BigCommerce vs Square: Which Tool Wins for Australian Businesses in 2026?
Our Harvard-educated consultants have implemented both BigCommerce and Square for Australian businesses. Here is what 12+ of experience has taught us about choosing between them.
Feature Comparison
Side-by-side feature ratings for BigCommerce and Square.
| Feature | BigCommerce | Square | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Store customisation | When it comes to store customisation, Square pulls clearly ahead of BigCommerce — a factor worth weighing if this capability is important to your team. | ||
| Product management | Square significantly outperforms BigCommerce on product management, making it the stronger choice for businesses that prioritise this area. | ||
| Payment processing | For Retail & E-commerce that rely on strong payment processing, Square is the more capable option in our assessment. | ||
| Shipping and fulfilment | When it comes to shipping and fulfilment, BigCommerce pulls clearly ahead of Square — a factor worth weighing if this capability is important to your team. | ||
| SEO and marketing tools | When it comes to seo and marketing tools, BigCommerce pulls clearly ahead of Square — a factor worth weighing if this capability is important to your team. | ||
| Mobile commerce | For Retail & E-commerce that rely on strong mobile commerce, BigCommerce is the more capable option in our assessment. | ||
| Transaction fees | For Retail & E-commerce that rely on strong transaction fees, BigCommerce is the more capable option in our assessment. | ||
| Payment methods supported | Both BigCommerce and Square offer comparable payment methods supported capabilities. | ||
| Recurring billing | For recurring billing, both platforms deliver a similar experience — neither has a clear advantage. | ||
| International payments | For Retail & E-commerce that rely on strong international payments, BigCommerce is the more capable option in our assessment. | ||
| Fraud protection | For Retail & E-commerce that rely on strong fraud protection, Square is the more capable option in our assessment. | ||
| Developer tools and API | Both BigCommerce and Square offer comparable developer tools and api capabilities. |
Store customisation
BigCommerce
Square
When it comes to store customisation, Square pulls clearly ahead of BigCommerce — a factor worth weighing if this capability is important to your team.
Product management
BigCommerce
Square
Square significantly outperforms BigCommerce on product management, making it the stronger choice for businesses that prioritise this area.
Payment processing
BigCommerce
Square
For Retail & E-commerce that rely on strong payment processing, Square is the more capable option in our assessment.
Shipping and fulfilment
BigCommerce
Square
When it comes to shipping and fulfilment, BigCommerce pulls clearly ahead of Square — a factor worth weighing if this capability is important to your team.
SEO and marketing tools
BigCommerce
Square
When it comes to seo and marketing tools, BigCommerce pulls clearly ahead of Square — a factor worth weighing if this capability is important to your team.
Mobile commerce
BigCommerce
Square
For Retail & E-commerce that rely on strong mobile commerce, BigCommerce is the more capable option in our assessment.
Transaction fees
BigCommerce
Square
For Retail & E-commerce that rely on strong transaction fees, BigCommerce is the more capable option in our assessment.
Payment methods supported
BigCommerce
Square
Both BigCommerce and Square offer comparable payment methods supported capabilities.
Recurring billing
BigCommerce
Square
For recurring billing, both platforms deliver a similar experience — neither has a clear advantage.
International payments
BigCommerce
Square
For Retail & E-commerce that rely on strong international payments, BigCommerce is the more capable option in our assessment.
Fraud protection
BigCommerce
Square
For Retail & E-commerce that rely on strong fraud protection, Square is the more capable option in our assessment.
Developer tools and API
BigCommerce
Square
Both BigCommerce and Square offer comparable developer tools and api capabilities.
Pricing Comparison
General pricing information for each platform.
BigCommerce
From ~$39/month
Pricing is indicative only and subject to change. We recommend contacting the vendor for a tailored quote based on your Australian business needs.
Square
Transaction-based; ~2.6% + 10c per transaction
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.
Pros & Cons
An honest look at the strengths and limitations of each platform.
BigCommerce
Pros
- Real-time webhook support for instant data sync
- Rich data model covering orders, products, customers and more
- Regular platform updates and improvements
- Multi-channel selling from one dashboard
- Extensive integration ecosystem with 30+ connectors
Cons
- Multi-currency setup can be complex
- Support response times vary by plan tier
- Transaction fees can add up at scale
- May not suit every workflow without customisation
Square
Pros
- Regular platform updates and improvements
- Extensive integration ecosystem with 30+ connectors
- Popular across Retail & E-commerce, Hospitality & Tourism, Healthcare & Allied Health
- Cloud-based with reliable uptime
- Rich data model covering payments, orders, customers and more
Cons
- Transaction fees vary by volume
- Onboarding documentation could be more comprehensive
- Support response times vary by plan tier
- Complex data model may require expert configuration
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 Square if you need
- ✓ Recurring billing
- ✓ Teams needing extensive third-party integrations
- ✓ Transaction management
- ✓ Complex data models (payments, orders, customers and more)
- ✓ Real-time data sync across platforms
Expert Verdict
Our Harvard-educated consultants' take on this comparison.
Clever Ops Recommendation
Comparing BigCommerce and Square is a bit like comparing apples and oranges — they solve different problems. BigCommerce handles your e-commerce needs, while Square covers payments. The value of this comparison lies in understanding how they work together. Clever Ops specialises in connecting these kinds of complementary tools for mid-market Australian businesses.
Migration Notes
What to know about switching between BigCommerce and Square.
Migrating Between BigCommerce and Square
A successful migration from BigCommerce to Square (or vice versa) is not just about data — it is about your team. Clever Ops handles the technical migration of orders, customers, inventory and custom fields, but we also provide hands-on training so your team is confident on the new platform from day one. The full process, including training, typically takes 4-8 weeks.
BigCommerce vs Square FAQ
Related Comparisons
Other popular comparisons involving BigCommerce or Square.
Explore These Tools
Connect These Tools
Already decided? See how to integrate BigCommerce and Square seamlessly.
Need Help Choosing?
Join 50+ Australian businesses that trust Clever Ops for objective, vendor-neutral technology advice.