BigCommerce vs SimPRO - Which Is Right for Your Business?
Wondering whether BigCommerce or SimPRO is the better fit for Retail & E-commerce? We break down features, pricing, and real-world suitability so you can choose with confidence - backed by 12+ of hands-on experience.
Feature Comparison
Side-by-side feature analysis for BigCommerce and SimPRO.
Store customisation
BigCommerce
Headless commerce support with a robust API allows developers to build custom storefronts using any frontend framework
SimPRO
SimPRO manages jobs, quotes, invoices, schedules and 5 more object types
BigCommerce highlights store customisation as a core strength. SimPRO offers the capability but does not position it as a primary differentiator.
Product management
BigCommerce
Built-in B2B features including customer-specific pricing, quote management, and purchase orders suit wholesale and trade businesses
SimPRO
End-to-end project management for trades with quoting, scheduling, job costing, purchasing, and asset management in one platform
Both platforms are strong here. BigCommerce emphasises this as a core strength, and SimPRO also invests heavily in product management. Review each platform's approach to see which aligns with your team's workflow.
Payment processing
BigCommerce
No transaction fees on any plan regardless of payment gateway, which sets it apart from Shopify and saves margin on every sale
SimPRO
SimPRO provides payment processing functionality, popular with Trades & Construction businesses
BigCommerce highlights payment processing as a core strength. SimPRO offers the capability but does not position it as a primary differentiator.
Shipping and fulfilment
BigCommerce
BigCommerce provides shipping and fulfilment functionality, popular with Retail & E-commerce businesses
SimPRO
SimPRO provides shipping and fulfilment functionality, popular with Trades & Construction businesses
shipping and fulfilment support varies across BigCommerce and SimPRO's plan tiers. Check whether the capabilities you need are on the plan you can actually afford.
SEO and marketing tools
BigCommerce
Limitation: Marketing and SEO tools are functional but less polished than Shopify, and some features require third-party apps to match
SimPRO
SimPRO provides seo and marketing tools functionality, popular with Trades & Construction businesses
seo and marketing tools capabilities vary by plan tier on both platforms. Confirm the specific features you need are available at your target price point before committing.
Mobile commerce
BigCommerce
Headless commerce support with a robust API allows developers to build custom storefronts using any frontend framework
SimPRO
Limitation: Mobile app has improved but can still feel clunky compared to more modern alternatives like ServiceM8 for field workers
BigCommerce highlights mobile commerce as a core strength. SimPRO offers the capability but does not position it as a primary differentiator.
Industry fit
BigCommerce
BigCommerce provides industry fit functionality, popular with Retail & E-commerce businesses
SimPRO
SimPRO provides industry fit functionality, popular with Trades & Construction businesses
industry fit support varies across BigCommerce and SimPRO's plan tiers. Check whether the capabilities you need are on the plan you can actually afford.
Job management
BigCommerce
Built-in B2B features including customer-specific pricing, quote management, and purchase orders suit wholesale and trade businesses
SimPRO
End-to-end project management for trades with quoting, scheduling, job costing, purchasing, and asset management in one platform
Both platforms are strong here. BigCommerce emphasises this as a core strength, and SimPRO also invests heavily in job management. Review each platform's approach to see which aligns with your team's workflow.
Quoting and invoicing
BigCommerce
BigCommerce provides quoting and invoicing functionality, popular with Retail & E-commerce businesses
SimPRO
End-to-end project management for trades with quoting, scheduling, job costing, purchasing, and asset management in one platform
SimPRO highlights quoting and invoicing as a core strength. BigCommerce offers the capability but does not position it as a primary differentiator.
Scheduling and dispatch
BigCommerce
BigCommerce provides scheduling and dispatch functionality, popular with Retail & E-commerce businesses
SimPRO
End-to-end project management for trades with quoting, scheduling, job costing, purchasing, and asset management in one platform
SimPRO highlights scheduling and dispatch as a core strength. BigCommerce offers the capability but does not position it as a primary differentiator.
