As e-commerce becomes increasingly important in today’s retail landscape, the choice of platform on which to build your online store can have a major impact on your business success.
Two of the most popular e-commerce platforms are BigCommerce vs Shopify.
In this article, we will compare these two platforms and help you make the right decision for your business needs.
Key Takeaway :
BigCommerce and Shopify are two popular e-commerce platforms that offer a range of features to help you build and grow your online business. Both platforms have their strengths, and the best choice depends on your specific needs, budget, and business requirements.
Understanding BigCommerce and Shopify
What is BigCommerce?
BigCommerce is a comprehensive e-commerce platform that enables merchants to design, develop, and operate their online stores. Founded in 2009, it offers a full range of e-commerce solutions, including website creation, hosting, payment processing, marketing, and shipping.
Scalability: One of the cool things about BigCommerce is that it can grow with your business. Whether you’re starting with a small lemonade stand or running a big toy store, BigCommerce can handle it all. As your business gets bigger, you can easily upgrade your BigCommerce plan to match your needs.
Flexibility: BigCommerce is like a big box of Legos – you can customize and build your online store just the way you want it. Plus, it can connect with other apps and services like accounting software and email marketing tools. This means you can add even more cool features to your store!
What is Shopify?
Shopify was launched in 2006 and is another popular e-commerce platform that allows merchants to design their online stores from scratch.
Shopify is Like a Magic Box: Shopify is a platform that helps you build your online store. It’s like a magic box filled with pre-designed templates and drag-and-drop tools. This means you can build your website without needing to write any code – it’s as easy as playing with building blocks!
Easy to Use: One of the best things about Shopify is that it’s super easy to use. It’s designed to be user-friendly, which means anyone can use it, even if they’re not a tech wizard. Plus, if you ever need help, Shopify’s support team is there for you 24/7, like a superhero ready to save the day!
Mobile-Friendly: Shopify knows that a lot of people shop on their phones, so it offers lots of mobile-friendly templates and tools. This ensures that your online store looks great and works well on any device, providing a smooth shopping experience for your customers.
BigCommerce vs Shopify: Both BigCommerce and Shopify are superheroes of online stores, offering everything you need to build and grow your business. Choosing between the two is like choosing your favourite superhero – it all comes down to what you need and what you prefer.
1. Feature Comparision: BigCommerce Vs Shopify
E-commerce Templates and Design
BigCommerce:
Choose Your Style: BigCommerce is like a fashion show for your online store. It offers 12 free themes, or you can buy premium ones starting from $145. All of them are mobile-responsive and SEO optimized, which means your store will look great on any device and be easy to find on search engines.
Customize Your Store: With BigCommerce, you can also customize the CSS and HTML code. It’s like being a fashion designer for your online store, allowing you to make it look exactly how you want.
Shopify:
Lots of Templates: Shopify is like a big wardrobe full of over 70 templates that you can customize. You can choose from free or premium themes from its store. It’s like having a huge selection of outfits for your online store.
Mobile-Responsive and SEO Optimized: Just like BigCommerce, all the Shopify templates are mobile-responsive and SEO optimized. This means your store will look good on phones and tablets, and it’ll be easier for people to find your store on search engines.
So, whether you choose BigCommerce or Shopify, you’ll have lots of options to make your online store look amazing and easy to find.
It’s like choosing between two great outfits – you can’t go wrong!
Product Management and Inventory
BigCommerce:
Product Management: BigCommerce is like a super-organized assistant for your online store. It lets you add, edit, and organize your products with ease. It’s like having a neat and tidy room for all your products.
Inventory Tracking: With BigCommerce, you can keep track of your stock, manage your inventory levels, and even create purchase orders. It’s like having a super-smart robot that knows exactly how many items you have in your store.
Extra Product Details: BigCommerce also lets you add multiple images for each product and compare different products. This means your customers can get all the information they need to decide what to buy.
