When it comes to choosing an e-commerce platform for your online business, two of the biggest names in the game are BigCommerce and Shopify. Both platforms offer a range of features and benefits, making it difficult to decide which one is the better option for your specific needs.
BigCommerce is known for its flexibility and scalability, making it a great choice for larger businesses with complex needs. On the other hand, Shopify is known for its user-friendly interface and ease of use, making it a popular choice for smaller businesses and first-time online sellers.
BigCommerce: Pros and Cons
When it comes to BigCommerce, there are a number of pros and cons to consider. Here are some of the key points to keep in mind:
Pros
- Better value for money than Shopify: While both platforms offer similar pricing, BigCommerce has a slight edge thanks to its rich built-in features, open APIs, lower additional costs, and customization functions.
- More built-in features: BigCommerce offers a wide range of built-in features that can help you create a more robust online store. Some of these features include multi-channel selling, abandoned cart recovery, and product ratings and reviews.
- Good for large businesses: BigCommerce is a great choice for large businesses that need a scalable platform with advanced features and customization options.
- Good for SEO: BigCommerce is designed with SEO in mind, and offers a range of tools and features to help you optimize your online store for search engines.
Cons
- Steep learning curve: BigCommerce can be a bit more difficult to learn and use than Shopify, especially for beginners.
- Limited design options: While BigCommerce offers a range of themes and customization options, it can be more difficult to create a truly unique and custom design compared to Shopify.
- Less third-party app support: While BigCommerce does offer a range of built-in features, it may not have as many third-party app integrations available as Shopify.
Overall, BigCommerce is a great choice for businesses that need a scalable platform with advanced features and customization options. While it may have a steeper learning curve and fewer design and app options compared to Shopify, it offers better value for money and a range of built-in features that can help you create a robust online store.
Shopify: Pros and Cons
When it comes to Shopify, there are both pros and cons to consider. Here are some of the key points to keep in mind:
Pros
- Ease of use: Shopify is known for being one of the easiest e-commerce platforms to set up and use. Even if you have no experience with website design or coding, you can create a professional-looking online store with ease.
- Large app store: Shopify has a huge app store, with thousands of apps available to help you customize and enhance your store. Whether you need help with marketing, shipping, or anything else, there’s likely an app that can help.
- Great customer support: Shopify is known for having excellent customer support. Whether you have a question about setting up your store or need help with a technical issue, you can reach out to their support team and get help quickly.
- Mobile-friendly themes: All of Shopify’s themes are mobile-friendly, which is crucial in today’s world where many people do their online shopping on their phones.
Cons
- Transaction fees: If you don’t use Shopify Payments to process your payments, you’ll be charged a transaction fee on each sale. This can add up quickly and eat into your profits.
- Limited customization: While Shopify is easy to use, it can be somewhat limited in terms of customization. If you want to create a truly unique store, you may need to hire a developer or designer to help you achieve your vision.
- Cost: Shopify can be somewhat expensive, especially if you need to use many of the paid apps in their app store. While they do offer a free trial, you’ll need to pay a monthly fee to keep your store up and running.
Overall, Shopify is a great option for those who want an easy-to-use e-commerce platform with great customer support. However, it may not be the best choice for those who need a lot of customization or want to avoid transaction fees.
BigCommerce vs Shopify: Features Comparison
When it comes to choosing an ecommerce platform, features are one of the most important factors to consider. In this section, we’ll compare the features of BigCommerce and Shopify to help you determine which platform is best for your business.
Ecommerce
Both BigCommerce and Shopify offer a wide range of ecommerce features, including:
- Unlimited products
- Product variants
- Product reviews
- Inventory management
- Order management
- Shipping and tax calculation
- Payment gateways
- Abandoned cart recovery
However, there are some differences between the two platforms. For example, BigCommerce offers more advanced features for selling on multiple channels, such as Amazon and eBay. On the other hand, Shopify has a larger app store with more integrations available.
Landing Pages
Landing pages are an important part of any ecommerce website, as they are often the first point of contact for potential customers. Both BigCommerce and Shopify offer landing page builders, but there are some differences between the two.
BigCommerce’s landing page builder is more focused on ecommerce-specific features, such as product listings and promotions. Shopify’s landing page builder is more flexible, allowing you to create landing pages for a variety of purposes, including lead generation and content marketing.
Email Marketing
Email marketing is a powerful tool for ecommerce businesses, allowing you to stay in touch with your customers and promote your products and services. Both BigCommerce and Shopify offer email marketing features, such as email campaigns and newsletters.
However, there are some differences between the two platforms. BigCommerce’s email marketing features are more basic, while Shopify’s are more advanced and include features such as segmentation and automation.
Security
Security is a critical factor for any ecommerce platform, as you are handling sensitive customer information such as credit card details. Both BigCommerce and Shopify take security seriously and offer a range of security features, such as SSL certificates and PCI compliance.
However, there are some differences between the two platforms. BigCommerce offers more advanced security features, such as fraud detection and prevention, while Shopify’s security features are more basic.
Ease of Use
When it comes to ease of use, both BigCommerce and Shopify have their strengths and weaknesses. Here’s what we found:
BigCommerce
BigCommerce is a user-friendly platform that offers a clean and intuitive interface. The platform’s dashboard is easy to navigate, and its drag-and-drop editor makes it easy to customize your store’s design without any coding knowledge. Additionally, BigCommerce offers a wide range of built-in features, such as product reviews, abandoned cart recovery, and more, which can help you save time and money on third-party apps.
However, while BigCommerce is relatively easy to use, it can be overwhelming for beginners who are new to ecommerce. Its advanced features and customization options may require a bit of a learning curve, and some users may find the platform’s pricing structure confusing.