Mobile field access
BigCommerce
Native multi-currency and multi-language support without requiring paid apps, making international selling more accessible
SimPRO
Advanced scheduling with drag-and-drop Gantt-style views, travel time calculation, and skill-based assignment optimises field team productivity
Both platforms are strong here. BigCommerce emphasises this as a core strength, and SimPRO also invests heavily in mobile field access. Review each platform's approach to see which aligns with your team's workflow.
Compliance features
BigCommerce
Built-in B2B features including customer-specific pricing, quote management, and purchase orders suit wholesale and trade businesses
SimPRO
Limitation: Learning curve is steep due to the depth of features, and staff training is essential for productive use
BigCommerce highlights compliance features as a core strength. SimPRO offers the capability but does not position it as a primary differentiator.
Pricing Comparison
General pricing information for each platform.
BigCommerce
Standard from approximately $45/month, Plus from approximately $130/month, Pro from approximately $450/month, Enterprise custom pricing (AUD). No transaction fees on any plan. Annual revenue caps apply per tier.
Prices shown are approximate and may differ based on your plan, team size, and billing cycle. Verify directly with the vendor for current AUD rates.
SimPRO
Custom pricing based on business size and requirements, typically from $200-500+/month (AUD). Implementation and training costs additional. Per-user pricing applies. Annual contracts standard.
Pricing is indicative only and subject to change. We recommend contacting the vendor for a tailored quote based on your Australian business needs.
Pros & Cons
An honest look at the strengths and limitations of each platform.
BigCommerce
Pros
- No transaction fees on any plan regardless of payment gateway, which sets it apart from Shopify and saves margin on every sale
- Built-in B2B features including customer-specific pricing, quote management, and purchase orders suit wholesale and trade businesses
- Headless commerce support with a robust API allows developers to build custom storefronts using any frontend framework
- Multi-storefront capability lets businesses run multiple branded stores from a single BigCommerce backend and inventory pool
- Native multi-currency and multi-language support without requiring paid apps, making international selling more accessible
Cons
- Annual revenue thresholds on each plan force upgrades as you grow, which can feel punitive for high-revenue, low-margin businesses
- App ecosystem is smaller than Shopify with approximately 1,000 apps versus 8,000+, so niche functionality may require custom development
- Theme customisation uses Stencil framework which has a steeper learning curve than Shopify Liquid for frontend developers
- Marketing and SEO tools are functional but less polished than Shopify, and some features require third-party apps to match
SimPRO
Pros
- End-to-end project management for trades with quoting, scheduling, job costing, purchasing, and asset management in one platform
- Advanced scheduling with drag-and-drop Gantt-style views, travel time calculation, and skill-based assignment optimises field team productivity
- Comprehensive inventory management with stock tracking, purchase orders, and supplier management suits businesses handling significant materials
- Asset and maintenance management tracks customer assets, maintenance schedules, and service history for recurring contract work
- Multi-branch and multi-company support with consolidated reporting suits larger trade businesses and franchise operations
Cons
- Implementation is complex and typically requires SimPRO consulting services, adding $5,000-20,000 to initial setup costs
- Pricing is among the highest in the trades software category, making it a significant investment for smaller businesses
- Learning curve is steep due to the depth of features, and staff training is essential for productive use
- Mobile app has improved but can still feel clunky compared to more modern alternatives like ServiceM8 for field workers
Best For
Which tool suits which use case.
Choose BigCommerce if you need
- ✓ Teams needing extensive third-party integrations
- ✓ Complex data models (orders, products, customers and more)
- ✓ Real-time data sync across platforms
- ✓ Multichannel selling
- ✓ Online store management
Choose SimPRO if you need
- ✓ Teams needing extensive third-party integrations
- ✓ Complex data models (jobs, quotes, invoices and more)
- ✓ Trades & Construction businesses
- ✓ Manufacturing organisations
- ✓ Field service operations
Expert Verdict
Our Harvard-educated consultants' take on this comparison.
