Shopify vs BigCommerce: Choosing the Right Platform for Your E-commerce Business
If you're thinking about setting up an online store or migrating your existing one, you've likely encountered the Shopify vs BigCommerce conundrum. These two platforms are among the most popular e-commerce productivity software options on the market, and for good reason. Both Shopify and BigCommerce boast impressive features and benefits that can help you build and grow your online business.
But which platform is the right one for you? In this post, we'll take an unbiased look at Shopify and BigCommerce, covering key areas such as pricing, features, ease of use, design options, and customer support. So let's dive in!
Pricing
When it comes to pricing, both Shopify and BigCommerce offer a range of subscription plans tailored to the needs of e-commerce businesses. Here are the details:
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Shopify: Shopify's pricing plans start at $29 per month (Basic Shopify), which gives you access to all the essential features you need to get started. Shopify also offers mid-level and advanced plans, ranging from $79 to $299 per month, depending on the features and functionality you need. If you want to use Shopify Payments to process transactions, you can avoid transaction fees, and if you use a third-party gateway, you'll pay a varying percentage per transaction, depending on your plan.
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BigCommerce: BigCommerce offers pricing plans that start at $29.95 per month (Standard), which includes features such as unlimited products, staff accounts, and storage space. BigCommerce also offers mid-level and advanced plans, ranging from $79.95 to $299.95 per month. Unlike Shopify, however, BigCommerce doesn't charge transaction fees regardless of which plan you choose.
Features
Both Shopify and BigCommerce offer a huge range of features and integrations that can help you build and grow your online business. Here's a quick look at some of the key features offered by each platform:
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Shopify: Shopify is known for its ease of use and excellent customer support, making it a great option for new and small businesses. Some of Shopify's standout features include its drag-and-drop store builder, customizable checkout, built-in blogging platform, and a vast library of both free and paid themes and apps.
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BigCommerce: BigCommerce is a more advanced platform that offers a range of enterprise-level features to help established businesses grow. Some of the standout features of BigCommerce include its built-in analytics, multi-channel selling capabilities, and customizable shipping and tax rules. BigCommerce also offers a range of SEO tools to help improve your store's visibility in search engines.
Ease of Use
Both Shopify and BigCommerce are relatively easy to use, even for those who are new to e-commerce. Shopify is known for its user-friendly interface and intuitive store builder, which makes it a great option for beginners. BigCommerce, on the other hand, can be a bit more complicated due to its more advanced feature set, but it still offers a relatively straightforward setup process.
Design Options
Both Shopify and BigCommerce offer a wide range of design options, including both free and paid themes, as well as the ability to customize your store's design using CSS and HTML. Shopify is known for its vast library of themes and apps, which can help you create a stunning and unique online store. BigCommerce offers fewer themes and apps than Shopify but provides a range of customization options that can help you tailor your store's design to your brand.
Customer Support
When it comes to customer support, both Shopify and BigCommerce offer excellent options. Shopify offers 24/7 customer support via chat, email, and phone, as well as a wealth of online resources, including a help center, forums, and a robust community of users. BigCommerce also offers 24/7 support via live chat, email, and phone, as well as a range of online resources, including a help center and community forums.
Conclusion
All in all, both Shopify and BigCommerce are fantastic options when it comes to online store builders. It ultimately comes down to your individual needs as a business owner. Shopify is a great choice for beginners who want an easy-to-use platform with excellent customer support, while BigCommerce is a more advanced option tailored for established businesses that need more features and growth potential.
Regardless of which platform you choose, keeping your e-commerce business organized and productive is key to success. Consider using productivity software to streamline your workflows and automate time-consuming tasks, such as invoicing or inventory management. With the right tools, you'll be able to save time, cut costs, and focus on growing your business.