Shopify:
Inventory Management: Shopify is like a clever inventory manager for your online store. It lets you easily track how many products you have, get updates, and manage returns. It’s like having a personal assistant who always knows what’s in stock.
Inventory Alerts and Shipping Costs: Shopify can also set up inventory alerts and reorder reminders, so you’ll never run out of stock. Plus, it can calculate shipping costs based on the weight of the products. It’s like having a smart calculator that takes care of all the tricky stuff for you.
Unlimited Products: With Shopify, you can sell as many products or variations as you want. This means you can keep adding new items to your store without worrying about hitting any limits. It’s like having a never-ending wardrobe for your online store!
So, whether you choose BigCommerce or Shopify, you’ll have a super-smart system to help you manage your products and inventory. It’s like having a superhero sidekick for your online store!
Payment Gateways and Transaction Fees
| Payment Gateway Type | BigCommerce | Shopify |
|---|---|---|
| Own Payment Gateway | No Transaction Fees | No Transaction Fees |
| Third-Party Payment Gateway | 0.5%-2.0% Transaction Fees (depending on your plan) | Transaction Fees Apply (vary depending on your plan) |
This table shows that both BigCommerce and Shopify do not charge any transaction fees when you use their own payment gateways.
However, if you use a third-party payment gateway, Shopify will charge you between 0.5%-2.0%, depending on your pricing plan. This means you have a wide range of payment options to choose from.
Shipping and Fulfillment Options
BigCommerce:
Shipping Options: BigCommerce offers a variety of shipping options. It’s like having a post office right in your online store. You can calculate real-time shipping rates and even print labels automatically. This makes managing your shipping process super easy.
Accurate Rates: With BigCommerce, you can provide your customers with accurate shipping rates. It’s like having a smart calculator that tells your customers exactly how much shipping will cost.
Shopify:
Shipping Calculator: Shopify has a shipping calculator that lets you set up flexible shipping rates based on weight and destination. It’s like having a magic scale that calculates shipping costs for you.
Easy Label Printing: Shopify has a partnership with USPS that lets you print shipping labels right from the Shopify interface. This means you can streamline your shipping process and save time. It’s like having a speedy printer that’s always ready to print your shipping labels.
Marketing and SEO Tools
Marketing and SEO are essential to driving traffic to your e-commerce store and increasing sales. Both BigCommerce and Shopify provide a range of tools to help you attract and retain customers.
BigCommerce:
BigCommerce provides various marketing tools to help you attract and retain customers. These include a range of promotions, discount codes, email marketing, and abandoned cart recovery tools. This means you can create targeted marketing campaigns to reach your customers and boost your sales.
Shopify:
Shopify comes with a range of marketing tools that enable you to send newsletters, discounts, and social media campaigns. It also provides SEO tools, including the ability to edit meta descriptions, titles, and URLs, which boost your site visibility on the web. This means you can optimize your site for search engines and drive more traffic to your store.
Third-Party Integrations and App Stores
Both BigCommerce and Shopify offer a wide range of third-party integrations and apps, which allow you to extend the functionality of your store.
BigCommerce:
BigCommerce offers over 630 apps, including accounting and inventory management apps, marketing, and social media apps. This means you can easily integrate your e-commerce store with other tools and services to streamline your business processes.
Shopify:
Shopify offers over 3300 apps for everything from email marketing to product reviews. This means you can find the perfect app to meet your specific needs and grow your business.
Did you know there are some of the best Social Login Apps? We have already made easy for you to look for: Best Social Login Shopify Apps in 2023
2. BigCommerce Vs Shopify: Pricing and Plans
When it comes to setting up an online store, one of the most important factors to consider is pricing. This is where BigCommerce and Shopify come in, offering pricing plans that cater to the needs of different businesses.
