When building your BigCommerce store, choosing the right theme is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. The right theme not only shapes how your store looks but also influences user experience, performance, and even conversions. 

BigCommerce themes come in two varieties: free and paid. But how do you know which one is the best fit for your business? Let’s dive into the pros and cons of each to help you make an informed decision.

Free BigCommerce Themes: What You Get

BigCommerce offers a range of free themes, ideal for businesses that want to get started without an upfront cost. These themes are perfect for small businesses, startups, or anyone looking to dip their toes into the eCommerce world.

1. Cost-effective: As the name suggests, free BigCommerce themes won’t cost you a dime. This makes them appealing for new businesses or those operating on a tight budget.
2. Simplicity and ease of use: Free themes are generally easier to use and implement, with fewer customization options. This simplicity can be a bonus if you’re just starting and don’t need an overly complex website.
3. Responsive and professional designs: While free, BigCommerce ensures that these themes are responsive and designed to meet modern website standards. Your site will look professional and function well across devices, from desktops to smartphones.

However, free themes do come with some limitations. These themes typically have fewer customization options and features compared to their paid counterparts. If you want more control over how your store looks or need specific functionalities, a free theme might not offer everything you need.

Paid BigCommerce Themes: The Advantages of Upgrading

Investing in a paid BigCommerce theme gives you access to advanced features and unique designs that set your store apart from the competition. Here are reasons why businesses often opt for premium themes:

1. Unique and customizable designs: Paid BigCommerce themes often come with more design options, allowing you to create a store that feels custom-made. This can help build brand recognition and make your website stand out from others using free themes.
2. Additional features: Paid themes typically offer more functionality, such as built-in marketing tools, advanced navigation menus, and enhanced product display options. These features can improve the shopping experience and increase conversions.
3. Optimized for performance: Many premium BigCommerce themes are optimized for speed, SEO, and performance. This can significantly reduce page load times, improve search engine rankings, and enhance user experience, especially for stores with high traffic or large inventories.
4. Priority support and updates: One of the best things about investing in a paid theme is the ongoing support and updates. Let’s say you ran into technical issues or need assistance with customization, most paid themes include developer support. 

There are also regular updates to ensure your theme stays compatible with BigCommerce’s latest features and improvements.

Free vs. Paid BigCommerce Themes: Things to Consider

1. Budget

The first thing to consider is your budget. Free BigCommerce themes are an obvious choice for those who want to keep their initial investment low. However, a paid theme might be worth the expense if you have room in your budget, as it can provide better customization and performance, leading to higher long-term profits.

2. Functionality

Free themes often come with basic features, which might be enough for smaller stores. But if your business needs advanced functionalities like custom product pages, special promotions, or unique design elements, a paid theme is the way to go.

3. Customization

If you’re content with a simple, out-of-the-box solution, a free theme should work just fine. However, if you want a fully branded and customized store, paid BigCommerce themes offer far more options. 

With a premium theme, you can adjust layouts, fonts, colors, and features to match your brand vision perfectly.

4. Scalability

Consider how your store will grow. A free theme might suit you now, but as you add more products or start receiving more traffic, a paid theme’s advanced features could support that growth better. 

Paid themes often come with more robust structures to handle larger inventories and higher traffic without sacrificing performance.

Which BigCommerce Theme is Right for You?

Choosing between free and paid BigCommerce themes ultimately depends on your business goals, budget, and how much control you want over your store’s appearance and functionality. 

For new or small businesses, free themes can be a great way to get started quickly without a large upfront investment. 

On the other hand, if you’re ready to invest in a premium user experience, a paid theme offers the customization, support, and performance you need to scale and thrive.

Stunning BigCommerce Themes to Support Your Business Growth

We at Epic specialize in creating custom BigCommerce themes that are designed to your business’s specific needs. Just starting out or looking to upgrade to a more advanced theme? Whatever your web design needs are, we’ve got you covered. 

Browse our collection of BigCommerce themes and find the perfect one for your online store today! Or, you can drop us a message, and we’ll schedule a consultation at a convenient time for you.