Shopify vs. BigCommerce: The eCommerce platform showdown
When it comes to starting an online store, choosing the right eCommerce platform can make a huge difference. While there are several options out there, Shopify and BigCommerce are the two biggest names in the game. But how do they compare? Which one is better for your business?
Features
Both Shopify and BigCommerce offer a similar set of features to help you create an online store. But there are some key differences.
Shopify
Shopify is known for being user-friendly and easy to set up. It offers a range of features including a website builder, payment gateway, and shipping options. With Shopify, you can choose from over 100 website themes or customize your own. It also has a range of apps and plugins that can help you add more functionality to your store, such as social media integration or email marketing. Shopify offers 24/7 customer support and has a large community of developers and experts to help you get the most out of your store.
BigCommerce
BigCommerce offers similar features to Shopify, but with a stronger focus on enterprise-level businesses. It offers a range of customizable templates and themes, and has a powerful set of tools to help you manage your store, such as inventory management and product merchandising. It offers a range of payment gateways and has built-in support for cryptocurrency payments. BigCommerce also provides 24/7 support and offers a range of resources and documentation to help you get started.
Winner: Tie
Both platforms offer a great set of features that can help you create a successful online store. The winner, in this case, depends on the specific needs of your business, so it's a tie.
Pricing
Pricing is one of the biggest factors to consider when choosing an eCommerce platform.
Shopify
Shopify has a range of pricing plans, starting at $29 per month for the Basic plan, up to $299 per month for the Advanced plan. It also offers a Lite plan for $9 per month, which allows you to add Shopify to an existing website or Facebook page. Additionally, Shopify charges a transaction fee of 2.9% + 30 cents per transaction for each sale made on the platform.
BigCommerce
BigCommerce also has a range of pricing plans, starting at $29.95 per month for the Standard plan, up to $299.95 per month for the Enterprise plan. It also offers a Plus plan for customized pricing, which includes dedicated account management and priority support. Unlike Shopify, BigCommerce does not charge any transaction fees for sales made on the platform.
Winner: BigCommerce
While both platforms offer similar pricing plans, BigCommerce comes out on top because it does not charge any transaction fees.
Payment options
Payment options are another important factor to consider when choosing an eCommerce platform.
Shopify
Shopify offers a range of payment options, including credit cards, PayPal, and Apple Pay. It also has its own payment gateway, Shopify Payments, which offers competitive transaction rates and integrates seamlessly with Shopify's platform. Shopify Payments is only available in certain countries, so if you're not located in one of those countries, you'll have to use a third-party payment gateway.
BigCommerce
BigCommerce also offers a range of payment options, including credit cards, PayPal, and Apple Pay. It also supports cryptocurrency payments and has built-in support for several payment gateways including PayPal and Stripe.
Winner: Shopify
While both platforms offer a range of payment options, Shopify's payment gateway, Shopify Payments, offers a more seamless checkout experience and competitive transaction rates.
Conclusion
Both Shopify and BigCommerce offer a great set of features and pricing plans that can help you create a successful online store. The winner, in this case, depends on the specific needs of your business. If you're looking for an easy-to-use platform with a strong support community, Shopify may be the better choice. If you're running an enterprise-level business and looking for a platform with powerful management tools and no transaction fees, then BigCommerce may be the better choice.