BigCommerce vs Amazon

Ecommerce has become an essential part of the global business landscape, with many small and large merchants taking their businesses online. With the increasing competition, choosing the right platform for your ecommerce store has become more critical than ever. This article compares two of the most popular ecommerce platforms, BigCommerce and Amazon, to help you make an informed decision for your business.

What is BigCommerce?

BigCommerce is a cloud-based ecommerce platform that allows merchants to create and manage their online store and sell products and services over the internet. It was founded in 2009 and has since grown to become a preferred platform for many small and medium-sized businesses across the world. BigCommerce offers a user-friendly interface that allows users to create an online store with no coding or design skills.

One of the key features of BigCommerce is its scalability. The platform can accommodate businesses of all sizes, from small startups to large enterprises. This means that as your business grows, you can easily upgrade your BigCommerce plan to meet your changing needs.

Another advantage of using BigCommerce is its extensive range of integrations and plugins. These integrations allow you to connect your online store with other business tools such as accounting software, email marketing platforms, and social media channels. This can help streamline your business operations and improve your overall efficiency.

What is Amazon?

Amazon is an ecommerce giant that needs no introduction. It is the world’s largest online retailer with over 150 million monthly users. Amazon offers two main platforms for merchants to sell their products: Amazon Marketplace, which allows small and medium-sized businesses to sell their products alongside Amazon, and Amazon Webstore, which allows businesses to create their ecommerce store on Amazon’s platform.

In addition to its ecommerce platform, Amazon has expanded into various other industries, including cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and entertainment. Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a cloud computing platform that provides a wide range of services, including storage, computing power, and database management. Amazon’s AI assistant, Alexa, is integrated into various devices, including the Amazon Echo, and can perform tasks such as playing music, setting reminders, and controlling smart home devices. Amazon Prime Video is a streaming service that offers original content, as well as movies and TV shows from other studios.

Amazon has also faced criticism for its impact on small businesses and its treatment of workers. Some argue that Amazon’s dominance in the ecommerce market has led to the closure of many small businesses, while others have raised concerns about the working conditions in Amazon’s warehouses. Despite these criticisms, Amazon continues to be a major player in the ecommerce and technology industries, with a market capitalization of over $1 trillion.

Pros and Cons of BigCommerce

BigCommerce has several pros, including a user-friendly interface, a wide range of features, and active customer support. The platform also offers a high level of customization, allowing users to create a store that aligns with their brand. On the downside, BigCommerce can be expensive, especially for small and medium-sized businesses, with additional costs for advanced features and plugins.

Another advantage of BigCommerce is its scalability. The platform can accommodate businesses of all sizes, from small startups to large enterprises. This means that as your business grows, you can easily upgrade your plan and access more advanced features without having to switch to a different platform.

However, one potential drawback of BigCommerce is its limited design options. While the platform offers a high level of customization, some users may find the design templates to be too restrictive. Additionally, the platform’s SEO capabilities are not as advanced as some other e-commerce solutions, which may impact your store’s visibility in search engine results.

Pros and Cons of Amazon

Amazon has several pros, including a large customer base, a straightforward platform with pre-built templates, and the ability to access Amazon FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) services. On the downside, Amazon charges a high seller fee, and merchants have little control over the design and branding of their store.

Another potential downside of selling on Amazon is the high level of competition. With so many sellers on the platform, it can be difficult to stand out and attract customers. Additionally, Amazon’s algorithm favors products with high sales and positive reviews, making it challenging for new or lesser-known sellers to gain visibility and traction.

Who should use BigCommerce?

BigCommerce is an ideal platform for small and medium-sized businesses looking for a platform that allows for customization and control over their online store. BigCommerce offers a range of features and advanced options that can support businesses ready to scale. Additionally, BigCommerce supports a wide range of integrations with third-party apps, making it a more versatile platform than Amazon.

One of the key advantages of using BigCommerce is its user-friendly interface, which makes it easy for businesses to manage their online store without requiring extensive technical knowledge. This is particularly beneficial for small businesses that may not have a dedicated IT team to manage their online store.

Another advantage of using BigCommerce is its robust security features, which help protect businesses from online threats such as hacking and fraud. BigCommerce uses advanced security protocols to ensure that customer data is kept safe and secure, giving businesses peace of mind when it comes to managing their online store.

Who should use Amazon?

Amazon is an ideal platform for merchants looking to tap into Amazon’s massive customer base. Amazon Marketplace is a cost-effective way for small and medium-sized businesses to sell their products alongside Amazon, without the need to create their ecommerce store. Amazon is well suited to merchants with a high volume of sales and those looking for a one-stop-shop for their ecommerce needs.

