Thinking about using BigCommerce for your online store? This guide compares BigCommerce and Make Local for Global so you can choose the right ecommerce option for your small business.
BigCommerce and Make Local for Global can both help businesses sell online, but they are made for different types of seller.
BigCommerce is a hosted ecommerce platform. It gives businesses store tools, checkout, products, themes, apps, payment integrations, order management and growth features.
Make Local for Global is a done-for-you ecommerce website service. It helps hobbyists, artists, startups and small businesses launch online stores using WordPress and WooCommerce.
If you are comparing BigCommerce and Make Local for Global, the main question is simple: do you want to build and manage a BigCommerce store yourself, or do you want a WordPress and WooCommerce ecommerce website built for you?
This guide compares BigCommerce and Make Local for Global across pricing, setup, ecommerce features, payments, product listings, design, search visibility, ownership, support, training and best use cases.
Make Local for Global helps hobbyists, artists, startups and small businesses launch a WordPress and WooCommerce online store without needing technical skills.
Plans start from £99/year. Your website can be ready in 5 days.
Choose BigCommerce if you want a hosted ecommerce platform for a growing store and are happy to build, configure and manage your own online shop.
Choose Make Local for Global if you want a WordPress and WooCommerce ecommerce website built for you, with domain, hosting, Stripe and PayPal setup, product listings, training and support included.
BigCommerce gives you the ecommerce platform. Make Local for Global gives you the done-for-you ecommerce setup.
| Feature | BigCommerce | Make Local for Global |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Businesses that want a hosted ecommerce platform with room to grow | Small businesses that want an ecommerce website built for them |
| What it is | Hosted ecommerce platform | Done-for-you ecommerce website service |
| Platform | BigCommerce | WordPress and WooCommerce |
| Setup | DIY setup unless you hire help | Setup included |
| Domain | Bought or connected separately | Included in plans |
| Hosting | Included by BigCommerce | Included in plans |
| Ecommerce | Core platform focus | WooCommerce ecommerce setup included |
| Payments | Many payment providers and possible payment-provider-related fees | Stripe and PayPal setup included |
| Product listings | You add and manage products yourself | Product listings included |
| Training | Self-learning through BigCommerce help resources | Training included |
| Support | Platform support routes | Email and video support included |
| Starting point | Paid ecommerce plans after trial | From £99/year |
| Setup time | Depends on your time and skill | Website ready in 5 days |
BigCommerce is a hosted ecommerce platform for building and running online stores. It is often used by product businesses that want a store-first system with catalogue, checkout, product, order and payment tools in one place.
BigCommerce can support businesses that need larger catalogues, staff accounts, multi-channel selling, payment options, storefront features and growth-focused ecommerce tools.
It can be a good fit for sellers who want more ecommerce depth than a simple website builder, but do not want to manage WordPress hosting and plugin updates themselves.
The key point is this: BigCommerce gives you the ecommerce system, but you still need to build, configure, stock, test and manage the store yourself unless you hire help.
Make Local for Global is a done-for-you ecommerce website service for hobbyists, artists, startups and small businesses.
It uses WordPress and WooCommerce to create online stores for people who want to sell products online without handling the technical setup alone.
Make Local for Global includes website setup, domain, hosting, ecommerce features, Stripe and PayPal integration, product listings, support and training. Plans start from £99/year and websites can be ready in 5 days.
This makes it a practical route for handmade sellers, artists, candle makers, jewellery businesses, print-on-demand sellers, dropshipping startups, digital product sellers and small product shops.
The main difference is the route to launch.
BigCommerce is a hosted ecommerce platform. You use BigCommerce tools to build and run your store.
Make Local for Global is a done-for-you ecommerce service. It helps you get a WordPress and WooCommerce online store built, launched and ready to manage.
| Question | Better fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| I want a hosted ecommerce platform | BigCommerce | BigCommerce is built around ecommerce tools, product management and store growth. |
| I want my ecommerce website built for me | Make Local for Global | Done-for-you ecommerce setup is included. |
| I want WordPress and WooCommerce | Make Local for Global | Make Local for Global uses WordPress and WooCommerce. |
| I have a larger product catalogue | BigCommerce | BigCommerce can suit larger and growing catalogues. |
| I want a low annual ecommerce starting price | Make Local for Global | Plans start from £99/year. |
| I want payment setup included | Make Local for Global | Stripe and PayPal setup are included. |
| I want a website ready in 5 days | Make Local for Global | Make Local for Global offers a 5-day setup. |
BigCommerce and Make Local for Global use different pricing models.
