Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Shopify vs BigCommerce: Overview
- Pricing & Costs
- Ease of Use
- Themes & Design
- Features
- Enterprise Solutions
- Blogging and Content Marketing
- Conclusion
Introduction
Ecommerce platforms like BigCommerce and Shopify are designed to make selling online easy and accessible for businesses of all sizes. But with so many features and pricing structures, it can be challenging to decide which platform is right for you. In this comparison, we will delve into every aspect of BigCommerce and Shopify to help you make an informed decision for your online store.
Shopify vs BigCommerce: Overview
Both BigCommerce and Shopify are leading ecommerce platforms that offer a range of tools and features for online retailers. BigCommerce is known for its extensive built-in features, making it suitable for businesses looking to minimize the use of third-party apps. Shopify, on the other hand, boasts a massive app store and a user-friendly interface, making it the go-to choice for businesses focusing on design flexibility and ease of use.
Pricing & Costs
When assessing Shopify vs BigCommerce in terms of pricing:
- BigCommerce offers straightforward tiered pricing based on annual sales, with no additional transaction fees and unlimited bandwidth and staff accounts from the outset.
- Shopify has a broader range of plans, from a basic option to Shopify Plus for enterprise businesses. Note that Shopify can be more expensive long-term due to additional plugin costs and transaction fees if not using Shopify Payments.
Ease of Use
For most users, ease of use is a priority:
- BigCommerce has ramped up efforts to improve its user interface, including enhanced drag-and-drop capabilities but has a steeper learning curve overall.
- Shopify's simple design and intuitive setup process win over BigCommerce when it comes to user-friendliness, making it the platform of choice for those with limited technical expertise.
Themes & Design
Your online store's appearance can substantially impact your success:
- BigCommerce offers a solid selection of themes, now featuring more modern, responsive design options.
- Shopify continues to lead in design with a larger variety of both free and paid themes, often considered more polished and contemporary.
Features
Both platforms come packed with features, but there are key differences:
- BigCommerce takes the lead with more built-in features, particularly in areas such as product options and variants, SEO, and discount engines.
- Shopify offers a vast ecosystem of apps that can extend the functionality of your store, though often at extra monthly costs.
Enterprise Solutions
When comparing enterprise-level offerings:
- BigCommerce Enterprise and Shopify Plus both provide robust infrastructure and support for high-volume businesses.
- Shopify has an edge due to a larger app ecosystem and developer community, providing greater flexibility for customization.
Blogging and Content Marketing
Content marketing is vital for ecommerce, and each platform has its blogging capabilities:
- BigCommerce recently integrated with WordPress, allowing for an advanced blogging experience without sacrificing ecommerce features.
- Shopify's built-in blogging functionality, though simpler, is still adequate for basic needs but may require additional apps for more complex content strategies.
Conclusion
Choosing between BigCommerce vs Shopify involves considering your business’s unique needs, abilities, and long-term goals. While Shopify is more user-friendly and has a more extensive app ecosystem, BigCommerce offers a wealth of features out of the box, which might be more cost-effective in the long run, especially for WordPress integration. No matter your choice, understand that both platforms are continuously evolving, and keeping abreast of their latest developments is essential.
Ready to build your online store? Dive in with either BigCommerce or Shopify, knowing that both platforms are equipped to help your business thrive in the digital marketplace.
