Considering BigCommerce vs Shopify is an important decision-making step for online businesses. Both platforms offer robust e-commerce solutions, but they cater to different needs and preferences. Understanding their core differences in features, pricing, and design can guide businesses towards the most suitable option.

Ease of use is a critical factor when setting up an online store. Shopify is renowned for its intuitive setup and user-friendly interface, whereas BigCommerce offers a comprehensive set of built-in features that can reduce reliance on third-party apps. Selecting the right platform involves weighing these aspects against the specific requirements of one’s business model.

BigCommerce vs Shopify: Evaluating Core Differences

When examining Shopify and BigCommerce, it’s crucial to focus on how each platform caters to distinct business models and target audiences, highlighting divergent paths for aspiring online store owners.

Business Model Specialisation

BigCommerce positions itself as a comprehensive e-commerce solution with an emphasis on built-in features. This approach is designed for businesses that prefer a robust out-of-the-box experience with less reliance on third-party applications. On the other hand, Shopify is celebrated for its extensive app marketplace, offering over 8,000 apps that extend the functionality of its core platform. This model suits entrepreneurs who value customisation and are eager to personalise their online store with a diverse range of add-ons.

Target Audience

The target audiences for these platforms are subtly distinct. BigCommerce often attracts merchants with a certain level of e-commerce experience, looking for deeper control over their online stores without the constraints on staff accounts or SKU numbers. Conversely, Shopify serves as a friendly starting point for beginners, thanks to its intuitive interface and ease of use. It’s an ideal match for both small businesses taking their first steps online and scalable enterprises seeking a reliable platform.

In our experience, these core differences between BigCommerce and Shopify reflect the necessity for businesses to choose an e-commerce platform that aligns with their operational preferences, technical capabilities, and growth aspirations. For instance, Ciaran Connolly, ProfileTree Founder, remarks that “opting for the right e-commerce platform is pivotal—like choosing a physical storefront, it lays the groundwork for your business’s future growth and customer engagement strategies.”

Pricing and Value

When considering whether to choose BigCommerce or Shopify for your online store, it’s crucial to look at both pricing plans and the overall value each platform offers. We’ll break down the costs associated with each, considering transaction fees, credit card rates, and what each platform includes within their pricing structures—helping you to budget effectively for your e-commerce needs.

Comparing Pricing Plans

BigCommerce’s Standard plan starts at $29.95 USD per month when billed annually, offering a robust suite of built-in features without the need for many additional apps. Conversely, Shopify’s Basic plan, coming in at $29 USD monthly, provides an extensive marketplace of over 8,000 paid and free third-party apps to extend its functionality. For a straightforward comparison, consider BigCommerce’s built-in advantages against Shopify’s potential add-on costs. For more detailed insights, Forbes Advisor presents an in-depth Shopify vs. BigCommerce (2024 Comparison).

Transaction Fees and Credit Card Rates

BigCommerce charges 0% transaction fees across all of their plans, which can be a significant saving for stores with high sales volumes. Shopify, on the other hand, does not charge transaction fees if you use their in-house payment solution, Shopify Payments. However, if you choose a third-party payment gateway, you would incur additional fees. Credit card rates are competitive and vary depending on the chosen plan. Shopify outlines their transaction fees and credit card rates in their comparison with BigCommerce, which you can read more about on their official Shopify vs. BigCommerce page.

Budgeting for Your Store

It’s wise for us to consider the total cost of ownership beyond just the monthly fees. Estimating your budget should take into account potential costs for third-party apps, add-ons required for operations, and any transaction or credit card fees. BigCommerce’s value is apparent in their flat-rate pricing and automatic platform updates that lower operational costs, as described in their own comparison with Shopify, BigCommerce vs Shopify: Pricing + Making the Switch (2024).

Always calculate the cost of third-party apps with Shopify, as these can accumulate quickly. Remember that both platforms offer tiered pricing plans which cater to different business sizes and needs, so consider your store’s scale and choose a plan that aligns with your sales and growth expectations.

Design and User Experience

When choosing an e-commerce platform, the design and user experience can significantly influence customer engagement and sales. Both BigCommerce and Shopify offer robust options, but they differ in theme selection, user-friendly design tools, and mobile responsiveness, impacting how merchants can create and manage their online stores.

Theme Selection and Customisation

BigCommerce provides a slate of 150 themes varying in price from free to premium, allowing for a broad range of aesthetic choices. On the other hand, Shopify sells more than 70 themes, but their cost may range slightly higher. Customisation in BigCommerce can be more limited for certain themes, especially those not supporting the Style Editor, an essential tool to personalise a store’s look and feel. In contrast, Shopify’s simple drag-and-drop editor enables even those with no coding skills to tailor their storefront extensively, enhancing the user experience through design.

