Bigcommerce vs Shopify Review: Which Platform Reigns Supreme?
Choosing the right e-commerce platform can feel like navigating a minefield. With countless options, the decision can quickly become overwhelming. If you’re looking to launch or revamp your online store, you’ve likely encountered two giants: BigCommerce and Shopify.
Both platforms promise to be the key to your e-commerce success, but which one truly delivers? This in-depth comparison, this ‘bigcommerce vs shopify review’, will dissect the features, pricing, and overall user experience to help you make the best choice for your business needs.
We’ll explore everything from ease of use and design flexibility to SEO capabilities and payment processing options. Prepare to uncover the strengths and weaknesses of each platform, ensuring you can confidently select the perfect fit to build your online empire. Let’s dive in and find out who wins!
Specs at a Glance:
| Feature | BigCommerce | Shopify Review |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of Use | Easy | Easy |
| Scalability | Excellent | Excellent |
| Built-in SEO Tools | Strong | Strong |
| Payment Gateways | Wide Variety | Wide Variety |
| App Store/Plugins | Large | Very Large |
| Blog Functionality | Built-in | Built-in |
| Customer Support | Good | Good |
| Multi-Channel Selling | Excellent | Excellent |
| Reporting & Analytics | Comprehensive | Comprehensive |
| Inventory Management | Robust | Robust |
| Theme Customization | Flexible | Flexible |
| Shipping Options | Flexible | Flexible |
Feature-by-Feature Breakdown
Ease of Use
- Bigcommerce: BigCommerce offers a user-friendly interface with a clear dashboard. It has a steeper learning curve than Shopify, but provides more in-depth customization options. The setup process can be slightly more complex.
- Shopify Review: Shopify is renowned for its ease of use, boasting a highly intuitive interface and straightforward setup process. It’s very beginner-friendly with a drag-and-drop interface.
- Winner: Shopify
Pricing
- Bigcommerce: BigCommerce offers various pricing plans, with features increasing with each tier. Transaction fees are generally lower or non-existent, depending on the plan. Higher-tier plans unlock more advanced features.
- Shopify Review: Shopify also has multiple pricing tiers, with transaction fees applying unless you use Shopify Payments. Shopify’s pricing can become expensive as your business grows, as you need to upgrade plans for more features.
- Winner: BigCommerce
Scalability
- Bigcommerce: BigCommerce is built for scalability, offering robust features to handle large product catalogs and high traffic. Features like product filtering and SEO tools are beneficial for larger stores.
- Shopify Review: Shopify can scale well, but you may need to rely on third-party apps for advanced features as your store grows. Shopify Plus is the enterprise-level plan.
- Winner: BigCommerce
SEO & Marketing
- Bigcommerce: BigCommerce provides strong built-in SEO tools, including customizable URLs and advanced SEO capabilities. Marketing integrations are also available, but may require third-party apps for advanced features.
- Shopify Review: Shopify offers decent SEO features, but some advanced SEO options may require apps. Shopify has a strong app ecosystem for marketing integrations.
- Winner: BigCommerce
Payment Gateways
- Bigcommerce: BigCommerce supports a wide range of payment gateways, with no transaction fees on most plans. This flexibility is a significant advantage.
- Shopify Review: Shopify offers Shopify Payments, but also supports numerous third-party payment gateways. Transaction fees apply if you don’t use Shopify Payments.
- Winner: BigCommerce
Product Management
- Bigcommerce: BigCommerce excels in product management, allowing for unlimited products and robust product variations. It offers excellent features for managing large product catalogs.
- Shopify Review: Shopify also handles product management well, but with limitations on product variations on lower-tier plans. App availability can solve some limitation.
- Winner: BigCommerce
App Store & Integrations
- Bigcommerce: BigCommerce has an app marketplace, but it’s not as extensive as Shopify’s. Integrations are available for various services, expanding functionality.
- Shopify Review: Shopify boasts a vast app store with thousands of apps, providing extensive customization and integration options. This allows for a high degree of flexibility.
- Winner: Shopify
Customer Support
- Bigcommerce: BigCommerce provides various support channels, including phone, email, and live chat. Support quality can vary depending on the plan.
- Shopify Review: Shopify offers 24/7 customer support via chat and email, with phone support available on higher-tier plans. Support can be slower during peak times.
- Winner: Tie
Winner by Category:
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Ease of Use | Shopify Review |
| Scalability | BigCommerce |
| SEO | Tie |
| App Store | Shopify Review |
| Customization | BigCommerce |
| Pricing | Tie |
What They Have in Common:
- Ease of Use: Both platforms offer user-friendly interfaces, making it relatively easy to set up and manage an online store, even for beginners.
- Scalability: Both BigCommerce and Shopify are designed to scale with your business, allowing you to handle increasing traffic and sales volume.
- Payment Gateway Integration: Both platforms support a wide range of payment gateways, enabling you to offer customers various payment options.
- Mobile Responsiveness: Both platforms provide themes that are responsive and look great on all devices, including mobile phones and tablets.
- Seo Capabilities: Both offer built-in SEO tools and features to help you optimize your store for search engines and improve visibility.
- App Ecosystems: Both offer robust app stores with numerous plugins and integrations to enhance store functionality.
Bigcommerce Vs Shopify Review Buying Guide
Choosing the Right Platform for Your Business
Selecting the ideal e-commerce platform hinges on several factors, including your business size, budget, technical expertise, and growth aspirations. BigCommerce and Shopify cater to diverse needs, each boasting unique strengths. Consider your product catalog size, as BigCommerce handles extensive inventories with ease. Evaluate your technical comfort level; Shopify offers a more user-friendly experience for beginners, while BigCommerce provides greater customization flexibility. Think about your long-term goals and scalability requirements when making your decision. Both platforms offer robust features, but understanding their differences is crucial for optimal success.