BigCommerce Pricing
| Features | Description |
|---|---|
| No additional transaction fee | 0% transaction fee |
| Full-featured online store | Complete online store setup |
| Multi-currency | Display, transact & settle in multiple currencies |
| Price Lists | Customizable price-lists |
| Page Builder | Tool for building and customizing your store pages |
| 24/7 Technical Support | Round-the-clock technical assistance |
| Unlimited Staff accounts | No limit on the number of staff accounts |
| Sales channels | Includes eBay, Amazon, and POS |
| Coupons, discounts, and gift cards | Tools for offering promotional deals |
| Real-time shipping quotes | Live updates on shipping costs |
| Fully customizable checkout | The checkout process can be fully tailored |
| Headless capabilities and integrations | Allows for a headless commerce setup |
| Multi-Storefront | Manage multiple storefronts |
| Extended Functionality via App Marketplace | Access to additional features through apps |
| Sitewide HTTPS and dedicated SSL | Secure the website and checkout |
| Extended Validation SSL | Available as an option |
| Abandoned cart saver | Tool to recover abandoned shopping carts |
| Customer groups and segmentation | Tools for customer management and marketing |
| Google Customer Reviews | Integration with Google’s customer review system |
| Faceted search (product filtering) | Advanced product search and filtering |
| Custom facets | Customizable search facets |
| Enterprise Services | Additional services for enterprise customers |
| Unlimited API calls | No limit on API usage |
| Online sales per year | Customizable based on your needs |
Shopify Pricing
Basic Shopify Plan:
Cost: $29 per month
Features: Allows you to sell unlimited products
Shopify Plan:
Cost: $79 per month
Features: Provides advanced features like gift cards, abandoned cart recovery, and real-time carrier shipping rates
Advanced Shopify Plan:
- Cost: $299 per month
- Features: Gives you access to advanced reporting, third-party calculated shipping rates, and advanced checkout options
- Additional Costs to Consider
3. Ease of Use and User Experience
When it comes to running an online business, ease of use and user experience are crucial factors to consider. Both BigCommerce and Shopify provide user-friendly interfaces that make managing your online store a breeze.
BigCommerce User Interface
BigCommerce’s user interface is designed with simplicity and functionality in mind. The dashboard is clean and easy to navigate, providing quick access to all the essential features you need to run your online business.
Whether you’re managing your inventory, processing orders, or creating marketing campaigns, everything is just a few clicks away.
One of the standout features of BigCommerce’s interface is the drag-and-drop page builder, which allows you to create custom pages without any coding knowledge.
This feature is particularly useful for those who want to create unique landing pages or product pages that stand out from the competition.
Shopify User Interface
Shopify’s user interface is also designed with simplicity in mind, providing an intuitive dashboard that’s easy to navigate. The interface is organized into different sections, making it easy to find what you’re looking for.
The menus and dropdowns are straightforward, allowing you to access the different areas of your store quickly.
One of the benefits of Shopify’s interface is the ability to customize your online store using themes. There are hundreds of free and paid themes available, allowing you to create a unique look and feel for your store without any coding knowledge.
This feature is particularly useful for those who want to create a professional-looking online store without spending a lot of time or money on design.
9. Customer Support and Resources
Shopify:
- Provides 24/7 customer support through phone, chat, or email for all its plans.
- Offers a comprehensive help centre with a vast knowledge base, including articles and guides on various topics.
- Ideal for users who require round-the-clock support and extensive resources for setting up and optimizing their online store.
BigCommerce:
- Provides 24/7 support via phone, email, or chat for all its plans, except for the Standard plan, which only has email support.
- Offers a knowledge base with detailed documentation and video tutorials.
- Suitable for users who prefer detailed documentation and video tutorials, but don’t require 24/7 phone and chat support for the Standard plan.
Choose The Best for Your Business
BigCommerce:
- Ideal for high-volume businesses due to flexible pricing and advanced features.
- Offers robust security options.
Shopify:
- Better suited for smaller businesses due to a lower starting price.
- Known for its user-friendly interface.
In conclusion, both platforms have their strengths.
The best choice depends on your specific needs, budget, and business requirements. Always review the features of both platforms to find the best fit for your business.