User-Friendly Design Tools

Shopify’s platform is renowned for its user-friendly interface, featuring an intuitive content management system (CMS) that removes the barrier of coding knowledge. Its drag-and-drop editor allows for streamlined website building that’s approachable for users of all skill levels. In comparison, BigCommerce offers more built-in features but might present a steeper learning curve for merchants looking to dive into website design.

Mobile Responsiveness and Flexibility

It’s critical in today’s market for online stores to function seamlessly on mobile devices. Shopify understands this need, offering mobile-friendly, responsive themes as a standard to ensure customers have a consistent experience across all devices. Although BigCommerce themes also aim for mobile responsiveness, not all may bear this feature, making Shopify a possibly more flexible choice for those prioritising mobile commerce.

Our team at ProfileTree appreciates that flexibility and customisation are crucial components of design and user experience. As ProfileTree’s Digital Strategist, Stephen McClelland, often says, “A website must not only capture attention but also provide a smooth journey for its users, regardless of the device they use.” This reflects the importance of both platform’s commitments to responsive design and highlights the need for constant innovation in the rapidly evolving e-commerce landscape.

Store Setup and Usability

When embarking on the journey of setting up an online store, the initial focus should be on the store’s usability and the ease with which one can set up shop. Here we explore the nuances of getting started and the continued support provided by two major ecommerce platforms: BigCommerce and Shopify.

Ease of Use for Beginners

For new entrants into the world of ecommerce, BigCommerce and Shopify both prioritise a streamlined setup process. Shopify simplifies the onboarding process with an intuitive interface, allowing beginners to build their store without extensive technical know-how. In essence, Shopify serves as a robust springboard that empowers business owners to start selling almost immediately.

Conversely, BigCommerce positions itself as a platform that, while still user-friendly, gears toward businesses seeking comprehensive built-in features from the get-go. Though this might slightly steepen the learning curve for new users, BigCommerce provides a wealth of options to customise and scale an ecommerce store right out of the box.

Learning Curve and Support Options

The learning curve of BigCommerce may be more pronounced, but they offset this with extensive support resources. Both platforms offer 24/7 customer support, crucial for newcomers navigating their initial ecommerce venture. BigCommerce strengthens its case with detailed guidance on intertwining complex functionalities without overwhelming users.

On the other hand, Shopify ensures beginners feel well-supported through various channels, including community forums, help centres, and direct customer support. Its dedication to supplying a comfortable learning environment is evident in the wealth of online tutorials and documentation accessible to users at all times.

Our collective experience indicates that the key to mastering these platforms lies within the proactive pursuit of available resources and a willingness to engage with customer support.

By understanding the store setup and usability aspects, we equip ourselves with the knowledge to take actionable steps towards building a successful online presence.

Product Sales and Marketing Features

When selecting an e-commerce platform, understanding their product sales and marketing features is crucial, as this can have a significant impact on your online shop’s success. Let’s take a closer look at how Shopify and BigCommerce equip you to handle inventory and sales channels, bolster your SEO and marketing, and capitalise on conversion opportunities like abandoned cart recovery and gift cards.

Inventory and Sales Channels

Both Shopify and BigCommerce provide robust inventory management systems, allowing merchants to handle unlimited products. BigCommerce stands out with more built-in features, enabling seamless management across multiple sales channels, including social media, online marketplaces, and brick-and-mortar POS systems. On the other hand, Shopify excels with its extensive app marketplace, which includes a vast array of third-party applications to extend sales channel capabilities.

• Sales Channel Integration: Shopify allows for integration with a multitude of channels such as Amazon, eBay, and Instagram.
• Multichannel Inventory Syncing: BigCommerce offers real-time inventory syncing across all channels to ensure stock levels are accurate.

“Our clients often express the need to effectively manage their inventory across multiple platforms. BigCommerce’s built-in features provide a strong foundation, while Shopify’s app integrations offer additional flexibility,” shares ProfileTree’s Digital Strategist, Stephen McClelland.

Marketing and SEO Capabilities

The right e-commerce platform can greatly enhance your SEO capabilities and marketing efforts. BigCommerce offers an array of advanced built-in marketing tools, such as one-click Google shopping integration and native discount codes. Shopify, though requiring third-party apps for many advanced features, has a significant edge due to its larger selection of SEO and marketing apps.

