If you run Oracle NetSuite and want to sell online, SuiteCommerce is the default answer. It is not the only one. AwaCommerce Next is a SuiteCommerce alternative built as a NetSuite SuiteApp: it uses your existing NetSuite data for catalog, pricing, inventory, customers, and orders, and it does not require a SuiteCommerce (SC) or SuiteCommerce Advanced (SCA) license.
This page explains what to look for in a SuiteCommerce alternative, how the main options compare, and where AwaCommerce Next fits.
Why NetSuite merchants look for a SuiteCommerce alternative
The reasons we hear most often:
- Licensing on top of NetSuite. SuiteCommerce is licensed in addition to your NetSuite ERP subscription.
- Upgrade effort. SCA customizations live in the storefront source code or custom extensions, so moving to a new release is often a project of its own.
- Skills. SCA is built on a Backbone.js single-page architecture. Developers who know it well are harder to find than developers who know React and Next.js.
- Speed. Many SuiteCommerce sites struggle with mobile Core Web Vitals, which affects rankings and conversion. See why SuiteCommerce sites are slow.
- Marketing agility. Layout and content changes often wait for a developer and a deployment.
None of this means SuiteCommerce is a bad product. It is deeply integrated with NetSuite and works well for many merchants. The question is whether it is still the best fit for your team and your roadmap.
What a good SuiteCommerce alternative must do
Any alternative should meet these requirements before you look at design or features:
- Keep NetSuite as the single source of truth. Items, prices, stock, customers, and orders should not be copied into a second system you have to reconcile.
- Use NetSuite pricing directly. Price levels, customer-specific pricing, quantity breaks, and currencies should come from NetSuite, not be rebuilt by hand.
- Validate checkout against NetSuite. Prices, inventory, tax, and shipping should be checked again at checkout, so the order NetSuite receives is the order the shopper saw.
- Support B2B as well as B2C. Quotes, terms, PO numbers, invoices, and account self-service matter as much as the shopping cart.
- Protect your SEO. Old SuiteCommerce URLs need permanent redirects on day one.
- Be ready for NetSuite Next. Integrations should use SuiteTalk REST, SuiteQL, RESTlets, and OAuth 2.0.
The main SuiteCommerce alternatives compared
| Option | Catalog lives in | NetSuite sync | B2B depth | SuiteCommerce license |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AwaCommerce Next | NetSuite | SuiteApp + API connection, real time | Price levels, quotes, terms, invoices, AR | Not required |
| Shopify + connector | Shopify and NetSuite | Connector, usually scheduled | Shopify B2B features, mapped to NetSuite | Not required |
| BigCommerce + connector | BigCommerce and NetSuite | Connector, usually scheduled | B2B Edition, mapped to NetSuite | Not required |
| Custom headless build | NetSuite | Whatever you build and maintain | Whatever you build | Not required |
| SuiteCommerce Standard / Advanced | NetSuite | Native | Strong, with SCA customization | Required |
Read the detailed comparisons:
- AwaCommerce Next vs SuiteCommerce Advanced
- AwaCommerce Next vs SuiteCommerce Standard
- Shopify + NetSuite connector vs built-for-NetSuite commerce
- BigCommerce + NetSuite vs built-for-NetSuite commerce
How AwaCommerce Next works
AwaCommerce Next is a complementary SuiteApp by AwaLabs, an Oracle NetSuite partner. It installs in your NetSuite account and connects through SuiteTalk REST, SuiteQL, RESTlets, OAuth 2.0, and SuiteScript 2.1.
- Catalog, pricing, and inventory are read from NetSuite and kept up to date in real time, with no middleware and no batch window.
- Checkout re-validates price, stock, tax, and shipping against NetSuite and creates the sales order in NetSuite.
- Storefronts run on your own domain from a global edge network, built with React, Next.js, and TypeScript.
- The Admin lets your team change layouts, skins, landing pages, navigation, and features without a developer. It can optionally be embedded in NetSuite.
One NetSuite catalog can power three experiences at once:
- A B2C storefront with guest checkout, wallets, pay over time, reviews, loyalty, and subscriptions.
- A B2B wholesale portal with customer-specific pricing, quantity tiers, RFQ quotes, CSV order import, PO numbers, terms, and invoices. See NetSuite B2B portal.
- A customer account portal with invoices, statements, AR balance, and order history.
Licensing in plain terms
You choose a base license and add packs only when you need them:
- Store Essential for a first modern storefront with core shopping and catalog sync.
- Store Professional, the most popular, adds the layout builder, B2B foundations, and access to every store pack.
- Portal Professional for a customer account portal without a store catalog.
Packs include Advanced B2B, Advanced B2C, AI, Blog, Stores, Multi Login, Promotions, Loyalty, Subscriptions, and extra sites. Request a quote for your setup.
When SuiteCommerce is still the better choice
Be honest with yourself about these cases:
- You have a recent, well-maintained SCA site and an in-house team that knows it.
- You are mid-project on a SuiteCommerce upgrade and the cost of switching now outweighs the benefit.
Rely on custom SuiteCommerce extensions? Bring them along. We can rebuild them for you as custom extensions on Store Professional.
For everyone else, it is worth seeing a modern alternative running on your own NetSuite data. Configure a store in a few minutes, no sales call required.
Frequently asked questions
Is AwaCommerce Next a replacement for NetSuite?
No. NetSuite stays your ERP. AwaCommerce Next replaces only the storefront layer and reads your catalog, pricing, inventory, and customers from NetSuite.
Do I need a SuiteCommerce license to use AwaCommerce Next?
No. It runs on your standard Oracle NetSuite subscription (OneWorld, Standard, or Mid-Market) plus an AwaCommerce license.
Is AwaCommerce Next headless?
Yes, in the sense that the storefront is a separate modern frontend built on Next.js. Unlike a custom headless build, the NetSuite integration, checkout, and Admin are already built and maintained for you.
Can I run B2B and B2C at the same time?
Yes. One NetSuite catalog can power a B2C storefront, a B2B portal, and a customer account portal. Add Advanced B2C, Advanced B2B, or both on Store Professional.
How is this different from Shopify with a NetSuite connector?
With Shopify, your catalog lives in two systems and a connector moves data between them. With AwaCommerce Next, NetSuite is the only catalog and pricing comes straight from NetSuite price levels.
Can I try it before talking to sales?
Yes. Configure Your Store lets you pick licenses and packs, switch skins and layouts, and preview B2C, B2B, and portal experiences without a sales call.
This article was written with AI assistance and reviewed by our team. Details can change or contain errors, as described in our terms of use. If you spot one, let us know.