Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Webflow vs BigCommerce: Pros and Cons
- Pricing and Fees
- Core Features
- AI Capabilities, Integrations, and Apps
- Ease of Use and Customer Support
- Final Verdict
- FAQ
Introduction
Choosing the right ecommerce platform can be daunting, given the myriad of options available today. Two heavyweights in this arena are Webflow and BigCommerce. Each offers a unique set of features aimed at specific user needs.
As a professional designer, you might lean towards Webflow for its unparalleled design flexibility and robust hosting services. However, this comes with a steep learning curve that may not be ideal for beginners. On the other hand, BigCommerce is praised for its scalability and ecommerce-centric features, especially its inventory management and multi-channel selling capabilities. This comprehensive guide will provide an in-depth analysis of both platforms, aiming to help you make an informed decision.
Webflow vs BigCommerce: Pros and Cons
Webflow Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Advanced design flexibility
- Extensive collection of pre-built templates
- Robust hosting and SEO tools
- AI-assisted design options
- Free plan available
Cons:
- Steep learning curve for beginners
- Higher cost for ecommerce functionality
- Limits on ecommerce products
BigCommerce Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Excellent inventory management
- Multi-channel selling capabilities
- No transaction fees
- Scalable for larger businesses
- Extensive range of payment processing options
Cons:
- More limited design flexibility
- Steeper learning curve for more complex features
- Sales caps on different plans
Pricing and Fees
One of the first considerations when evaluating ecommerce platforms is the pricing and associated fees.
Webflow Pricing
Webflow stands out for offering a free plan, though it’s important to note that this plan doesn’t support ecommerce functions and has numerous limitations. For ecommerce functionality, the paid plans start at $42 per month. These plans can range up to $235 per month, making Webflow a potentially more expensive option compared to BigCommerce. Additionally, the cheapest ecommerce plan comes with a 2% transaction fee.
BigCommerce Pricing
BigCommerce's pricing starts slightly lower at $39 per month, extending up to $399 per month for the Pro plan, with a custom-priced Enterprise option available for larger needs. One major advantage is that BigCommerce doesn’t charge transaction fees on any of its plans. However, each plan has a cap on the annual sales volume—the Standard plan ($39/month) is limited to $50k, the Plus plan ($79/month) to $180k, and the Pro plan ($299/month) to $400k.
Core Features
Website Building and Design
Webflow shines in the design department, offering over a thousand pre-built templates spanning various industries. Designers can also choose to build their websites from scratch. Webflow’s drag-and-drop interface coupled with AI tools such as automatic code generation simplifies the design process.
BigCommerce has a decent collection of themes, though they’re not as diverse. Where BigCommerce excels is in themes specifically tuned for ecommerce, offering features like customizable product fields and detailed product variant displays. However, the customization process can be more labor-intensive, often requiring more coding expertise.
Ecommerce and Selling Features
BigCommerce is the stronger ecommerce platform between the two. It allows for unlimited products (with sales caps on each plan), supports 65+ payment solutions, including a cost-saving partnership with PayPal. The platform shines in inventory management, offering powerful tools for managing large product catalogs and automatic SKU generation.
Webflow, although not primarily an ecommerce platform, offers impressive selling features like custom order emails, animated product showcases, and various payment options. The integration with fulfillment companies, such as Printful and Shippo, further enhances its appeal.
Marketing Tools and Analytics
Webflow stands out in SEO capabilities, providing comprehensive control over titles, meta tags, sitemaps, and more. Its blogging tools are robust, making it easier to produce content that ranks well on search engines. The high-performance hosting also aligns with Google’s Core Web Vitals, ensuring good SEO health.
BigCommerce, while decent in SEO, excels in promotional tools. Users can create gift cards, vouchers, and promotional banners, enhancing their ecommerce strategies. Both platforms offer solid analytics, but BigCommerce goes a step further with AI predictive analytics, which can generate personalized product recommendations.
AI Capabilities, Integrations, and Apps
Both platforms incorporate AI but in different capacities. Webflow uses AI for design assistance, content creation, and SEO optimization, whereas BigCommerce's suite "BigAI" aids in content creation, predictive analytics, and customer interactions through AI chatbots.
BigCommerce has an advantage in integrations, supporting a broader range of external apps and tools. Webflow’s integrations often require the use of APIs or intermediaries like Zapier, which might not be as user-friendly for beginners.
Ease of Use and Customer Support
Neither platform is particularly easy to master for beginners. Webflow’s comprehensive customizability implies a steeper learning curve. BigCommerce, while slightly more user-friendly for ecommerce tasks, also has its complexities.
Both platforms provide robust support options. Webflow offers 24/7 live chat and email support, along with a rich library of self-help resources, including video tutorials and webinars. BigCommerce extends support further with phone support and an extensive help center, ensuring users have ample resources to resolve issues.
Final Verdict
Ultimately, the choice between Webflow and BigCommerce depends on your primary focus. If you need cutting-edge design tools and have the expertise to use them, Webflow is unmatched. For those who prioritize ecommerce functionalities, inventory management, and scalability, BigCommerce stands out as the superior choice.
Webflow offers better design and SEO tools, catering more to developers and designers. On the other hand, BigCommerce excels in ecommerce-specific features, making it ideal for businesses focused on selling and managing large inventories.
FAQ
Q: Is Webflow suitable for beginners? A: Webflow has a steep learning curve and is better suited for users with some design experience.
Q: Does BigCommerce charge transaction fees? A: No, BigCommerce does not charge transaction fees on any of its plans.
Q: Which platform offers better SEO tools? A: Webflow offers more comprehensive SEO tools, making it a better choice for those focused on search engine optimization.
Q: Can I use Webflow's free plan for ecommerce? A: No, Webflow's free plan does not support ecommerce functionalities.
Q: What are the sales caps on BigCommerce’s plans? A: BigCommerce’s Standard plan caps annual sales at $50k, Plus at $180k, and Pro at $400k.
In conclusion, both Webflow and BigCommerce offer unique strengths tailored to different business needs. Your choice should depend on your primary focus—whether that's sophisticated website design or robust ecommerce capabilities.