• Built-in SEO Features: Both platforms offer essential SEO capabilities such as meta tags, URL slugs, and image alt tags allowing you to optimise your product pages.
• Marketing Tools: Shopify’s marketing tools, via its app store, are rich in diversity, covering everything from email marketing to loyalty programmes.

Abandoned Cart Recovery and Gift Cards

Abandoned cart recovery is a powerful tool for converting potential lost sales. Both Shopify and BigCommerce include abandoned cart saver functionalities, sending automatic emails to customers who leave the checkout process. Gift cards, an effective sales tool, are available on both platforms, but the level of customisation may vary.

• Abandoned Cart Saver: Automatically prompt potential customers to complete their purchase with personalised email reminders.
• Gift Cards: Both platforms support gift card offerings, essential for boosting sales, especially during holiday seasons.

By harnessing these key features, you can effectively propel your business forward, maximising reach and conversion in the ever-expanding digital marketplace.

App and Feature Ecosystem

When comparing the app and feature ecosystem of BigCommerce and Shopify, merchants should scrutinise their distinct capabilities in extension, plugin availability, and the variety of integrations and built-in features they offer.

Extension and Plugin Availability

Both platforms boast an admirable assemblage of third-party apps and plugins, each designed to augment core functionalities. Shopify takes the lead in the app marketplace with an extensive range of add-ons available through its App Store. This thriving ecosystem allows for significant customisation and scalability to meet the diverse needs of businesses.

Conversely, BigCommerce also presents a robust selection of over 1,000 third-party apps, which cater to various ecommerce requirements. However, it’s noted that Shopify’s offerings are broader, thus providing its users with more versatility in expansion and market adaptation.

Integrations and Built-In Features

Shopify’s strengths lie in its seamless integrations with multiple sales channels and marketing platforms, as well as its refined Point of Sale system, which permits merchants to merge online and offline sales with relative ease. This ecosystem supports a business’s ability to offer cohesive shopping experiences across different customer touchpoints.

On the flip side, BigCommerce equips users with a suite of built-in features aimed at growing enterprises that demand high-calibre functionality from the outset. It is structured to provide businesses with a comprehensive set of built-in tools to support complex operations without the immediate need for third-party additions.

At ProfileTree, we understand that decisions around ecommerce solutions are vital for scaling your business effectively. Our digital strategist, Stephen McClelland, emphasises that “the choice between Shopify and BigCommerce should hinge on your business’s unique feature requirements and your aspirations for functional scalability through apps and integrations.”

Performance and Scalability

As e-commerce platforms, both BigCommerce and Shopify Plus offer robust solutions designed to scale with the growth of your business, featuring advanced features and comprehensive sales reporting.

Site Performance and Load Times

When selecting an e-commerce platform, site performance is crucial. Fast load times improve user experience and can positively impact search engine rankings. BigCommerce provides optimised servers and efficient code conducive to quick loading times, ideal for handling high volumes of traffic. Shopify Plus also boasts a reliable infrastructure that delivers fast page loads, ensuring that even during peak shopping periods, your customers enjoy a seamless shopping experience.

Scaling Your Business with the Platform

Discussing scalability, both platforms have much to offer. BigCommerce excels with its out-of-the-box features, which support growth without the need for numerous third-party apps. Conversely, Shopify Plus is equipped with a powerful app ecosystem that allows businesses to add functionalities as they grow. Regarding sales reporting, BigCommerce offers comprehensive analytics that enables businesses to monitor product performance closely. For Shopify Plus users, there’s a range of advanced analytics tools available that enable detailed financial reporting and insight into customer behaviour, which can guide strategic decision-making.

Our approach is based on real-world applications of these platforms, ensuring we provide information that’s both practical and valuable. We strive to educate SMEs and offer actionable insights to effectively execute digital strategies, including the utilisation of BigCommerce and Shopify Plus to ensure peak performance and scalability for growing businesses.

Payment Gateways and Processing

In choosing between BigCommerce and Shopify, understanding how each platform handles payment processing is crucial. Let’s explore the diversity of options and the specifics of using Shopify’s in-house payment system or third-party processors.

Diversity of Payment Options

Both Shopify and BigCommerce support a multitude of payment gateways, ensuring businesses have the flexibility to offer various payment options. Shopify provides a wide range of gateways, including PayPal, Amazon Pay, and Braintree, alongside its own Shopify Payments solution. BigCommerce also offers a variety of choices, allowing customers to use popular payment providers without worrying about additional transaction fees.

