BigCommerce vs Wix eCommerce

BigCommerce vs. Wix eCommerce: Comprehensive Comparison

Are you considering starting an e-commerce store or looking to upgrade your existing platform? Two of the most popular options in the market are BigCommerce and Wix eCommerce. This article delves deep into both platforms, comparing their pricing plans, ease of use, customization options, mobile responsiveness, SEO features, payment gateway integration, shipping options, customer support, sales analytics, integrations, and security measures. By the end, you'll have a clear understanding of which platform best suits your e-commerce needs.

Pricing Plans

When evaluating the cost-effectiveness of BigCommerce and Wix eCommerce, it's essential to consider both the initial investment and the long-term value offered by each platform:

• BigCommerce offers four monthly pricing plans starting at $29.95 per month, scaling up to $299.95 for enterprise solutions.
• Wix eCommerce provides three plans beginning at $27 per month, reaching up to $59 for advanced features.

BigCommerce includes unlimited bandwidth and storage across all plans, whereas Wix eCommerce offers 20GB of storage on their basic plan. Additionally, BigCommerce's pricing encompasses more advanced e-commerce features such as:

• Abandoned cart recovery
• Customer segmentation
• Google customer reviews

These features are not available in the basic Wix eCommerce plans. Furthermore, BigCommerce does not charge transaction fees, unlike Wix, which applies a fee per transaction. While BigCommerce may appear more expensive initially, its comprehensive feature set and scalability offer better long-term value, especially for growing businesses.

According to Statista, BigCommerce powers over 200,000 active online stores globally, highlighting its strong market presence.

Ease of Use for Beginners

For newcomers to e-commerce, an intuitive and user-friendly platform is crucial:

• Wix eCommerce shines with its drag-and-drop website builder, allowing users to create stores without any coding knowledge. The setup process is streamlined, enabling businesses to launch quickly.
• BigCommerce offers a more robust interface with advanced features, which may present a steeper learning curve but provides greater flexibility and customization options.

Both platforms offer extensive resources to assist users:

• BigCommerce provides a comprehensive library of video tutorials, detailed documentation, and 24/7 customer support.
• Wix eCommerce offers a helpful knowledge base, video tutorials, and support via phone and email during specific hours.

While Wix enables faster setup for small businesses and individual entrepreneurs, BigCommerce caters to those seeking more advanced functionalities and scalability.

Customization and Design Options

Customization is key to creating a unique online presence:

• BigCommerce offers a customizable theme framework with the ability to edit HTML and CSS, enabling users to create tailored designs. Additionally, BigCommerce provides built-in features like product filtering, wishlists, and related products.
• Wix eCommerce boasts over 800 customizable templates, featuring a user-friendly interface that allows for extensive design modifications without touching code.

While Wix offers a broader range of templates, BigCommerce's advanced customization capabilities make it a better fit for businesses requiring specialized features and integrations.

Mobile Responsiveness and SEO Features

In today’s mobile-first world, ensuring your store is mobile-friendly and optimized for search engines is non-negotiable:

Mobile Responsiveness

• BigCommerce provides fully responsive themes that may require additional tweaking for optimal performance on all devices.
• Wix eCommerce automatically optimizes all templates for mobile devices, ensuring a consistent user experience across platforms.

SEO Features

• BigCommerce offers advanced SEO tools, including customizable URL structures, meta tags, canonical tags, and integration with SEO tools like SEMrush. According to BigCommerce SEO Tools, these features help businesses enhance their online visibility effectively.
• Wix eCommerce provides essential SEO functionalities such as customizable page titles, descriptions, and sitemaps. However, it lacks some advanced features found in BigCommerce.

Data from Shopify indicates that optimized SEO significantly boosts traffic and sales, making BigCommerce’s advanced tools a substantial advantage for growth-oriented businesses.

Payment Gateway Integration and Shipping Options

Offering a variety of payment and shipping options can enhance customer satisfaction and conversion rates:

Payment Gateways

• BigCommerce integrates with over 65 payment gateways, including industry leaders like PayPal, Stripe, and Authorize.Net. It also supports multiple currencies, catering to a global audience.
• Wix eCommerce connects with nine payment providers, including PayPal, Stripe, and Square, but does not support as many global currencies.