Shopify
Shopify is known for its ease of use, and for good reason. The platform’s interface is straightforward and easy to navigate, and its drag-and-drop editor makes it simple to customize your store’s design. Additionally, Shopify offers a wide range of built-in features, such as abandoned cart recovery, discount codes, and more, which can help you save time and money on third-party apps.
One of the biggest advantages of Shopify is its app store, which offers a wide range of third-party apps that can help you extend your store’s functionality. However, while Shopify is relatively easy to use, it can be limiting for users who want more advanced customization options. Its pricing structure can also be confusing for some users, especially those who are new to ecommerce.
Pricing Comparison
When it comes to pricing, both BigCommerce and Shopify offer a range of plans to fit different budgets and needs. Let’s take a closer look at the pricing comparison between the two platforms.
BigCommerce Pricing
BigCommerce has four pricing plans: Standard, Plus, Pro, and Enterprise. The Standard plan costs $29.95 per month, and it includes features such as unlimited products, storage, and bandwidth, as well as a free SSL certificate. The Plus plan costs $79.95 per month, and it adds features such as abandoned cart recovery, customer segmentation, and Google customer reviews. The Pro plan costs $299.95 per month, and it includes even more advanced features such as custom SSL, faceted search, and product filtering. The Enterprise plan is custom-priced and includes features such as dedicated account management, priority support, and custom integrations.
Shopify Pricing
Shopify has three pricing plans: Basic, Shopify, and Advanced. The Basic plan costs $29 per month and includes features such as unlimited products, storage, and bandwidth, as well as a free SSL certificate. The Shopify plan costs $79 per month and adds features such as gift cards, professional reports, and abandoned cart recovery. The Advanced plan costs $299 per month and includes even more advanced features such as advanced report builder, third-party calculated shipping rates, and real-time carrier shipping.
Customer Support
When it comes to running an online store, customer support is crucial. Both BigCommerce and Shopify offer various support options for their users.
BigCommerce Customer Support
BigCommerce provides 24/7 customer support through phone, live chat, and email. Additionally, they have a comprehensive knowledge base and community forum where users can find answers to common questions and connect with other users for support.
Shopify Customer Support
Shopify also offers 24/7 customer support through phone, live chat, and email. They have an extensive help center with articles, tutorials, and guides to help users get started and manage their store. Shopify also has a community forum where users can connect and get support from other users.
Integration Capabilities
When it comes to integration capabilities, both BigCommerce and Shopify offer a wide range of options to connect your online store with other third-party tools and services. Here are some of the integration capabilities of both platforms:
BigCommerce
BigCommerce has an extensive list of integrations available, including popular tools like QuickBooks, Mailchimp, and Hubspot. They also offer integrations with major marketplaces like Amazon and eBay, making it easy to expand your reach and sell on multiple channels. Additionally, BigCommerce has an open API, allowing developers to build custom integrations with other tools as needed.
Shopify
Shopify also offers a wide range of integrations, including popular tools like Mailchimp, QuickBooks, and Xero. They also have integrations with major marketplaces like Amazon and eBay. One advantage of Shopify is their app store, which features over 4,000 apps to help you optimize your store’s functionality. Shopify also has an open API, allowing developers to build custom integrations with other tools.
User Reviews
We scoured the web to find user reviews of both BigCommerce and Shopify to get a sense of how real people feel about these platforms. Here’s what we found:
BigCommerce
- Users praised the platform’s robust features, including its built-in SEO optimization and multi-channel selling capabilities.
- Some users reported difficulty navigating the platform’s interface, particularly when it came to customizing their site’s design.
- A few users noted that customer support could be slow to respond to inquiries.
Shopify
- Users commended Shopify’s ease of use, particularly when it came to setting up and managing their online store.
- Many users appreciated the platform’s extensive app store, which allows them to add additional features and functionality to their site.
- Some users reported frustration with the platform’s transaction fees, which can add up quickly for high-volume sellers.
Overall, both BigCommerce and Shopify have their pros and cons, and the right choice for you will depend on your specific needs and priorities. We recommend taking advantage of free trials for both platforms to get a sense of which one feels like a better fit for your business.
Conclusion
After analyzing the features, pricing, and merits of both BigCommerce and Shopify, we can confidently say that both platforms are excellent choices for building an eCommerce store.
If you’re looking for a platform with a wide range of features and customization options, BigCommerce may be the better choice for you. With its powerful built-in features and flexible design options, BigCommerce is ideal for larger or more complex online stores.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for a more user-friendly platform with a simpler setup process, Shopify may be the better choice. Shopify’s intuitive interface and streamlined design make it a great choice for smaller or newer online stores.
Overall, both BigCommerce and Shopify are excellent options for building an eCommerce store. We recommend taking the time to carefully consider your business needs and goals before making a final decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which platform is better for SEO, BigCommerce or Shopify?
Both BigCommerce and Shopify are good options for SEO. However, BigCommerce has some advantages over Shopify when it comes to SEO. BigCommerce allows for more control over URLs and has better built-in SEO features. Shopify, on the other hand, has a larger app store with more SEO apps available.
What are the main differences between BigCommerce and Shopify?
The main differences between BigCommerce and Shopify include pricing, features, and ease of use. BigCommerce is generally more expensive than Shopify, but it offers more advanced features and customization options. Shopify is easier to use and has a larger app store, but it may not be as powerful as BigCommerce for larger businesses.
Is BigCommerce more expensive than Shopify?
Yes, BigCommerce is generally more expensive than Shopify. However, it also offers more advanced features and customization options.
