BigCommerce vs Shopify

Note: If you’re looking to start an e-commerce business, you’ll need a reliable platform for it. In this article, we’ll be comparing two popular e-commerce platforms: BigCommerce and Shopify. We’ll go into detail on the key differences between these platforms, their pricing, features, ease of use, customization options, payment options, integrations, SEO capabilities, customer support, security features, and more. By the end of the article, you’ll have a better understanding of which platform is right for your business needs.

Introduction to E-commerce Platforms

E-commerce platforms are websites or software solutions that allow businesses to create online stores and sell products or services. These platforms offer a range of features and tools to help businesses manage their online business operations, including inventory management, order processing, payment processing, and shipping and logistics management.

One of the key benefits of using an e-commerce platform is the ability to reach a wider audience. With an online store, businesses can sell their products or services to customers all over the world, without the limitations of a physical storefront. This can help businesses to increase their sales and revenue, and to expand their customer base.

Another advantage of e-commerce platforms is the ability to track and analyze customer data. By collecting information about customer behavior, businesses can gain insights into their preferences and buying habits, and use this information to improve their marketing and sales strategies. E-commerce platforms often provide analytics tools that allow businesses to track metrics such as website traffic, conversion rates, and customer demographics.

Overview of BigCommerce and Shopify

BigCommerce and Shopify are two popular e-commerce platforms that offer similar features and tools for online business management. BigCommerce is a fully hosted e-commerce platform that powers thousands of online businesses, providing a range of features including advanced customization, marketing and SEO tools, and 24/7 support. Shopify, on the other hand, is an all-in-one e-commerce platform that enables businesses to create an online store, manage products and shipments, and more. With over 1 million users, Shopify is a well-established platform for small and large businesses alike.

One of the key differences between BigCommerce and Shopify is their pricing structure. BigCommerce offers a range of pricing plans, starting from $29.95 per month, while Shopify offers three main pricing plans, starting from $29 per month. However, Shopify also offers a Lite plan for $9 per month, which allows businesses to sell on social media and other platforms without a full online store.

Another important factor to consider when choosing between BigCommerce and Shopify is their app stores. Both platforms offer a wide range of apps and integrations to enhance the functionality of your online store. However, Shopify’s app store is larger and more diverse, with over 4,000 apps available, while BigCommerce’s app store has around 600 apps. This may be an important consideration for businesses that require specific features or integrations to meet their needs.

Key Differences between BigCommerce and Shopify

One of the main differences between BigCommerce and Shopify is the pricing structure. Shopify offers different pricing plans with varying features and tools, while BigCommerce has a fixed pricing structure that includes all features. Another difference is the level of customization offered by both platforms. BigCommerce provides advanced customization options that allow businesses to create unique storefronts and pages, while Shopify offers a more limited range of customization options. Additionally, BigCommerce offers unlimited product options, while Shopify has a cap on the number of products allowed on each plan.

Another important difference between BigCommerce and Shopify is the level of support provided to users. BigCommerce offers 24/7 customer support through phone, email, and live chat, while Shopify only offers 24/7 support through email and live chat. BigCommerce also provides a dedicated account manager to help businesses with their online store, while Shopify does not offer this service.

Furthermore, BigCommerce has a built-in blogging platform, which allows businesses to create and publish blog posts directly on their online store. This feature is not available on Shopify, and businesses have to use a separate blogging platform and integrate it with their Shopify store. This can be time-consuming and may require technical expertise.

Pricing Comparison between BigCommerce and Shopify

BigCommerce’s pricing structure is divided into four plans: Standard, Plus, Pro, and Enterprise. The Standard plan starts at $29.95 per month, while the Plus plan starts at $79.95 per month. The Pro plan costs $299.95 per month, while the Enterprise plan requires custom pricing based on business needs. Shopify’s pricing structure also has four plans: Basic, Shopify, Advanced, and Plus. The Basic plan starts at $29 per month, the Shopify plan at $79 per month, the Advanced plan at $299 per month, and the Plus plan requires custom pricing. Overall, BigCommerce’s pricing structure is slightly more expensive than Shopify, but it includes all features with no added fees.

It’s important to note that while BigCommerce may have slightly higher pricing, it offers more built-in features than Shopify. For example, BigCommerce includes features such as abandoned cart recovery, product filtering, and customer segmentation in all of its plans. These features are only available in Shopify’s more expensive plans or require additional fees to add on. Therefore, businesses that require these features may find that BigCommerce’s pricing is more cost-effective in the long run.

Features Comparison between BigCommerce and Shopify

Both BigCommerce and Shopify offer a range of features that help businesses manage their online stores. These features include inventory management, order processing, payment processing, shipping and logistics management, and customer management. Both platforms also include marketing and SEO tools, as well as access to a range of integrations such as payment gateways, shipping providers, and third-party apps. However, BigCommerce offers more advanced marketing features and customization options than Shopify, making it a better option for larger businesses with specific needs.

