Shopify vs BigCommerce: Which is Right for You?

Starting an eCommerce business can be quite confusing, especially in the initial stages. The key reason behind that: there are so many outstanding eCommerce platforms for beginners. But which of them would be the most suitable? Well, two of the best ones available are Shopify and BigCommerce.

Shopify is generally better for ease of use and simpler setups, especially for smaller businesses. But BigCommerce offers more built-in features and scalability for larger, more complex operations.

Through this blog, I’ll explain the differences between Shopify and BigCommerce and how the top eCommerce development companies choose the most suitable platform for a store. Let’s begin with a comparison table.

Shopify vs BigCommerce: Comparison Table

Feature	Shopify	BigCommerce
Ease of Use	Very user-friendly, intuitive interface, great for beginners	Steeper learning curve, more complex interface
Pricing	More affordable entry-level plans, but transaction fees on some plans	Slightly higher starting price, but often includes more built-in features
Built-in Features	Fewer built-in features, relies heavily on apps	More built-in features for sales, marketing, and SEO
Apps & Integrations	Extensive app store with a wide variety of options (often with additional costs)	Smaller app store, but strong native features reduce the need for many apps
Scalability	Good for growing businesses, but can become more expensive with higher sales volumes	Designed for scalability, suitable for larger businesses with high sales volumes
SEO	Good SEO tools and app integrations	Strong built-in SEO features
Payment Gateways	Wide variety of payment gateways, but transaction fees on some plans	More built-in payment gateways with no transaction fees on any plan
Themes	Large selection of themes, both free and paid	Decent selection of themes, both free and paid
Customer Support	24/7 support via phone, email, and chat	24/7 support via phone, email, and chat

Although this table clears where these two platforms stand against each other, overviews of the two might be even more helpful.

Overview of Shopify

Shopify is a leading eCommerce platform that empowers businesses of all sizes to create and manage online stores. Its user-friendly interface, extensive app store, and focus on simplicity make it an excellent choice for startups and smaller businesses.

While it offers various plans to accommodate growth, it’s particularly well-suited for those prioritizing ease of use and a quick setup.

Pros & Cons of Shopify

Do you need help with creating the best eStore with Shopify, get help from the top Shopify development companies. They’ll try and amplify the pros while ensuring little to no effect from the cons.

Overview of BigCommerce

BigCommerce is a robust eCommerce platform designed for businesses with complex needs and high-growth potential. It stands out with its extensive built-in features, eliminating the need for many third-party apps.

While it may have a steeper learning curve than some simpler platforms, its advanced functionality, strong SEO tools, and focus on scalability make it a powerful choice for larger businesses and those anticipating significant growth.

Pros & Cons of BigCommerce

Do you need help with creating the best eStore with BigCommerce, get help from the leading eCommerce development companies. They’ll handle the pros and cons effectively to ensure the best results for your eStore.

Key Differences Between Shopify & BigCommerce

Let’s move beyond the table and pros & cons of the two platforms and go for a comprehensive differentiation between Shopify and BigCommerce.

Scalability

Shopify can scale with your business, offering plans that accommodate increasing sales volume. However, as you scale, you might find yourself relying more heavily on apps (which can add to monthly costs) and potentially facing higher transaction fees if you don’t use Shopify Payments.

While Shopify Plus caters to enterprise-level businesses, it’s a significant price jump.

BigCommerce is built with scalability in mind. Its infrastructure is designed to handle high volumes of traffic and transactions, making it a robust choice for rapidly growing businesses.

The platform’s built-in features often reduce the need for additional apps as you scale, potentially keeping costs more predictable.

Verdict

BigCommerce is generally better for businesses anticipating rapid, large-scale growth. That is due to its robust infrastructure and built-in features that minimize reliance on third-party apps as you scale.

Easy of Use

Shopify excels in user-friendliness. Its intuitive interface, drag-and-drop functionality, and straightforward setup process make it exceptionally easy for beginners to create and manage an online store.

On the other hand, BigCommerce, while powerful, has a steeper learning curve. Its interface is more complex, and navigating its extensive features can be initially overwhelming for those new to eCommerce platforms.

Verdict

Shopify wins for ease of use, making it ideal for startups, small businesses, and those who prioritize a simple, intuitive experience.

Design Customization

Shopify offers a wide selection of themes, both free and paid, providing a good starting point for store design. Customization options are available, but deeper customization often requires some coding knowledge or the use of apps.

BigCommerce, on the contrary, also provides a decent selection of themes, but customization can be more challenging. While the platform offers some design flexibility, it may require more technical expertise or developer assistance for extensive modifications.