Pricing and Plans
Both BigCommerce and Shopify offer tiered pricing plans, each with varying features and transaction fees. Shopify’s plans often appear simpler, with all plans offering unlimited product listings. BigCommerce’s pricing structure becomes more advantageous for high-volume businesses due to lower transaction fees and more advanced features unlocked at higher tiers. Analyze your expected sales volume and feature requirements to determine the most cost-effective plan. Consider the additional costs of themes, apps, and payment processing fees, which can significantly impact your overall expenses. Compare the value each plan provides for your specific business needs.
Ease of Use and User Experience
Shopify generally excels in ease of use, providing a more intuitive interface for beginners. Its drag-and-drop website builder simplifies the design process, allowing users to create visually appealing stores without extensive coding knowledge. BigCommerce, while offering a steeper learning curve, empowers users with greater control over customization and advanced features. The user experience extends to customer support and available resources. Shopify provides extensive documentation and a large community, while BigCommerce offers dedicated support for higher-tier plans. Choose the platform that aligns with your technical skills and desired level of control.
Features and Functionality
Both platforms offer a comprehensive suite of features, including product management, order processing, and marketing tools. Shopify’s app store provides a vast library of extensions, enabling users to add specific functionalities tailored to their needs. BigCommerce features built-in SEO tools and advanced features that can save on app costs. Consider the essential features for your business, such as product variants, shipping options, and inventory management. Evaluate the available integrations with third-party services like payment gateways, email marketing platforms, and accounting software. The ideal platform offers the right balance of features to support your growth.
Scalability and Growth Potential
As your business grows, your e-commerce platform must be able to scale and adapt to increasing demands. Both BigCommerce and Shopify are designed to handle growth, but they differ in their scalability approaches. BigCommerce is often favored for its ability to handle large product catalogs and high-volume sales. Shopify’s scalability is dependent on the plan selected, with higher-tier plans unlocking greater capabilities. Consider your projected sales volume and expansion plans when evaluating scalability. Ensure the platform can accommodate your future needs, including international sales, multiple currencies, and advanced marketing strategies. Choose a platform that can support your long-term vision.
SEO and Marketing Capabilities
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is crucial for driving organic traffic to your online store. Both BigCommerce and Shopify offer SEO tools, but they differ in their capabilities. BigCommerce has built-in SEO tools that can help with keyword optimization and improving search rankings. Shopify’s apps can significantly enhance your SEO efforts. Consider the marketing tools available, such as email marketing integration, social media integration, and analytics dashboards. Evaluate the platform’s ability to support your marketing strategy and help you reach your target audience. The platform should empower you to create effective marketing campaigns and track your performance.
Who Should Buy What?
Buy BigCommerce If…
- You need advanced features and scalability from the start.
- You want more control over your store’s backend and customization options.
- You are comfortable with a more complex platform.
- You need built-in tools for handling large product catalogs.
Buy Shopify Review If…
- You are looking for a user-friendly platform that is easy to set up and manage.
- You want a wide selection of themes and apps to customize your store.
- You want a platform with excellent marketing tools and features.
- You prioritize a streamlined user experience and simplicity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main differences between BigCommerce and Shopify?
BigCommerce and Shopify differ in pricing structure, ease of use, customization options, and scalability. Shopify is generally more user-friendly, while BigCommerce offers more advanced features and greater flexibility for larger businesses. Shopify’s app store provides a wider selection of third-party integrations, while BigCommerce’s built-in features can reduce reliance on apps. The best choice depends on your specific needs and technical expertise.
Which platform is easier to use for beginners?
Shopify is generally considered easier to use for beginners due to its intuitive interface and drag-and-drop website builder. It offers a simpler setup process and a vast library of themes and apps. BigCommerce, while more powerful, has a steeper learning curve. Both platforms offer extensive documentation and support resources to help users navigate their features.
Which platform is better for large product catalogs?
BigCommerce is often favored for large product catalogs, offering robust product management features and the ability to handle extensive inventories. Shopify also handles large catalogs, but BigCommerce’s architecture is optimized for scalability. BigCommerce’s pricing structure often becomes more advantageous for high-volume businesses with large product offerings.
What are the transaction fees for each platform?
Shopify charges transaction fees unless you use Shopify Payments. BigCommerce does not charge transaction fees on any plan. Both platforms offer various payment gateway options, each with its own fees. Research the specific fees associated with your preferred payment gateway and factor them into your overall costs.
What are the SEO capabilities of each platform?
Both platforms offer built-in SEO tools to help you optimize your store for search engines. BigCommerce has built-in SEO tools, while Shopify’s app store provides a vast selection of SEO apps. Both platforms allow you to edit meta descriptions, customize URLs, and optimize product pages. Both offer tools for analyzing keyword usage and improving search rankings.
Which platform offers better customer support?
Shopify offers 24/7 customer support via chat, email, and phone. BigCommerce also provides support, with dedicated support available for higher-tier plans. Both platforms have extensive knowledge bases and community forums. The quality of support can vary depending on your plan and the complexity of your issue.
Can I migrate from one platform to the other?
Yes, it’s possible to migrate from BigCommerce to Shopify or vice versa. The migration process can involve exporting your product data, customer data, and other information and importing it into the new platform. You may need to hire a developer or use a third-party migration service to ensure a smooth transition. Consider the time and effort required for the migration process.
Final Verdict
This review highlights the key differences between BigCommerce and Shopify. Shopify provides a more user-friendly experience, making it ideal for beginners. BigCommerce excels in scalability and offers more advanced features, particularly beneficial for larger businesses. The best platform depends on your specific needs and priorities, considering budget, technical expertise, and long-term growth objectives.
Winner: Shopify