In the digital age, ecommerce platforms are becoming increasingly sought-after. Two of the largest providers of ecommerce services are BigCommerce and Shopify. These platforms will help businesses on their ecommerce adventure, such as aiding them to set up an online store.
As two of the leading ecommerce platforms in the industry, you may be wondering which of these services is right for your business. Luckily, we aim to answer this question by weighing up the pros and cons of both platforms.
So without further ado, let’s find out which one is better BigCommerce or Shopify?
BigCommerce Vs Shopify At A Glance
For a quick summary of the differences between BigCommerce and Shopify, use this convenient table. Below, we’ve provided a more detailed examination of these two platforms. Here are two condensed conclusions that have arisen from this comparison:
BigCommerce | Shopify | |
Pricing | BigCommerce gives you different membership plans, allowing you to find the price range that is suitable for you. | Shopify offers 3 different pricing options, which is quite convenient. The Basic plan can be set up for just $1 a month. |
Design | BigCommerce has a broad spectrum of different designs, both free and paid. | Though its selection is slightly smaller than that of BigCommerce, Shopify still offers a decent range of website designs. |
Features | Though BigCommerce offers a decent range of features, they are not as customizable as those provided by Shopify. | Shopify offers a plethora of different customization features. As a result, it’s super simple to personalize your website. |
User-Friendliness | BigCommerce is relatively simple to use, though not as intuitive as Shopify. This is likely because it is not necessarily targeted at beginners. | Easy to use, Shopify has an intuitive design that everyone can use. |
Transaction Fees | None of the plans will evoke transaction fees. This keeps costs low. | Sadly, Shopify applies transaction fees. This will happen unless you are using Shopify Premium. |
Best For | BigCommerce is tailored more toward those with more experience in the industry. Plus, it’s good for massive businesses. | Shopify is great for beginners, as it will lead you through the whole process. It’s also suitable for large businesses. |
Even Parts Of The Playing Field
Before we explain the differences between BigCommerce and Shopify, we’re going to explain some of the main similarities between them. Because they work in the same industry, they provide similar services. Here are the main similarities between them:
- Pricing: they both provide different pricing models. The services that you will receive will depend on the pricing plan that you have chosen. The more expensive the plan, the more features you will have access to.
- Designs: both BigCommerce and Shopify offer different website designs, which will enable you to choose the one that suits your store best. Some of these designs can be accessed for free, but you will have to pay to obtain the more complex designs.
BigCommerce: Pros, Cons, And Specifics
BigCommerce is one of the leading ecommerce platforms that has been around since 2009. It provides a wide assortment of fantastic features, such as SEO (search engine optimization) and online store hosting.
BigCommerce Strengths
SEO Features: If you are interested in search engine optimization, BigCommerce is one of the best platforms for you. This can make it easy for businesses to increase online traffic.
No Transaction Fees: Unlike Shopify, you won’t have to pay any transaction fees when using BigCommerce.
A Broad Selection Of Themes: Whether you have chosen a free or paid theme, there are loads of different options for you to choose from. Consequently, you can choose the theme that best compliments your website.
Free Trials: This platform offers free trials that will allow businesses to determine whether or not BigCommerce is right for them.
BigCommerce Weaknesses
Less Customization: It’s harder to customize your site through BigCommerce. To access increased customization services, you will have to be willing to pay extra.
Annual Sales Threshold: if your yearly sales go over the threshold, your membership will be automatically adjusted. As a result, you will have to pay extra.
Pros
SEO Features
No Transaction Fees
A Broad Selection Of Themes
Free Trials
CONS
Less Customization
Annual Sales Threshold
BigCommerce Is Best For
The following people should use BigCommerce:
- Large-scale businesses. Thanks to its features and membership options, BigCommerce is excellent for particularly big businesses.
- People who have more experience with the e-commerce industry.
Shopify: Pros, Cons, And Specifics
Meanwhile, Shopify is one of the more basic ecommerce sites. This sounds like a bad thing, but the truth is that this means that Shopify is suitable for people who are beginning their e-commerce venture. Launched in 2006, Shopify has thousands of businesses across the globe.
Shopify Strengths
Customer service: Shopify has a dedicated customer service department that is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. So if you have any problems with this platform, you can easily contact Shopify to get them sorted.
This customer service team can be contacted in multiple ways, including live chat. The platform also provides community forums, which give you easy access to popular questions.
Ease of Use: Shopify is extremely easy to use and navigate. So even if you are not overly tech-savvy or have limited experience with e-commerce, you should be able to navigate Shopify.
Multiple Themes: To help you choose the perfect design for your website, Shopify has a broad spectrum of different themes.
Marketing Tools: This platform offers a wide array of marketing tools, which will help you to build an online store. This includes SEO tools. Moreover, these tools can be used to sell products through social media.
Plugins: Shopify has an app store that can connect to more than 1,000 different apps and plugins. These apps can be connected to Shopify, which allows you to implement automation.
Shopify Weaknesses
Basic Plan: Though the basic plan is affordable, its limited features make it difficult to use. If you want to access the best services that Shopify has to offer, you must be willing to pay extra.
Transaction Fees: Unless you use Shopify Payments, you will be subjected to transaction fees. This can add to the cost of using the service.
Pros
Ease of Use
Multiple Themes
Marketing Tools
Plugins
CONS
Basic Plan
Transaction Fees
Shopify Is Best For
If you are one of the following people, Shopify will be well-suited to you:
- Small to big businesses.
- People who are just starting to learn more about e-commerce. Shopify is friendly for beginners.
Bigcommerce  |
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Shopify  |
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Which One Is Better BigCommerce Or Shopify? The Bottom Line
Ultimately, both BigCommerce and Shopify are valuable ecommerce platforms. Therefore, you should take both into consideration to determine which is best for you. This will partially depend on your level of experience, as BigCommerce is slightly less friendly for beginners.
Final Thoughts
While Shopify and BigCommerce are titans within the ecommerce industry, you will have to decide which of these platforms is right for your business.
Hopefully, this guide will have helped you to make a decision. We wish you good luck on your e-commerce journey!
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is BigCommerce, and How Does It Compare to Shopify?
BigCommerce and Shopify are both popular e-commerce platforms that allow businesses to create and manage online stores. They have similarities, but also some differences in features and pricing.
Which Platform Offers Better Customization Options for Website Design and Layout?
Both platforms offer a range of templates and customization options, but some users may find Shopify’s theme selection and editor more intuitive and user-friendly.
Does One Platform Have an Advantage in Terms of SEO and Marketing Tools?
Both BigCommerce and Shopify offer SEO and marketing tools to help businesses optimize their online stores. The effectiveness of these tools may vary depending on specific needs and preferences.
How Do the Transaction Fees Compare Between BigCommerce and Shopify?
BigCommerce and Shopify have different pricing structures. Shopify charges transaction fees for using third-party payment gateways unless users opt for Shopify Payments. BigCommerce, on the other hand, does not charge additional transaction fees.
Which Platform Is More Suitable for Beginners With Limited Technical Expertise?
Both platforms are beginner-friendly and offer user-friendly interfaces. However, some users may find Shopify’s interface slightly more straightforward to navigate.
Paul Martinez is the founder of EcomSidekick.com. He is an expert in the areas of finance, real estate, eCommerce, traffic and conversion.
Join him on EcomSidekick.com to learn how to improve your financial life and excel in these areas. Before starting this media site, Paul built from scratch and managed two multi-million dollar companies. One in the real estate sector and one in the eCommerce sector.