Shipping Options

• BigCommerce offers built-in integrations with top shipping providers such as FedEx, UPS, DHL, and USPS, along with real-time shipping quotes and customizable shipping rules.
• Wix eCommerce integrates with third-party apps like ShipStation and Easyship, which may incur additional fees.

Both platforms are PCI DSS compliant, ensuring secure payment processing.

Customer Support and Resources

Reliable customer support can make a significant difference in managing your online store:

• BigCommerce offers 24/7 customer support via phone, email, and live chat. Their support team is highly rated for responsiveness and expertise. Additionally, they provide a vast knowledge base filled with articles and video tutorials.
• Wix eCommerce provides support through phone and email, but only during certain hours. Their comprehensive knowledge base and community forums are valuable resources for users.

According to user reviews on Capterra, BigCommerce's customer support consistently receives higher ratings compared to Wix.

Sales Analytics and Reporting

Data-driven decisions are essential for business growth. Both platforms offer analytics tools, but their depth varies:

• BigCommerce provides advanced analytics features, including customer segmentation, conversion funnels, and customizable reports. It also integrates seamlessly with Google Analytics for comprehensive insights.
• Wix eCommerce offers basic analytics, such as traffic and conversion metrics, along with Google Analytics integration. However, it lacks some of the advanced reporting features available in BigCommerce.

Enhanced analytics capabilities, as offered by BigCommerce, enable businesses to better understand customer behavior and optimize their strategies accordingly.

Integrations with Third-Party Apps

Expanding your store’s functionality through integrations can enhance the shopping experience:

• BigCommerce boasts an extensive app store with over 600 integrations, including popular platforms like Amazon, eBay, and Facebook Marketplace. Many of these integrations are free, allowing for scalable growth.
• Wix eCommerce offers approximately 300 apps and integrations through its App Market, though many are paid. This provides flexibility but may limit scalability compared to BigCommerce.

According to BigCommerce App Store, the wide range of integrations supports diverse business needs, from marketing automation to inventory management.

Security Measures for E-commerce Stores

Protecting customer data and ensuring secure transactions are paramount:

• BigCommerce is Level 1 PCI compliant, the highest standard in the industry. It offers HTTPS and SSL certificates, fraud detection tools, and robust data security measures to safeguard both merchant and customer information.
• Wix eCommerce is also PCI compliant and provides SSL encryption for secure transactions. However, some users have noted that SSL certificate renewals may not always be automatic, posing potential security risks.

Maintaining high security standards is crucial for building customer trust and complying with data protection regulations.

Pros and Cons of Using BigCommerce vs. Wix eCommerce

BigCommerce

• Pros:
  • Feature-rich with advanced customization options
  • Superior SEO capabilities
  • Extensive integrations and scalability
  • Robust customer support
  • High-level security measures
• Cons:
  • Higher initial cost
  • Steeper learning curve for beginners

Wix eCommerce

• Pros:
  • Cost-effective pricing plans
  • Intuitive drag-and-drop builder
  • Wide range of customizable templates
  • Quick and easy setup
• Cons:
  • Limited advanced features and customization
  • Fewer payment gateways and integrations
  • Customer support availability is limited

Conclusion: Which Platform is Better for Your E-commerce Needs?

Choosing between BigCommerce and Wix eCommerce depends on your specific business requirements:

• BigCommerce is ideal for businesses seeking a robust, scalable platform with advanced features, superior SEO tools, and extensive customization options. It is well-suited for medium to large enterprises aiming for substantial growth and a comprehensive online presence.
• Wix eCommerce is perfect for small businesses or individuals who prioritize ease of use, affordability, and quick setup. Its user-friendly interface and range of templates make it accessible for those without technical expertise.

In summary, if your focus is on long-term scalability and advanced e-commerce functionalities, BigCommerce is the better choice. However, if you need a straightforward, cost-effective solution to launch your online store quickly, Wix eCommerce is the way to go.