source platform. You can pay for add-ons and plugins to improve the functionality of your ecommerce site. PrestaShop is written in the PHP programming language, supporting MySQL database management. 

Shopware.

Shopware is an open source platform under the MIT license. It can be edited in PHP or Javascript and powers thousands of ecommerce websites, focusing on many European brands. The small family business has grown into a large community of ecommerce enthusiasts.

OpenCart.

OpenCart is another free open source ecommerce solution. It uses a MySQL database and HTML components and integrates with over 20 payment gateways and eight shipping methods. While free to download and use, OpenCart offers additional themes, plugins and dedicated support for a fee.

Zen Cart.

A free, user-friendly, open source ecommerce platform, Zen Cart was designed for the non-technical. Rather than investing in outside web developers, you can install and set up your Zen Cart store with even the most basic website-building knowledge.

With several built-in payment gateways, users can begin accepting payments immediately. If you already have a payment system, you can choose from hundreds of community-contributed payment modules or build your own.

NopCommerce.

NopCommerce is a free, open-source ecommerce platform built on Microsoft's ASP.NET framework. It offers flexible options with a source code version for developers and a one-click install for non-technical users. Key benefits include multi-storefront management, omnichannel selling, mobile responsiveness, SEO, and over 1,500 integrations. With enterprise-level features like advanced marketing tools and loyalty programs, it offers a scalable solution with solid community support.

Ecwid.

Ecwid is a free ecommerce platform designed for integration into existing websites. It supports over 50 payment providers and multiple POS systems. The free version allows up to 10 products and a one-page store, while paid plans enable more extensive inventories. Premium plans also allow you to sell on Facebook, Instagram, and Amazon. 

BigCommerce provides open-source capabilities with the benefits of SaaS

BigCommerce offers a unique hybrid approach, combining the best aspects of open-source ecommerce and SaaS platforms. Through its headless commerce capabilities and robust APIs, BigCommerce empowers businesses to craft tailored ecommerce experiences while enjoying the benefits of a SaaS solution — including robust security, seamless scalability, and automatic updates.

This innovative model allows companies to design distinctive storefronts and integrate custom-made solutions without the hassle of managing hosting, applying security patches or maintaining infrastructure. By merging the creative freedom of open-source development with the reliability and efficiency of SaaS, BigCommerce provides an ideal solution for businesses seeking flexibility without compromising convenience or performance.

Catalyst.

BigCommerce developed Catalyst to simplify building composable ecommerce storefronts. Here are its key features:

Revolutionizes ecommerce by democratizing composable architecture, enabling businesses of all technical levels to rapidly create scalable, customized online experiences without the traditional complexities.

Accelerates time-to-market with its pre-built, customizable headless storefront, featuring a library of reusable components that empower businesses to rapidly launch and iterate on rich, engaging ecommerce experiences without starting from scratch.

Empowers developers to fast-track ecommerce innovation by providing a customizable, open source headless framework that seamlessly integrates with modern tools, allowing teams to focus on brand differentiation rather than foundational coding.

Future-proofs your ecommerce growth with a scalable, API-driven architecture that seamlessly integrates into existing tech stacks, enabling rapid innovation and feature expansion without operational disruption — all while preserving the flexibility to customize and extend the platform as your business evolves.

Supercharges cross-functional collaboration by integrating Makeswift's visual editor, enabling developers and marketers to co-create and instantly iterate on storefront designs, dramatically boosting efficiency and reducing development overhead.

The final word

Open-source ecommerce platforms have played a significant role in the growth of online retail, offering businesses flexibility, customization options and community support. These platforms allow extensive modification of both design and functionality, giving companies control over their online presence. Benefits include avoiding vendor lock-in, potential cost-effectiveness, and access to various plugins and integrations.

However, open-source solutions come with challenges. They often require technical expertise for setup, maintenance and security management. The total cost of ownership can be higher than initially perceived due to ongoing development needs and potential security vulnerabilities.

While traditional open source platforms like Adobe Commerce, WooCommerce, and PrestaShop offer varying degrees of customization and community support, they may present scalability issues or become costly as businesses grow.

BigCommerce emerges as a compelling alternative, offering a hybrid approach that combines the benefits of open-source flexibility with the convenience of a SaaS platform. Through its headless commerce capabilities and powerful APIs, BigCommerce allows businesses to create tailored ecommerce experiences without the burden of managing hosting, security and infrastructure.

FAQs about open source ecommerce