Shopify Payments and Third-Party Processors

Shopify incentivises the use of Shopify Payments by waiving transaction fees. However, if a business opts for an external payment gateway, fees are imposed varying from 2% to 0.5% depending on the plan. In contrast, BigCommerce does not charge extra fees for using third-party payment gateways, which could be significant for businesses processing a high volume of transactions. Payment processing with Shopify Payments involves credit card fees ranging from 2.4% to 2.9% plus 30 cents per transaction. Understanding these fees and how they apply is important for budgeting and choosing the most cost-effective platform for your e-commerce needs.

Managing Your Online Store

When managing your eCommerce store, it’s crucial to have efficient order management and robust security features like SSL certificates for customer trust. These aspects are fundamental to the smooth operation and credibility of your online store.

Order Management and Shipping Tools

Our online stores facilitate streamlined order processing, making the journey from cart to customer as smooth as possible. Shopify stands out with its integrated point-of-sale solution, allowing for seamless connection of offline and online sales. This is enriched by their local delivery and in-store pickup options, providing flexibility and convenience for both retailer and customer. On the other hand, BigCommerce offers a strong suite of shipping tools and integrates with many third-party POS systems, similar to Shopify.

Both platforms enable efficient order management, but if your business operates both online and offline, you might find the integrated POS solution from Shopify especially useful. For businesses focusing on an online-only model and requiring extensive shipping tools, BigCommerce presents a valuable offering.

Custom Domain and SSL Certificates

Operating under a custom domain name enhances your brand’s professionalism and makes it easier for potential customers to find and remember your store. Both Shopify and BigCommerce provide the option to purchase a domain through their services or to bring in an existing one. This flexibility allows you to maintain your brand’s unique identity online, which is essential for customer recognition and search engine optimisation.

For security, SSL certificates are non-negotiable for protecting customer information and transactions. Fortunately, both Shopify and BigCommerce include SSL certificates with all their plans. This is a significant asset, as it not only helps to secure your store but also contributes to building trust with your customers and improving your Google rankings.

ProfileTree’s Digital Strategist – Stephen McClelland remarks, “A custom domain and reliable SSL certificate are the digital equivalents of a prime high street location secured with the best locks; essential for customer confidence and essential for business.”

In choosing between Shopify and BigCommerce for managing your online store, consider which platform’s specific offerings align best with your business’s operational style and security requirements.

Technical Aspects and Developer Resources

In the world of e-commerce, the capacity for advanced customisation and the availability of developer resources are pivotal for businesses looking to maintain an edge. We examine these elements for Shopify and BigCommerce, focusing on the intricacies of technical customisation and extensive support offered for developers.

Advanced Customisation with HTML and Coding

Both BigCommerce and Shopify empower developers with tools to go beyond basic template adjustments. BigCommerce champions itself on providing an open canvas for web designers, allowing unfettered access to HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. This facilitates a higher degree of customisation, catering for unique storefronts. The ability to create a limitless number of staff accounts supports collaboration across larger development teams.

Alternatively, Shopify also presents robust technical toolkits; however, the Shopify Basic plan does permit just two staff accounts. This can limit the scale of work unless you upgrade. That said, Shopify’s Liquid templating language gives developers creative freedom, although within the confines of a proprietary framework.

Developer Support and Resources

When it comes to developer support, Shopify boasts an extensive ecosystem, including comprehensive documentation and a vibrant community. The availability of 24/7 live chat and phone support means that technical assistance is readily on hand. Developers can leverage resources such as APIs, SDKs, and a theme development kit to aid in their store creation and maintenance efforts.

In contrast, BigCommerce offers a similar suite of developer support mechanisms, including their own API and SDKs. The platform’s smaller app store might result in a steeper learning curve for developers looking to drive custom e-commerce solutions. Yet, the resources provided do assist developers in exploiting the full capabilities of the platform, despite potentially requiring additional development resources.

Our experience at ProfileTree has taught us that innovative use of technology and reliable support resources are key to a compelling online presence. “Engaging effectively with the technical aspects of your chosen e-commerce platform will set you apart, driving enhanced brand experiences and customer loyalty,” suggests ProfileTree’s Digital Strategist – Stephen McClelland.

By choosing to embrace the technical challenges head-on with a supportive community and ample resources, we can craft truly bespoke e-commerce experiences that resonate with users and streamline the back-end management for businesses.

FAQs

When choosing between BigCommerce and Shopify, it’s crucial to understand how each platform caters to different business needs, such as pricing, scalability, unique features, user-friendliness, advantages and disadvantages, and SEO capabilities.