BigCommerce uses ecommerce platform plans. Its pricing page lists Standard, Plus, Pro and Enterprise options, with features such as unlimited products, file storage, bandwidth and staff accounts on listed plans. BigCommerce also has a 2026 pricing update page, so sellers should check current plan names, fees, sales limits and payment provider rules before buying.
Make Local for Global uses annual ecommerce website plans. The Local Plan starts from £99/year and includes done-for-you website setup, domain, hosting, WooCommerce, product listings, Stripe and PayPal setup, support and training.
For a fair comparison, look at the full first-year cost. Include platform fees, domain, setup, apps, payment fees, product upload help, email, support and your own time.
| Cost area | BigCommerce | Make Local for Global |
|---|---|---|
| Plan style | Ecommerce platform plans | Annual ecommerce website plans |
| Starting point | Paid plans after trial | From £99/year |
| Domain | Buy or connect separately | Included in plans |
| Hosting | Included | Included in plans |
| Setup | DIY unless you hire help | Included |
| Payments | Payment provider choice, processing fees and possible provider-related platform fees may apply | Stripe and PayPal setup included |
| Apps | Free and paid apps may add cost | Plan features and add-ons depend on package |
| Product listings | You add products yourself | Product listings included |
| Training | Self-learning | Included |
| Support | Platform support routes | Email and video support included |
Tip: do not compare BigCommerce and Make Local for Global by headline price alone. BigCommerce can be strong for growing sellers who can manage their own ecommerce platform. Make Local for Global includes setup, domain, hosting, product listings, payment setup, support and training within its plan structure.
BigCommerce removes the need to arrange separate hosting, but it is still a platform you need to set up.
You need to choose a theme, create pages, add products, write descriptions, set payments, configure shipping, add tax settings where needed, create policies, install apps where useful and test checkout.
Make Local for Global is made for people who want the ecommerce setup handled for them. You provide business and product details, then the website is prepared for you.
| Setup task | BigCommerce | Make Local for Global |
|---|---|---|
| Choose store style | You choose theme and layout | Prepared as part of setup |
| Build pages | You create and edit pages | Website setup included |
| Add products | You add products yourself | Product listings included |
| Set up payments | You configure payment providers | Stripe and PayPal setup included |
| Test checkout | You test it yourself | Part of setup support |
| Install extra tools | You choose apps if needed | Setup included within plan scope |
| Learn how to manage store | You learn using help resources | Training included |
| Launch speed | Depends on how fast you build | Website ready in 5 days |
BigCommerce is built for ecommerce. It can suit businesses that need product management, order tools, payment options, shipping settings, staff accounts and growth features.
Make Local for Global is focused on helping small businesses launch ecommerce websites through WordPress and WooCommerce. It includes setup support, product listings, payment setup and training.
BigCommerce may suit you if you want a hosted ecommerce platform and can manage it yourself. Make Local for Global may suit you if you want a WooCommerce store built for you.
| Ecommerce feature | BigCommerce | Make Local for Global |
|---|---|---|
| Product selling | Core platform focus | Core service focus |
| Product pages | You create and manage them | Product listings included |
| Checkout | BigCommerce checkout tools | WooCommerce checkout |
| Payments | Payment provider options | Stripe and PayPal setup included |
| Products | Unlimited products on listed plans | Product listings included |
| Apps and extensions | BigCommerce App Marketplace | WordPress and WooCommerce plugins |
| Commission from provider | BigCommerce pricing and payment rules should be checked before buying | No commission on sales |
| Best for | Growing stores that need a hosted ecommerce platform | Beginners who want a WooCommerce store built for them |
Make Local for Global can build your ecommerce website using WordPress and WooCommerce, with payment setup and training included.
This is one of the biggest choices.
BigCommerce is a hosted ecommerce platform. Your store runs on BigCommerce’s system, with hosting, store tools and platform features managed inside BigCommerce.
