Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. BigCommerce Vs Shopify – Pricing & Costs
  3. Shopify's Better App Ecosystem
  4. BigCommerce Vs Shopify – Design & Themes
  5. Features Analysis
  6. Enterprise Solutions
  7. Blogging and Content Marketing
  8. Conclusion
  9. FAQ Section
Shopify - App image

Introduction

E-commerce platforms like BigCommerce and Shopify have become increasingly popular for businesses looking to sell products online. With a variety of options available, choosing the right platform can be a daunting task. In this detailed comparison of BigCommerce and Shopify, we'll analyze key features, pricing, design, and other critical factors to help you decide which platform best suits your business needs.

BigCommerce Vs Shopify – Pricing & Costs

Shopify's Pricing: Shopify's plans range from $29 to $299 per month. They also offer Shopify Plus for enterprises, with pricing typically starting around $2000 per month. Shopify charges additional fees for using payment providers other than Shopify Payments.

BigCommerce's Pricing: BigCommerce offers similar pricing tiers, ranging from $29.95 to $299.95 per month, with custom pricing for their enterprise-level plan. BigCommerce does not charge additional transaction fees regardless of the payment gateway used.

Cost Analysis: While both platforms offer similar base pricing, the true cost can vary based on necessary additional features and payment processing fees. Small businesses on a tight budget may find BigCommerce's no transaction fee policy more appealing, while larger businesses may benefit from Shopify's extensive app ecosystem.

Shopify's Better App Ecosystem

Shopify boasts a more extensive app market than BigCommerce, with many exclusive apps that can enhance your store's functionality. This larger ecosystem means that new, innovative features often appear in Shopify's app store before they become available on other platforms.

BigCommerce Vs Shopify – Design & Themes

Shopify's Design: Shopify offers numerous free and paid themes, all of which are mobile-responsive. These themes are known for their aesthetic appeal and user-friendliness, often requiring less customization.

BigCommerce's Design: BigCommerce also provides a selection of free and premium themes optimized for a range of industries. While historically lagging behind Shopify in design, recent updates have significantly improved their offering, closing the gap between the two platforms.

Features Analysis

BigCommerce: - Offers more out-of-the-box features compared to Shopify. - Provides finer control over product options and variants. - Superior discount and coupon capabilities.

Shopify: - Requires additional plugins for certain functionalities that BigCommerce includes natively. - Limited to 3 option sets per product and a total of 100 variants.

Enterprise Solutions

Both Shopify Plus and BigCommerce Enterprise offer scalable solutions for large businesses. However, the choice between the two might depend on specific business needs, like international expansion capabilities or particular integration requirements.

Blogging and Content Marketing

BigCommerce allows seamless integration with WordPress, giving users the best of both worlds: a robust e-commerce platform and a powerful content management system. This can be a game-changer for businesses focusing heavily on content marketing.

Conclusion

Both Shopify and BigCommerce are powerful platforms suited for different needs. Choose BigCommerce if you prioritize:

  • A broad range of native features without needing many third-party apps.
  • Tight integration with content platforms like WordPress for strong content marketing strategies.
  • More control over product options and discounts.

Opt for Shopify if you value:

  • A wide selection of design themes and an extensive third-party app ecosystem.
  • A user-friendly interface for quick store setup.
  • The flexibility to grow with a platform that caters to both small businesses and large enterprises.

In summary, consider your specific business model, design requirements, and desired features when choosing between BigCommerce and Shopify. While both offer sound e-commerce solutions, the right platform for you will complement your business operations and contribute to your online success.

FAQ Section

Is BigCommerce or Shopify better for SEO? Both platforms offer strong SEO capabilities. However, the ability to customize URLs can give BigCommerce a slight edge.

Can I migrate my store from BigCommerce to Shopify or vice versa? Yes, migration services like LitExtension can assist you in migrating your store between BigCommerce and Shopify with minimal hassle.

Which platform is best for international sales? Shopify's extensive app ecosystem and global payment gateway support can make it a better choice for international sales.

Overall, which platform is more cost-effective? BigCommerce can be more cost-effective due to its lack of transaction fees and a wide array of built-in features. However, costs can vary based on your specific plugin and theme needs.

How do both platforms handle customer support and security? Both platforms provide robust customer support and offer SSL certificates, PCI compliance, and other security features, ensuring a safe e-commerce experience.

Remember to stay updated with the latest changes on both platforms, as features and pricing structures evolve over time. Your decision should be informed by current platform offerings and how they align with your business strategy.

Shopify - App Stack