Clever Ops Recommendation
BigCommerce and SimPRO solve different problems: BigCommerce handles e-commerce, while SimPRO covers industry tools. Most mid-market Australian businesses benefit from running both with a proper integration layer. BigCommerce is the right pick when growing e-commerce businesses that need B2B features, multi-storefront capability, and want to avoid transaction fees, particularly those considering headless commerce architecture. SimPRO fits when mid-sized to larger trade and service contractors (20+ staff) with complex scheduling, inventory, and project management needs that justify the investment in a comprehensive platform. Clever Ops can design the integration architecture and implement both, typically within 4-8 weeks.
Migration Notes
What to know about switching between BigCommerce and SimPRO.
Migrating Between BigCommerce and SimPRO
Migrating between BigCommerce and SimPRO requires careful planning since they serve different functions. Clever Ops identifies the data overlap (orders), builds custom mapping logic, and ensures nothing falls through the cracks. Even cross-category migrations typically complete within 4-8 weeks with our structured process.
BigCommerce vs SimPRO FAQ
For Retail & E-commerce, the answer depends on your operational model. BigCommerce is best for growing e-commerce businesses that need B2B features, multi-storefront capability, and want to avoid transaction fees, particularly those considering headless commerce architecture. SimPRO is best for mid-sized to larger trade and service contractors (20+ staff) with complex scheduling, inventory, and project management needs that justify the investment in a comprehensive platform. Clever Ops has helped businesses across Retail & E-commerce choose the right stack. Book a free assessment for advice specific to your situation.
BigCommerce uses a REST + Webhook API (REST API with OAuth2 authentication. Rate limited to 150 requests per 30 seconds on standard plans. Supports webhooks for real-time event notifications. V2 and V3 APIs coexist, with V3 preferred for newer resources.), while SimPRO uses a REST API (REST API with OAuth 2.0 authentication. Rate limits based on account tier. JSON responses. Webhook support for key events. API documentation requires SimPRO account access.). BigCommerce supports 8 core data objects; SimPRO supports 9. BigCommerce supports webhooks for real-time sync. With 12+ of integration experience, Clever Ops can tell you exactly how each API performs in production.
Since BigCommerce (e-commerce) and SimPRO (industry tools) serve different functions, many businesses run both. The key is connecting them so data flows automatically. Clever Ops builds these integrations, keeping your core records in sync across both platforms.
ROI depends on three factors: how well the platform is configured, how thoroughly your team adopts it, and how tightly it integrates with your other tools. BigCommerce delivers value through No transaction fees on any plan regardless of payment gateway, which sets it apart from Shopify and saves margin on every sale. SimPRO delivers value through End-to-end project management for trades with quoting, scheduling, job costing, purchasing, and asset management in one platform. A poorly set-up tool delivers less value than a well-implemented one, regardless of platform. Clever Ops focuses on maximising your return through proper implementation and ongoing optimisation.
Yes. Both platforms share several common data object types (including contacts and core records), which simplifies field mapping. Clever Ops runs a structured migration process: discovery, data mapping, test migration, verification, and cutover. Most migrations complete within 4-8 weeks, with 3 months of post-migration support included.
Yes. BigCommerce provides a REST + Webhook API and SimPRO provides a REST API, so automations can be built via Zapier, Make, or custom integrations. Common automated workflows include syncing shared data objects between both platforms. Clever Ops builds these automations for mid-market Australian businesses, saving teams 8+ hours/week on average.
BigCommerce: Standard from approximately $45/month, Plus from approximately $130/month, Pro from approximately $450/month, Enterprise custom pricing (AUD). No transaction fees on any plan. Annual revenue caps apply per tier.. SimPRO: Custom pricing based on business size and requirements, typically from $200-500+/month (AUD). Implementation and training costs additional. Per-user pricing applies. Annual contracts standard.. When comparing costs, factor in per-user charges, add-on modules, and implementation costs, not just the headline price. Clever Ops can model the total cost of ownership for your team size during a free assessment.
Free trials are useful for testing the user interface, but they rarely reveal how a platform performs at scale, with your specific data model, or alongside your existing integrations. BigCommerce manages 8 data object types and SimPRO manages 9. Evaluating that complexity in a trial period is difficult. A more efficient approach is to combine a short trial with expert advice from our Harvard-educated consultants, who can identify the right fit based on 12+ of implementation experience.
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