In addition to its benefits for merchants, Amazon is also a popular choice for consumers. With its vast selection of products, competitive pricing, and fast shipping options, Amazon has become a go-to destination for online shopping. Amazon Prime, the company’s subscription service, offers additional perks such as free two-day shipping, access to streaming services, and exclusive deals.

Furthermore, Amazon has expanded beyond just ecommerce. The company has ventured into industries such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and entertainment. Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a leading provider of cloud computing services, while Amazon Studios produces original movies and TV shows. This diversification has made Amazon a major player in various industries and has contributed to its overall success.

Features of BigCommerce

BigCommerce is a feature-rich ecommerce platform that comes with several advanced options, including multiple payment gateway options, SEO optimization, abandoned cart recovery, and inventory management. BigCommerce also offers a range of templates and customization options, with support for third-party apps and plugins.

In addition to these features, BigCommerce also provides a user-friendly interface that makes it easy for merchants to manage their online stores. The platform offers detailed analytics and reporting tools, allowing merchants to track their sales and customer behavior. BigCommerce also provides excellent customer support, with a dedicated team available 24/7 to assist with any issues or questions that may arise.

Features of Amazon

Amazon offers several features, including a large customer base, a simple and easy-to-use platform, and access to Amazon’s FBA services. Amazon offers several templates to choose from, with support for features such as payment processing, shipping, and order management.

In addition to these features, Amazon also provides a wide range of marketing tools to help sellers promote their products. These tools include sponsored product ads, display ads, and video ads. Amazon also offers a variety of analytics and reporting tools to help sellers track their sales and optimize their listings.

Furthermore, Amazon has a robust customer review system that allows buyers to leave feedback on products they have purchased. This system helps sellers build trust with potential customers and improve their product offerings based on customer feedback. Additionally, Amazon offers a customer service team that can assist with any issues or questions that buyers may have.

Pricing comparison of BigCommerce and Amazon

BigCommerce offers several pricing plans, starting at $29.95 per month for its Standard Plan up to $299.95 per month for its Enterprise Plan. Amazon charges a seller fee that ranges from 6% to 45% of the sale price, depending on the category of the product sold.

Ease of use comparison between BigCommerce and Amazon

BigCommerce offers a user-friendly interface, with drag-and-drop functionality that allows users to create an online store without any coding or design skills. Amazon offers an easy-to-use platform, with pre-built templates that allow merchants to set up their ecommerce store quickly.

Customization options available on BigCommerce vs Amazon

BigCommerce offers a wide range of customization options, allowing merchants to create a store that aligns with their branding. Users can customize page layouts, colors, and fonts, add their branding elements and create custom templates. Amazon, on the other hand, offers limited customization options, with pre-built templates to choose from.

Which platform offers better customer support – BigCommerce or Amazon?

BigCommerce offers active customer support, with a dedicated support team available to assist users 24/7. Amazon offers support for its FBA services, although merchants essentially have to be self-reliant on Marketplace.

Which platform is more scalable – BigCommerce or Amazon?

BigCommerce is more scalable, with support for unlimited products, bandwidth, and traffic. Amazon Marketplace, on the other hand, places restrictions on the number of products a merchant can sell and limits bandwidth and traffic, making it harder to scale for larger businesses.

Integration options with third-party apps for BigCommerce vs Amazon

BigCommerce offers support for several third-party apps and plugins, including payment gateways, shipping providers, and marketing tools. Amazon offers limited integration options, with only a few third-party apps and plugins available to use.

Which platform offers better security – BigCommerce or Amazon?

Both BigCommerce and Amazon offer secure ecommerce platforms, with advanced security options such as SSL certificates and fraud detection features.

Comparison of payment gateway options available on both platforms

BigCommerce supports several payment gateway options, including PayPal, Stripe, and Square, with support for multiple currencies. Amazon offers a limited range of payment options, with limited support for other currencies.

User reviews and ratings for both platforms

BigCommerce has a rating of 4.7 out of 5 on G2.com, with 95% of users rating it 4 or 5 stars. Amazon has a rating of 4.4 out of 5 on TrustRadius, with 80% of users rating it 4 or 5 stars.

Conclusion: Which platform is the best fit for your ecommerce needs?

Choosing the right ecommerce platform can have a significant impact on your business’s success. While both BigCommerce and Amazon offer unique benefits, BigCommerce provides more flexibility and control over your online store. Amazon, on the other hand, offers a vast market with considerable potential for businesses that can relinquish some control. Ultimately it boils down to what’s essential to your business, and the best way forward is to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of each platform against your specific business needs.