Shopify Vs. Bigcommerce – Which Is Better For Your E-commerce Business?

E-commerce has witnessed a remarkable boom over the past decade, and as a result, businesses are constantly on the lookout for powerful and user-friendly platforms to establish and grow their online stores. Shopify and BigCommerce are two major contenders in this space, each offering a range of features to help you create and manage your e-commerce site. In this comprehensive comparison, we'll delve into the strengths and weaknesses of both platforms to help you determine which one is better suited for your unique business needs.

An Overview of Shopify and BigCommerce

Shopify:

Shopify, founded in 2006, has quickly become one of the most popular e-commerce platforms in the world. Known for its user-friendly interface and an extensive library of apps and themes, Shopify is a go-to choice for businesses of all sizes. It powers over a million online stores and has a reputation for its reliability and scalability.

BigCommerce:

BigCommerce, established in 2009, is another formidable player in the e-commerce platform arena. It positions itself as a robust, enterprise-level solution, making it suitable for larger businesses. BigCommerce provides a feature-rich environment with tools for selling products online, as well as a wide array of customization options.

Now, let's explore the key factors to consider when choosing between these two platforms.

1. Ease of Use

Shopify: Shopify is renowned for its simplicity and ease of use. The platform offers an intuitive interface that enables even beginners to set up and manage their online stores with minimal effort. Its drag-and-drop builder and user-friendly dashboard make it a top choice for users with little technical expertise.

BigCommerce: BigCommerce also provides a user-friendly environment, but its feature-rich nature can be overwhelming for beginners. While it offers extensive customization options, it might require a steeper learning curve for those new to e-commerce.

Verdict: If you're looking for ease of use and rapid store setup, Shopify has the edge.

2. Customization and Design

Shopify: Shopify offers a wide selection of professionally designed themes, both free and paid, that you can customize to match your brand. You can also access the platform's HTML and CSS for more advanced design changes.

BigCommerce: BigCommerce excels in customization with an array of built-in tools. It offers more flexibility for design changes, allowing for extensive customization without needing in-depth coding knowledge.

Verdict: BigCommerce provides more extensive design and customization capabilities, making it better for businesses seeking a unique and highly tailored store.

3. Pricing

Shopify: Shopify offers a range of pricing plans, from the affordable Shopify Lite to the feature-rich Shopify Plus for enterprises. While it can be cost-effective for small businesses, larger enterprises might find the fees add up with advanced features.

BigCommerce: BigCommerce provides transparent pricing with no transaction fees. This can make it a more cost-effective choice for businesses with high sales volumes or ambitious growth plans.

Verdict: BigCommerce is often more budget-friendly, especially for larger businesses with high sales volumes.

4. Features and Scalability

Shopify: Shopify's app store is one of its strengths, offering a vast range of apps and integrations that can extend the functionality of your store. It's highly scalable and can accommodate the growth of your business with ease.

BigCommerce: BigCommerce boasts a wide range of features right out of the box, which is appealing to businesses looking for an all-in-one solution. It's also built to handle large inventories and high-volume sales.

Verdict: Shopify is great for businesses that want the flexibility to choose their features, while BigCommerce is ideal for those that need a comprehensive feature set from the start.

5. Payment Options

Shopify: Shopify offers a range of payment options, including Shopify Payments as the default gateway, along with support for third-party payment gateways, giving you flexibility in payment processing.

BigCommerce: BigCommerce offers a variety of payment gateway options and does not charge transaction fees, providing a cost-effective payment solution.

Verdict: Both platforms are robust in terms of payment options, but BigCommerce's lack of transaction fees can be a significant advantage for high-volume businesses.

6. SEO and Marketing Tools

Shopify: Shopify has a strong emphasis on marketing tools and SEO, with features like abandoned cart recovery, built-in SEO tools, and integrations with email marketing services.

BigCommerce: BigCommerce provides an array of SEO and marketing tools, including features like multi-channel selling and built-in blogging.

Verdict: Both platforms offer strong marketing and SEO capabilities, but the choice might come down to specific needs and preferences.

7. Support and Resources

Shopify: Shopify offers 24/7 customer support via live chat, email, and phone. Additionally, it has a vast community and a wealth of resources, including guides, forums, and a dedicated academy.

BigCommerce: BigCommerce also provides 24/7 customer support and has a knowledge base with resources. However, some users report longer response times compared to Shopify.

Verdict: Shopify has an edge in terms of support and resources, making it a solid choice for businesses seeking readily available assistance.

Conclusion

When deciding between Shopify and BigCommerce for your e-commerce needs, it's essential to consider your unique business requirements and goals. Both platforms offer robust features and capabilities, and the choice ultimately depends on your specific needs and preferences.

If you're looking for Shopify development services or need to hire a Shopify developer, consider partnering with a reputable company like Webgarh Solutions. Their expertise and experience in Shopify development can help you make the most of this versatile e-commerce platform. Whether you opt for Shopify or BigCommerce, Webgarh Solutions can be a valuable resource in achieving your e-commerce goals.