Make Local for Global uses WordPress and WooCommerce. WordPress is the website system and WooCommerce adds ecommerce features. This route can be useful for product pages, category pages, buying guides, blog posts and content-led ecommerce.
| Platform point | BigCommerce | Make Local for Global |
|---|---|---|
| Core system | BigCommerce ecommerce platform | WordPress and WooCommerce |
| Hosting | Included by BigCommerce | Included in plans |
| Store control | Inside BigCommerce admin | WordPress and WooCommerce admin |
| Content and blogging | Available | Available through WordPress |
| Store system | BigCommerce checkout and tools | WooCommerce checkout |
| Best if | You want a hosted ecommerce platform | You want WooCommerce built for you |
BigCommerce supports many payment providers. Its current pricing page says listed plans have no added transaction fees, but its 2026 pricing update explains Open Payment Provider Fees starting from 1 June 2026 for eligible orders processed through open payment providers on self-serve plans.
That means you should check the current BigCommerce pricing page, payment provider list, plan terms and the payment provider you plan to use before deciding. You may still pay payment processing fees charged by your provider.
Make Local for Global includes Stripe and PayPal setup and does not charge commission on sales. Normal payment provider fees may still apply through Stripe, PayPal or another payment service.
Before choosing either option, check card fees, PayPal fees, refund handling, settlement times, platform fees and whether your products are accepted by the payment provider.
BigCommerce has an app marketplace for extra store features. This can include marketing, reviews, shipping, reporting, accounting, product feeds and connected sales channels.
WordPress and WooCommerce have plugins for search visibility, product options, delivery rules, analytics, email marketing, reviews, subscriptions, digital products and more.
In both cases, extra tools can add cost or setup work. Start with what your store needs now, then add more after real customers start using the website.
| Extra feature point | BigCommerce | Make Local for Global |
|---|---|---|
| Extra tools | BigCommerce apps and integrations | WordPress and WooCommerce plugins |
| Common extra costs | Paid apps, paid themes, payment provider fees and plan changes | Plan upgrades, add-ons or extra work |
| Setup work | You choose and configure apps | Setup included within service scope |
| Best approach | Only install apps you really need | Start with the plan that fits your stage |
BigCommerce gives you store themes and design tools. You can choose a theme, adjust pages, add products, build navigation and shape the store for your products.
This can work well if you want to manage your own store build. It can take longer if you are new to ecommerce platforms and need to learn product, theme, shipping and payment settings at the same time.
Make Local for Global is better for people who do not want to start from a blank store or spend hours choosing themes and settings. The website is prepared for your ecommerce goal, then you receive training to manage it.
BigCommerce includes search and marketing tools for ecommerce stores, with extra features and integrations depending on setup and plan.
Make Local for Global uses WordPress and WooCommerce, which can be a good base for product pages, category pages, buying guides, blog posts and search-focused ecommerce content. Higher plans include search tools, analytics and marketing support features.
Neither option guarantees rankings, traffic or sales. Results depend on your product demand, pricing, product photos, descriptions, customer trust, reviews, delivery offer, content and regular marketing work.
| Marketing point | BigCommerce | Make Local for Global |
|---|---|---|
| Search settings | Built-in ecommerce search settings and integrations | Search tools on higher plans |
| Blogging | Available | Available through WordPress |
| Analytics | Available depending on plan and setup | Included on higher plans |
| Social media setup | Managed with platform tools and apps | Included on higher plans |
| Best for | Sellers who want ecommerce platform marketing tools | Sellers who want store setup with guided tools |
BigCommerce provides platform help and support routes. This can work well if you are comfortable learning through help pages, tutorials, community posts and support channels.
Make Local for Global includes training and support so customers can manage their ecommerce website after launch. Support levels vary by plan, with priority and dedicated support on higher plans.
For ecommerce beginners, training matters. You need to know how to update products, edit prices, check orders, manage payments, update pages and deal with small changes after launch.
BigCommerce stores sit inside BigCommerce’s hosted system. You can manage your products, content and store settings inside the platform, but your store setup depends on BigCommerce’s system, apps and plan terms.
Make Local for Global uses WordPress and WooCommerce, but you should still read the plan terms carefully. Check domain terms, hosting terms, cancellation terms, transfer options and export support before buying.
This is good practice with any website provider. Before paying, check who controls the domain, what happens if you cancel, whether content can be exported and what support is included after launch.
BigCommerce may be the better choice if:
Examples include growing product brands, larger catalogues, multi-channel sellers, wholesalers, B2B sellers and businesses with a clear ecommerce budget.
