As eCommerce continues to grow, choosing the right platform for your online store is crucial. With so many options available, it can be challenging to determine which platform is best for your business needs. Two of the most popular eCommerce platforms are BigCommerce and Shopify.
Both platforms offer robust features and customization options, but which one is the best fit for your business? In this blog post, we’ll explore the differences between BigCommerce and Shopify to help you make an informed decision.
Ease of Use
One of the most important factors to consider when choosing an eCommerce platform is ease of use. Shopify is known for its user-friendly interface and ease of setup. Its drag-and-drop interface makes it simple to add products, create collections, and manage inventory. Shopify also has a vast library of video tutorials and online resources to help new users get started.
BigCommerce, on the other hand, has a steeper learning curve. While it does offer a comprehensive set of features and customization options, navigating the platform can be more challenging for beginners. However, BigCommerce does offer more advanced features than Shopify, which may make it a better fit for larger businesses with more complex needs.
Pricing
Another crucial factor to consider when choosing an eCommerce platform is pricing. Both BigCommerce and Shopify offer a range of pricing plans to fit different budgets.
Shopify’s pricing plans start at $39 per month for the Basic plan and includes all the essentials you need to get started, including unlimited products, 24/7 support, and a free SSL certificate. Shopify’s Advanced plan is $399 per month and includes advanced features such as custom reporting and third-party calculated shipping rates.
BigCommerce’s pricing plans also start at $39 per month for the Standard plan, which includes unlimited products, no transaction fees, and 24/7 support. The Plus plan is $105 per month and includes advanced features such as custom SSL, abandoned cart saver, and more. For larger businesses with more complex needs, BigCommerce offers a Pro plan for $399 per month and a custom Enterprise plan with pricing based on your specific requirements.
Scalability
Scalability is another crucial factor to consider when choosing an eCommerce platform. As your business grows, you’ll need a platform that can keep up with your needs.
BigCommerce is generally considered to be more scalable than Shopify. It offers more advanced features, such as product filtering and custom fields, that make it a better fit for larger businesses with more complex needs. BigCommerce also offers unlimited staff accounts and API access, which allows for more extensive customization options.
Shopify, on the other hand, can still handle a high volume of sales and traffic. Shopify’s servers are optimized for speed and can handle up to 8,000 orders per minute. Shopify also offers a range of enterprise-level features, such as custom checkout and wholesale pricing, for businesses with more advanced needs.
Features
When choosing an eCommerce platform, it’s essential to consider the features and customization options available. Both BigCommerce and Shopify offer a wide range of features, such as inventory management, payment processing, shipping, a built-in blog, and marketing tools.
BigCommerce offers a more comprehensive set of features than Shopify. It includes advanced features such as custom fields, product filtering, and faceted search.
Shopify also offers a vast range of features, but it’s more geared toward simplicity and ease of use. Shopify’s features are designed to be user-friendly and straightforward, making it a great choice for businesses that want to get up and running quickly.
Integrations
Finally, it’s important to consider the integrations available for each platform. Both BigCommerce and Shopify offer a wide range of integrations with third-party apps and services. These integrations can help you add new functionality to your store and streamline your operations.
Shopify has a vast app store with over 6,000 apps available. These apps include everything from email marketing and social media integration to inventory management and shipping solutions, including our advanced search app Search Magic. Many of these apps are free, and others come with a monthly fee.
BigCommerce also has a range of integrations available, although its app store is not as extensive as Shopify’s. However, BigCommerce does offer built-in integrations with popular services such as Google Analytics and PayPal.
Which eCommerce Platform is Right for Your Business?
Choosing the right eCommerce platform is a crucial decision that can have a significant impact on the success of your online store. When deciding between BigCommerce and Shopify, consider your business needs, budget, technical expertise, and scalability requirements.
If you’re a small to medium-sized business with straightforward eCommerce needs and a lower budget, Shopify may be the best option. It’s user-friendly, affordable, and has a vast app store to help you add new features to your store.
However, if you’re a larger business with more complex needs and a higher budget, BigCommerce may be the better option. It’s more scalable than Shopify and offers more advanced features and customization options.
Free Consultation with Your Store Wizards
If you’re still unsure which platform is right for your business, we’re here to help. Our team of wizards is available to provide a free consultation and help you determine which platform is best for your unique business needs. We can also provide you with free trial stores so you can get a first-hand look at each to compare.
Our experts will take the time to understand your business goals, budget, and technical expertise to recommend the platform that will best suit your needs. We’ll work with you to create a fully managed platform migration plan should you want to move from another platform, or if you’re brand new to eCommerce work with you to open your first store.
We offer complete design and development services for both Shopify and BigCommerce with packages to fit your needs and budget.
Scott Sanfilippo began his eCommerce journey in 1994 by co-founding one of the Internet’s first online retailers, TheFerretStore.com, which was acquired by PetCo in 2006. In 2001, he co-founded the eCommerce design and marketing firm Solid Cactus, which was acquired by web.com in 2009. Today, Scott is the General Manager of Your Store Wizards and lives in Delray Beach, FL. Scott can be contacted at scott@yourstorewizards.com.