Additionally, BigCommerce provides a built-in blogging platform, which allows businesses to create and publish blog posts directly on their online store. This feature is not available on Shopify, and businesses would need to use a third-party app or integrate with another platform to add a blog to their store. Having a blog can help businesses improve their SEO and engage with their customers by providing valuable content related to their products or industry.

Ease of Use Comparison between BigCommerce and Shopify

Both platforms offer an easy-to-use interface that allows businesses to create an online store quickly. Shopify has a simpler design, making it a good option for businesses that want to create a store quickly without spending much time on customization. BigCommerce’s interface is also easy to use, but it offers more advanced customization options, making it a better option for businesses that want to create a unique storefront.

In addition to ease of use, both BigCommerce and Shopify offer a range of features to help businesses manage their online stores. Shopify has a large app store with a variety of add-ons and integrations, making it easy to add new functionality to your store. BigCommerce also offers a range of features, including built-in SEO tools and multi-channel selling options.

When it comes to pricing, both platforms offer a range of plans to suit different business needs. Shopify’s plans start at $29 per month, while BigCommerce’s plans start at $29.95 per month. However, BigCommerce offers more features on its lower-tier plans, making it a better value for businesses that need advanced functionality but don’t want to pay a high price.

Customization Options Available on BigCommerce vs Shopify

BigCommerce offers a wide range of customization options that allow businesses to create a unique storefront and pages. These options include drag-and-drop page builders, custom themes, and advanced coding options. Shopify also offers customization options, but they are more limited than BigCommerce.

One of the key advantages of BigCommerce’s customization options is the ability to create custom fields for products. This allows businesses to add unique attributes to their products, such as size, color, or material, and provide customers with more detailed information. Shopify also offers custom fields, but they are not as flexible as BigCommerce’s options.

Another area where BigCommerce excels in customization is with its checkout process. Businesses can create a fully customized checkout experience, including custom fields, upsell options, and more. Shopify’s checkout customization options are more limited, with businesses only able to add custom fields and adjust the design of the checkout page.

Payment Options Available on BigCommerce vs Shopify

Both platforms offer a range of payment options, including credit card payments, PayPal, and other popular payment gateways. However, BigCommerce offers more advanced payment options, including Apple Pay, Amazon Pay, and Venmo.

Integrations Available on BigCommerce vs Shopify

Both platforms offer access to a range of integrations, including shipping providers, payment gateways, and third-party apps. However, BigCommerce offers more advanced integrations, including QuickBooks, Salesforce, and HubSpot. Shopify also has a large app store with a range of apps, including marketing and SEO tools, shipping and logistics tools, and accounting and finance tools.

SEO Capabilities of BigCommerce vs Shopify

Both platforms offer SEO tools and features that help businesses optimize their online store for search engines. BigCommerce offers more advanced SEO features, including customizable URL structures, built-in Google AMP, and automatic sitemap generation. Shopify also offers SEO tools, but they are more basic than what is offered by BigCommerce.

Customer Support Options Available on BigCommerce vs Shopify

Both platforms offer 24/7 customer support via phone, email, and live chat. BigCommerce also offers a dedicated account manager for enterprise users, as well as access to a knowledge base and community forum. Shopify offers a range of customer support options, including a help center, community forum, and support via social media.

Security Features Comparison between BigCommerce and Shopify

Both platforms offer secure hosting and payment processing, as well as SSL certificates. BigCommerce also offers advanced security features, including fraud detection and prevention, automatic security updates, and PCI compliance. Shopify also offers secure hosting and payment processing, as well as access to a range of security apps and tools.

Case Studies of Businesses Using BigCommerce vs Shopify

There are many businesses that use both BigCommerce and Shopify as their e-commerce platform. Some businesses that use BigCommerce include Skullcandy, Toyota, and Ben & Jerry’s. Some businesses that use Shopify include Kylie Cosmetics, Gymshark, and Allbirds.

Pros and Cons of Using BigCommerce vs Shopify

BigCommerce Pros:

• Advanced customization options
• Unlimited product options
• Advanced marketing and SEO tools
• Dedicated account manager for enterprise users

BigCommerce Cons:

• Higher pricing than Shopify
• Less beginner-friendly than Shopify

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Shopify Pros:

• Simple and easy to set up
• Lower pricing than BigCommerce
• Large app store with a range of apps and tools
• Beginner-friendly

Shopify Cons:

• Less advanced customization options
• Capped number of products allowed on each plan

Final Verdict: Which Platform is Better for Your Business?

Both BigCommerce and Shopify are reliable e-commerce platforms that offer a range of features and tools for businesses of all sizes. The best platform for your business will depend on your specific needs and budget. If you’re a larger business with specific customization and marketing needs, BigCommerce is the better option. However, if you’re a smaller business looking for an easy-to-use e-commerce platform with lower pricing, Shopify is the better option. Ultimately, you’ll need to evaluate both platforms based on your specific needs to determine which platform is the right fit for your business.