Make Local for Global may be the better choice if:
Examples include candle sellers, jewellery makers, artists, handmade sellers, clothing startups, print-on-demand sellers, dropshipping stores, digital product sellers, single-product businesses and small product brands.
| Question | Choose BigCommerce if… | Choose Make Local for Global if… |
|---|---|---|
| What do I need? | A hosted ecommerce platform I can manage myself | An ecommerce website built for me |
| How do I want to build? | I want themes, apps and platform tools | I want setup handled for me |
| Do I want WooCommerce? | No, I want BigCommerce | Yes, I want WordPress and WooCommerce |
| How fast do I need it? | I can build and test it myself | I want the website ready in 5 days |
| Who adds products? | I will add and manage products myself | I want product listings included |
| Who sets up payments? | I can set up payment providers myself | I want Stripe and PayPal setup included |
| Who trains me? | I am happy learning through support resources | I want training included |
BigCommerce can work for beginners who want a hosted ecommerce platform and are ready to learn store setup. It may be more suitable for sellers who already know they need a store-focused platform with room to grow.
For ecommerce beginners who want the store built for them, Make Local for Global may be easier. Selling products online involves product pages, checkout, payments, delivery rules, customer emails, policies and training.
If you want to build and learn BigCommerce, choose BigCommerce. If you want the store built and explained to you, Make Local for Global is likely the better fit.
Both are ecommerce options, but they suit different sellers.
BigCommerce is better if you want a hosted ecommerce platform for a growing store and are happy managing the setup yourself.
Make Local for Global is better if you want a WooCommerce ecommerce website built for you with product listings, Stripe, PayPal, support and training included.
Make Local for Global can build your online store using WordPress and WooCommerce, with setup, payments, product listings and training included.
Plans start from £99/year. Website ready in 5 days.
Before choosing either option, ask:
These questions matter as the right choice is not only about software. It is about cost, time, support, confidence and how quickly you want to start selling.
BigCommerce is a strong choice if you want a hosted ecommerce platform and are happy to build and manage your own store using BigCommerce’s tools, apps and platform features.
Make Local for Global is a better choice if you want a WordPress and WooCommerce ecommerce website built for you. It is made for small businesses that want to start selling online without doing the technical setup themselves.
If your main goal is to build a larger store on BigCommerce, BigCommerce may suit you. If your main goal is to sell products online with a guided setup, Make Local for Global is likely the stronger starting point.
Book a strategy session with Make Local for Global and get clear guidance before building your online store.
Yes, for people who want an ecommerce website built for them. BigCommerce is a hosted ecommerce platform. Make Local for Global is a done-for-you ecommerce website service using WordPress and WooCommerce.
BigCommerce may be better if you want a hosted ecommerce platform for a larger or growing store and are happy building it yourself. Make Local for Global may be better if you want a WooCommerce online store built for you with payments, product listings, support and training included.
Yes. BigCommerce is built for ecommerce and lets businesses sell products online through its hosted store platform.
Yes. Make Local for Global is built for ecommerce websites and includes WooCommerce setup, Stripe and PayPal setup, product listings and training.
No. Make Local for Global builds ecommerce websites using WordPress and WooCommerce.
It depends on what you need. BigCommerce has ecommerce platform plans and extra costs may include apps, themes, domain, email, payment fees and expert help. Make Local for Global starts from £99/year and includes done-for-you ecommerce setup.
BigCommerce’s pricing page currently lists no additional transaction fees on its plans, but BigCommerce’s 2026 pricing update explains Open Payment Provider Fees from 1 June 2026 for eligible orders processed through open payment providers on self-serve plans. Always check the latest BigCommerce pricing and payment terms before buying.
No. Make Local for Global does not charge commission on sales. Normal payment provider fees may still apply through services such as Stripe or PayPal.
BigCommerce can be suitable for beginners who want to learn a hosted ecommerce platform. Make Local for Global is likely easier for ecommerce beginners who want the store set up for them.
Choose BigCommerce if you want to build and manage a hosted ecommerce platform yourself. Choose Make Local for Global if you want a WordPress and WooCommerce store built for you with setup, payments, product listings, support and training included.
Editorial note: This comparison is based on publicly available information from BigCommerce and Make Local for Global at the time of review. Prices, plan names, ecommerce features, payment fees, payment provider rules, support levels, setup times and terms can change, so always check each provider’s own website, checkout page, quote and terms before buying. This article is written to help small business owners compare options fairly and does not claim that one option is right for every business.