Verdict

It’s a close call. Shopify has a slight edge due to its more intuitive theme customization and larger selection of themes, but both provide decent options. If you’re comfortable with code, both platforms offer significant customization potential.

Apps & Add-ons

Shopify’s app store is one of its greatest strengths, offering a vast array of apps for everything from marketing and sales to shipping and inventory management. However, many of these apps come with recurring subscription fees, which can add up quickly.

BigCommerce, though, has a smaller app store compared to Shopify. However, its extensive built-in features often reduce the need for many apps, potentially saving you money in the long run.

Verdict

Shopify has the edge in sheer app quantity and variety, but BigCommerce is better for controlling costs related to apps, especially as you scale. If you require very niche features, Shopify’s larger app store is likely better.

Payment & Shipping

Shopify offers a wide range of payment gateways, but charges transaction fees on most plans unless you use Shopify Payments. Shipping options are also robust, with integrations with major carriers and the option to use Shopify Shipping for discounted rates.

BigCommerce supports numerous payment gateways and does not charge transaction fees on any plan, a significant advantage. It also offers strong shipping integrations and features, including real-time shipping quotes and label printing.

Verdict

BigCommerce edges out Shopify in this category due to the absence of transaction fees, which can significantly impact profitability, especially for high-volume businesses.

Pricing

Shopify offers lower entry-level pricing, making it attractive for startups and small businesses with limited budgets. However, costs can increase as you scale due to transaction fees and the need for paid apps. Starts from $29/month.

BigCommerce has slightly higher starting prices but often includes more built-in features, potentially offsetting the higher initial cost. The lack of transaction fees can also lead to significant savings as your business grows. Also starts from $29 per month.

Verdict

Shopify is better for businesses with very tight budgets and lower sales volumes. BigCommerce becomes more cost-effective as you scale and process higher sales volumes due to the absence of transaction fees and the inclusion of more built-in features.

As you can clearly see from this comparison, Shopify excels in some things while BigCommerce excels in others. So there is no way to say which is better. You need to consider your own requirements and choose the right platform.

When to Choose Shopify & BigCommerce?

While you need to consider a few key points when choosing the perfect solution for your eStore, there are a few scenarios where you might favor one or the other.

Choose Shopify if:

• You’re a startup or small business: Shopify’s ease of use and lower entry-level pricing make it an excellent choice for those just starting out or with limited budgets.
• You prioritize simplicity and ease of use: Shopify’s intuitive interface and drag-and-drop functionality make it incredibly easy to set up and manage an online store, even with no technical experience.
• You value a large app ecosystem: Shopify’s extensive app store offers a vast selection of apps to extend your store’s functionality, although many come with additional costs.
• You need a quick and easy setup: Shopify’s streamlined setup process allows you to get your online store up and running quickly and efficiently.
• You’re focused on dropshipping: Shopify is a popular choice for dropshipping businesses due to its app integrations and ease of use.

Choose BigCommerce if:

• You’re a medium to large business or anticipate rapid growth: BigCommerce’s robust infrastructure and built-in features are designed to handle high-volume sales and complex operations, making it ideal for scaling businesses.
• You need advanced built-in features: BigCommerce offers a wide range of built-in features, including advanced SEO tools, multi-channel selling, and more, reducing the need for many third-party apps.
• You want to minimize transaction fees: BigCommerce does not charge transaction fees on any plan, which can lead to significant savings as your business grows.
• You require strong SEO capabilities: BigCommerce provides excellent built-in SEO features, giving you an edge in organic search visibility.
• You need a platform that can handle complex product catalogs: BigCommerce is well-suited for businesses with large and complex product catalogs.

Ultimately, the best choice depends on your specific business needs, technical skills, and growth plans. Consider your budget, required features, and long-term goals to make the most informed decision.

Conclusion

Choosing between Shopify and BigCommerce depends on your specific business needs and goals. Shopify stands out for its user-friendly interface, extensive app marketplace, and strong multi-channel selling capabilities, making it a solid choice for beginners and small businesses looking for ease of use. On the other hand, BigCommerce offers more robust built-in features, no transaction fees, and advanced customization options, making it ideal for growing businesses with global ambitions.

Ultimately, both platforms are powerful tools for building a successful online store. Assess your priorities, whether it’s simplicity, customization, or scalability, and choose the platform that best supports your eCommerce journey.

If you need a customized store, consulting eCommerce development companies can be the right choice. Our recommendations might help you!

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